Slovenia, a picturesque country of alpine landscapes, charming lakes, and medieval towns, is a dream destination in Central Europe. Whether you’re admiring the stunning beauty of Lake Bled, exploring Ljubljana’s vibrant streets, or hiking in Triglav National Park, knowing how to access cash is important. While Slovenia is highly cashless, with cards widely accepted in urban areas and tourist hotspots, cash is still useful in smaller villages and for local markets. This guide provides key details on cash and ATMs in Slovenia, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, ensuring a smooth and convenient trip.
Where to find ATMs in Slovenia?
Urban Areas: In major cities like Ljubljana, Maribor, and Celje, ATMs are widely available, especially in city centers, shopping malls, and near bank branches. Banks such as OTP Banka operate an extensive network of over 400 ATMs across the country.
Tourist Spots: Popular destinations like Lake Bled and Postojna Cave have ATMs in their vicinity, often within or near tourist facilities. However, it’s advisable to carry some cash, as smaller establishments may not accept cards.
Rural Areas: In smaller villages and remote regions, ATM availability can be limited. It’s recommended to withdraw cash in larger towns before traveling to these areas.
Best ATMs to use in Slovenia for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Slovenia are those owned by popular banks such as:
- Delavska
- Intesa Sao Paolo
- Unicredit
- Addiko Bank
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There are no known Global ATM Alliance member banks or All Points network banks in Slovenia.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Slovenia, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or, Charge in EUR).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate. You have to pay an extra % fee for this service.
- If you Decline, the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in EUR’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Slovenia?
Yes, majority of the foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Slovenia.
Types of cards accepted at ATMs
ATMs commonly accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, Cirrus cards. Some of them accept American Express cards. Others like JCB, UnionPay, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
ATM operations
Opening hours: Most ATMs operate 24/7.
How to identify an ATM: ATMs in Slovenia are usually found by a signage of word ‘ATM’ and ‘Bankomat’.
Language options: ATMs in Slovenia primarily display instructions in Slovenian. While some ATMs, especially in tourist areas, offer an English language option, many do not. Therefore, it’s beneficial to familiarize yourself with basic Slovenian ATM terms. For instance, “Vpišite PIN” means “Enter your PIN,” and “Dvig” stands for “Withdrawal.” If you’re not familiar with these languages, using live translation via Google Translate’s camera function can be helpful; however, proceed cautiously as translations may not be perfect.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Slovenia?
ATMs in Slovenia dispense cash only in the local currency, Euro (EUR).
ATM withdrawal limits in Slovenia?
ATMs in Slovenia have varying maximum withdrawal limits. Some allow to withdraw € 500 per transaction, some up to maximum of 40 notes per transaction and some ATMs allow as much as the card’s withdrawal limit.
ATM Fees in Slovenia
There are some fee-free ATMs in Slovenia. Some Bank ATMs in Slovenia charge between € 4 to € 5.99 per transaction and some bank ATMs do not charge ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. So, you have some options of fee-free ATMs in Slovenia.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Slovenia. These are:
1. ATM’s Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Slovenia
- Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Slovenia?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs in Aruba on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Slovenia. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Slovenia.
Safety at ATMs
Slovenia is known for its low crime rate, making it a safe destination for travelers. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, especially in urban areas. While incidents of ATM-related crimes are rare, it’s still advisable to use ATMs located in well-lit, populated areas or within bank premises to minimize potential risks. Additionally, inform your bank of your travel plans to prevent any unexpected card blocks due to unusual spending patterns.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Slovenia takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Slovenia?
Yes, its possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Slovenia. Some Bank ATMs in Slovenia charge between € 4 to € 5.99 per transaction and some bank ATMs do not charge ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Slovenia.
Bitcoin ATMs
Slovenia has a few Bitcoin ATMs, with a total of 6 machines installed nationwide. These ATMs are located in cities such as Ljubljana (4), Koper (1), and Maribor (1).
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Slovenia
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: No, Citibank does not operate ATMs here.
Barclays: No, Barclays does not have ATMs here.
HSBC: No, HSBC does not operate ATMs here.
Standard Chartered: No, Standard Chartered does not have ATMs here.
