Planning a trip to Slovenia, a hidden gem in Europe
Slovenia is plausibly the underrated destination in Europe which has its own upsides. The lack of mass tourism is most definitely one of them (who like mass tourism anyway?)
It is arguably known for its mountains, lakes and Ski resorts. The country does see significantly more visitors in July and August so it’s better to avoid those months if you can. April, May and June make great times to go as well as September – or the winter if you are looking for some spectacular snow!
Contents
Why Slovenia Should be Your Next Destination
Slovenia lies in the southern part of Central Europe and is therefore easily accessible to visit neighboring countries (Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy) from almost anywhere and is also a good “in between” stop for those of you, who are doing a Europe trip. If you are into Hiking, Skiing, climbing, paragliding and cycling then do not forget to add Slovenia in your bucket list.
If you are wondering about things to do in Slovenia, here is a guide that will help you plan a memorable Slovenia vacation.
5 days in Slovenia - Travel itinerary
- Ljubljana - It is very pedestrian, make sure to carry comfortable walking shoes. You can explore Preseren Square, Ljubljana Cathedral, Ljubljana Castle, Dragon Bridge, Trivoli Park.
- Bled- Head to the picturesque town of Bled for two nights. Enjoy swimming, rent a canoe, paddleboard, or pay for a Pletna boat to take you across the lake to Bled Island. In the afternoon explore Vintgar Gorge, a 1.6km gorge in Triglav National Park.
- Bled- Choose to hike over Lake Bled to witness the sunrise. Later, take a short 30 mins bus trip to Lake Bohinj and explore the small town.
- Piran - Start your day and visit - Tartini Square, St. George’s Church, & Old City Walls. Conclude your day by enjoying sunset along the water and listen to live music at one of the spots in Tartini Square.
- Piran - Today is all about relaxing and enjoying the serenity of the place before you head back home.
7 Days in Slovenia - Travel itinerary
- Ljubljana - It is very pedestrian, make sure to carry comfortable walking shoes. You can explore Preseren Square, Ljubljana Cathedral, Ljubljana Castle, Dragon Bridge, Trivoli Park.
- Bled- Head to the picturesque town of Bled for two nights. Enjoy swimming, rent a canoe, paddleboard, or pay for a Pletna boat to take you across the lake to Bled Island. In the afternoon explore Vintgar Gorge, a 1.6km gorge in Triglav National Park.
- Bled- Choose to hike over Lake Bled to witness the sunrise. Later, take a short 30 mins bus trip to Lake Bohinj and explore the small town.
- Kranjska Gora - Vrsic - Bovec - Make your first stop at Lake Jasna in Kranjska Gora and enjoy its spectacular view of mountains and emerald lake. Continue driving and cross Vrsic mountain and take photos at the top. Conclude your day at by indulging into zip lining, river rafting, kayaking at Bovec.
- Bovec - Tolmin - Goriska Brda - Soak in the beauty of this place and end up reading a book, stroll around or spend the day at leisure.
- Piran - Drive to Piran and breath in the beauty of this beautiful town. Visit - Tartini Square, St. George’s Church, & Old City Walls. Conclude your day by enjoying sunset along the water and listen to live music at one of the spots in Tartini Square.
- Piran - Today is all about relaxing and enjoying the serenity of the place before you head back home.
5 Best things to do in Slovenia
1.Picture Perfect Lake Bled
Trip to Slovenia is incomplete without the the visit to Lake Bled. With its castle on the hill, a pretty island Lake Bled is one of the most famous destination in Slovenia and so as its delicious cream cake, it’s a calories bomb but every bite is so worth it!
2. Visit to lake Bohinj
With crystal clear water and exquisite beauty, you can take a quick dip and experience breathtaking landscapes, lakes surrounded by mountains. You can choose to walk around the walking trail and hang out on the silver beaches along the water's edge.
3. Green waters of Vintgar Gorge
At a stretch of 1.6 kms broadwalk alongside the Radovna river, the gorgeous Gorge is one of the magical places to visit in Slovenia. From deep pools, river bubbles to swirling shoals of fish and mini waterfalls, at the end of the path you reach Slovenia’s largest waterfall the Šum waterfall, set underneath the Bohinj railway bridge with a little cafe if you need a break.
4. Fairyland in Ljubljana
Being the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is colorful and lively. You can plan your escape and visit Dragon Bridge or stroll around the streets or choose to hop highly rated restaurants and cafes. From web of cobbled streets to pastel-colored buildings topped with terracotta tiled roofs, there is no denying the Ljubljana is one of the most beautiful capital in Europe.
5. Don’t miss the cable car up to Vogel mountain
A treat to eyes, the cable car up to Vogel mountain is just spectacular.You can admire Lake and the surrounding area with high peaks of the most beautiful mountains in Slovenia!This is probably the easiest way to see best views of stunning Julian Alps from above.
Fascinating Facts about Slovenia
- Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital is a true box of delights – so small, picturesque and appears to be a fairytale castle.
- Kurentovanje a ritual in which Slovenians wear traditional costumes and masks to at the end of the winters.
- It is home to Europe's cheapest Ski resorts. In midwinter it has world-class skiing; in spring the Kurent Carnival takes place in nearby Ptuj.
- Slovenia’s dry Karst region, produces some world-class red wines, including Merlot. There’s a vineyard for every 70 people.
- You’ll find Europe’s most stunning caves but the best known is Postojna caves.
- The Slovene language might just be spoken by 2.3 million people, but there are still 46 different dialects.
- The country’s capital city’s (Ljubljana) name translates as “the loved one”.
- Wanna try being a prisoner without committing a crime? Book a room, rather a cell at the Celica Hostel.
- Slovenia is such a small country that you can spot both Italy and Croatia while standing in Slovenia.
- Slovenia has over 7,000 kilometers (4350 miles) of marked mountain trails, including 165 mountain huts and shelters.
Top 9 popular Slovenian foods
There is a saying “love goes through the stomach”and the traditional Slovenian food can confirm just that. 🙂
- Bled Cream Cake - Made with wholesome ingredients like eggs, cream, and milk with a small amount of sugar. This dish is also known in parts of Austria and Germany
- Kranjska Klobasa - Carniolan sausage is the most known Slovenian food
- Potica - the most typical Slovenian dessert made of dough and filled with various fillings.
- Prekmurska gibanica - A juicy dessert, stuffed with poppy seeds, cottage cheese, walnuts and apples.
- Kraški Pršut - t is on the air-dried pork thigh, that goes well with a glass of Teran or red Karst.
- Štruklji - Prepared from different types of dough, baked or cooked, salty or sweet. They are a “must try” when you visit Slovenia.
- Žganci - Made from buckwheat flour and richly dressed with cracknels.
- Prežganka - It is made by roasting and browning the flour, adding the water and salt, and once it boils, a scrambled egg is added.
- Štefani Pečenka - A classic dish made with a meat loaf with hard boiled eggs.
Best time to visit
- May to September are ideal for climbing, hiking, cycling and adventure sports.
- December to March are ideal for Skiing.
Language - Slovene
Currency - Slovenia’s currency is the Euro. In all of the cities on this itinerary, there are accessible ATMs. Credit cards are accepted, however, it’s best to have cash on hand, especially in smaller cities. Many bus tickets you’ll have to pay cash, especially in Bled. In fact, if I remember correctly, there was only one window accepting credit cards at the bus station in Ljubljana. So prepare with cash accordingly, but know you can restock at ATMs as well.
Travel Tips
- Slovenia is safe for solo female travelers.
- Best way to explore is rent a car. You can also make use of public transport namely buses, cabs.
- Tap water is drinkable all over Slovenia so avoid buying expensive bottled water.
- Daily food cereals, dairy products, meat (especially pork), sea and fresh-water fish, vegetables, beans, olives and grape.
Add On (Italy and Croatia)
Slovenia is located in central Europe, bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Italy to the west, Croatia to the south. Have more time? here is how you should spend another week in the destination.
It save some of your time on planning, just sit back and check out our upcoming departures for Slovenia, Croatia and Italy .