Public Transport in Slovenia

by Mija

If you decide to come to Slovenia but don’t want to rent a car there are plenty options to get by with public transport. The cheapest means of transport are taking either the bus or the train. Most towns and cities have good connections, especially if you’re staying in Ljubljana.

Means of Public Transport in Slovenia

This list includes some of the best means of public transport around Slovenia. Check out the prices if you decide to take the bus or the train. Another fast and cheap option are Prevozi, read below for more information.

Bus

Buses are a safe and easy option to get from one town to another. However, a bus ride can sometimes take more time because the bus stops in small towns along the way. Between bigger cities (e.g., between Maribor and Ljubljana), there might be direct buses running that cost a similar amount of money. Check if direct buses are available at the bus station. All bus schedules can be found online or you can call the bus station for more information. Two of the larger bus companies are Arriva and Nomago. You can even reach some cities outside Slovenia by bus, for example, Klagenfurt, Vienna, Trieste, and Pula.

Nomago Bus

Nomago Bus Company connects Ljubljana with some Slovenian towns and is a cheaper option of public transport. Bus tickets can be bought online in advance or directly at the bus station. Nomago Bus offers some great prices for intercity connections, too; they connect Ljubljana to Stuttgart, Frankfurt and some airports.

Train

A train ride will cost you approximately the same as a bus ride. Trains are often not the cheapest means of transport but there are some good options between certain towns. Train might not be the best option if you’re planning to travel to Slovenian coast. That train connection is currently under construction. Check out Motorail in Bohinj that runs between neighboring towns and carries your car.

Prevozi Org and BlaBlaCar

Prevozi.Org are similar to BlaBlaCar. They connect drivers with empty seats to people travelling the same way. This is not a public transport service but it might be the cheapest and fastest option to get from one place to another. Prevozi.Org don’t have a rating system so there is could be a small risk involved concerning the drivers. This is the option widely used by locals and comes in practical if you have a flexible schedule. You have to schedule a ride in advance and you can choose different hours when rides are available. It costs approximately 5 EUR to get from Ljubljana to most towns and cities around Slovenia.

The Best Way to Get around Slovenia from Ljubljana

From Ljubljana to Bled and Vice Versa

To get to Bled from Ljubljana, you can take either the bus or the train. The train departs from the main station in Ljubljana and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to Bled Jezero. It usually runs four times per day, you can check the timetable online. Train ticket will cost you approximately 7 EUR in one direction. To get back to Ljubljana you can take the same train. However, the better option to get to Bled might be taking the bus. The bus takes from 45 to 80 minutes depending on whether it’s a direct bus or not. Buses are available every half an hour during weekdays and depart from the main bus station in Ljubljana. One-way ticket is approximately 8 EUR and a little more for direct buses.

From Ljubljana to Maribor and Vice Versa

While bus and train are both options to consider when traveling to Maribor, trains are a lot more frequent throughout the day. Ticket price varies from 9 to 16 EUR, paying 16 EUR for the fast train. Fast intercity train ride between Ljubljana and Maribor takes approximately two hours, whereas regional trains might take up to 3 hours. Bus is the faster option: if you take a direct bus, you can be in Maribor in as little time as an hour and a half. Ask at the main station for more information. Ticket prices are around 13 EUR one way.

From Ljubljana to Portorož and Vice Versa

Ljubljana is best connected to Portorož by bus. There are four bus rides per day available during the week and each takes about 2 hours and a half, varying 15 minutes up and down, depending on the connection. One-way ticket costs around 12 EUR. The bus stops in most coastal towns on the way to Portorož in case you’re looking to get to Koper, Izola or Piran. There is a train connection to Koper but it is currently under construction and you might have to take the bus for part of the ride anyway. One-way train ticket costs approximately the same as the bus ticket.

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