USEFUL INFORMATION
Important Numbers:
Taxis:
Information on taxis can be found on the Travel Information page.
Practical Info:
Stores, banks, post offices, money, exchanges:
Water:
Phones, portable phones:
Health Care for Foreign Visitors
The level of health care in Slovenia corresponds to European standards. Every city has a major health care where clinics operate from 7am to 7pm. On-duty health services are also organized as well as home visits by doctors.
Over-the-counter and prescription medicines are sold in pharmacies. Pharmacies are open from 7am to 7pm, and for urgent needs certain pharmacies are open at night.
Every foreign visitor has a right to emergency medical care. Slovenia has signed conventions on free emergency medical care with several countries (check with your health authorities and ask for the appropriate bilingual form). In this case the patient is entitled to free emergency medical help. Other services must be paid in cash, and a receipt will be given on the basis of which the patient may apply for a refund in his own country.
Citizens from countries with whom no convention has been signed are also guaranteed emergency medical care; however, they must bear the costs of such services themselves.
Pharmacies:
Slovenian Food
Slovenia's location at the meeting point of Pannonian, Alpine, and Mediterranean cultural regions is reflected in its culinary heritage, and many Slovenian dishes spring from these three great cultures.
The oldest Slovenian food are dishes made from flour and groats. The best known are the breads made for holiday occasions which today appear in the form of braided loaves or wreathes, the struklji which Slovenians prepare in 70 different ways stuffed with sweet fillings, meat or vegetables, and zganci. A real Slovenian speciality is potica, a dessert for holiday occasions also prepared with the widest variety of fillings. A major event in the countryside still today is the slaughtering of a pig from which many various products are made: groat and white klobasa, blood sausage, roasts, stuffed tripe, smoked sausage, salami, ham, bacon, and, of course, the highest quality and most prized karst prsut. Recipes for the preparation of poultry, especially goose, duck, and capon, have been preserved for many centuries.
And it is obvious that in a country beside the sea there is a large choice of the fish and sea fruits which we find most often on Primorska menus.
Wine
Winegrowing was established in our part of the world by the Celts, and the Romans greatly improved the vine and spread winegrowing throughout the country. Medieval records speak in particular of monastery and castle vineyards and the fame of the wines which were taken to Salzburg and into Bavaria.
The north-eastern part of Slovenia is well known for outstanding white wines. In this region dominated by Laski and Renski rizling, other top quality wines are also widespread. The largest wine cellars are in Maribor, Ptuj, Ormoz, Ljutomer, and Gornja Radgona. The Ptuj cellars have the oldest archives, and wines have been preserved here since 1917. In Gornja Radgona, production of sparkling wines began in 1852. The best known are Zlata and Srebrna Radgonska Penina, which is produced using the classic champagne method.
To the south is the homeland of the light, agreeably fresh russet-coloured cvicek wine, and grapes are successfully grown for other quality white, red, and rose wines as well. The cellars in Brezice, Smartno, Krsko, Novo mesto and Metlika are well known.
In the south-western part of Slovenia, the vines grow under the influence of the Mediterranean climate. Along the coast of the Adriatic and in the Karst region mainly red wine varieties are grown. The best known wine of this region is the karst teran made from the refosk grape variety. You can visit cellars in Dobrovo, Vipava, Sezana, and Koper.
Shopping Tips
Worth of buying:
Restaurants and Pubs
Even though lunches and social events at evenings should be sufficient, you might try some local taste. Please ask at the desk for details how to get to the restaurants and pubs listed below.
Restaurants (to mention ONLY a few):
Pubs: