Is Slovenia Expensive? A Guide to Prices in Slovenia

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by Maggie Turansky


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Often touted as an alternative to visiting Switzerland or Italy, it can be common to ask yourself is Slovenia expensive to visit and wonder about the average prices in Slovenia.

The small Central European nation has been gaining popularity for many years, attracting visitors with its picturesque lakeside towns, dramatic mountain ranges, and a charming capital city that feels like a small town.

While Slovenia certainly isn’t as affordable as nearby nations, it still isn’t a very expensive place to visit in general. On average, you can expect a trip to Slovenia to cost €55-140 (roughly $60-153 USD) per person per day for a budget to mid-range traveller.

After spending a significant amount of time in Slovenia and tracking every expense, we have accrued a lot of knowledge about how much a trip to Slovenia will cost an average traveller.

All prices are listed in Euro, which is the currency that is used in Slovenia. To see how prices compare to your home currency, click here to check the current exchange rate.

Slovenia Travel Cost Guide

There are five key factors that one needs to consider when planning a travel budget for Slovenia: accommodation, transportation, food, activities, and entertainment. All of these things will factor into the total amount you can expect to spend when visiting Slovenia.

Accommodation Prices

The most significant cost you need to consider when planning out your total Slovenia trip cost is going to be the price of accommodation. This is also going to be the most significant part of any Slovenia travel budget as you need a place to sleep every night and, unfortunately, the cost of a bed in most places in Slovenia isn’t as cheap as in some of its neighbouring countries.

However, while the cost of accommodation in Slovenia can be on the higher side, it doesn’t mean it has to cost a small fortune, either. Especially if you plan a few months or more in advance, you will likely have far more options available for you and more of a price range to choose from.

It can also save you money if you choose to visit Slovenia in the low season or shoulder seasons — basically outside of the warm and popular summer months of June-September.

Ljubljana from above
Ljubljana from above

If you plan on visiting Ljubljana (which is where most people will visit when in Slovenia), expect prices to be at their peak here. In an attempt to curb the effects of tourism on the small Slovenian capital, there is a nightly tourist tax that is imposed on guests.

This amounts to €3.13 per person per night and applies to every single accommodation type, including Airbnbs and hostels. Some places may include this tax into the nightly rate, while others may require guests to pay this separately.

All of these things considered, there are numerous accommodation options in Slovenia ranging in price depending on your budget. If you’re backpacking or travelling on a really tight budget, then your best bet is going to be a hostel dorm bed.

There are hostels in most major tourist cities and towns in Slovenia and you can expect a bed to start at €15-20 per night, depending on the number of beds in the dorm and the overall quality of the hostel you choose.

Another great budget option, particularly for couples, is a private room in a local’s home through Airbnb. In Ljubljana and other expensive areas, like Bled, expect a private room to cost somewhere around €30-40 per night, depending on where it is and what season you are travelling in.

If you value your independence and want to live like a local in Slovenia, finding a private apartment on Airbnb is also a great option. You can expect a one-bedroom apartment in Ljubljana to start somewhere around €60 per night and in smaller cities like Maribor or Ptuj for it to land somewhere around €40-50 per night.

On the other end, hotels in Slovenia are going to be the most expensive accommodation option available. In major tourist areas, you will likely find it difficult to find a room that is less than about €50 per night and this obviously will increase depending on the calibre of the hotel you’re planning on staying in. Expect a room in a mid-range hotel to average around €75-100 per night.

All in all, if you’re a budget-to-mid-range traveller, expect to pay upwards of about €20-50 per person per night on accommodation in Slovenia.

Glavni Trg - Maribor's Main Square
Maribor is significantly more affordable than Ljubljana

Transportation Prices

One of the other most constant and important factors in your total trip to Slovenia cost is going to be the cost of transportation. Though Slovenia is small, there is so much to see outside of Ljubljana’s pedestrianised and it’s going to cost something to get there.

Luckily for you, transportation prices aren’t nearly as high as accommodation costs so they won’t take as big of a portion out of your total budget.

Like pretty much everywhere else in the world, if you want to cut down on your transportation costs in Slovenia, your best option is going to be public transit — namely the humble bus or train.

Contrary to other countries in former Yugoslavia, Slovenia actually has quite a developed train network and there are numerous connections between major towns and cities per day, making it a viable and convenient way to get between places in the country.

Train tickets are affordable, with prices varying on the length of the journey. All in all, however, you can expect a basic inter-city train journey between two Slovenian cities to be about €10 per person.

The bus is another popular and convenient transport option, with often more bus connections available than there are trains. Buses tend to be marginally cheaper than the train, however, prices can vary between carriers. Generally, expect a basic inter-city bus between major Slovenian towns to cost around €8 per person. Bus journeys tend to take more or less the same amount of time as the train.

If you want to have more control over your Slovenia itinerary, not be at the mercy of bus or train timetables, or want to get to some smaller villages or slightly off the beaten path, then renting a car could be a good option for you.

This is especially helpful if you want to spend a good amount of time in Triglav National Park, around Lake Bohinj or driving the beautiful Vrsic Pass.

Car rental prices can vary from company to company and from car to car, but it is worth knowing that it is almost always cheaper to hire a manual transmission rather than an automatic.

If you want to find great deals on car hire across all available platforms, we recommend using RentalCars.com.

On average, if you plan to use public transportation and only travel every two or three days in Slovenia, expect to pay about €5 per day on transportation in Slovenia. If you plan to hire a car, expect to pay about €20-30 per day (including petrol, tolls, parking and vignette fees) depending on the type of car hired and if you’re splitting the costs between two people.

Food Prices

One of the other major factors in any budget — and certainly when it comes to your total Slovenia trip cost — is going to be the price of food. Food prices in Slovenia don’t have to break the bank, however, you’ve got to eat and it is going to cost you some of your hard-earned cash.

One of the great things about many Slovenian cities is that you can find set lunch menus at many restaurants. That means you can get a very good meal from a nice restaurant for a fraction of the cost of dinner.

Often, you will get to choose from a handful of different appetisers, mains, and desserts all for about €12-15, depending on the tier of restaurant that you’re dining at. This is an excellent way to experience Slovenia’s up and coming restaurant scene and its unique cuisine without breaking the bank.

If you want to go out for dinner at a mid-range restaurant in the city, then you can expect to pay a bit more than you would at lunchtime. However, food prices aren’t overwhelmingly high in most restaurants and it is normally accessible for those on mid-range budgets to comfortable eat out most meals.

Expect a main dish to cost somewhere between €8-15 depending on what it is you plan on ordering (meat is obviously going to be more expensive than a vegetarian dish) and most appetisers, salads or soups will land somewhere around €5.

If you are on a smaller budget, then plan to shop in grocery stores and cook a good portion of your own meals. There are also numerous cheap eats scattering the streets of Ljubljana, Maribor, Piran and beyond that are sure to appeal to the more budget-conscious.

For instance, you can get a hearty falafel sandwich from a fast food place for less than €5. Balkan favourites like burek are also widely available and are always a good way to fill up if you’re travelling on a shoestring budget.

All in all, if you’re planning on eating at least one major restaurant meal per day, then expect to pay about €20 per day on food in Slovenia. However, it is possible to spend less if you cook the majority of your meals or rely on fast food. It is, obviously, incredibly possible to spend more, as well.

Lunch in Maribor, Slovenia
Great value Slovene meal from a set menu lunch

Activities Prices

Now that we’ve covered the essential factors of thr cost of travel around Slovenia like how much a bed and a meal will cost, it’s time to discuss how much to expect to spend on activities. You aren’t travelling there not to do anything!

Like many other European destinations, the good news about Slovenian cities, in particular, is that you need not spend a lot of money in order to get a good feel for the history and dynamic and to get a lot out of your experience.

For instance, if you want a great way to explore Ljubljana, then plan to go on one of the city’s many free walking tours!

You can learn about the city, its culture, and its history all for an incredibly affordable price. You don’t technically have to pay anything for a free walking tour, however, as guides work only for tips it is good practice to tip your guide a few euros at least at the end of the tour.

There are also numerous hiking and walking opportunities, both within the major cities and in more rural destinations, as well. Of course, getting out into nature and exploring Slovenia’s Julian Alps on foot doesn’t cost a dime and it will get you active while also enjoying some fabulous natural scenery.

If you want to head to some museums while visiting Slovenia — and you should, it’s a great way to learn about where you’re visiting — then you will have to pay entry into those. On average, a full-price ticket into most major museums will cost around €4-5. There are almost always discounts available for children, students with a valid ID, and seniors.

If you plan to go on organised tours, then expect to pay around €30-50 per person for a full-day tour that brings you to numerous destinations. These tours can be a good idea if you’re short on time and want to be able to see as much of Slovenia as possible, however, it will be cheaper to visit the places you want independently.

If you have more time to play around with, I would recommend planning on going to places on your own as it will give you more freedom and time to see things and you will also save a significant amount of money.

All in all, you don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to see and do a lot of things in Slovenia. While everyone has different travel styles and preferences, I would plan to spend around €5-15 per person per day on activities depending on what you want to do. Obviously, it is certainly possible to spend much more than this.

Beautiful Lake Bled
Beautiful Lake Bled is a joy to walk around

Entertainment Prices

And finally, it’s time to cover the last factor when you budget your trip to Slovenia: the cost of entertainment. This aspect of your budget is the most difficult to generalise as it really depends on your habits and priorities while travelling, however, I will try to give you a general idea on how much to expect to spend while on your trip.

If you’re fond of a midday coffee break in order to rest your feet after some active sightseeing, then plan to pay about €1.50-2.50 for an espresso coffee

e drink, depending on what you order. There is a great coffee culture in Slovenia (you can thank its proximity to both Italy and Austria for that) and it’s a great way to relax and people watch.

If you want to sample some of Slovenia’s fantastic local wines, there are innumerable wine bars where you can opt to have a degustation of locally grown and produced reds, whites, and roses.

Again, depending on the tier of wines you choose to try, this will likely cost only about €5-10. If you’re just after a glass of wine, a 100ml (which is the standard measurement in Slovenia) glass will cost about €2-5.

If you’re after a cocktail rather than wine, then plan to spend between €5-8 depending on what it is that you order and where it is that you’re drinking. An Aperol Spritz at a streetside cafe will cost you a lot less than a craft cocktail in a fancy hotel bar.

All in all, your average entertainment costs per person will vary widely on your habits. Expecting that you have one or two drinks per day, plan to spend something around €5-15 per day on entertainment in Slovenia.

Old Vine House in Maribor
The Old Vine House in Maribor is a popular choice for wine tasting

Average Prices in Slovenia

Now that I’ve discussed in detail how much to expect when it comes to prices, here’s what you should plan to spend per person per day when travelling to Slovenia.

Accommodation: €20-50 / night

Transportation: €5-30 / day

Food: €20-30 / day

Activities: €5-15 / day

Entertainment: €5-15 / day

In summation, expect your average Slovenia trip cost to land around €55-140 per person per day. This is assuming that you’re travelling on a budget, but not quite to the extent of a penny-pinching backpacker. It is obviously possible to spend much more than this, however, this is a good benchmark when planning out much to budget for your trip to Slovenia.

It’s also with noting that these prices don’t include any pre-trip expenses, such as flights and travel insurance.

Metelkova City is a must visit on your Ljubljana itinerary if you want to experience the alternative side of the city
Metelkova City – Ljubljana’s alternative side

So is Slovenia expensive? In general, prices certainly aren’t as low as those of other Central European or Balkan nations, however, a trip to this beautiful country does not have to break the bank.

Are you wondering about prices in Slovenia? Have you been? Let us know in the comments!

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Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Comments

  1. Fell in love with this article, and if Slovenia is close to how it is depicted here, it is my next place to visit. Thank you for the info. I will keep following you.

    Reply
  2. I travelled to Ljubljana in 2018 with my family to visit my Relatives, We found Ljubljana can be expensive or inexpensive depending on which side of the river ljubljanica you decide to dine on the castle side it’s the tourist side where prices are marked up as opposed to the ‘ local side ‘ of the river where prices are very reasonable. what ever side suits your wallet/ purse YOU WILL ENJOY IT IMMENSELY.

    Reply
    • Thanks for your insights, Michael! It’s true, the more tourist-oriented areas in Ljubljana are certainly going to be more expensive. All the more reason to get a more local perspective on your trip there 🙂

      Reply

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