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Picking up a Campervan at Ljubljana Airport: how it works
October 22, 2026
You land at Brnik Airport with your luggage in hand and your mind already on the first mountain roads. Picking up a campervan at the airport usually does not involve a traditional rental desk inside the terminal. Instead, you will typically meet the rental provider at an agreed location or take a short transfer to their base. In this guide, we explain the available options, what to arrange before your flight, which documents you need, and how to plan your first day so that your first evening in the campervan feels relaxing rather than exhausting.
Campervan
campervan.si
Start your journey in the right campervan
In Ljubljana, you can choose between the Mercedes V Marco Polo and Ford Transit Nugget Plus for exploring Slovenia.
There are two common ways to pick up a campervan at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport: meet at an agreed pickup point or take a transfer to the rental provider’s base, usually 20–30 minutes away.
Tell the rental provider your flight number and expected arrival time in advance, and agree on what happens if your flight is delayed.
The vehicle must have its registration certificate and insurance documents, and you must have a valid driving licence.
Wild camping is prohibited in Slovenia, so choose your first overnight stop—a campsite or motorhome stopover—before setting off.
From 15 November to 15 March, winter tyres or snow chains carried in the vehicle are mandatory.
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport hosts a range of rental car providers, listed on the airport’s car rental page. The situation is a little different for motorhomes and campervans. Specialist rental providers usually keep their vehicles outside the terminal, so pickup typically works in one of three ways.
Meeting at an agreed location
The rental provider meets you after landing at a pickup point agreed in advance, such as the car park outside the terminal. There is no queue, the handover is personal, and the vehicle is shown to you by someone who knows it well. This is the most convenient option, but it requires careful timing, as collecting luggage and passing through document checks can take longer than expected.
Transfer to the rental provider’s base
Another common option is a transfer to the rental provider’s base. These bases are usually in central Slovenia, around 20–30 minutes’ drive from the airport. The advantage is that you collect the vehicle in a quiet location with enough space for a thorough equipment walkthrough, filling the water tank and organising your luggage.
Making your own way to the pickup location
The third option is to reach the rental provider’s base yourself by taxi, ride-hailing service or public transport. This makes sense if you land late in the evening and would rather spend your first night in the city before collecting the campervan the following morning, well rested.
Comparing pickup options
Pickup method
Advantages
What to consider
Best suited to
Meeting at the airport
Fastest transition from plane to vehicle, personal handover
Coordinating the time and dealing with flight delays
Travellers who want to set off straight away
Transfer to the rental base
Calm, thorough vehicle walkthrough and more space for luggage
An additional 20–30 minutes of driving and arranging the transfer
Families and first-time campervan renters
Making your own way there the next day
Collect the vehicle refreshed, without time pressure
An extra night’s accommodation in the city
Late-night arrivals
The best option depends on your arrival time, the number of passengers and how far you want to travel on the first day. With a morning flight, it is worth arranging pickup as close to the airport as possible. For an evening arrival, a more relaxed option often works better.
Campervan
Explore your campervan before setting off
When you arrive in Ljubljana, you can explore our campervan rental options and choose a vehicle for discovering Slovenia.
What to arrange with the rental provider before your flight
A smooth pickup starts a few days before departure. This checklist will help you avoid most complications:
Flight number and arrival time. This lets the rental provider know when to expect you and track any changes.
What happens if your flight is delayed. Ask what happens if your flight is delayed by two or three hours and whether the pickup time will be adjusted automatically.
Exact meeting point. Ask for a description or photo of the pickup location and a phone number where you can be reached after landing.
Pickup time and duration of the handover. Handing over a campervan and explaining the kitchen, heating, toilet and beds takes longer than handing over a car. Allow at least half an hour.
Luggage. Space is precious in a compact campervan. Soft travel bags fit into cupboards, while hard suitcases often get in the way.
Payment and security deposit. Check how the rental fee is paid, whether a security deposit is required and how it must be paid.
Additional equipment. Child seats, camping chairs or bedding: order everything you need in advance rather than waiting until pickup.
Documents to have ready
When driving a rental or foreign-registered vehicle, the Slovenian Police requires the vehicle’s valid registration certificate and the driver’s valid driving licence. At pickup, check that the vehicle contains its registration certificate and insurance documents, as you must carry them while driving. If your driving licence was not issued in an EU country, check with the relevant authority in your home country before travelling whether you also need an international driving permit.
Your first kilometres: rules you need to know
It is only a few minutes from the airport to the first motorway, so it is worth knowing the rules before you leave the car park.
Tolls and the e-vignette
Driving on motorways and expressways in Slovenia is subject to tolls. Vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of up to 3.5 tonnes require an e-vignette, while heavier vehicles pay tolls through the DarsGo system using an in-vehicle device, as explained in the police guide to winter and traffic regulations. You can find the vehicle’s maximum permissible mass in its registration certificate. At pickup, ask whether the vehicle already has a valid e-vignette or whether you need to buy one yourself. Rules can change. For example, in autumn 2025 the government discussed measures affecting holders of annual e-vignettes, so check the latest information on official websites before travelling.
Winter equipment
Between 15 November and 15 March, and whenever winter road conditions prevail, vehicles must have winter tyres or carry suitable snow chains. This is set out in Article 29 of the Road Traffic Rules Act, summarised on the police page on winter equipment. If you arrive during this period, check the tyres at pickup and ask where the chains are stored. Before setting off for Alpine passes such as Vršič, also check whether the road is open.
Alcohol and other rules
General rules for foreign drivers, from alcohol limits to mandatory equipment, are available on the Your Europe page for Slovenia. After a long flight and several hours on your feet, it is also worth being honest with yourself: if you are tired, a short first leg is a better choice than a long drive into the night.
Your first day after landing: where to go and stay overnight
Brnik is an excellent starting point. The Gorenjska region is right on your doorstep, Ljubljana is not far away, and the motorway quickly takes you towards the coast or eastern Slovenia. The key question on your first day is not where to drive, but where you will spend the night.
Wild camping is not allowed
In Slovenia, camping outside registered campsites is prohibited. You can stay overnight at a campsite or in a designated motorhome stopover area (PZA). Fines for unauthorised camping range from €40 to €500, and enforcement is strictest in tourist destinations and the national park. According to the SPOT portal, a campsite is a defined, enclosed and supervised area with suitable infrastructure, while a PZA is a simpler motorhome stopover, often with facilities for filling up with water and emptying wastewater. We have collected the differences, prices and useful search tools in our guide to motorhome stopovers in Slovenia, which also explains what a PZA is and how it differs from a traditional campsite.
If you have not yet decided where to go, use this overview of Slovenia’s regions, towns and destinations for ideas about day trips, natural and cultural attractions, and local food. A good first day is a short one: pick up the vehicle, buy groceries, visit one attraction and arrive at the campsite early. There will be plenty of time for longer drives the following morning.
Example: landing at 2 pm
A simple example shows what a well-planned day can look like. A couple travelling with a seven-year-old child lands at 2 pm and collects their luggage around half an hour later.
2:30 pm: Call the rental provider to say the luggage has been collected and you are on your way to the agreed meeting point.
3:00 pm: Pick up the vehicle, go through the kitchen, heating, beds and toilet, and inspect the vehicle and documents together.
3:45 pm: Stow the luggage in the cupboards, fit the child seat and drive to the nearest shop for groceries and water.
4:30 pm: Set off towards Gorenjska, taking a short route with or without the motorway depending on your destination.
5:30 pm: Arrive at the campsite you booked in advance, connect to electricity, take your first walk and enjoy dinner outdoors.
This schedule leaves enough time for a possible flight delay, and your first evening is spent by a lake rather than behind the wheel.
Returning the vehicle before your departure flight
Returning the vehicle can be more complicated than collecting it because you have a flight to catch. Plan ahead as follows:
Allow extra time. Return the vehicle at least three to four hours before your flight if you still need to get to the airport and pass through security.
Fuel. Check the required fuel level on return and find a petrol station along your route.
Toilet and wastewater. Empty the toilet cassette and grey-water tank at your last stopover or campsite, as you cannot do this in the airport car park.
Cleaning. We charge a one-off final cleaning fee of €80 per rental, so you do not need to spend your last morning scrubbing the vehicle.
Vehicle inspection. Inspect the vehicle and equipment together with the rental provider on return, so that any outstanding questions are resolved before you leave.
Renting a campervan from us in Ljubljana
At Campervan.si, we hand over campervans in Ljubljana and offer different pickup times so you can coordinate collection with your arrival. When booking, tell us your flight details and we will be happy to discuss how to make your transfer from the airport and vehicle pickup as straightforward as possible.
Our fleet includes two modern, compact models:
Mercedes V Marco Polo: from €125 per night for daily rentals and from €110 per night for weekly rentals.
Ford Transit Nugget Plus: from €125 per night for daily rentals and from €110 per night for weekly rentals. We describe how it performs on the road and for living in our Ford Nugget Plus review.
The vehicles are equipped with kitchens and sleeping spaces for several people. We also offer equipment with a fixed toilet; details for each model are available on its individual page. Basic insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance are included, and a one-off €80 final cleaning fee applies. Check availability using the booking form.
Our perspective: pickup should start your holiday, not feel like a chore
As a family-run business based in Ljubljana, we welcome travellers from across Europe and around the world, so many of our rentals begin with a flight. In our view, one thing makes the biggest difference on the first day: how much time and peace of mind you have during pickup. If you rush to stow your luggage after a long flight, quickly listen to an explanation of the heating system and then search for an available campsite in the dark, it can take a day or two to settle into life on the road.
That is why we recommend giving careful thought to your pickup time when booking. Allow yourself an extra half hour, try out the kitchen, bed and toilet while we are still there, and ask any questions you may have. We are also happy to help with travel advice, from your first overnight stop in Gorenjska to routes through the Alps, the Balkans and neighbouring countries. Ljubljana is an excellent starting point for all of this: within a few hours, you can reach the coast, lakes or spectacular mountain passes.
Our most important advice is simple: book your first night in advance, keep your first driving leg short, and let the journey unfold from there.
— Rok
Frequently asked questions
Can I pick up the motorhome inside the airport terminal?
Rental desks inside the terminal are mostly intended for passenger cars. Campervans and motorhomes are usually handed over at an agreed meeting point or at the rental provider’s base a few minutes from the airport. Always confirm the pickup arrangements when booking.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
It depends on the arrangement you have made with the rental provider. Tell them your flight number in advance and agree on what to do if there is a delay. If you arrive later than the agreed time, call them as soon as you land.
Do I need a special driving licence for a campervan?
The required licence category depends on the vehicle’s maximum permissible mass, which is stated in the registration certificate. Compact van-based campervans are generally lighter than large motorhomes, but always confirm the requirements with the rental provider before booking. The vehicle’s weight also affects how road tolls are paid.
Where can I spend the first night after landing?
Only at a registered campsite or designated motorhome stopover area (PZA), as wild camping is prohibited in Slovenia. Book ahead during the summer season. Bled and Bohinj have particularly strict local rules.
That is why we recommend giving careful thought to your pickup time when booking. Allow yourself an extra half hour, try out the kitchen, bed and toilet while we are still there, and ask any questions you may have. We are also happy to help with travel advice, from your first overnight stop in Gorenjska to routes through the Alps, the Balkans and neighbouring countries. Ljubljana is an excellent starting point for all of this: within a few hours, you can reach the coast, lakes or spectacular mountain passes.
Our most important advice is simple: book your first night in advance, keep your first driving leg short, and let the journey unfold from there.