Need cash when I land, best place in Slovenia? Airport or places in the city?
Ljubljana Airport has exchange desks, but Slovenia uses the euro, so they’re not a great deal. I usually withdraw from ATMs instead. NLB, SKB Banka, and Abanka ATMs are available in the arrivals hall. If you already have euros, you don’t need to exchange at all. For a budget trip, I withdraw €50-100 on arrival for taxis and food, then pay by card for everything else. The country is very card-friendly, but small towns and markets still prefer cash.
I made the mistake of exchanging €100 at the airport and realized later I lost about €7 just on the rate difference. Downtown Ljubljana had better exchange options, especially along Čopova Street. Also, I didn’t know at the time, but withdrawing euros from a city ATM using my Mastercard would’ve been cheaper. Airport booths are okay if you land late and need instant cash, but I wouldn’t rely on them for more than the basics.
I avoid airport currency counters whenever possible. Instead, I used my Wise debit card at an NLB ATM at Ljubljana Airport and selected "without conversion" - way better deal than the nearby Travelex-style booth. Most major ATMs in Slovenia are safe and offer fair rates if your card has no international fees. For peace of mind, I usually carry €50 in physical euros just in case something goes wrong, but ATMs are the smarter choice.
I flew into Slovenia last month and only exchanged a small amount at the airport - just enough to cover my airport shuttle and a meal. The rates at the airport were 4-6% worse than what I saw in central Ljubljana. In the city, I used a Gorenjska Banka ATM, declined conversion, and the rate was nearly on par with XE. Definitely skip the airport exchange if you can wait till you’re in town.
Landed at Ljubljana Airport and changed €50 at the exchange counter - the rate wasn’t great, but I needed bus fare into town. They also charge a small commission. Once in the city, I found way better rates at exchange offices near Prešeren Square and at an NLB ATM that let me decline conversion. If you’ve got a card with low fees, withdrawing from a bank ATM in the city is usually the best option.