t isGreen! I will say it over and over again, as soon as you purchase the Slovenian vignette and enter Slovenia you will see nothing but green. To travel by car in Slovenia is to travel surrounded by nature, immersed in boundless greenery. Trees on the right, trees on the left, above, below, everywhere…if it were up to them there would be trees even in the middle of the road, but for an understandable reason there are obviously not.
If you prefer -> Go straight to the Slovenian highway toll information
I just returned from a long weekend in Slovenia, four days in the rolling hills of southern Slovenia, specifically in Primostek, almost on the border with Croatia, in fact, right on the border with Croatia.
You can well imagine that on Slovenian roads and highways I drove quite a few miles. I expected a country as very green as its own capital Ljubljana, named European Green Capital for 2016, but not so much.
The Bela Krajina area in the southeast of the country is very special, as I told you it is a succession of forests, groves and hills dedicated to the cultivation of vines; excellent wine production abounds. It is an area where it is also pleasant simply to travel by car. Each “décolletage” leads to new landscapes, each one different from the other, each one worthy of a photo, a repetition of picture-postcard landscapes dotted with villages scattered here and there, the industrial areas we know well here you can forget completely.
There is no real downtown, most people as a second car have a tractor (my deduction), a tractor that is in most cases the major source of livelihood and perhaps even entertainment. Several times in the evening, although very dark, I have seen them pass by at incredible speeds with the tractor full of hay bales, but that is another story.
In this regard, local productions are numerous: from wine to sausages, from oil to handicrafts of various kinds, all of extreme quality.
Apart from this dutiful premise for a country that amazed me and that I plan to visit again soon, I wanted to dwell on some information that might be useful if you are planning a road trip to Slovenia, information that I did not find clearly explained on other sites before leaving and so I want to be as precise as possible.
The Slovenian vignette, or rather, the highway sticker
Should you need to use the highways in Slovenia or for that matter any freeway you will definitely need the Slovenian vignette. The toll in Slovenia is not paid as in Italy every time you use the highway; just as in Switzerland, here too you need a vignette that allows you to move freely on Slovenian highways without having to stop.
It is a flat fee for the service, and in my opinion it is very convenient; I wish it were like that in Italy as well. Probably if they adopted this method here too, I would be on the road all the time. The cost of the highway is a major factor when the trip is medium/short.
How much does the Slovenian vignette cost?
The cost of the vignette in Slovenia depends on the duration and type of vehicle on which it is applied.
The vignette can be: weekly, monthly, and annual and is distinguished into motorcycles, cars, and vans.
I valid for the predetermined time from the time you purchase it, in fact the sticker they will give you will already have been marked consistent with what you have paid.
More up-to-date information on monthly and/or annual prices can be found HERE where among other things you can also find the regulations regarding vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons.
Where to buy the Slovenian vignette?
If you are coming from Italy just stop at a truck stop near the border. It is very simple: you indicate the duration and type of car and that’s it, then you put it in the place marked on the vignette itself.
How are the highways in Slovenia?
Well, for someone who is used to doing the A4 in Italy, being on a Slovenian highway is definitely relaxing. At least in my experience, I have found them always smooth and without any problems regarding asphalt.
The permitted speed is 130 km/h on highways. On slip roads (the expressways or bypasses) the limit is 100kmh. The limits are marked quite well and the reduced speed sections are visible and marked very well.
Special features of highways and traffic in Slovenia.
Traveling on the highways you will see that there will be occasional slowdowns with entry at some toll booths. Do not be afraid, you enter those where it says Vinjeta in circled orange . Regarding traffic, I have never found any moments of traffic jams. Everything is very smooth, maybe only in Ljubljana you struggle a bit because of the traffic lights.
Diesel prices in Slovenia
In addition to being one of the most beautiful places to do some driving and hiking, Slovenia is also affordable in terms of the cost of diesel fuel.
Other things to keep in mind to avoid going home with a ticket.
To travel by car in Slovenia you must:
- Have on board the first aid kit according to EU regulations, reflective vest, safety triangle and paradoxically also a pair of headlight bulbs as a spare.
- Equip yourself with winter tires during the period between November 15 and March 15.
- Pay attention to the blood alcohol level, which should not exceed 0.05%.
It’s pretty obvious but I’ll stress it anyway, in Slovenia you need a valid identity card for expatriation.
Conclusion: Slovenia is really a very intriguing and relaxing place at the same time and touring it by car is definitely the best way to appreciate it. Unfortunately, my trip was very short-lived but I am sure I will be back soon to enjoy another little piece of this amazing green lung of Europe.