The border between Slovenia and Austria stretches over a length of 330 kilometers. The largest section of the border is formed by the Karawanks, the Bacher Mountains, and the Lavanttal Alps. Other sections of the border are defined by the rivers Kutschenitza, Mur, and Drava.
These particular geographical conditions result in only a few border crossings for drivers. For travelers, the most important highway crossings are the Karawanken Tunnel and Spielfeld (AT) - Šentilj (SVN).
A vignette requirement applies in both Austria and Slovenia. Additionally, a toll is charged for the Karawanken Tunnel. The digital vignettes for both countries can be conveniently registered online with us, allowing you to simply drive through at the border crossing.
Within the EU Schengen Area, there are generally no border controls, except on certain occasions to protect public order and internal security. International sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and major political events are among these occasions. Due to increased illegal immigration, however, the border on the Austrian side is still subject to increased checks as of 2023.
As an EU citizen, you can pass through border control easily with a passport or ID card and may bring any goods for personal use. The only downside to border controls is longer waiting times at the crossings. However, if you register a digital vignette in advance, you will at least not have to wait twice at border control and the toll station; instead, you can pass through the toll station without stopping.
A vignette is required on Austrian and Slovenian highways. In Slovenia, only the digital vignette is now available. In Austria, the classic adhesive vignette can still be purchased, but the digital version is simply more practical.
You save a lot of stress and time because you can pay for the digital vignette in advance and register your license plate. You don't have to wait at the toll station, search for small change, or stand in line at a rest stop; instead, you can handle the toll fees comfortably from your couch—if you wish, even weeks before your vacation.
If you cross the border between Slovenia and Austria through the Karawanken Tunnel, an exception applies, as the tunnel is excluded from the E-vignette toll. Instead, a separate toll is charged here. If you drive through the tunnel from Austria to Slovenia, you can purchase a digital vignette for the Karawanken Tunnel online. Unfortunately, this is not possible from the Slovenian side, as the tunnel is excluded from the E-vignette system. The toll is then paid at the Hrušica toll station.
The most important border crossings from Slovenia to Austria for travelers are the Karawanken Tunnel and the highway crossing Šentilj (SVN) - Spielfeld (AT).
The nearly 8-kilometer-long Karawanken Tunnel was built between 1986 and 1991 and connects the Slovenian A2 motorway, which runs directly through Ljubljana, with the Austrian A11 motorway. The construction of the tunnel reduced the travel time between Ljubljana and Villach by more than an hour.
During the travel season in the summer months, over 30,000 vehicles pass through the tunnel daily, leading to increased waiting times. In cases of heavy traffic and risk of congestion, the maximum speed in the tunnel is reduced from 80 km/h to 50 km/h, which also extends the travel time. Outside the travel season, about 10,000 vehicles pass through the tunnel daily.
A second tunnel tube is expected to be available by 2028, which will allow the maximum speed to be increased to 100 km/h.
As mentioned above, a separate toll obligation applies for the Karawanken Tunnel. A digital vignette can be purchased for this from the Austrian side, while from the Slovenian side, no E-vignette applies, and the toll is paid locally at Hrušica before passing through.
There are two border crossings between Šentilj and Spielfeld. One of them is the highway crossing between the Austrian A9 and the Slovenian A1, and the other is a crossing between the Austrian B67 federal road and the Slovenian main road 437.
The crossing between the B67 and the 437 is a way to avoid tolls. However, the journey without highways and expressways involves significantly longer travel times. Traveling via highways is much less stressful for travelers, especially if digital vignettes are registered in advance. For transit travelers heading to Croatia, the Spielfeld - Šentilj highway crossing is the most sensible, as the A1 near Maribor connects to the A4, which leads directly to the Croatian border.
The border crossings between Slovenia and Austria are not just connecting points between two nations but also gateways to different cultures and landscapes. Whether you're traveling for business or to explore the sights and sounds of this region, these border crossings offer the chance to experience two worlds in a single adventure. Don't forget to arrange a digital vignette for Slovenia here.
