Planning your trip to Slovenia, but not so sure about which are the best places to visit? Don’t worry! Here, you will discover all the best destinations in Slovenia.
Top destinations
Here is our selection of best places in Slovenia.
Stunning nature
The best natural points to visit in the country.
Slovenian cuisine
Check out the finest Slovenian specialties.
Weather
Prepare yourself for any season in the country.
What to visit in Slovenia?
Don’t let the size fool you. Despite being a small country, Slovenia is full of natural wonders, historical cities, resorts and spas, wineries and casinos.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and the largest Slovenian city. It is a flat, delightful city full of bridges, cute little cafes and lively bars. Ljubljana is one of the “greenest” European cities, not just because the 75% of the city area is green, but because the city is very environmentally friendly.
One of the greatest attractions is the Ljubljanica River that flows right through the city center, dividing Ljubljana in two parts. Other attractions include the Ljubljana Castle, located on a hill above the city center, Prešern Square, and Tivoli CIty Park.
Lake Bled
The charming Lake Bled is world famous for having a natural island right in the center of the lake, with a picturesque church on it. The small church can be reached by a traditional pletna boat and by climbing 100 steps, but it’s worth every effort!
The Bled Castle, overlooking the lake from the top of a cliff, is also a must see for anyone visiting the lake. Full of attractions and unique facilities, the castle also offers a beautiful view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.
Postojna Cave
One of the most visited sites in Slovenia, along with Ljubljana and Lake Bled, is Postojna. The Postojna Cave Park is the largest show cave in Europe, famous for its captivating cave formations and diverse fauna.
This magnificent underground world was discovered 200 years ago. With 24 km of passages and halls, Postojna Cave is a rare example of karst formations. Besides the cave, the park also includes several restaurants, shops, a vivarium and an exibition area.
Piran
Piran is a town on the Adriatic coast. Located in the Piran Bay, it is a true open-air museum with medieval architecture and rich cultural heritage. The city walls and gates surround the old core of the town, full of beautiful architecture.
Piran is one of the 4 cities on the Slovenian coast, other being Portorož, Izola, and Koper. Although its length is less than 50 km, Slovenian coast is sure worth a visit, you can see all of it in just a day!
Maribor
Maribor, situated on the banks of the Drava River, is the second largest city in Slovenia. The city is located in a region famous for wine production and spa resorts. Maribor is also known for the Maribor Pohorje ski resort, which hosts the Alpine Skiing World Cup.
This charming little town offers a nice time with great food and high quality wine. The Lent area, which is the oldest part of the city, is known for producing the oldest wine in the world, with a tradition of over 400 years.
Stunning nature
Slovenia has some incredible natural attractions. Due to its geographical position and type of soil, the land is full of caves, gorges, lakes, underground rivers, and other stunning features.
Soča Valley
Soča Valley is a paradise on Earth for any type of adventurer! The valley is full of natural beauty and interesting attractions. It offers rafting on the Soča River, fishing and swimming in the river, cycling and hiking along the river, ride on a cable car that will take you up for the most incredible panoramic view, and a zip line ride for the greatest adventurers among you.
Triglav National Park
The Triglav National Park is part of the Julian Alps area and it is the only national park in Slovenia. It was named after Triglav – Slovenia’s highest peak. You can climb to the top or hike across the mountains. People still live in the park’s protected area, so you have an opportunity to visit one of the local farms, as well, and even try their products. All in all, the park guarantees a day full of activities, both for professional and recreational climbers.
Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge is a 1.6km long gorge located just 4 km from Lake Bled, in the Triglav park area. The gorge has been carved out by the Radovna River that wines among the hills. What makes this gorge one of the main destinations in Slovenia are the boardwalks that extend along the river, that is, more than 500 metres of bridges and galleries. The main attraction is the stunning Šum waterfall.
Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is the largest lake in Slovenia and it is a paradise for adventurers and nature lovers. Although it doesn’t offer as many cultural sights as Lake Bled, it is a great place to visit if you enjoy peace and quiet, and are just looking to spend time in nature. The mountains that surround the lake are a popular ski destination. One of the places you can visit, if you enjoy skiing, is the Vogel Ski Center.
About Slovenia
Slovenia is a Central European country, bordering with Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. It is a small, but the diverse country – a place where Alpine and Mediterranean regions overlap.
Slovenia is a former Yugoslav republic, independent since 1991. It has been a member of the European Union since 2004, as well as a part of the Schengen zone.
The population of Slovenia is slightly over 2 million inhabitants. Ljubljana, the capital of the country, is the largest city with approximately 300.000 residents. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
The country is widely known as a green country. It is full of lakes, parks, and caves, that will take your breath away!
lakes
m the highest peak
km of coastline
Itinerary suggestions
A basic itinerary that includes the top three destinations is the following:
Day 1 Arrival to Ljubljana
Day 2 Ljubljana (city tour or free day)
Day 3 Ljubljana – Lake Bled – Ljubljana
Day 4 Ljubljana – Postojna Cave – Ljubljana
Day 5 Departure from Ljubljana
For those that come in summer, and enjoy spending time in the nature, we recommend this 8 days itinerary:
Day 1 Arrival to Ljubljana
Day 2 Ljubljana (city tour or free day)
Day 3 Ljubljana – Bled
Day 4 Bled – Triglav National Park – Bled
Day 5 Bled – Postojna Cave – Predjama
Castle – Piran
Day 6 Piran (free day)
Day 7 Piran – Škocjan Cave – Ljubljana
Day 8 Departure from Ljubljana
Slovenian cuisine
Slovenian traditional cuisine is under the influence of both German and Balkan cuisines. It is similar to that of Austria and certain regions of Croatia.
Food
Some of the typical Slovenian specialties are idrijski žlikrofi (dumplings made from dough with potato filling), belokranjska pogača (a dough filled with curd cheese, eggs, heavy cream, oil, and butter), kranjska klobasa (Slovenian sausage). Slovenians also eat a lot of meat, stews, soups, mushrooms, etc.
Desserts
The most beloved Slovenian dessert is the famous kremšnita (cake made of puff pastry and custard cream). Although you can try this cake in any Slovenian town, the original kremšnita can be found at Lake Bled, in the Hotel Park Cafe. Other traditional desserts include potica (nut roll), pinca (sweet bread, usually made at Easter), prekmurska gibanica (layered pastry, filled with poppy seed, walnuts, apples, raisins and quark fillings). The country also has a long tradition of beekeeping, so honey is a must on the menu.
Beverages
Slovenia is quite famous for its wine culture. Visiting wine cellars is one of the country’s best tourist attractions. Besides great red and white wines, Slovenians also love a good beer. Laško beer is the country’s most famous one. Other traditional drinks include spirits, such as borovničevec (delicious sweet blueberry licor) or slivovka (strong plump spirit).
Weather in Slovenia
The average winter temperature in Ljubljana is 0°C, but it often happens to fall below zero. Snow and frost are also common in the region. At summer, the average temperature in the capital is 21°C. Rainfall is abundant during the whole year. In fact, Ljubljana is one of the rainiest capitals in Europe. Even during summer, you can count on afternoon thunderstorms. In the high season, short heat waves are possible, with temperature rising to 35°C. In Ljubljana, the sun is rarely seen in winter, while in the summer it shines quite often, though not as often as along the coast.
The area closer to the sea has a Mediterranean climate. Winter is quite mild in cities such as Portorož, Piran, Izola, and Koper. The average temperature in January in this region is around 5°C. Snowfall in this area is rare. The sea temperature is high and great for swimming in July and August, and sometimes even in September.
Useful information
Visa regime in Slovenia:
Information about the visa regime between Slovenia (Schengen zone) and other countries is available on the web page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Transportation:
If driving in Slovenia, all cars must purchase and display a vignette to use all Slovenian motorways and express roads. Driving on a motorway without a valid vignette is under severe penalties. More information about the vignette system is available here.
Ljubljana Airport
Eurail
Slovenian Railways
Ljubljana Bus Station
Currency:
Euro (EUR)
Official language:
Slovenian
Local time:
GMT +1 hour
Electricity supply:
220V, 50Hz
Standard European two-pin plug
National holidays (work-free days):
1 and 2 January – New Year’s Day
8 February – Prešeren Day
Easter (moveable feast)
Easter Monday (moveable feast)
27 April – Day of Uprising against Occupation
1 and 2 May – Labour Day
25 June – Statehood Day
15 August – The Assumption of Mary
31 October – Reformation Day
1 November – All Saints’ Day
25 December – Christmas
26 December – Independence and Unity Day
Important telephone numbers:
112 Emergency
113 Police
122 Fire Department
140 Mountain Rescue
144 Ambulance
080 1900 Tourist Information
Country code +386