Europe > 🇸🇮 Slovenia
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Slovenia can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Slovenia; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Slovenia?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Slovenia?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.🏙️ Main Cities in Slovenia
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ljubljana | LJU |
🚆 Getting Around Without a Car
For many visitors, you won’t need a rental car. Slovenia’s public transport network is compact, reliable, and surprisingly far-reaching. Trains link Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Koper, and the main tourist areas, while buses fill the gaps to mountain villages, national parks, and lakes.
Ljubljana → Lake Bled by train takes under an hour (to Lesce-Bled station), and buses are available for the final stretch to the lake. From there, you can continue to Lake Bohinj, another gem of Triglav National Park, by bus.
🚡 Cable cars and railways around Bled
Lake Bled offers more than just the lake itself. If you want elevated views, you can use the Straza Bled chairlift, which runs seasonally and gives sweeping panoramas over the lake. Nearby, the Bohinj area has additional cable cars and mountain lifts, including those at Vogel, all reachable by bus. These make the region fun to explore even without a car.
The Straža Hill Toboggan Run Above Lake Bled
For a burst of fun overlooking Lake Bled, a summer toboggan run twists down the slope from Straza with spectacular views of the lake and Bled Castle. You reach the start by chairlift, and the ride itself is fast, smooth, and suitable for most visitors, with speed controls that let you take it gently or race downhill. It’s an easy add-on to a day at Bled, and because it sits right above the town, you can walk there from most hotels without needing a car.
🚲 Cycling in Ljubljana
Ljubljana has invested heavily in cycle paths, creating one of the most bike-friendly capitals in Central Europe. In some ways, the city has doubled down on cycling because a tram network—common in similarly sized capitals—would have been more expensive to develop and maintain. As a result, cycling often provides the fastest way to move around the centre, and the city’s BicikeLJ bike-share scheme is cheap and easy to use.
If you’re based in Ljubljana for a few days, you might find cycling replaces the need for a rental car entirely.
🚗 Why You Might Rent a Car
A rental car still offers unmatched freedom, especially if you want to explore:
-
The wine valleys of Vipava and Goriška Brda
-
The Alpine triangle of Bled, Bohinj, and Kranjska Gora
-
Karst attractions such as Postojna Cave or the UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves
-
Hilltop villages that buses might reach only once or twice a day
Driving in Slovenia is easy for visitors. Roads are smooth, signage is clear, and distances are short. Just remember that you’ll need a vignette (toll sticker) for motorway use.
🌄 Scenic Routes (Car Optional, but Nice to Have)
-
Ljubljana → Bled → Bohinj → Kranjska Gora
-
Vipava Valley Wine Route
-
Ljubljana → Postojna → Piran (Slovenian Coast)
You can reach all these via bus or train, but a car turns them into flexible, spontaneous road trips.
🧭 Summary — Should You Rent a Car in Slovenia?
Why you might not need one:
-
Strong bus and rail network
-
Excellent cycle infrastructure in Ljubljana
-
Cable cars and chairlifts make mountain viewpoints easy without driving
-
Major tourist routes are well covered
Why a rental car helps:
-
Maximum flexibility in rural valleys and mountain regions
-
Ideal for combining Slovenia with Italy, Croatia, or Austria
-
Good road conditions and short distances
🚙 Conclusion:
Most travellers don’t need to rent a car in Slovenia, especially if they plan to focus on Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Bohinj, or the coast. Yet renting a car for a couple of days remains an excellent option to explore wineries, mountain passes, and hidden valleys at your own pace. Slovenia works beautifully with or without a car — the real joy is simply getting out into its landscapes. 🇸🇮✨
