Slovenia


Slovenia packs a lot into a small country. Alps, caves, and coastline, all within a couple of hours’ drive of each other. Ljubljana sits at the heart of it, a small capital with a big castle on the hill and a river running straight through the old town. Head out from the city and the country splits in two directions, mountains and countryside one way, Piran and the Adriatic the other. Whether you’re after nightlife, nature, or both in the same weekend, Slovenia delivers more than its size suggests.

  • Lake Bled is the crowning jewel but is very busy so try to arrive early morning if possible. A beautiful 4 mile walk around the lake is very much reccomended!
  • Try the local craft beers, such as Pelicon and Reservoir Dogs, while you’re in Slovenia.
  • Sample Slovenian fruit liqueurs like borovničke (blueberry) and limonce (lemon).
  • Don’t miss a hearty stew, especially jota, which is the one to try above all others.
  • If you are travelling around the country, try to rent a car. Trains are good but you will miss all the amazing natural sites you can see en route.
  • Save room for kremšnita and gibanica, two classic Slovenian desserts.
  • If you’re visiting in summer, check out the Ljubljana Summer Festival.

Explore Slovenia

ljubljana

Ljubljana

  • For nights out, head to Metelkova, especially Gala hala, a legendary complex where you can dance all night.
  • Club Tiffany and Gromka are also within Metelkova, so just let go, wander between venues, and meet people as you go.
  • Try Slovenian stuffed dumplings at Moji Strukji Slovenije.
  • Visit the Modern Gallery on Metelkova for a dose of culture (Eva.)
  • Explore the old city centre and climb up to the castle, ideally at sunset for the best views.
  • Spend time relaxing in Tivoli Park or by the Ljubljanica river, particularly around the Prule area.
  • Catch a free concert at venues like Zorica or Ferdinand Bar and on Wednesday evenings in summer there’s outdoor dancing by the Plečnikove arkade.
piran

Piran

  • Visit Piran and Izola for a completely different, seaside experience.
  • Climb the cliffs at Izola for lovely views over the water.
  • Look out for the lighthouse in Izola’s city centre.
  • It is very close to the border with Croatia, so you can easily go there for the day too and even reach the Roman city of Pula (George.)
julian alps

Julian Alps

  • Head to Tamar and Kranjska Gora for classic Alpine scenery.
  • Visit Bovec, a great base for outdoor activities in the mountains.
  • Explore Logarska dolina, one of Slovenia’s most beautiful valleys.
  • Visit the caves at Postojnska, Predjama, and Škocjan.
  • Consider sleeping in a bivouac or outdoors for a real connection with nature (Eva.)
  • Head up to Velika planina for sweeping mountain views.
  • Jakob nad Preddvorom for another great mountain viewpoint
vintgar gorge

Nature Spots

  • Visit Kostanjevica na Krki, a picturesque riverside town.
  • Explore Školjčišče pri Ankaranu.
  • Visit Pohorje, Areh, and Šumnik for more hiking and nature.
  • Explore Iški vintgar, a scenic gorge.
  • Hike up Triglav (the highest peak) either with a guide via ferrata to the summit, but if you are experienced you can do it yourself (Millie.)
  • Soca Valley is a beautiful fairy pools for swimming, jumping in. You can spend a whole day at the pools.
lake bled

Lake Bled

  • Only spend one night here, as Lake Bled can easily be done in a day.
  • It’s beautiful but seriously overhyped, and can get busy with big group trips.
  • Walk or run around the lake, stop for a swim and an ice cream, then climb up to the viewpoint (Millie.)
  • The castle is also worth visiting but can be very crowded.
lake bohinj

Lake Bohinj

  • Don’t skip Lake Bohinj just because it’s further away as it ended up being one of the best parts of the trip (Millie.)
  • Hike the Seven Lakes Walk.
  • Spend a final day relaxing by the lake, swimming and reading.

Check out the map and recent trip notes from our community by Eva here and Millie here.

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