How to Get to Slovenia?

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Are you planning a trip to Slovenia and wondering how to get there? Look no further!

Slovenia is conveniently located in the very center of Europe, making it easy to arrive from any direction. Whether you’re coming by air, land, or sea, there are plenty of options for getting to this small, yet mighty country.

town of piran
Coastal town of Piran

With its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural history, and welcoming locals, Slovenia is the perfect destination for travelers looking to explore this part of Europe.

In this guide, we’ll cover all the ways you can get to Slovenia, so you can easily plan your trip.

Arriving by plane

Getting a flight to Slovenia is the best option to get here, especially if you’re not from one of the bordering countries.

Slovenia has 3 international airports (Ljubljana, Maribor, Portorož). 

Ljubljana (Jože Pučnik Airport) – the main airport in Slovenia 

It is located about 26 km north of the capital city. You can catch a taxi, an airport shuttle, rent a car, or opt for our transfer options, depending on your traveling itinerary. 

The Ljubljana airport is the best option when traveling to Slovenia, particularly for visiting places in the central, north, or north-western part of the country.

Maribor (Edvard Rusjan Airport) – second international airport

It is located about 10 km south of Maribor, the second-largest city in Slovenia. Traveling to and from the airport is done by taxi or a pre-booked transfer. Maribor Airport is mainly used for seasonal and charter flights. 

Portorož Airport – smaller charters, business, and cargo flights

The Airport is located 6 km south of Portorož, and you can reach the following towns within an hour’s drive: Trieste (Italy), Koper, Postojna, Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Croatian towns on the Istrian Peninsula.

Trieste Airport (Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport) – Lots of direct flights, just over the border of Slovenia

Trieste Airport, also known as Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport, is located about 33 km northwest of Trieste, Italy. It offers direct flights to a variety of destinations, including major cities and regional hubs, with airlines such as Ryanair and ITA Airways. Even though it is in Italy, you can reach Slovenia in less than 30 minutes, and Ljubljana in 1h20min.

Other alternative airports near Slovenia (less than a 2-hour drive):

The other most convenient airport outside Slovenia is Venice (Marco Polo and Treviso), with numerous international connections. Zagreb and Vienna are also great options, although the latter is a little farther away.

Other options: Pula, Klagenfurt, Graz, Trieste

Arriving by car

Arriving in Slovenia by car is a convenient and practical option, as the country has excellent connections to the rest of Europe via a network of highways. It’s easy to explore the whole country by car, as the distances are small and you can cover the entire country in just a few short drives.

In fact, Slovenia is the perfect destination for a road trip, as you’ll be able to take in all the stunning natural beauty and diverse cultural attractions the country has to offer.

It’s important to note that you’ll need to buy a motorway vignette to use the highways in Slovenia. These can be purchased at petrol stations, post offices, and kiosks — but the best way is to buy online. They are available for various lengths of time, ranging from a week to a year. Once you have your vignette, you’ll be able to enjoy smooth, hassle-free travels as you explore Slovenia by car.

Arriving by train

Taking a train to Slovenia is easy as it gets. There are good rail connections from neighboring and many other countries: Croatia, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, etc. 

Slovenia is included in the Eurail Global Pass system. 

You can also travel by rail from nearby airports, like Trieste, Zagreb, or Vienna.

Arriving by bus

Traveling to Slovenia by bus from numerous European cities is quite straightforward. There are direct coach lines from as far as Sweden and Denmark, with most international coaches stopping in Ljubljana.

Foreign EU bus transport providers registered do not require special permits to travel across Slovenia, with FlixBus coaches and Nomago buses growing in popularity.

Do I need a VISA for Slovenia?

Citizens of the Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA) may enter Slovenia with a valid identity card or a valid passport and do not require a visa or a residence permit.

Third-country nationals must acquire a visa or a residence permit from Slovenia’s diplomatic mission abroad.

* The list of countries that require a visa to Slovenia can be viewed on the official government website here.

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Malcolm Hart
Verified Customer
Had a fantastic cycling tour in Slovenia for our group of 12 organised by Slovenia Cycling Holidays covering Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Kranjska Gora over a week. Beautiful scenery, great road surface to ride, excellent ride guides who focussed on local aspects, riding safety and fitted in really well with our group. We experienced good organisation for the tailored tour which included local cultural and historical perspectives and arranged a good programme for two non-riders. Highly recommended place to cycle and certainly recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays to assist with your trip.
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Greg Martin
Verified Customer
So last minute holiday and the team at Slovenia Cycling managed to turn around a bespoke package really quickly in peak tourist season! The cycle routes are great and easy to follow whilst the trip app has all the details on hotels and transfers whilst the things to see and places to eat was invaluable. Team are super responsive when you have questions which are handled quickly on Whats App. Will definitely use them again.
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ACP2527
Verified Customer
G’day Klem, Back in Australia and just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our holiday. You guys did a wonderful job. The whole experience was first class. The bikes were excellent. The route was fun and well mapped using the app. The hotels were excellent. The hotel staff, outstanding. The food and wine truly memorable. I cannot recommend you guy’s highly enough. Our impressions of Slovenia as an outstanding destination, of beautiful scenery and friendly people will be passed onto all our friends. Thank you so much for a great holiday!
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Diane Flynn
Verified Customer
We had a wonderful cycling trip, starting in Trieste, then onto Slovenia and Croatia. Before the trip, Klemen was extremely patient with our many questions and addressed our concerns very satisfactorily- even changing the original bike route to meet our needs. The bikes we used ( e-bikes) were in great condition, and easy to use. The hotels were very satisfactory- and included big breakfasts to start our days. The towns we visited were charming. All in all- a first class experience!!
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Katie Wigfield
Verified Customer
We have just returned from a wonderful family holiday in Slovenia (two adults and a 13 year old) and I can highly recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays for their excellent service and good value for money. Nejc was very helpful from the start, replying quickly and creating our tailormade itinerary. We received great pre-trip information and files in the right format to use with our Garmin devices. The trip itself was perfect, cycling on a mix of offroad trails and quiet roads. The hotels were well chosen with comfortable, spacious rooms and welcoming and helpful staff who stored the bikes overnight. The e-bikes themselves were brand new top-of-the range and ideal for the hilly terrain - meaning we were able to see more of the countryside and get off the beaten track. Nejc continued to be on hand for any questions (messaging via WhatsApp). We were travelling in April and generally had lovely weather but on our last day, we had very heavy rain. Nejc was in contact first thing in the morning to check if we still wanted to cycle which we did. We finished early and we and the bikes were collected earlier than scheduled to avoid having to hang around in wet gear. The scenery we cycled through from Ljubljana to Lake Bled was beautiful and the people we met were friendly and welcoming. We hope to return soon.
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Mark Daily
Verified Customer
We couldn’t have had a better experience. Everything was great from the moment we were picked up at the airport until our send off two weeks later. Beautiful biking trails, great equipment and accommodations, knowledgable guide offering multiple options every day. I highly recommend Slovenian Cycling Holidays for a great vacation.
Experience the diverse landscapes of Slovenia on a bicycle with Slovenia Cycling Holidays, an up-and-coming incoming travel agency.
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