Slovenia is bordered by Italy to the west and Austria to the north.
Slovenes ( Slovenci [ slɔˈʋèːnt͡si ] ) , or Slovenians , are a South Slavic ethnic group native to Slovenia and the historical Slovene lands , surrounded by fellow South Slavic Croats to the south and southeast , Austrians to the north , Italians to the west and Hungarians to the northeast . Slovenia . It is bordered by Italy to the west , Austria to the north , Hungary to the northeast , Croatia to the south and southeast , and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest .