Slovenia is considered one of the greenest countries in Europe. Above all, it is very popular for outdoor activities such as all winter sports, hiking, mountain biking, whitewater and kayaking. An absolute paradise with beautiful lakes surrounded by picturesque mountains and a fantastic coastline with medieval towns. Slovenia offers something for everyone. The country is also popular for camping.
With around 2 million inhabitants, Slovenia is one of the smaller countries in the heart of Europe but certainly one of the most beautiful and diverse. Did you know that Slovenia is one of the most sustainable countries in the world? Traveling through the country is definitely one of the coolest things you can do in Europe and you should do it once in your life. We’ll show you a little insight into beautiful, green Slovenia.
lakes, caves, and alpine adventures
You will enter Ljubljana either with your own car, camper or by plane. The airport here is relatively small but well developed. It’s the largest in the country and has good connections to and from Europe. Here you can rent a car from one of the many providers. We traveled the country in our own car. Driving here is very pleasant and the roads are well developed. Please remember that you need a vignette for the motorway in Slovenia.
The airport is around 25 minutes away by car. You can also take a taxi to the city center, which costs around 30€, or you can take the much cheaper bus, which takes around 50 minutes to get to the city. Once here you can check into your hotel, explore the city and end the evening at one of the street food markets or good restaurants along the Ljubljanica River.
The next day you should definitely visit the Ljubljana Castle. You can buy the tickets online – they cost 16€ per person. The return journey with the funicular is also included here. But you can also walk, which isn’t too strenuous. You should also check out the Dragon Bridge, visit Metelkova District, stroll through Tivoli Park, go to the market and try the delicacies of Slovenian cuisine.
The next morning we set off for Lake Bohinj. The lake is around 85 kilometers and 1 hour by car from Ljubljana. Lake Bohinj lies in the heart of the Triglav National Park and is absolutely worth seeing. You can easily walk around the lake or simply chill out on the beautiful green meadows and let your mind wander. You can also take the cable car to Vogelberg, from where you have a fantastic view of the lake and the surrounding nature.
We continue to the Vintgar Gorge, around 35 kilometers away. The gorge is located not far from Bled and is an absolute must visit if you are in the region. It is one of the most beautiful and popular excursion destinations in Slovenia. You can buy the tickets on site which cost 10€ per person. You can also park directly at the gorge and it also costs around 5-10€.
The approximately 1.6 kilometer long Vintgar Gorge lies between the vertical walls of the Hom and Boršt mountains. The hike takes around 30 minutes and goes over bridges and wooden walkways and ends at the Šum waterfall. There is also a small, cute restaurant waiting for you at the end of the gorge, although it is relatively overcrowded.
At the end of the day we go to probably one of the most famous lakes in Slovenia, Lake Bled. Fantastically located with its characteristic island with the Church of Our Lady. We spent the night in a treehouse in the Garden Village Bled and can highly recommend it to you. A unique experience in the middle of nature located on a small river with a great restaurant and not far from the lake.
After a wonderful night in the tree house and a good breakfast, we go to the lake. Here you can, among other things, rent a nice rowing boat which costs around 20€ for an hour. But there are also excursions to the small island in the middle of the lake. You should also try the Bled Cream Cake which you can get in almost every café and restaurant.
Of course, a visit to Bled Castle, which is located on a 139 meter high rock above Lake Bled, should not be missed. It is considered the oldest castle in Slovenia. But the surrounding hilly landscape also offers great viewpoints of the lake. Last but not least, you should go swimming in the lake. A cold but very beautiful experience.
After a wonderful start to the day at Lake Bled, we go to the Peričnik Waterfall, 30 kilometers away, which at 52 meters is one of the highest and most beautiful in the country. It is also located in the Triglav National Park and it takes around 10 minutes to hike from the small parking lot to the waterfall.
Get there early as the parking space is quite small and you don’t have much other options to park there.
From here it is around 20 minutes by car to Kranjska Gora. Here we stayed the night at the Ramada Resort by Wyndham. Your first port of call should be the lift at the bike park, which will take you up the mountain. Once at the top there is a small hut where you can have a drink and enjoy the great views. Then you take the summer toboggan run back down to the valley. An absolute experience that you should definitely have. Tickets are available at the valley station of the Vitranc 1 chairlift and cost 18€ per person.
In the afternoon you can set off on foot to Lake Jasna, about 15 minutes away. A great lake surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Here you can enjoy good food and great views in one of the restaurants. A beautiful place where you can also swim, although the water doesn’t get very warm even in summer.
On day 5 of our Slovenia road trip we set off towards the Slovenian Adriatic coast. You can either drive back via Ljubljana or take the small detour through the Soča Valley to and from the Napoleon Bridge towards Koper, which will be our first stop by the sea.
The journey from Napoleon Bridge to Koper takes around two hours by car. The port city or also known as the City of a Thousand Suns has a cute medieval old town and a long promenade. This is a wonderful place to spend a few hours exploring the city.
We continue along the coast to the dreamy town of Izola. It is located between Koper and Piran and is a good starting point to explore the surrounding region.
We spend the evening in the picturesque town of Piran. A really great place on the Slovenian Adriatic coast. Here you can go out for a wonderful meal of fish or simply spend the evening by the water.
An hour from Piran is the Predjama Castle. A beautiful place that you shouldn’t miss. Entry costs around 20€ per person. Another highlight in the region is the Postojna Cave, which is a few minutes‘ drive from the castle.
We continue to Ptuj, about 2 hours away. The oldest city on the Drau with its beautiful castle is definitely worth a visit. There is also one of the oldest wine cellars here.
The city of Maribor is around 30 kilometers away and is definitely a must visit if you come to Slovenia. Like Ptuj, Slovenia’s second largest city is also located on the Drava. Here you can stroll through the cute streets and enjoy good food.
An absolute highlight awaits on the last day of our little Slovenia road trip. We drive to the Velika Planina plateau. The drive from Maribor through beautiful countryside takes around two hours. Cars are not allowed on the alpine pasture and you can park in one of the parking spaces, which are about a 45-minute walk from the plateau. You can buy parking tickets online using an app. You can also take a cable car to the Alm, which is around 1,600 meters high. But you should find out beforehand whether it actually works.
We spent the night at Chalet Orlica Velika Planina and it was a breathtaking experience. You should definitely book something in advance as the accommodation on the mountain pasture is quickly booked up as there are not that many huts. Just let your mind wander and enjoy the beautiful nature. There is also a cute little restaurant up here. So even for a day trip, this place is an absolute dream and you should definitely have it on your Slovenia bucket list.
