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If someone asked you where in the world is Slovenia, would you be able to tell them? Often overshadowed by its more popular neighbours of Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary, you might be surprised to know that Slovenia offers something for every type of traveller and budget.
Not only does Slovenia boast stunning natural areas, it also has historical highlights (who doesn’t love a castle?) and a vibrant and rapidly changing capital brimming with trendy cafes, riverside restaurants and vintage outlets. Check out my list of the top unmissable places in Slovenia.
Slovenia’s capital has grown from a sleepy capital that no one had heard of to a buzzing small city with a charming Old Town.
During your stay in Ljubljana, things to do include:
Lake Bled is the key attraction for visitors to Slovenia. The lake is best known for the picturesque island on the lake and its dramatic cliffside castle.
The Lake Bled island is dominated by the Assumption of Mary Church, and you can reach it by hiring a rowboat or heading out on a traditional wooden boat called pletna.
Lake Bled is looked over by the 12th century Bled Castle. You can go inside the castle for €11 (~£10).
Other activities you can do at Lake Bled include:
When you’ve finished checking out Lake Bled – head on over to Lake Bohinj. This lake is located only a 45 minute bus ride from Lake Bled.
If you just want a chilled out walk, you can do a circuit of the lake. More adventurous travellers will be interested in checking out a view of the lake from the Pec lookout located on the eastern side of the lake. You can get up to the viewpoint in about 30 minutes.
If waterfalls are your thing, head over to take a look at the Savica waterfall. Entry is €3 to see the waterfall from the base, but you can hike to the top of the waterfall for free by heading up the trail towards Black Lake (Crno Jezero) and following the signs.
Lake Bohinj is also located next to Triglav National Park and there’s many trails to choose from ranging from easy to difficult. Hiking trails to consider include Black Lake (Crno Jezero) and Vogar lookout. Many of the trails start near the town of Stara Fuzina (a 15 minute walk from the Lake Bohinj bus stop) or near the Savica waterfall carpark.
Slovenia is simply gorgeous! Glacial waters have carved out many gorges throughout Slovenia and the good news is that they are easily accessible.
Located near Lake Bled is the captivating Vintgar Gorge. You can walk down a 1.6km section of the gorge via wooden boardwalks. Entry costs €5.
From Lake Bohinj, you can easily reach Mostice Gorge (Mostnice Korita in Slovene) and complete the circuit skirting both sides of the gorge. From the end of the Mostice Gorge, you can also choose to continue your hike up to Mostice Waterfall. Entry to the gorge is €3.
If you’re after a scenic road trip, then take a drive to the Soca Valley.
The Soca Valley is best accessed by car and can be done as a day trip from Bled or Ljubljana. Tours are also available from Bled that take in this area.
One of the highlights in the Soca Valley is the sparkling turquoise water of the Soca River and the Tolmin Gorge, located in the southern section of Triglav National Park.
Entry into Tolmin Gorge is €5.
Lisa Owen is a pint-sized Australian following her dreams to travel to as many places as she can, and loves to share her photography, travel hacks, hiking adventures, and food discoveries along the way. At last count, she has travelled to more than 70 countries in between working in public relations and discovering hidden gems in Australia's great outdoors. Instagram: @thelittleadventurer. Facebook: The Little Adventurer Australia.
The views, opinions and positions expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and are meant as travel inspiration only. They do not reflect the opinions of Cover-More Insurance. You should always read the Policy Documents available from your travel insurance provider to understand the limits, exclusions and conditions of your policy and to ensure any activities you undertake are covered by your policy.