Slovenia knows how to charm visitors with its originality and beauty. If you experience it, you will not forget it. (Slovenija-Tourism Website)

The northernmost republic of what was once Yugoslavia, Slovenia currently appears the most stable, prosperous and welcoming of all Europe's erstwhile communist countries. It was always the richest and most westernized of the Yugoslav federation, and apart from the Ten-Day War which brought it independence in 1991, it has avoided the strife which has plagued the republics to the south. For centuries, Slovenia was administered by German-speaking overlords and was, until 1918, part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The Slovenes absorbed the culture of their captors during this period while managing to retain a strong sense of ethnic identity through the Slav-rooted Slovene language, a close relation of Czech, Serbo-Croat and Slovak.

Slovenia's landscape is as varied as it is beautiful: along the Austrian border the Julian Alps provide stunning mountain scenery, most accessibly at Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj ; further south, the brittle karst scenery is riddled with spectacular caves like those at Postojna . Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana , is easily the best of the cities, a vital, youthful place, manageably small and cluttered with Baroque and Habsburg buildings, while the short stretch of Slovenian coast, along the northern edge of the Istrian peninsula, is punctuated by a couple of towns that were among the most attractive resorts of the former Yugoslavia - Piran and Portoroz - not to mention the port of Koper , with its appealingly ancient centre. Despite its relative isolation in the eastern part of the country, the attractively preserved town of Ptuj is also well worth a visit. (http://dg.travelnow.com/)

Some Links: http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/intro/

http://www.homefromslovenia.com/

http://dg.travelnow.com/index.jsp?action=viewLocation&locati..34478&cid=4153

http://www.sloveniatimes.com/

http://www.slovenia.info/?home=0

http://www.sigov.si/

http://www.burger.si/SLOIndex.htm

Slovenian Cultural Tips: (According to:http://wikitravel.org/en/Slovenia)

Respect
Slovenians are a bit more reserved than neighboring nations but after first contact they get quite open and helping. Don't hesitate to address people. People younger than 50 at least understand English if not speak and they will be eager to help you. You will impress them when using some basic Slovene words. Slovene is rarely spoken by foreigners, so your effort will be appreciated and rewarded.

Slovenians are proud of the fact that they preserved their national identity (especially the language) in spite of the pressures from neighbouring non-Slavic nations in past centuries.

Due to their economic successs and historical as well as contemporary cultural bonds to the west they don't like their country to be described as part of "Eastern Europe". Another common misconception is that Slovenia was part of the Soviet Bloc (in fact it was part of Yugoslavia that notoriously split with the Soviets back in 1948). People have no problems talking about the communist period and get often nostalgic over it. They are also proud that they were the first of the federal republics to declare independence from Yugoslavia.

There are some open territorial issues with Croatia. Be careful if entering a discussion on this subject. Nationalists take it quite emotionally! Another delicate issue is Slovenian civil war during WWII. This national tragedy is still painful for many Slovenians. Try to stay neutral if discussing it.

Practical advice:

- If you are invited to dinner to someone's home bring a bottle of good wine. You will often be asked if you want to change to slippers when you arrive. You should accept it. It's a gesture of hospitality. It's expected to give a compliment to a cook. Do it before you are asked if you liked the meal!

- It's normal that you shake your hand when introduced to someone. Don't try to make a kiss when introduced. It might be considered intrusive.

- Always use formal forms ("vikanje" in Slovene) in any language you use when addressing elderly people. Otherwise some might not want to talk to you.

- Slovenian Alps (especially the highest peak Triglav) are in the heart of every Slovenian. Don't litter unless you want to listen to unpleasant comments. It's common to greet people you meet in the mountains in Slovene (Dober dan) and when you part you say Good luck (Srečno). You can expect people you meet to be very friendly and helpful to you. There is a strong spirit of camaraderie in the mountains.

- In most Slovenian households it is customary to take off one's shoes. This is a habit prevailing in most of Central Europe, maybe because of general cleanliness, but also because grit and slush from the pavements can cause havoc to a flat in winter.

- It is polite to let your wrists or hands rest on the table, but not your elbows.

Capital: Ljubljana
Government: parliamentary democratic republic
Currency: € euro (EUR)
Area: 20,273 sq km
Population: 2,010,347 (July 2006 est.)
Language(s): Slovenian, Italian, and Hungarian (minorities)
Religion: Roman Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Eastern Orthodox 2.3%, Protestant 0.9%, atheist 10.1%, other and unknown 26.5%
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: 386
Internet TLD: .si
Time Zone: UTC +1