Slovenia : Safety by City
Slovenia (not to be confused with Slovakia) is a country located in South Central Europe in the Julian Alps at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, bordering Austria to the north, Italy to the west, Hungary to the northeast, and Croatia to the southeast.
It was, for a long time, one of Yugoslavia’s six constituent republics, but Slovenia as it is today Slovenia gained its independence in 1991.
After this, it started transforming into a modern state by developing a strong economy and a stable democracy.
Its history before Yugoslavia is also interesting: in Older Slovene cities you can see at a first glance the baroque (Austrian) influence and Roman (Italian) architectures.
Maybe that’s the reason why the countryside and city architecture in the northwest share many common features with Austria such as baroque shrines and facilities.
It’s also one of the safest countries in Europe.
Warnings & Dangers in Slovenia
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Overall, Slovenia is a very safe country to travel to. Violent crime is rare and petty theft should be your only concern, so make sure you watch out for the pickpockets and bag snatchers!
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Transportation in Slovenia is generally safe and reliable, but it is advised to be careful in public transportation since that's where pickpockets operate. Also, there have been reports of taxi driving ripping off people at airports and railway stations, so negotiate your price before getting in the vehicle, or just avoid taxis that don't have meters.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Pickpockets are an issue in Slovenia, but it shouldn't be too big of a problem if you take precaution measures, such as keeping your valuables in a safe place, not carrying all your money in the same place, and not carrying anything valuable in an easily accessible part of your outfit.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There are no significant threats of natural disasters in Slovenia, except for occasional tremors, since Slovenia is on an earthquake fault line.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
Mugging or kidnapping aren't common in Slovenia, but it is still recommendable to avoid poorly lit and deserted areas and to not accept drinks from strange people, although drink spiking is not common either.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Even though there haven't been any terrorist attacks in Slovenia's recent history, these types of attacks shouldn't be ruled out, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
As in any other tourist destination, there is the risk of getting scammed. Always check your change twice, negotiate the price of every service beforehand, and ask around about the real prices of services and other goods.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Traveling alone in Slovenia is very easy for females. The country is incredibly safe and since it's so small, it is very easy to get around. Just avoid poorly lit and deserted areas and walking alone at night, with a few more basic precaution rules and your trip should go smoothly.
So... How Safe Is Slovenia Really?
Slovenia is completely safe to visit, and some even say it’s the safest country in Eastern Europe.
Crime rates are generally low and your biggest concern will be petty theft or bag snatching on the streets.
Violent crime is generally very low and decreasing yet.
Still, as mentioned, the biggest problems for tourists in Slovenia are pickpockets so it is recommended that tourists pay attention when in crowded areas or tourist landmarks, and especially when in public transportation.
Another issue in Slovenia is car break-ins and theft.
If you’re not in a position to park your car in your hotel or a residential garage, then try and park it somewhere where there is plenty of light and pedestrians around at all times.
Try to use anti-theft devices and never leave valuables in a visible part of the car.
Also, you might encounter a problem with local taxi drivers.
Even though in general, most taxi drivers are honest and reliable, there have been reports of taxi drivers ripping off tourists at airports or train stations.
Always negotiate the price before getting in the taxi or make sure you enter in a taxi with a meter.
How Does Slovenia Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Slovenia | 87 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Qatar | 84 |
| United Arab Emirates | 79 |
| Montenegro | 70 |
| Poland | 84 |
| Lithuania | 79 |
| Argentina | 70 |
| Denmark | 94 |
Useful Information
Visas
Generally, a visa is not needed for any stays shorter than 90 days, though some nationalities will need a valid EU Schengen visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of return. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Euro is the official currency in Slovenia since it is a member of the EU. ATMs are widely available, and credit, as well as debit cards, are accepted by most businesses and establishments throughout the country.
Weather
Slovenia has a continental climate, characterized by cold winters and warm summers. However, in the coastal areas of the country there is a pleasant submediterranean climate. Average temperatures range from are -2° in January to 21° in July.
Airports
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, also known as Brnik Airport, which was its previous name, is the busiest international airport of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is located near the village of Brnik, 24 km northwest of Slovenia's capital city.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Slovenia, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Slovenia Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 3 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 16 | 9 | 3 |
| Low °C | -2 | -2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 3 | -2 |
| High °F | 37 | 43 | 52 | 61 | 70 | 77 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 61 | 48 | 37 |
| Low °F | 28 | 28 | 36 | 41 | 50 | 55 | 59 | 59 | 52 | 45 | 37 | 28 |
Slovenia - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Ljubljana | 77 |
Central europe, get your Geography right
Please note its CENTRAL not Eastern Europe and it is one of the safest countries in the world.
Exactly, not Eastern Europe, as it never was, not geographically seen, neither politically. All though the schooling and mainstream media system from the most Western countries are teaching and preaching, even in today’s time that Slovenia is a part of the Eastern Europe.
Exactly. Slovenia is Central Europe and also the 8th safest country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index 2019.
Its central-east Europe but crime is on the rise.
Very safe
I’ve been to Slovenia 12 times and haven’t witnessed any crime whatsoever. The people are really friendly and it is very safe.
Lol if anything’s a scam it’s this site. How can Slovenia be safest eastern europe country if its located in central Europe?
I'm a black from Nigeria, I'm a trailer driver love to Work in Slovenia
Is it safe for black’s
It`s safe, you shouldnt worry
Its safe, you shouldnt worry. You might get a few stares just because there arent that many black people in the entire region (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia etc), but none of it is ill-intended.
Honestly i live there and people can be weirded out by people of the other race, because they dont live there, but someone wont call you a slur if you walk down the street. Its like most european countries.
Omg Is Safe
I will go there with me and my son
The fact that the kidnapping thing is on medium is just insane, like I’ve lived here my whole intire life and I’ve never heard of a person that was kidnapped, exept for it being on the news once, to be fair my grandmas house has been broken into once so i guess you can count that but other than that no one that i know has ever experienced crime ever which makes sence, since the whole country is bassicly alps and hills and fields… with mostly suburban towns in between so you know don’t worry for everyone that thinks you’ll get kidnapped.
Slovenia is not Eastern Europe. And it is not one of the safest countries in Eastern Europe, it is one of the most safe countries in the world.
Nice country, but keep up your guard
Been to Slovenia numerous times. It’s overall a very safe country and very beautiful aswell.
The only thing I have to say here is that we once had a very unpleasant experience with a cop, when I was driving on the highway with my mother (I’m a female and was only 19 years old at that time). He pulled us over and made up some traffic violation I did not commit. In the end he pushed my mom to pay him 500€!! to let us go. (Since I had forgotten my passport and had only my drivers license with me, he threatend to imprison me, if we didn’t pay – don’t know if that was just made up but it made us give him the money..)
I don’t know if this was just bad luck or if it happens regularly in Slovenia, but still be cautious and don’t allow policemen to mess with you in foreign countries..
In general this would not be true for Slovenia. Police is not corrupted, nor are they prone to overusing their power at any time in my opinion. A very very bad luck for you in this case, I would say.
well it is safe but stay out of celje people there are crazy and gangs and stuff i almost got beat up and i heard random gun shots
I went to Slovenia this November and I had a TERRIBLE experience. I have been scammed by official taxis from the airport, I paid 65€ from the airport to Ljubljana!!! and this should not exceed 25€. Also, the first night someone STOLE my wallet while I was walking in the city center, and the police told me that it’s happening a lot in crowded areas. I had a very unpleasant time there. I do not recommend traveling there…