If intending to shop in Slovenia, bear in mind that one of the essential buys here  are  various examples of  so-called beehive art. Better known by the name of Panjska koncnica, it originated in the 18th and 19th Centuries, when farmers used the front panels of beehives to paint comic-book characters associated with traditional Slovenian fables. Paintings, either religious or educational, often incorporated highly ironic connotations. Original Panjska koncnica may be found in some antique shops, but are generally hard to obtain. Still, copies of these interesting panels can easily be found  throughout the country. Apart from the one sold at the bee-keeping museum in Radovljica, these objects are rather popular on the market in Ljubljana. Major motifs  include religious or historical figures, as well as folk characters such as gossiping housewives and forest animals. Panels are available in many sizes, some of them being really too large to fit into a suitcase.

While Slovenia does not allow for much serious shopping, the capital’s central area is bursting with fashion outlets. If there is a definitive must-have fashion item for Ljubljana, then they have got to be the local shoes. The best selection of shoe shops is to be found in the area of Staritrg in the Old Town. Ranging from the locally produced Planika walking boots to the well-known Elan ski shoes, you can get good bargains here. Apart from the excellent woolen jackets and winter coats of Slovenia-based company Gorenjska Oblacija, the Peko shoes are probably the most famous product the country has to offer.  Slovenian goods best known abroad are for the most part associated with outdoor sports, such as Kroj suits and blouses, the Rasica knitwear plus some local brands of hiking boots.