Slovenia: Fast Facts
Country
Public
Shopping
Etiquette
Drinking
Food & Drink
- Capital: Ljubljana
- Main Airport: Aerodrom Ljubljana/Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport – 45 minutes from Reykjavik
- Time Zone: CET (Central European Time)
- Currency: Euro (many small businesses are cash only)
- ATM's: don't always accept Mastercard, VISA is more popular.
- Language: Slovenian (but most know a second language of English, German, or Italian)
- Electricity: 220 volt, German-style two-pronged plugs
- Emergency #: 112
- Police #: 113
Public
- Toilets: most toilets at railway stations, city centers, and underneath bridges are free
- WiFi: visitors to Ljubljana's city center can use the free wireless networks for up to 60 minutes a day. Those with the Ljubljana Tourist Card can enjoy 24-hour free access.
- Tap water: safe to drink, drinking fountains are located throughout major cities
- Museums: Open Tuesday - Sunday 9/10am to 5/6pm. Most museums are closed on Mondays.
- Pharmacy hours: Monday - Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday 7am to 1pm. Large towns will have a pharmacy open 24 hours a day.
Shopping
- VAT Refund: visitors from non-European Union countries are eligible to receive a refund of value added tax paid on a minimum of 50 euros worth of goods purchased in a single shop within a single day on the condition that the goods are taken outside the country within 3 months.
- Store Hours: most stores in Ljubljana are open from early morning (8 a.m.) until evening (7 p.m.) during the week, and for a few morning hours on Saturdays. Local stores are usually closed on Sundays, but large shopping centers will be open in the morning.
Etiquette
- Greeting: Dober dan (DOH-ber dahn) is said ALL the time when greeting someone or entering a place of business.
- Seating: Most restaurants allow you to sit down and take a seat at any open table there is. There is no need to wait for someone to seat you.
- Menus: Waiters may ask "how can I help you?" before providing a menu. They want to know if you would like drinks, dessert, or a meal so they can provide the correct menu.
- Tips: Tipping is not necessary for anything. Some diners choose to tip 10-20% of the bill (cash) for good service.
- Check: You MUST ask for the check! They will not ask if you would like the check, even if they are clearing the table.
- Attire: Dress is more casual and similar to American style. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops are quite normal. The amount of acceptable skin shown is much more relaxed than Italy.
Drinking
- Wine: Wine is rarely exported outside of Slovenia.
- Drinking age: 18
Food & Drink
- Blueberry liqueur: traditional after dinner drink
- Cream cake: sheet of custard filled pastry dough dusted with powdered sugar
- Teran: red wine grown on iron-rich, red soil.