The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Slidre farm (Old Norse: Slíðrar) since the old Slidredomen church was built there.

The name is probably derived from the word slíðr which means "sheath" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church).

The official blazon is "Azure, a sea-leaf within a tressure invected on the outer edge and engrailed on the inner edge argent" (Norwegian: På blå grunn eit sølv sjøblad omgjeve av sølv bord laga med taggesnitt).

This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a heart-shaped seeblatt design with a tressure border around the edge of the escutcheon.

The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The design is based on a heraldic decoration found in the local Slidredomen church that dates back to the year 1170.

High above the village of Slidre, there is an ancient burial ground called the Gardberg site.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vestre Slidre is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms.