Experience in Celje, Slovenia by SS

What is it like to live in Celje? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

it is a beautiful city. it is relatively small, so everything is close :) it is beautiful- the odl city centre. 1 km away there are 3 shopping centres where you can find some good stores to buy clothes, food, technology...:)
in the night the centre is dead... there is nothing happening, only one or two bars are relatively full.. the weekends are better. especially saturdays... but in the middle of the week... nothing. a lot of students organizes student parties themselves. so that was not so bad. but if you want to party you have Ljubljana or Maribor really close (LJ-75 km and MB 55 km)

What is the student lifestyle like in Celje?

if you are a student in Celje you have to know that you are studying in a small city. there are nota lot of faculties in Celje, so city doesnt have so much student stuff to do..

How much does it cost to live in Celje?

living in Celje is not expencive. the apartment- room to rent can cost you from 150 to max 300 euros. i think there is a possibility to live in a highschool dorm too-very cheap.
the food and stuff in stores is not expencive. if you shop in Hofer or Lidl or Eurospin, they are even cheaper. it depends from where you're coming from :)

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Celje? Is there any advice you can give?

if you want to find an apartment in Celje the best thing to do is to check it out on '' nepremicnine.net'' ''bolha.si'' (i dont think there is a possibility for english.... but use google translate, it wont be so hard ;) ) or poeple of KSOC will probably help you if you ask them, contact them (kšoc- club of student of celje)
they also have a hostel in MCC (youth centre Celje) where you can find a bed for your first days)

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

the foor is good. Slovenian gasrtonomy is really good. and diverse. you can get a good pizza, pasta, or something more traditional like smashed potatoes, sauerkraut, different meat, sausagges... and on and on. you can also get sea food (different calamary, fish, ...) you have many restaurants.. in the old city centre or in shopping centres.

What places would you recommend visiting in Celje?

i would recomend the visit of the old castle, and all the museums in the centre (''Pelikanov atelje'' my fav :)- a photo studio from a photographer that worked in celje and around in the last quarter of 19 and first 1/4 of 20th century.) ''spodnja grofija''-really cool museum collection and home place of counts of Celje. museum of recent history- really cool too :) and ''celjska koča''-great hiking way, in the winter there is a little ski resort there. ''šmartinsko'' lake- really cool place to be active, to hang with friends on sunny days. near Celje you have Rogla- ski resort and really cool hiking ways. and there are a lot of spas and pools around :)

Is it good to eat out in Celje? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

restaurant ''Koper''- really good but not cheap- from sea food to traditional
hotel Evropa- little bit more expencive and good. diverse food little bit more ''highclass'':)
restauant ''star pisker''- really good food, traditional, exellent meat dishes. not cheap
restaurant ''oštarija'' in shopping centre. cheap and good. froom sea food, to finger food, also traditional
restaurant Pomaranča in shopping centre- not as cheap but really good. froom sea food to pizzas, salads, traditional foood, pasta
pizzerija Picikato-2 km from city centre. they also deliver food to your home.- normal prices. really good food. restaurant with 20 year tradition. pizzas, sea food, mexican, traditional, really good desserts :)

Is the nightlife good in Celje? Where is good to go?

branibor or Mansion. only this two clubs are open and full (if you're lucky :) )
mansion is a little bit more ''high class''
branibor is also for casual people

bolth are good places to party.
for bugger party- Ljubljana or Maribor :)

What advice would you give future students heading to Celje?

Celje is a great and kind city, but do not expect a lot from it- parties and nightlife will depend on you and your friends. it will be how you'll make it :)