The Best Ways to Travel Around in Slovenia

Slovenia is small, and it’s possible to cross the country by car, bus or train within the course of a day. While it is best enjoyed slowly, focusing on one region at a time, it’s nice to know that you’ve always got the option to cover ground quickly.

Generally, trains are best for bridging longer distances or moving between large cities, like Ljubljana and Maribor. Buses work best within regions. Cars are always an option, though roadways can get crowded, and parking is often a problem within cities.

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The country places great emphasis on sustainability, too, and whenever possible, Slovenians generally prefer ditching their cars in favor of a long hike or bike ride. Once you see how impressive the walking and cycling infrastructure is (with marked trails fanning out in all directions), you’ll likely feel the same way. Here are our top tips for finding your way around Slovenia.

To continue planning your trip, check out the Lonely Planet app or our Slovenia guidebook.

By Bus

Best for budget travelers

Buses are the most efficient way for moving between the capital, Ljubljana, and Slovenia’s most-popular destinations: Lake Bled to the north and the Adriatic coastline to the south and west (as well as many other areas). Ljubljana’s main bus station is located just outside the train station. If you are arriving in the country by train, simply step outside of the station, buy a bus ticket at the office or a kiosk, or online in advance, and board the bus. A basic weekday ticket from Ljubljana to Bled costs €6–12, and the ride takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes; a ticket to Koper, on the Adriatic, runs around €10–15, and the journey takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Once you arrive at your destination, local buses take over. In Ljubljana, the local bus network is extensive, though the capital is easily walkable. Unless you’re staying outside the center, you may not need the bus. Ljubljana city buses don’t use tickets but rather require riders to purchase a contactless Urbana card for €2, available at newsstands and kiosks, which you then top up, adding €5 or €10, for example. You validate the card on the bus each time you enter, and each ride deducts €1.50 from the topped-up value. It couldn’t be simpler.

In the popular mountain resorts to the north around Triglav National Park, including Kranjska Gora, Bled, Bohinj and the Soča Valley, the bus network is especially dense in the summer peak season. With a little forethought, it’s relatively easy to move around without a car (and you’ll save on parking fees). Check timetables for Arriva and Nomago to find connections. Zuugle lists the best trails you can reach via public transportation.

By Train

Best for longer journeys

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Slovenian Railways, the national rail carrier, offers a handy online timetable. Purchase tickets online, at the station or on the train itself for a slightly higher price. The rail network is modern, well run and comprehensive, though trains are generally only useful for making specific longer journeys, such as between Ljubljana and Maribor or to access cities in the southeast, such as Nove Mesto, Brežice and Metlika. For most other trips, the bus is often quicker and less expensive. When buying train tickets, be sure to inquire about potential discounts based on age or date of travel, or specific family passes that can significantly cut the cost of travel.

Train journeys offer the benefits of being both more sustainable and undeniably more romantic. For true train enthusiasts, the Bohinj Railway in the north runs between two picturesque Alpine valleys, the Bohinj and the Soča River valleys, and features a breathtaking 6327m-long tunnel and the world’s longest stone arch rail bridge. You can bring your own car on a special motorail train that runs between Bohinjska Bistrica and Most na Soči.

Many Slovenian trains allow you to bring and stow your bike (for €3), but space can be limited. Check the timetable to make sure bikes are permitted, and book early so that you’re not standing at the station disappointed.

By Car

Best for flexibility

Buses and trains are convenient and climate-friendly, but having your own set of wheels can be handier for road-tripping to remote towns and villages, as well as to wineries for tastings, trailheads, caves and many of the country’s hidden attractions.

Car rental, at agencies located in bigger cities and at Ljubljana’s airport, is affordable. If you’re driving your own vehicle, it’s compulsory to buy an e-vignette: a weekly, monthly or annual digital pass to use Slovenia’s roads. A weekly e-vignette costs €16 for cars, €8 for motorcycles. Buy e-vignettes online or at highway service centers near international borders once you enter the country. Rental cars usually come with an e-vignette attached. Fines for driving without the vignette start at €300.

Slovenia’s roads and motorways are well maintained, but the higher elevations can present special challenges. From November to April, some mountain roads and passes may be closed for the season. The Traffic Information Center maintains updated information on nationwide road hazards, closures and weather delays.

By Bicycle or Foot

Best for sustainable travel

Within regions, distances between towns and cities are often relatively short and manageable on foot or bike. Find detailed regional hiking and cycling maps at tourist information centers, which often rent bikes toos.

Beyond these more-pedestrian interurban walking trails, you’ll find dozens of higher-profile, long-distance paths that run through beautiful landscapes as they connect rural towns and cities. Trekking trails such as the Juliana Trail around Triglav National Park and the Walk of Peace along the Soča River are structured around self-guided itineraries that bring you from place to place while getting a needed breath of fresh air.

Similarly, long-distance cycling routes – like Bike Slovenia Green, from Kranjska Gora to the sea, and the Slovenia Green Gourmet Route, connecting the country’s eastern and western halves – make it easy to travel around Slovenia at human speed.

Travel Passes

Visitors who plan to get around primarily by bus and train might benefit from a travel card. These allow unlimited travel throughout Slovenia and are valid on all trains and public city and intercity buses. A 3-day ticket is €22, and you must tell the agent the date it should begin at the time of purchase. A weekly ticket is €36 and runs from Monday through Sunday. Passes can be purchased at the ticket office at Ljubljana Central Bus Station.

Accessible Transportation in Slovenia

Part of Slovenia’s commitment to responsible travel includes making sure as many visitors as possible can enjoy the country’s natural and urban offerings. This inclusivity extends to those with physical disabilities.

The Slovenian Tourist Board specifically addresses accessible tourism on its website, informing travelers how best to maneuver in each region. Around Lake Bled, for instance, the path around the lake is wheelchair ready. The funicular to the Ljubljana Castle, as well as entry into many of the city’s sites and museums, have been made accessible. Slovenia’s most-visited attraction, Postojna Cave, is also barrier-free.

Many sites, museums, hotels, spas and restaurants display a disability-friendly certificate to show they have introduced modifications to help mobility-impaired visitors. Passengers requiring special assistance on public transportation should contact Slovenian Railways or the individual bus operators 48 hours ahead of their planned departure.