Slovenia is a relatively small country but it is one of the many European countries that now uses the euro. You can find out more about it and what to expect when you visit the country below.
What coins and notes are available for this currency?
As is the case with all other countries using the euro, there are several coins and notes you will likely come across when you are in the country. The sub-division of the euro is the euro cent, although in reality most people prefer to call them cents. The cent coins are the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. In addition you can also use the one and two euro coins.
There are also a selection of banknotes although the larger value ones are rarer and you probably won’t come across them. In fact you might find you don’t want to use the larger notes as it can be difficult to get them accepted and to get change for them. These are the €100, €200 and €500 notes. You can however use the smaller ones, which are available in denominations of €5, €10, €20 and €50.
From past to present – the history of the Slovenia euro
Slovenia wasn’t among the first group of countries at the forefront of adopting the new European currency. Instead it would only join several years after the currency became legal tender elsewhere. It joined the euro and started using the banknotes and coins on 1st January 2007. Prior to this date the country used the Slovenian tolar, which is probably one of the least known currencies in the world, either then or now.
How to get hold of Slovenia euros
When you have a trip booked to Slovenia you can get some euros before you go. These are available to buy from your local bureau de change, or alternatively you can get them from an online provider. Either way you should carefully compare the rates offered by different providers so you can get the best deal on the exchange.
It is worth having a fair few euros in your pocket at all times; some travellers have noted that the smaller shops don’t take card payments and they will only accept cash. You can withdraw more from cash machines outside banks and in other easy to locate places in towns and major locations. If you are taking a debit card with you to withdraw cash with, make sure it has the Visa sign as this is more easily accepted. Credit cards are however very good to use if you want to make sure you can pay for things in larger shops and restaurants. Just be sure you alert your provider as to your travel dates and where you will be, so they don’t stop your card thinking it could be fraudulently used. This is incredibly inconvenient when you’re the one using it but it is safer than the alternative.
How to find out the latest exchange rate between your home currency and the Slovenia euro
Getting the latest exchange rates is easy nowadays thanks to the internet. You can find the most up to date rates on lots of different sites. You just have to choose your own currency to start with and the euro currency as the destination currency to convert it into. You can then select any specific amount of money to convert or simply do a one unit conversion depending on what you want to do.
Even though Slovenia is in Europe and it shares a currency with several other countries, it is a very different country from every other one in Europe. As such if you want to go there for a holiday you should find out more information on the country first. One of the best places to go to start with is the official website for the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia which is at http://london.embassy.si/index.php?id=34&L=1.
Travelling safely with Slovenia euros
One of the most important things to remember when visiting Slovenia – and this is taken from the official UK government website – is that you must register as a foreign national with the police within three days of arriving in the country. If you do not do this you may have to pay a fine.
Aside from this you need to focus on staying safe whenever you are in the most popular parts of the country. For the most part it is safe but there are opportunities for pickpockets to operate and target tourists, so make sure you minimise the risks as far as you are concerned. Don’t flash your money around and make sure you are careful when using cash machines anywhere. Keeping your money safely tucked away in a wallet or purse may not be enough to deter pickpockets. This is why some people take the step of keeping small amounts of money in separate places. This means that even if you are pickpocketed you can be sure they won’t take all your money.
Where to spend your euros in Slovenia – and what to spend them on
Slovenia is a relatively small country in Europe that is bordered by Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, Croatia to the south and Italy to the west. It is almost a landlocked country but for a tiny piece of its border in the far south western region.
The chances are you probably don’t know much about Slovenia unless you have already been there. However you can have the best time exploring this delightful country – and there certainly is a lot to explore. For example Bled is well worth a closer look. This is a storybook Alpine town situated on the banks of Lake Bled. You’ll find it in the north west of the country and it has the charming Bled Castle to share with you as well.
Indeed natural sights are many and varied in the country. The Triglav National Park is the one and only national park in Slovenia and it is tucked into the north western corner of the country. It is so called after the highest peak in Slovenia, Triglav. It is a charming and breathtaking place and one that is well worth a look.
Back in the thick of things it would be foolhardy to visit the country without taking a look at its capital, Ljubljana. There are many iconic sights here including the castle of the same name and the so-called Triple Bridge. The capital is almost in the centre of the country and it is home to far fewer people than you would think in a capital city – less than 300,000 to be more exact. One of the best things about the city is its size – it is very easy to navigate on foot without missing too much. Look out for the Preseren Square, which has four main streets making up the bulk of its design.
Aside from the aforementioned Triple Bridge you will also see several other bridges that cross the Ljubljanica River in the city. Take a closer look at the Butchers’ Bridge if you can – there are several sculptures here including one of Adam and Eve and another of Prometheus.
If you would prefer to go underground you can do just that in the Postojna Cave. This is located in the Karst area of the country, in the south west, and it is apparently the best known cave of its kind in the entire world. There are several miles of passages and underground spaces here and you can even catch an electric train that takes you to the deepest parts of this cave. The train travels on tracks running for 3.7km into the cave, taking you into places you may not otherwise see.
You will undoubtedly want to try some Slovenian food while you are on holiday there, and you can spend some euros on all kinds of dishes. Among the traditional dishes is ajdovi zganci, which consists of buckwheat flour, cracklings and oil among other things. The Slovenians also love minestra which translates into minestrone, which you may already be familiar with. The origins of this soup are Italian but its journey into Slovenia may not be a surprise since the countries share a border.
Aside from these two dishes you will find a number of other engaging and interesting dishes to try as you journey around Slovenia.
Conclusion
While you may not be all that familiar with this country, you might be surprised at how much it has to offer to the casual traveller. As you can see it doesn’t matter whether you are visiting on a long weekend or for longer, or which part of the country you’re going to. Whatever the case may be you are guaranteed to make some surprising and engaging discoveries while you are there.
Make sure you are prepared with your euro coins and notes and you will have the best time when you are staying in your chosen part of Slovenia.