Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Slovenia easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
In Ljubljana and Lake Bled, American Express wasn’t widely accepted. Hotels sometimes allowed it, but restaurants, supermarkets, and bus stations mostly refused. ATMs from NLB and SKB didn’t process Amex either. Visa worked everywhere, and Mastercard was reliable too. Meals cost €12-20, bus tickets around €5-10, so I budgeted €80-100 daily. Amex really slowed me down in Slovenia - Visa is the safer choice if you want smooth payments.
I visited last spring and used Amex for one fancy dinner in Bled, but every local café and souvenir stall wanted Visa or cash. ATMs didn’t seem to support Amex withdrawals consistently - one machine charged a fee and didn’t dispense, they later said Amex wasn’t set up. I ended up using my Visa nearly everywhere. I’d skip getting Amex specifically for Slovenia; go straight for Visa or Mastercard, and you’ll save time and worry.
I lived in Ljubljana for six weeks and used my Mastercard for 95% of expenses - cafés, coworking, shops, taxis. Amex was only accepted in select places like upscale wine bars or design boutiques. Some ATMs let you withdraw euros with Amex, but occasionally with a fee. If you’re moving around cities and small towns, Visa/Mastercard is far more hassle-free. Carrying Amex as secondary is fine, but not as a primary payment method.
Tested my Amex at a Spar grocery store, a museum gift shop, and two bakeries across Maribor - declined every time. Tried at a premium restaurant and it went through fine. So yes, acceptance is hit or miss. If you rely only on Amex, expect to use ATMs more and carry cash. I’d recommend Visa or Mastercard as your go-to card in Slovenia - fewer awkward declines in everyday stores.
I tried using Amex at an Anže Pogačnik café in Ljubljana’s Old Town last month - got a polite “sorry, not supported.” Big hotel chains and upscale restaurants did accept it, but supermarkets and bakery counters didn’t. My Visa debit worked everywhere. If you’re planning mostly dining at local spots or picking up groceries, stick with Mastercard or Visa and use Amex only as a backup.