Your next destination is Slovenia? Great! After living in Slovenia for 26 years, it's now a pleasure to introduce you to the hidden gem of Europe! Here is a list of what to see on a first visit to Slovenia!
How to travel to Slovenia
By Train: There is an international train leaving from Zurich (Switzerland) to Belgrade (Serbia), with a stop in Ljubljana. In Italy, try to take the train to Trieste and then look out for a bus.
By Bus: Bus companies such as Flixbus will give you a ride to Slovenia. Have also a look on this page which gives you a great overview of all buses available.
GoOpti: Check out the connections of GoOpti. They offer rides from airports and other cities of neighbour countries to the bigger cities in Slovenia.
Prevozi.org: A great page if you want to access Slovenia by car pooling. Have a look!
By Plane: Find a flight connection to Ljubljana Airport via Skyscanner or other flight booking pages. Swiss Airlines, Adria Airways, Finnair, Wizzair, Easyjet are among the airlines which fly to Slovenia.
9 Places to See in Slovenia
#1 Ljubljana
If you're flying into Ljubljana Airport, the capital city of Slovenia should be your first stop. From the airport take the 20-minute bus ride to the city center and find yourself a base in the excellent hotels such as City Hotel Ljubljana, Hotel Lev or Hotel Slon. For budget travellers, try Hostel Celica. A good option is also Airbnb. This charming city is best to be enjoyed by walking down the famous streets, such as Copova ulica, Slovenska cesta and Trubarjeva ulica. Don't forget to explore the old town of the city and if you need a rest, choose between the Tivoli park or the spots along the Ljubljanica river. To take some great panoramic photos, visit the Ljubljana castle or the Neboticnik bar. A guide to Ljubljana will follow soon.
Other accommodation options:
Luxury accommodation: G Design Hotel or FishSquare
Budget accommodation: Vila Teslova
#2 Lake Bled
Slovenia shouldn't be left without visiting Lake Bled! For sugar fans, have a "Kremsnita" at the restaurant and hotel Vila Preseren Bled. In summer, have a plunge in the lake (the best place is probably Camp Zaka), take a boat to the island or pay a ticket for summer sledding. While in Bled, you should also walk up to the Bled castle, located on a hill. If you want to enjoy the views as on the picture below, see my blog post about the Best Shot of Lake Bled.
Other accommodation options:
Luxury accommodation: Villa Istra
Budget accommodation: Guesthouse Marko
# 3 Lake Bohinj
Another and often preserved lake in Slovenia is Lake Bohinj! This less-touristy lake is located just a 30-minute drive from Lake Bled. This area is not only great for a swim, it is also an adventurer paradise! Consider hiking in the surrounding hills, renting out a paddle boat and a canu or go paragliding from one of the majestic mountains. You can also go ziplining!
Luxury accommodation: Chalet Zlatorog
Budget accommodation: Turisticna kmetija pri Andreju
#4 Vogel
Want to take a photo of Lake Bohinj from above? Take the cable car to Vogel and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views! And now? Breath in some Slovenian mountain air and take one of the hiking trails! The views will get better and better!
Luxury accommodation: Chalet Zlatorog
Budget accommodation: Turisticna kmetija pri Andreju
#5 Soca River
A must-see place in Slovenia is definitely the Soca River. You have several options here - if you want to do kayaking, rafting or hiking, consider visiting Bovec! Are you interested in Slovenian history? Then Kobarid is a town with an interesting museum! For people who starve to have some quiet time along the Soca River, take the ride to one of the best secret spots in Slovenia!
Luxury accommodation: Hotel Boka
Budget accommodation: Hostel Soca Rocks
#6 Goriska Brda
Another great area in Slovenia is called Goriska Brda. It is often called the Slovenian Toscana, as it is full of vineyards and historical buildings. Gonjace should be your first choice, when visiting Goriska Brda. You can ascend to the observation tower and take a great photo of the breathtaking surrounding! The nearby village - Smartno - is also worth a visit! Now have a glass of some delicious Slovenian wine!
Luxury accommodation: Hotel Gredic
Budget accommodation: Rooms Leban
#7 Postojna or Skocjan Cave
One of the world's largest karst monuments is the Postojna cave in Slovenia. This best-known cave in the world can be accessed by a small train. Oh yeah, that's really a unique experience! An adult ticket for the Postojna cave will cost you about 23 EUR. Consider visiting also the Predjama castle which is only 9 km away! Another beautiful cave and not less breathtaking than the Postojna cave, is the Skocjan cave! It is a 1.5-2 hour walk through this UNESCO World Heritage site and comes with the price of 16 EUR for an adult ticket.
Luxury accommodation: Postojna Cane Hotel Jama
Budget accommodation: Smrekarjeva domacija
#8 Piran
One of the most charming sea towns in Slovenia goes by the name Piran. Stroll along the marine, have an ice-cream, take a coffee at the Tartini square, get lost in the narrow streets and ascend to the cathedral of St. George. The views are incredible! If you have some time left, consider visiting another Mediterranean town too - called Izola.
Luxury accommodation: Hotel Piran
Budget accommodation: Guest House Prima Z
#9 The Logar Valley
Mountains, meadows, waterfalls, fresh air - welcome to the Logar Valley! This stunning area makes it a great vacation spot for a day or two! A huge array of activities can be done at the Logar valley - from hiking, cycling, free climbing, paragliding to cross-country skiing, sledding and ice-climbing! But due to its tranquil vibe, I find it also a great meditation spot!
Luxury accommodation: Turisticna kmetija Zgornji Zavratnik
Budget accommodation: Guesthouse S
These are the places you should pay attention to on a short and first visit to Slovenia. But believe me, there is so much more to see and do in Slovenia! I promise to publish a guide to the places you should add to your itinerary on your second visit! So, what are you waiting for?!
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Travel essentials for Slovenia:
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Write a comment
Petra (Wednesday, 02 December 2015 08:29)
Nice post! I currently live as an expat in Slovenia and I have to say that it's beautiful here! Piran and Bled are my two most favourite places, Happy that you liked Slovenia ;)
Sonja (Wednesday, 02 December 2015 11:08)
Thank you Petra! It's nice to hear that you like our home country! Interesting that your paths led you to live in Slovenia! And I agree, Piran and Bled are lovely towns! Have a nice day, Sonja
miša (Wednesday, 02 December 2015 18:57)
I am very angry, most cetanly, the most beautiful town and also the oldest town in Slovenija ist Ptuj in the norteast part of Slovenia. Come and visit our beautiful town with very old castle, churches, streets. we also have very nice spa and specialy very nice hills oround Ptuj. Piran and Bled are mybe as beautiful as Ptuj, other places ???
Sonja (Wednesday, 02 December 2015 19:12)
Dear Misa, don't be angry :) Ptuj is definitely a beautiful old town and belongs to the beautiful places in Slovenia. However, I decided not to include it on the list for a FIRST and SHORT visit to Slovenia since many of the beautiful places, I want people to visit, are concentrated in the North, West and Southwest of the country & the trip can be combined with a trip to Croatia . But I will definitely add it to the list of the places to see on the second visit.
Barbara (Saturday, 05 December 2015 15:49)
Hi, I would like to correct you. The walk to Škocjan caves lasts about 1,5-2 hours.
Sonja (Saturday, 05 December 2015 16:38)
Hey, Barbara! I've been several years ago and I thought it was only 45-minutes. Well, thanks for your comment!
Uros G. (Monday, 07 December 2015 12:45)
What a great article and lovely photo collection to match. Always nice to read beautiful things about our little country. Thank you!
Sonja (Monday, 07 December 2015 12:49)
Thank you, Uros for visiting our website and for your nice comment! We have to stress out the beauty of our little country and share it with the world!
ilhan (Monday, 11 January 2016 21:47)
Considering to visit Slovenia in July. I would like to start with Portoroz and Piran after a short pause in the capital city of Ljubljana. And I admit this will be my first visit to Slovenia.
Monika (Tuesday, 05 July 2016 10:46)
Some serious nostalgia for Slovenia! I have to come back for sure. As you know, I loved every little bit of your country and I have to get to the Logar valley finally :) Looking forward to the guide!
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