Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Slovenia, or should I carry local cash?
When I was in Ljubljana, I noticed most taxis had card logos displayed, and many accepted Visa or Mastercard without issue. Still, drivers sometimes said the machine wasn’t working, especially on shorter rides. I found it easier to carry a bit of cash in euros, just in case. Apps like Bolt and Uber also work in the bigger cities, and those are card-based, so you can avoid the hassle altogether. In smaller towns, cash is still more reliable, but overall Slovenia is fairly modern.
I expected Slovenia to be fully digital but was caught off guard in Bled when our taxi back to the guesthouse couldn’t process my Visa card. Driver was polite but didn’t have change for a large note either. Learned to always ask before getting in. Bigger cities are more card-friendly, but once you're outside, it's safer to carry cash for taxis - not huge amounts, but enough for a short ride or two.
Used a few taxis in Piran and Ljubljana - only one accepted my card. The rest all said “cash better” or “card not working.” Some did have machines, but they looked pretty old and sketchy. I mostly stuck to Bolt, which let me pay via app with no problem. If you're going to use street taxis, don't count on cards. I kept enough euros in cash to avoid surprises.
In Ljubljana, I used Metro and Laguna taxi services a couple of times and both accepted card - but only after I asked when booking. Some drivers still prefer cash or say their machine is offline. For airport transfers, card was fine. But when I tried hailing a taxi late near the train station, the driver asked for cash only. I now carry around €20-€30 in small notes, just in case. Pre-booking through apps like Bolt is much easier and you can pay in-app.