How Much I Spent for Five Days in Slovenia

Though it’s quickly increasing in popularity, Slovenia is still an underappreciated tourist destination compared to most of its neighbors in Central Europe.

In fact, when I spent a year traveling the world full time, I underestimated how much I would love Slovenia, giving myself just 5 days to spend there (when I could have happily spent weeks exploring all there is to see in Slovenia!).

Still, I tried to make the most of my limited time in Slovenia, spending several days exploring Ljubljana and taking fantastic day trips to both Bled and Piran.

And, during all this exploration, I tracked every dollar I spent in Slovenia — from transportation to food and lodging to activities to…everything. Now I’m spilling the beans and telling you exactly how much it cost me to visit Slovenia for five days.

Are you:

Wondering how much international travel really costs?
Trying to figure out your own budget for an upcoming trip?
Simply feeling nosy? (Don’t worry, I get it.)

Then my Travel Spending series is for you. Here, I open up about how much my travels actually cost so you can make informed decisions about which destinations, accommodations, restaurants, activities, and more might be right for you. I also make some alternative suggestions in case you’re traveling on a tighter budget or want to shell out for a little more luxury than I chose.

Check out all the posts in my Travel Spending series here, or read on for a peek into my spending in Slovenia.

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The Cost of Five Days in Slovenia

My 5-day trip to Slovenia took place in September 2023. If you’re reading this in some future year, you can estimate the cost of my trip in present values using an inflation calculator (like this one, if you’re in the U.S.).

All amounts are in USD.

Transportation

Train from Venice	$35.98
Buses	$17.08
TOTAL:	$53.06

I reached Slovenia via train from Venice. This was super easy, although I think in retrospect that I probably claimed the wrong seat on the train (the conductor let it slide). My train ticket cost $35.98.

I also took buses from Ljubljana to Bled and back, and from Ljubljana to Piran and back, which cost $17.08 in total.

My total transportation costs: $53.06.

A woman looks out of a boat toward an island with a church on it.

A woman sits in a city bus, which is reflected in a blue colored mirror.

If you want to spend less on Transportation…

Well, good luck! You’re not likely to spend much less than I did on getting to Slovenia, unless you’re also coming from somewhere quite nearby.
You could skip the in-country bus costs by choosing not to take day trips like I did, and simply staying in Ljubljana.

If you’re looking for more luxurious Transportation…

Unless you’re coming from somewhere nearby in Europe, you’re probably going to fly to Slovenia. Naturally, you’re free to spend as much as you want on fancy upgraded seats, or not (or hey — book with points!).

Accommodations

I spent all five nights in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. I spent several days exploring Ljubljana, which was totally delightful and woefully underrated!), and two days taking day trips away from Ljubljana.

I stayed at Apartments Maria, which is wonderfully located right by the city’s famous Dragon Bridge. My room was spacious and clean, and though I shared a bathroom with other rooms on the same floor, it was never a problem. Apartments Maria was also walkable from the bus and train station, as well as all the sights I wanted to see, so I never had to take a bus or taxi within Ljubljana.

My total accommodation costs: $284.21.

A rainy street in Ljubljana, with pastel colored buildings and a Hotel sign.

If you want to spend less on Accommodations…

Book a dorm room in a hostel, such as AdHoc Hostel. This option requires you to be comfy with sleeping on a bunk bed in a room with a few strangers. If that’s the case, hostel dorm rooms are a great option: they’re often incredibly inexpensive, and you can easily meet other travelers if that’s something you’re looking for. (And, if you’re traveling in a group of, say, 4 or 8 people, you may even be able to snag a dorm room for your group alone!) NOTE: some hostels offer women-only dorm rooms for female travelers who would rather not stay in the same room as men.
For a slightly higher price, plenty of hostels also offer private rooms with shared bathrooms, meaning that you have your own space to sleep and keep your stuff, but use a bathroom elsewhere on the hall (which is also accessible to other guests, and may be either a single-user space or may be a dorm-style bathroom). If you want to save money but are skittish about sharing a room with strangers, I highly recommend this option. (Some budget hotels also offer this style of room!)
NOTE: Other than flights, accommodations are often the biggest line item in a travel budget. The great news is that most destinations have a variety of lodging options at all sorts of price points — so if you’re looking to cut on-location costs, start here!

If you’re looking for more luxurious Accommodations…

There’s certainly no shortage of great lodging options in Ljubljana. (Or elsewhere in Slovenia! Though I do recommend staying in Ljubljana unless you are visiting Slovenia for longer than just a few days, and have time to plant yourself in a few different locations.) For example, check out The Hotel Ljubljana, Tivoli Boutique Inn, or Occidental Ljubljana.

Food & Drink

I spent $157.29 on food and drinks. This feels okay to me, but I certainly could have spent less with a little more effort.

My accommodation didn’t include breakfast, and two of my breakfasts (in Bled and Piran) were actually my second- and third-most expensive meals in Slovenia (basically because I selected restaurants in tourist areas).

This total also includes sit-down dinners, street food for lunches, snacks, and plenty of coffee.

A bowl of ramen and a glass of wine on a table outside at night.

A hand holding out a Slovenian dumpling, covered in red sauce.

If you want to spend less on Food and Drink…

Eat fewer meals at sit-down restaurants, and opt for more street food instead.
If you’re staying at a hostel or an apartment with a kitchen, you could buy groceries and prepare some of your meals, which typically costs a lot less than eating at restaurants. You can also buy cheaper, premade meals at many grocery stores.
Skip special drinks, like alcohol, at restaurants.

If you’re Willing to Spend More on Food and Drink…

Eat at fancier restaurants!

Activities

I spent $91.00 on activities.

This total included boat rides in Ljubljana and Bled, as well as entrance to various churches, towers, castles, and city walls.

A couple walks through a square below a tower.

If you want to spend less on Activities…

Do less!
More specifically, my most expensive activities were boat rides in Bled and Ljubljana, as well as entrance to Bled Castle and Ljubljana Castle. I really enjoyed all of these activities, but you could skip them if you have a tighter budget. (I’d prioritize experiencing the boat rides over the castles, personally!)

If you’re Willing to Spend More on Activities…

I didn’t really skip out on any activities I wanted to do — Slovenia is not an extremely expensive place to visit — but you could join guided tours instead of visiting places like Bled and Piran independently, which would be easier but would also cost more.

Shopping

I spent $8.21 on one souvenir (a Christmas tree ornament — I collect these from every country I visit!).

If you want to spend less on Shopping…

Easy: don’t buy anything!

If you’re Willing to Spend More on Shopping…

Easy: shop more!
In all seriousness, there’s no shortage of places to spend your money while traveling, including (of course) shops and boutiques in Ljubljana and smaller towns like Piran.

Grand Total

Transportation	$53.06
Accommodations	$284.21
Food & Drink	$157.29
Activities	$91.00
Shopping	$8.21
TOTAL:	$593.77

In total, I spent $593.77, or $118.75 per day.

Whether that sounds like a lot or a little to you will of course depend on your own perceptions of how much travel should cost. To me, it sounds a bit expensive for Slovenia, but not egregiously so (mainly, I could have easily spent less money on food).