Slovenia is among ’13 surprisingly easy countries for English speakers to travel in’, according to Thrillist, a popular US-based online lifestyle publication with over 3 million subscribers.

Slovenia definitely deserves to be on this list as 59% of Slovenians (and virtually all young people) speak English at a conversational level. lf the first person you meet isn’t able to understand and help you, then the second one most certainly will be.

‘A tiny European country of 2 million strong, nearly squeezed off the continent and into the Adriatic by Croatia, Hungary, Austria, and Italy. Slovenian culture blends all these neighboring influences, so it’s no surprise Slovenians love language. Over-the-top friendly locals who speak impeccable English make Slovenia the stuff of road trip and hitchhiking dreams. Asking for directions might turn into 30 minutes of shooting the bull about attractions and Slovenian history, which might carry into drinks at the bar or even an invitation for a home-cooked meal,’ the Thrillist substantiated their decision.

And what does the Thrillist recommend to see in Slovenia? ‘The capital Ljubljana (which looks impossible to pronounce, but actually comes out rather naturally in a native English accent) is just a two-hour drive from Venice and about a four- to five-hour drive from Vienna, Budapest, and Split. It’s easy to sneak Slovenia into a Eurotrip itinerary and you should definitely do it — if for no other reason than the greenery and sidewalk cafes of Ljubljana or the breathtakingly blue waters and open skies of Lakes Bled and Bohinj.’

The complete list of ’13 surprisingly easy countries for English speakers to travel in’ includes Tanzania, Germany, The Philippines, Slovenia, Nepal, Cuba, Japan, Armenia, India, Belize, Pakistan, Singapore, and Malta.

Thrillist’s full article can be found here!

Lake Bled is one of the most popular tourist destination in Slovenia. (photo: Jure Korber and Tjasa Borsnak)