Slovenia

NEED TO KNOW

GOOD TO KNOW

Cuisine
Slovenian cuisine is typically hearty and heavily seasoned, focusing on staples such as smoked ham, hard salami, and cottage cheese. Menus demonstrate the influence of neighboring states, with common dishes ranging from Italian pizza to Austrian strudel. Slovenia's coast offers culinary delights unlike that found in the mountainous inner regions. Shellfish and the Adriatic bluefish are especially treasured.

Though Slovenian wine is never on the tip of one's tongue—with a wine-minded capital named Ljubljana, that's hardly surprising—the countryside is dotted with family-run vineyards that produce fantastic wines.

Good Buys
Homemade culinary products are generally the best buys in Slovenia, including native wines, herbal teas, and honey. In addition to these favorites, intricate lace products can also be found at outdoor bazaars around the country.

Money
A value-added tax (VAT) of 20 percent is added to every purchase you make. Travelers from outside the European Union, however, can get a refund at the customs office in the airport or train station. Tipping is not the common practice throughout Slovenia, but in especially touristy or trendy locales, a 10 percent gratuity is becoming standard.

It might be best to bring some cash for a quick conversion when you arrive, though most foreign credit cards will have no problem with the country's modernized banking system and up-to-date ATMs. Most hotels—even the smallest—and a majority of restaurants now accept credit cards.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS