Slovenia's national cuisine shows an Austro-German influence with sauerkraut, grilled sausage and apple strudel often appearing on menus. 

National specialities:
• The best-known Slovene foods are the breads made for special occasions, which appear in the form of braided loaves or wreathes: the struklji stuffed with sweet fillings, meat or vegetables.
• Another Slovene speciality is potica, a dessert prepared with a wide variety of fillings.
• Seafood is a speciality in Primorska region.
• Goulash is popular in the Hungarian influenced eastern Prekmurje region.

National drinks:
• The southwest, eastern and northeastern parts of Slovenia are known for their outstanding white wines (Laski, Renski Rizling and many others).
• The southeast is the homeland of the light, russet-coloured cvicek wine.
• The Adriatic Coast and the Karst region have mainly red dry teran wine.
• Slovenian beer is excellent: the most popular brewers are Union in Ljubljana and Lasko in the eponymous town.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: 10% is generally expected in restaurants, though not obligatory.

There is a wide selection of theatres, cinemas, casinos and nightclubs in the larger towns. Ljubljana also has a good opera house and the symphony orchestra plays regularly in the Big Hall of the Cultural and Congress Centre. Ljubljana has a large student population as well as an increasing number of tourist visitors, which helps fuel a lively bar and club scene. Maribor also has a significant university population with an energetic nightlife scene, while the main action on the coast is in the resort of Portoroz.

Attractive local gifts include bobbin lace, crystal glass and speciality wines.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1900, Sat 0800-1300. All shops, bar large malls, are closed Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.