How to Pack for Slovenia: My In-Depth Packing List

I’ve visited Slovenia three times now and every time I’ve been, I’ve come away impressed. This is such a lovely country!

There’s mountains and lakes and beaches and vineyards and cities and rivers and so much to see. I’m fortunate to have visited as a solo backpacker, as part of a couple, and as part of a family vacation.

During these trips, I’ve learned a lot about how to pack for Slovenia, and I’m excited to be sharing my tips with you guys today.

Let’s get stuck in.

My Luggage Recommendations for Slovenia

I’m a huge fan of travelling with a carry-on-sized backpack, as I appreciate the lack of back pain, the added ease of moving through the crowds, and not having to worry about lost luggage. For Slovenia, I recommend the Osprey Farpoint 40l backpack, which I take on all of my vacations, whether I’m spending two weeks in Mexico or six months in Africa. It’s super-comfortable to wear, easy to pack, and has plenty of compartments to help keep your belongings organised. Osprey also offers a lifetime guarantee for all of their backpacks, which makes opting for one a no-brainer.

If you’re not a fan of backpacks, a possible alternative could be the Osprey Sojourn, a combined backpack and suitcase in one. You’ll be able to comfortably wheel your suitcase around the country, then wear it as a backpack when you come across a series of steps or an unpaved street. It receives great reviews!

What about a day pack? 

You’re not going to want to take your main backpack/suitcase out with you while you’re exploring the streets of Ljubljana or the mountains near Bled, so that’s why I recommend bringing a daypack with you on your trip.

Enter this teeny-tiny backpack that packs up to the size of an apple.

Despite its tiny size, this daypack still surprisingly strong, holding a two-litre bottle of water, two SLR cameras, two phones, and a guidebook when I was on my round-the-world trip last year. And it doesn’t look cheap and crinkly, either, as so many packable bags often do. I take this bag on all of my trips and find it to be the perfect daypack that doesn’t add much weight to my luggage.

Clothing

When it comes to spending time in Slovenia, you’re probably going to be aiming for an equal amount of cities and nature. And you’re probably going to be visiting in the warmer months, so you’re going to want to pack light.

Note: I always, always overpack when it comes to tops. I’m 5’1” and tiny, so most of my strap tops ball up to the size of a sock. I always take advantage of this and bring a few options!

What to wear in Slovenia in summer

Summer in Slovenia (June – August) can get hot, with maximum temperatures hanging out at around 25 degrees unless there’s a heatwave in town. You’re therefore going to want to pack lots of lightweight, cotton outfits that’ll keep you cool in the heat.

• Two strap tops: I pack a couple of strap tops for those days where I can’t bear the thought of wearing anything larger.
• Three tank tops: For much the same reasons as why I bring strap tops, I pack a handful of tank tops to give me some variety with my clothes.
• Three t-shirts: T-shirts are also good for cloudy days or if you feel uncomfortable showing any more skin.
• Two dressy tops: Bring a couple of nice tops for your evenings out.
• One dress: I like to wear a dress to keep cool in the summer months.
• Two bikinis: If you plan on hitting up the Slovenian beaches on its teeny-tiny coastline, you’ll want to bring some swimwear with you!
• One pair of denim shorts and a pair of bike shorts: I give myself two options, bringing some denim shorts and a pair of longer bike shorts.
• One outfit to keep you warm: Pack a warm outfit for any chilly nights. I usually bring a pair of jeans, fleece, and light jacket for any late-night wandering.
• Enough underwear for the length of the trip: For me, this is two bras, five pairs of socks, and seven pairs of underwear. If I’m travelling for longer than a week, I’ll either pay to get laundry done or use my travel laundry bar and stain remover to wash my clothes in the sink.

Shoes

Here’s what I took with me on my recent trip to Slovenia:

• Flip-flops: I travel with these tropical-themed Havianas and love how comfortable they are. I use flip-flops for short wanders through the cities in the evenings and hanging out on beaches.
• Walking shoes: I’m absolutely in love with my Merrell Accentor walking shoes and think they’re the best I’ve ever owned. I’ve used these shoes to hike the 120 mile South Downs Way in the U.K. and plan on taking them on the Camino de Santiago with me later this month.
• Something for dressing up: I really like taking tennis shoes, like these low-top Converse sneakers in pastel shades to wear for dressing up, especially as they’ll give me a little more grip on the streets than strappy sandals. If you plan on hitting up high-end restaurants and dressing up while you’re in Slovenia, take something you know you’ll be happy wearing.

Accessories

Sunglasses: Obviously, this is just a summer essential, but I always seem to end up packing sunglasses with me on every trip I take. In Slovenia, there’s a hell of a lot of blue sky days in summer, so you’re probably going to be wearing sunglasses.

Quick-dry travel towel: This is one of my travel essentials! My Sea to Summit towel in extra large size has been the perfect travel companion for the past eight years. It’s the size of a satsuma, weighs next to nothing, dries within minutes, and lasts for years. I’ve been travelling with the same one for five years now, and I promise it isn’t as gross at it sounds — it looks as good as new!

Medications to Pack for Slovenia

You’ll be able to get most medications in Slovenia that you can at home, so there’s no real reason to pack a huge first aid kit with you. Still, there are a handful of medicines I find useful to have on hand at all times. This is what my travel first aid kit contains:

• Dramamine: I suffer from motion sickness, so always make sure to have some motion-sickness tablets on hand, especially if I’m going to be exploring a country by bus.
• Painkillers: There’s nothing worse than having to venture out in an unfamiliar country in search of a pharmacy when you’re dealing with an agonising headache. That’s why I always travel with a dozen painkillers when I travel, usually half a dozen acetaminophen tablets and half a dozen ibuprofen.
• Imodium: Unfortunately, travel isn’t always incredible for our stomachs, and travellers’ diarrhoea can sometimes threaten to ruin your vacation, even in a country like Slovenia. I always keep Imodium on hand for any times when the local food doesn’t agree with me. It’s been a life-saver on days when I’ve needed to get on a train and wouldn’t have otherwise been able to leave the bathroom. I also recommend packing some DripDrop rehydration sachets in case you get felled by food poisoning or sun stroke.
• Anti-histamines: I’m a very reactive person, so anti-histamines are a must for me! I always bring half a dozen tablets with me in case I break out in hives or start sneezing all over the country.
• Band-aids: You don’t want to get an infection while travelling in Slovenia, so you’ll want to bring a couple of bandaids and a small tube of antiseptic cream for any cuts or grazes you may get. The last thing you want is for a cut or blister to get infected while travelling.

Essential Travel Technology for Slovenia

When it comes to travel technology, what you decide to pack will depend on the type of traveller you are. I work as a blogger, so I tend to carry a little more tech than those of you that don’t work on the road. Here’s what’s in the technology section of my backpack:

• A smartphone: I travel with an iPhone XS, but there’s no real need to upgrade your phone for your trip to Slovenia — just take whatever you normally use at home. Ensure your phone is unlocked and pick up a local SIM card once you arrive. If you’re an EU resident, you’ll be able to use your phone as normal.
• A camera: My main camera these days is the Sony A7ii with a 28-70mm lens, along with a couple of 32 GB SanDisk SD cards. I’m incredibly happy with the quality of the camera and lens, though, and would highly recommend it if you have the cash and are looking to invest in a mirrorless system. If you’re not into photography, just bring whatever camera you usually use on holiday, or use your smartphone to take photos.
• A Kindle Paperwhite: Now this is something I won’t consider travelling without. I’m a read so much when I travel, and a Kindle allows me to power through a travel memoir a day without adding weight to my luggage. I’d also recommend grabbing a Kindle copy of Rick Steve’s Slovenia and Croatia — it’s the best-reviewed Slovenia guidebook, was published in 2018, and is one of only a few you can read digitally. As an added bonus, guidebooks look fantastic on bookshelves — I always buy one for every destination I visit!
• A laptop/tablet: Most of you won’t need to bring your laptop with you. If you don’t think you’ll have a use for it, save on weight and space and leave it at home. You’ll probably be fine just using your phone.
• Various chargers/adapters: Make sure you bring a travel adapter with you! I’ve tried out so many travel adapters over the years, but the one from Saunorch is easily my favourite. It looks great, works perfectly, and doesn’t fall out of power sockets, like so many others do. You can use it for travel in Slovenia, no matter which country you hail from. You’ll also want to make sure you pack enough chargers for all of your devices.

Toiletries for a Trip to Slovenia

There’s nothing out of the ordinary that you’ll need to pack for Slovenia when it comes to toiletries. If you’ll be rocking the carry-on life, you’ll want to make sure that your liquids are under 100ml, or resolve to buy them when you arrive.

• Bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste: I invested in a bamboo toothbrush recently to cut down on my plastic consumption, and I’m obsessed with the offerings from B-Earthly. Their toothbrushes are biodegradable, comfortable to use, great for sensitive teeth, come with a travel case, and have a built-in tongue-cleaner. I combine mine with Crush&Brush toothpaste tablets, which come in zero-waste packaging, and biodegradable dental floss.
• A razor: I usually pack one reusable razor for each trip.
• Deodorant: I’m a big fan of the Organic Island solid deodorant bar. It’s plastic-free, biodegradable, and works just as well as traditional deodorants. The fact that it’s not a liquid will please all of my fellow carry-on travellers out there!
• Sunscreen: If you’ll be visiting Slovenia during the summer, there’s a definite risk of sunburn. If you’re travelling carry-on, you’ll be best buying some when you arrive — if you’re checking your bag, grab a bottle before you leave.
• Solid shampoo and conditioner: I love LUSH’s solid shampoo bars — they leave my hair feeling soft and shiny, are super-lightweight and small, and last me over six months when using them continuously! Because they’re so small, I’d definitely recommend picking up some solid conditioner, too. The cork pots that are sold by LUSH are perfect for storing your bars as you travel.
• A small bar of soap: I usually grab a bar of soap from LUSH before a trip, too. I love their products and the fact that they’re packaging-free. A bar of soap will last me for an entire trip and also means I don’t add to my liquid limit with shower gels.
• Tangle Teezer: I’ve been traveling with a Tangle Teezer since I first started traveling, and it’s the only hairbrush I’ve found that can get rid of all of all of the knots in my crazy, curly hair.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg, with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use SafetyWing as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Slovenia. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they’re affordable, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

What Not to Pack for a Trip to the Slovenia

A money belt: There’s no travel item I despise more than a money belt, and I very much recommend leaving yours at home. Why? Because they don’t work! Thieves know what money belts are and they know to look for them. When a friend was mugged while travelling, the first thing the attacker did was lift up her shirt and check for a money belt.

So not are they uncomfortable and weird and make it look like you store your valuables in your underwear, but they don’t even protect you from being robbed.

Instead of travelling with a money belt, I recommend splitting up your money and credit cards before you travel. Keep an emergency €20 in your shoe, put some of your money in your wallet, keep a card in your daypack, and some extra cash in a pocket. You’ll be a lot safer by doing this.

And that’s about it for my Slovenia packing list! I hope you found this guide useful and have a fantastic trip to the country! :-)

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