The Ultimate Slovenia Travel Guide
Beautiful Slovenia. This country is a wonderland of turquoise lakes, hidden gorges, impressive mountains, and picturesque towns. It is a destination perfect for families, hikers, and for those who love a great road trip. Most of your time will be spent outdoors, either strolling along picture-perfect lakes and mountains, hiking in Triglav National Park, or exploring scenic gorges. If city sightseeing and museum-hopping is not your idea of a perfect vacation, you’ll love Slovenia. Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, is more about eating, shopping, and exploring the scenic city streets than hopping from museum to museum. And with all of the opportunities to be outdoors, Slovenia is a great place to take the kids.Slovenia Stats
Official Languages: Slovene
Population: 2.1 million
Capital City: Ljubljana
Currency: Euro
Power Outlet: Type C & F
Slovenia Itinerary
10 days in Slovenia is the perfect amount of time to visit the highlights of this amazing country. Tour lovely Ljubljana, spend several days exploring Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, journey into the Julian Alps, go on a scenic road trip, and end with several days on the Adriatic Sea on this Slovenia itinerary.
Places to Go in Slovenia
Hike the Julian Alps, explore the karst caves, raft the crystal clear aquamarine rivers, and paddle board on the lakes…these all make the list of the best things to do in Slovenia.
Triglav National Park
Visit Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, go hiking in the Julian Alps, and go on a road trip through the mountains. Here are things to do in and around Triglav National Park.
7 Great Things to Do at Lake Bohinj in the Summer
Lake Bohinj is one of our favorite places in Slovenia. It is an outdoor playground, with opportunities to go hiking,…
8 Amazing Things to Do in Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled is one of the most picturesque spots to visit in Slovenia. This small lake has all of the…
Driving to the Mangart Saddle in Slovenia
The Mangart Saddle, also called the Mangart Pass or Mangartsko sedlo, is the highest lying road in Slovenia. It’s a…
Hiking the Julian Alps: Vršič Pass to Sleme and Slemenova Špica
This is a wonderful day hike to do in the Julian Alps of Slovenia. You start at the Vršič Pass,…
How to Visit Tolmin Gorge in Slovenia
The Tolmin Gorge is one of many gorgeous places you can visit in Slovenia. Walk along the crystal clear Tolminka…
Lake Bohinj Travel Guide: Itineraries for 1, 2, and 3 Days
Lake Bohinj is a lovely lake located in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. While you are here, you can fill your…
Slovenia Scenic Drive: Vršič Pass, Soca Valley, Tolmin Gorge & Mangart
On this one day road trip through northwestern Slovenia, drive the Vršič Pass, visit the Soca Valley and the town…
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia
Without a doubt, Vintgar Gorge is one of the most magical places to visit in Slovenia. For 1.6 km, boardwalks…
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is colorful, lively, compact, very photogenic, and there are more dragons here than museums. This is the kind of city where it is simply fun to stroll and explore without a long list of attractions to visit. Here are the best things to do in Ljubljana.
Skocjan Cave & Predjama Castle
With one day, you can easily visit two of Slovenia’s most unique destinations, the Škocjan Caves and Predjama Castle. Be amazed as you tour the enormous, subterranean world of the Škocjan Caves. Then visit Predjama Castle, the largest cave castle in the world.
Istria
The Istrian Peninsula is a wedge-shaped peninsula located in northwest Croatia and southwestern Slovenia. In Slovenia, this tiny sliver of land is home to three coastal towns: Piran, Koper, and Izola. You can day trip here from Ljubljana, spend a night or two, or include these towns on a visit to Croatia.
3 Days in Istria Itinerary: Where to Go, Helpful Tips & Photos
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6 Great Things to Do in Piran, Slovenia
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One Day in Piran and Koper: How to Plan Your Day Trip
Piran and Koper are two beautiful coastal towns located in Slovenia. Piran is well known for its colorful main square,…
Places to Go Near Slovenia
A visit to Slovenia can be easily combined with nearby destinations, such as Croatia, Austria and Italy.
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Europe Travel Inspiration & Practical Info
Do you dream of visiting world-class cities like Paris, Barcelona, or Venice? Or would you rather hike the Alps, go on a scenic train ride, explore the beautiful beaches and coastal towns in southern Europe, visit fairytale towns and castles, island hop in Greece, or go on an unforgettable road trip in northern Europe?
In this article we list 25 ways to spend one week in Europe.
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Top Experiences in Slovenia
Ljubljana. Lovely Ljubljana. This is one of our new favorite cities in Europe. This town really made a nice impression on us. It’s colorful, it’s lively, it’s compact, it’s very photogenic, and there are more dragons here than museums. This is the kind of city where it is simply fun to stroll and explore without a long list of attractions to visit.
Lake Bled. Lake Bled is one of the most picturesque spots to visit in Slovenia. This small lake has all of the ingredients for the perfect getaway...a castle perched high on a hillside, a pretty little island to visit, hiking trails, and secluded swimming spots. Hike in Triglav National Park. Located in the Julian Alps, this rugged, rocky mountain range is an epic destination for hikers and rock climbers. We did an amazing hike right from the Vršič Pass, hiking to Slemenova Špica. On this thrilling hike, we walked through fields of wildflowers and had views over Italy, Austria, and the Julian Alps. Lake Bohinj. Lake Bohinj, located inside Triglav National Park, is one of our favorite places in Slovenia. It is an outdoor playground, with opportunities to go hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. Ride the Vogel cable car for amazing views of the National Park and walk to Savica waterfall, Slovenia’s most popular waterfall. Vintgar Gorge. Without a doubt, Vintgar Gorge is one of the most magical places to visit in Slovenia. For 1.6 km, boardwalks crisscross their way along the Radovna River, creating an enchanting landscape that is photogenic and fun to explore. Vintgar Gorge is one of Slovenia’s most popular attractions. Piran. Most of Slovenia is landlocked, with the exception of a tiny sliver of land that stretches out to the Adriatic Sea. Called Slovenian Istria, there are three small coastal towns that dot this short but beautiful coastline: Koper, Izola, and our favorite, Piran. With a colorful main square, medieval walls, a bustling harbor, and lots of great seafood restaurants to choose from, Piran is one of Slovenia’s best small towns to visit. Koper. Koper is a small coastal city that’s just a short drive from Piran. Climb the bell tower for the best view of the city, visit the Praetorian Palace, and go shopping. Explore the Soča River Valley. The Soča River starts in the Julian Alps and meanders through western Slovenia, traveling through Bovec, Kobarid, Tolmin, and ending in the Adriatic Sea. This river is a brilliant aquamarine for most of its length. You can go white water rafting from Bovec or simply drive along the Soča River, enjoying the view as you go.Škocjan Caves and Predjama Castle. Within one day, you can easily visit these two unique destinations. Be amazed as you tour the enormous, subterranean world of the Škocjan Caves. Then visit Predjama Castle, the largest cave castle in the world.
Tolmin Gorge. The Tolmin Gorge is one of many gorgeous places you can visit in Slovenia. Walk along the crystal clear Tolminka River, photograph the moss-covered canyons, and walk on a suspension bridge high above the gorge.Maribor. Maribor is a small city located in eastern Slovenia. Take in the view from Pyramid Hill, see the oldest vine in the world, and stroll along the colorful streets and squares. It feels a lot quieter here than Ljubljana and Lake Bled, so if you are looking to escape the summer crowds in Slovenia (and if you like wine) this is a nice place to visit.
Lake Jasna. This is yet another one of Slovenia’s very pretty lakes. Located near Kranjska Gora, this is a popular swimming spot in the summer months. Drive the Mangart Saddle. The Mangart Saddle, also called the Mangart Pass or Mangartsko Sedlo, is the highest lying road in Slovenia. It’s a winding, white-knuckle drive through the mountainous region of northwest Slovenia. If you have nerves of steel and want to add a cool mini road trip onto your tour of Slovenia, this is a great option. Kranjska Gora. Kranjska Gora is a very small town that is located just north of Triglav National Park. This town makes a very nice home base if you plan to do any hiking in the Julian Alps. We also used this as our home base for day tripping out to the Soča River Valley, Lake Bled, and Lake Bohinj.Best Time to Visit Slovenia
Summer is a great time to visit Slovenia, but this is also the most crowded and most expensive time to visit. If you like the idea of paddle boarding on the lakes and sunbathing in Piran, summer is the best time to go to Slovenia.
Spring and fall are wonderful. Temperatures are pleasant and the crowd levels are lower. To see Lake Bled in autumn with the fall colors would be magical.
Winter is the off-season. Expect cold temperatures and snow. However, snow can also create a magical experience at Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, and the opportunity to go skiing in Triglav National Park.
In my opinion, the best time for this Slovenia itinerary is late summer and early fall, when the weather is warm. Once September rolls around, crowds begin to lessen, so this is a wonderful time to visit Slovenia.