Essentials
- City
- Celje, Savinjska, Slovenia
- Population
- 38,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps (Fiber available), widely accessible via T-2 or Telemach
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR = 1.09 USD. Part of the Eurozone since 2007.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and of very high quality (Karst springs)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- A1 or Telekom Slovenije. Prepaid SIM 'Mobi' or 'A1 Simpl' for approx. €10 with 10-20GB
- Banking for Expats
- NLB, SKB, or Revolut/N26 (widely used by locals)
- Accommodation
- Hotel Celje, MCC Hostel, or Booking.com apartments starting at €50/night
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Visa/Mastercard accepted almost everywhere except small local markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options in the center, typically €800-€1,200/month for a full apartment
- Budget Accommodation
- MCC Hostel (Mariborska cesta 2), dorms around €25 per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Town (Staro Mestno Jedro) near the Celje Castle vicinity
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Otok or Nova Vas for quieter residential vibes with better parking and supermarket access
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Inkubator Savinjske regije (Mariborska cesta 7). Desk rates approx. €15/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kavarna Hotel Celje (Krekova ulica 4) - spacious with reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Events hosted by 'Mladinski center Celje' (MCC) for younger professionals and creatives
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Slovenia Facebook Group; local meetups usually happen at Špica Cafe by the river
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Bolt; use Taxi Cammeo or local Taxi društvo Celje (+386 41 643 148)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- KolesCE (Bike-sharing system); subscription €10/year or 0.50€ per 30 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Velenje Beach (Velenjsko jezero), 25 mins drive; Portorož (Coast), 1.5 hours drive
- Top Regional Airline
- Adria Airways (Defunct); now served by Lufthansa/Swiss/Air France via Ljubljana
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and flydubai via Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport
- Highway Access
- Direct access to A1 (Ljubljana-Maribor) highway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Celje Main Railway Station (Krekov trg 1)
- Public Transport Passes
- Celebus - single ticket €1.00 bought on bus or via M-Pay app
- Regional Travel
- Slovenske železnice (Train) or Nomago (Bus) to Ljubljana in 60-90 minutes
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Splošna bolnišnica Celje (Oblakova ulica 5)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Center Diha (Ljubljanska cesta 20); Drop-in yoga class approx. €12
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitnes Center Top Fit (Opekarniška cesta 15b); Monthly pass €45-€55
- Laundry Services
- Pralnica in čistilnica Labod (Ljubljanska cesta 17)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Ehrana (now Glovo) or Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Celjska rolada (Celje roll) at Slonček pastry shop
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Hiša Polonka or local salad bars; check bistro 'Vila Savinja'
- Best Dessert Spots
- Slaščičarna Slonček (Stanetova ulica 13)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Citycenter Celje or local markets at Celjska tržnica
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mimovrste.com (Slovenian Amazon equivalent)
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercator Online or Spar Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Stanetova ulica and Prešernova ulica in the Old Town
- Local Brewery
- Pivovarna Clef (located in nearby Arja Vas)
- Wine Bars
- Vinski bar eVino (inside Citycenter or local wine shops in center)
- Street Food Stalls
- Burek Olimpija or local kebab shops near the bus station
- Popular International Cuisine
- Wok & Roll (Asian) or Pizzeria Koper
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Celje Old Castle (Stari grad Celje); Entrance €7
- Museums & Art Venues
- Pokrajinski muzej Celje (Regional Museum); Roman ruins underground
- Historical Sites
- Celeia – Antiquity in the city (under the Princely Palace)
- Religious Sites
- Saint Daniel’s Cathedral (Stolnica svetega Danijela)
- Annual Events
- Days of Comedy (Dnevi komedije) in February/March
- Cultural Districts
- Kvartirna hiša and the artsy street Gosposka ulica
- Theater Venues
- Slovenian People's Theatre Celje (SLG Celje)
- Local Markets
- Celje City Market (Savinjnova ulica); Best on Saturday mornings
- Music Scene
- Jazz and acoustic nights at Branibor Pub
- Street Art
- Murals near the MCC Hostel and Savinja river embankments
- Cooking Classes
- Often organized by Srednja šola za gostinstvo in turizem Celje
- Art Galleries
- Center sodobnih umetnosti Celje (Gallery of Contemporary Art)
- Historic Buildings
- Celje City Hall (Magistrat)
- Local Heritage
- The Three Stars of Celje (the crest of the Counts of Celje)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Smartinsko Lake (Šmartinsko jezero) - 10 mins drive for hiking and biking
- National Parks Nearby
- Logar Valley (Logarska dolina) - 1 hour drive (Landscape Park)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Savinja River embankment trail connecting to Laško
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Miklavžev hrib or the viewing tower at the Old Castle
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wetlands around Šmartinsko Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Anski vrh hiking destination (usually permitted in designated areas)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Pošta Slovenije (Krekov trg 9)
- Tech Repair Services
- E-misija (Opekarniška cesta 15)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sports park Bonifika-style areas or local sports clubs like NTK Celje
- Language Classes
- Ljudska univerza Celje (Gregorčičeva ulica 6)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Library of Celje (Osrednja knjižnica Celje) on Muzejski trg
- Community Centers
- MCC - Celje Youth Center (Mariborska cesta 2)
- Gaming Lounges
- Game Gang events are common in the region, check Citycenter for pop-ups
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Admiral Casino Celje (Mariborska cesta 128)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,700 per m² (e.g., 35 m² ≈ €94,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,100 per m² (e.g., 35 m² ≈ €73,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,500 per m² (e.g., 55 m² ≈ €137,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 55 m² ≈ €110,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² ≈ €184,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,850 per m² (e.g., 80 m² ≈ €148,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 19% (Slovenian standard)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (Subject to double tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residents are taxed on worldwide income; non-residents on Slovenian-source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 50% for income over approx. €74,000
- VAT
- 22% standard, 9.5% reduced rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Slovenian tax law includes ATAD-compliant CFC rules
- Property Tax
- No general property tax; Charge for Use of Building Land (NUSZ) applies instead
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% Real Estate Sales Tax (DPN)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- The 'Normiranec' system allows for 80% deemed expenses, resulting in effective tax as low as 4% on turnover up to €50k