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Slovenia is recognised for its emphasis on sustainability. And it is the only country in the world with love in its name. How could we not be excited to explore this pocket-sized country? While we only visited for eight days (as Paul had to leave the Schengen Visa area at the beginning of June), we could have stayed much longer (and we will return).
Our daily expenses in Slovenia were USD57.06 / EUR51.03 per person per day – significantly higher than our budget of USD50.00. We stayed for three nights in Ljubljana, one night in Bled, two nights in Bovec, and two nights in Kobarid – a total of eight nights.
Travel Cost Assumptions
When reading this article, please note that our travel costs are based on a couple travelling together. We are independent, budget-conscious travellers, researching and organising our itineraries using our go-to travel planning tools.
Our travel style is reasonably consistent wherever we go, which is excellent when you want to compare travel costs between destinations and over time:
- Accommodation: We usually stay in self-catered accommodation (homestays, locally owned guesthouses, hostels and short-term rentals) - in our room with (preferably) a private bathroom, though the kitchen and other areas may be shared.
- Dining and Groceries: We usually eat two meals a day at home. But we like to eat out once a day or at least every few days (and prefer locally owned restaurants and small eateries away from the tourist hotspots).
- Experiences: Many of our activities are free or low-cost. When we pay for attractions or activities, we are very selective, as our funds are limited, just like everyone else's (while we're travel bloggers, we seldom get a free ride).
- Transportation: We walk frequently and use public transportation wherever possible. We only occasionally hire a vehicle. The costs to enter or exit a country are not included (though we may include them for reference in the comments).
- Other: Our total daily costs also include mail scanning and forwarding services (as we are location-independent), our mobile phone and data plans, and travel insurance, although only as they relate to the time spent at our destination.
Map of Accommodation, Points of Interest, Eateries and Transport
Below is a map of the recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals or stops mentioned in this article.
Accommodation
We found the accommodation to be more costly in Slovenia than in other European countries we have visited, especially in Bled. Partially, this is due to the tourist tax charged, which varies from city to city and town to town, and which our hosts collected in cash when they saw our passports.
We sourced the majority of our accommodation through Booking.com rather than Airbnb. With only one or two nights in a single location, Airbnb tends to be more expensive, due to its service fee and the cleaning fee that some properties charge. We stayed at the Back Private Rooms in Bled. The other accommodations we stayed at are no longer available to rent. Below are my recommended accommodations for the route.
| Name | Property Features | Location | Type | Price Indicator | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back Hostel | Bunk bed in dormitory (for four) Shared bathroom and kitchen | Bled | Hostel | $ | Book Now |
| Castle Rock Bled apartment | Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property. 300 metres from Bled Castle. | Bled | Apartmenr | $$ | Book Now |
| Quercus Apartments Bled | Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property. | Bled | Apartment | $$$ | Book Now |
| Viktoria Apartments | 550 metres from Lake Bled. | Bled | Apartment | $$$ | Book Now |
| Bovec Apartments Free Alps | One or two bedroom apartments Suburb Reviews | Bovec | Apartment | $$ | Book Now |
| Cozy Apartment Bovec | Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property Mountain and garden views | Bovec | Apartment | $$$ | Book Now |
| Hotel Mangart | 4-stars Restaurant Outdoor swimming pool Wellness and Spa Centre | Bovec | Hotel | $$$ | Book Now |
| Apartma Zotler - Closed as at April 2024 | Kobarid | Apartment | $$ | ||
| City Nest Apartment | One bedroom Apartment Exceptional Reviews | Kobarid | Apartment | $$ | Book Now |
| Jelenov breg pod Matajurem | 2-stars Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property. Bar and family-friendly restaurant | Kobarid | Farm Stay | $$ | Book Now |
| Studio Brnat | Suburb Reviews | Kobarid | Studio | $$ | Book Now |
| Rooms Pri Lovrizu | 2-stars Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property. Shared lounge | Kobarid | Gursthouse | $$$ | Book Now |
| Ljubljana Airbnb - Closed | Sunny and cozy apartment | Ljubljana | Apartment with own bathroom and kitchen | $ | |
| Hotel Slamic Ljubljana | Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property 3-stars Bar Breakfast | Ljubljana | B and B | $$$ | Book Now |
| Vila Selena | 3-stars Certain documented environmental practices implemented at property Super fast Wi-Fi | Ljubljana | Apartment | $$$ | Book Now |
| Oxford Apartments | On-site bar | Ljubljana | Apartment | $$$ | Book Now |
How to save money on accommodation
As with any other travel expense, it's worth shopping around to find the best deal. We look across several booking platforms to find the best value-for-money option. Nightly rates are generally cheaper outside of peak season. If you can only travel during peak season, consider accommodation options that are a little further away from the main tourist attractions but offer good public transport connections.
Wherever you book, read the fine print to compare apples with apples. For example, your stay may incur extra charges (like local tourist taxes or cleaning fees). Some booking platforms include them, while in other cases, you may have to pay your host for them upon arrival.
It's not every day you meet a medieval fighter in your hotel in Bled.
Groceries and Dining
Our grocery expenses were lower than in some of the other European countries we visited recently. We ate out a bit more (you’ll understand why when you read our food journey guide on Slovenia), but also because having our car allowed us to buy more in bulk.
Our cheapest meal cost us EUR12.00 at Orient Express in Ljubljana (two mains, a shared salad, and a shared drink). The most expensive dining bill came to EUR33.27 at Hiša Polonka in Kobarid (two mains, a shared dessert and two drinks). Both restaurants are excellent options if you’re looking to try traditional Slovenian cuisine.
How to save money on dining and groceries
One of the reasons we travel is to experience the local cuisine, but dining out all the time can quickly get expensive. We therefore always try to book accommodation with access to a kitchen - either a private kitchenette or our host's kitchen. That way, we can store food in the fridge and make meals. Paul and I eat out only once a day (sometimes only once a week), usually at lunchtime. This allows us to sample local dishes while taking advantage of great lunch deals. It also means we don't have to roam around unknown parts of town every night in search of a restaurant.
Portion sizes in many parts of the world are usually substantial, so we frequently share a three-course meal. The same applies if you go out for dinner: Order a starter or salad and a main, and that's usually enough for two people. An added benefit is that there is less food waste.
Every country has both more expensive and less expensive supermarkets for groceries. Ask your host about the more affordable options (for example, Aldi or Lidl in many European countries) and try to avoid convenience stores as much as possible.
Transport
From/to the airport
Located approximately 25 km north of the capital, Ljubljana Airport (IATA Code: LJU) offers good bus connections to both the capital and the surrounding towns and villages. The ticket to Ljubljana was EUR3.60 per adult one way. You buy the ticket from the driver. The bus to and from the airport is not part of Ljubljana’s public transportation system. More on that below.
In Ljubljana
Ljubljana has only one mode of public transport: buses. Trams and trolley buses were phased out in 1958 and 1971, respectively. To use Ljubljana’s buses, you first need to purchase an Urbana Card, a rechargeable plastic card (as drivers do not carry cash).
The card can be purchased for a one-time fee of EUR2.00 from various outlets, including newsagents and tobacconists, selected petrol stations, post offices, the main Bus Station, and the Tourist Information Centres in Ljubljana. Some bus stops also have ticket machines, but we didn’t come across any.
How much money do you need to travel?
Are you planning a trip to any other country? As full-time independent travellers with carry-on luggage only, we list our country-by-country travel costs curated over the years. Can you afford not to travel?
To use Ljubljana's buses you need to buy the Urbana Card at outlets such as a newsagent
If you have the choice, buy your card from a Tourist Information Centre (and keep the receipt), as this is the only place that takes your card back at the end of your visit and returns the EUR2.00 fee. Before purchasing the Urbana Card, calculate the amount you estimate you’ll need during your stay, as you’ll not be able to withdraw any funds stored on it when you leave Ljubljana. You can always recharge it as needed (at the same outlets).
The good thing is that multiple people can use the One Urbana Card. Just tell the bus driver before you tap your card on the card reader upon entering the bus. One journey costs EUR1.30, but you are allowed to change buses within 90 minutes at no additional charge. Another great feature: you can also use the card to rent a bike from the public bike-sharing stations and to pay for the cable car to Ljubljana Castle.
Around Slovenia
For our journey around Western Slovenia, we decided to rent a car for five days, as it was the most efficient way to visit Triglav National Park and the Soča Valley. While we prefer to use public transport, when we travelled at the beginning of June, there weren’t any buses (yet) to the Soča Valley via Vršič Pass (the road is closed over winter).
We managed to secure a great deal with the local company AvantCar through RentalCars.com. The AvantCar staff were a pleasure to deal with, and the car was a brand-new Renault Clio.
How to find the best deals on rental cars
Most of the time, we use public transport to get us around. But occasionally, hiring a car or scooter just makes it easier or gets us to places we couldn't go without a set of wheels. Whenever we do hire a vehicle, our first point of call are local rental providers. A quick Google Maps search shows who's near us. We then check the reviews and only contact those other travellers had good experiences with.
If we can't find anyone we're comfortable with, we search for deals on aggregator websites. We've used Rentalcars.com and DiscoverCars.com in the past and had only good experiences with them. Both partner with trusted brands like Hertz, Avis, Budget or Europcar (and in some locations even local providers) - so you can compare car hire options in a similar way you'd compare accommodation offers across Agoda and Booking.com.
We hired a car to explore Western Slovenia (though not an electric one)
How to save money on transportation
Being flexible pays off when it comes to transportation, particularly air travel. If possible, travel outside of peak season. If you can't, fares might still be cheaper at certain times of the week or even during specific hours of the day, so check websites like Skyscanner or Google Flights for the best deals. These websites allow you to compare monthly prices and options on any given date.
If several airports are near your home or destination, compare the prices of the different options to find the most affordable one. For example, flying to Mykonos and taking the ferry to Santorini may be cheaper than flying directly from your home airport to Santorini. If we don't know how to get from A to B, we check Rome2Rio - an aggregator website that shows connections across multiple modes of transport (with price estimates).
Air Travel
Ideally, research with your browser in incognito mode, as cookies will show booking sites how interested you are in making a particular trip, which may affect the price quoted. That applies to all online travel agents (OTAS), not just airlines. If you find a good deal, book it there and then, as prices change constantly:
- The best fares usually go first, so planning is essential for air transportation.
- The same applies to air points or miles, as only a limited number of seats are available on each flight.
If you plan to travel across multiple continents, you may want to compare passes that offer multiple destinations as a package, such as round-the-world (RTW) fares provided by OneWorld or Star Alliance members. If you travel during peak season, these multi-destination packages may be a better deal than booking each leg individually. You can do overland sections on RTW tickets, too, which means you could supplement your RTW ticket with bus and train rides or cheap flights between destinations.
You don't need to resort to hitchhiking to save money on transportation | Photo by Dmitry Shulga on Unsplash
Vehicle Rental (including Relocations)
Unless your trip takes you across oceans, another way to save on transportation is to look for vehicle or motorhome relocations. Websites in many countries offer massively discounted one-way rates (often including fuel and/or insurance) to those driving a vehicle or motorhome from A to B within a specific period. These deals are relatively last-minute, and A and B are usually more significant transport hubs. However, if that's an option, consider searching for vehicle or motorhome relocation services at your destination.
Speaking of vehicles, if you plan to hire a car at your destination, it's also a good idea to shop around. We often use aggregator websites that allow us to search across multiple car rental companies simultaneously.
Hitchhiking
A final option to save on transport costs is… to hitch a ride. While Paul and I did it safely in Dominica on a public holiday (when there was no other option) and have taken plenty of people along in our campervan in New Zealand, there are many countries where we wouldn't feel safe hitchhiking. Judge for yourself where and when you can and can't do it.
Experiences
Most of our experiences in Slovenia were free: the Free Walking Tour in Ljubljana (although we did leave a tip), and hiking the trails around Lake Bled, as well as those in the Soča Valley, including Bovec and Kobarid.
Paid experiences included entrance fees: Vintgar Gorge (EUR10 per person), Kluže Fortress near Bovec (EUR3 per person), and the Tolmin Gorge (EUR6 per person).
How to save money on experiences
Look for free and low-cost experiences
Many activities (and some of our most treasured experiences) have been free or cost little. On our journeys, we have
- Visited many museums free of charge (including the Colosseum and Forum in Rome, which are free on the first Sunday of the month);
- Attended free guided walking tours around the world (you tip at the end based on your budget and how much you liked the tour);
- Did countless self-guided walks and used public transport to get to know a city;
- Hiked in the Andes in Ecuador and climbed volcanoes in the Caribbean;
- Swam and snorkelled at countless beaches, using tree shade rather than paying for parasols and
- Attended free street performances and danced with locals in Argentina, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Search for free activities at your destination; chances are someone has already made a nice list.
Be selective about paid experiences
Paying for activities and attractions can add up quickly. Therefore, look out for special offers and discount coupons. If you travel in a group, you may also pay to book a private tour and share the cost. And finally, shop around - here are some of the OTAs we use and can recommend:
Views like this (from Fort Hermann over the Soča Valley) don't cost you a cent.
Travel Costs Summary Table
| Category | EUR per person per day | |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 22.17 | 44% |
| Dining | 10.60 | 19% |
| Groceries | 4.25 | 8% |
| Transport | 7.69 | 15% |
| Health | 2.92 | 6% |
| Experiences | 2.63 | 5% |
| Miscellaneous | 0.44 | 1% |
| Communications | 0.32 | 1% |
| Total per person per day | 51.03 |
Securing your currency needs overseas can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. We've saved a significant amount of money over the years simply by knowing what to do (or, more importantly, what not to do).
- How not to get caught out by alarming FX rates and exorbitant commissions;
- How to exchange cash on your overseas trip.
- Which debit/credit card is best for your overseas trip, and
- How do you avoid unnecessary fees when withdrawing cash?
Suppose you need to transfer money to pay for your travels upfront. In that case, we recommend Wise and XE Money Transfer (we use them interchangeably, depending on which one offers the better foreign exchange rates and lower commissions).
Have you seen our other articles about Slovenia?
Discovering the local cuisine is part of the fun of travelling. It also makes for a more immersive and authentic experience if you eat at a local restaurant, chat with the waitstaff or chef, and learn more about the food on your table. While in Slovenia, be sure to try a few traditional dishes. In our food guide for (Western) Slovenia, we talk about dishes to look out for on the menu (and where to have them).
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