Slovenia | TRAVEL GUIDE
L I K E T H I S P O S T?
P I N F O R L A T E R
With more than half the country covered by pine forests <3, Slovenia is one of the greenest countries in the world. Charming architecture, warm locals, striking mountains, Mediterranean coastline and sprawling countrysides make traveling through this small but diverse country a dream. Though still relatively off the typical tourist track, get here soon as this won't last for much longer.
TRAVEL TIPS
- Recommend flying into Trieste, Italy (TRS) and moving from West to East then flying out of Ljubljana.
- Slovenia is small and you can cover a lot of ground, but I highly recommend not rushing it or you’ll spend the majority of your time behind the wheel.
- If you are on a budget or don't want to rent a car, the train and bus systems work really well and are very reliable.
- Winters here are brutal, but great for hitting the slopes. We were here in October and loved it, seeing the color of the changing seasons was gorgeous. Mid-May to early October is an ideal time to visit.
Western Slovenia
Home to the Julian Alps, beautiful and history rich Soča Valley and Slovenia's best wine regions. Whether you love serious adventure or just enjoy the pace of mountain and country life, this small region is loaded with diversity and untouched natural beauty. It's also the home to one of WW1's most famous battlegrounds.
TO SLEEP
Klavze 28 Set on 22 acres of lush mountain wilderness, this rustic & chic bnb is magical. Breakfast and dinner are included and your adventure or relaxing options are endless. We actually WOOFed on their land for 2 weeks and vow to return to this very special place someday. Plan your trip around staying here and figure the rest out after. Full lodging review here (Most na Soči).
Belica On top of a hill in the Goriska Brda wine region with views looking out on the Alps and Adriatic Sea. Rolling slopes covered in vineyards fill the landscape and you can enjoy some of Slovenia's best food and wine in this renowned region (Medana).
Kmetija Štekar Family run organic winery and bnb with some of the best wines in the country. Stay the night here or come by for a tasting and cheese/charcuterie plate.
TO EAT & DRINK
Hiša Franko We are big fans of Chef's Table which is how we found out about Ana and Valter's restaurant. It was a splurge on a special occasion for us, but value-wise this place is a steal. One of the best culinary experiences we have ever had, read more about the details here. You need a reservation and sleeping here seems like a great option too (Kobarid).
Klinec In the heart of Goriska Brda, a wine region that rivals Sonoma, this family run bio-dynamic winery delivers a very authentic meal for dinner. When we ate here, they slow cooked a pig over open flame for over 8 hours - the end result & wine pairing was absolutely delicious. Their wines are special and you have to try the orange wine (Medana).
Karst Wine Road A beautiful road trip with plenty of cute small towns to stop in for a bite or wine tasting. The region is famous for their Teran red wine and air-dried prsut ham.
Gostilna Ukmar Not crazy fancy, but really good food in a quaint village that makes for a fun drive on the way back from visiting the caves - head here for lunch (Dutovelj).
THE OUTDOORS
Soča Valley Set in the Triglav National Park and centered around the emerald green Soča River, it's hard to find a more scenic atmosphere. Loaded with gorges (we loved Tolmin Gorges), waterfalls, hiking/biking trails, cliffs, boulders and more.
Soca Fly Flyfishing for rainbow and the locally famous marble trout is some of the best in the world. Catching fish or not, you will have a day to remember.
Bovec The adventure capital in Soča Valley, a small town but the destination for adventure athletes. Whether you are paragliding from hillsides, riding river rapids, mountain biking, canyoning gorges or skiing - no day should be the same.
Kranskja Gora Mountain town in the northwestern region of Slovenia, close to the Austrian and Italian borders. The place to ski in the winter and hike, bike and more in the summer. Lake Jasna is a small alpine lake that you can drive to, great for pictures and a picnic.
TO EXPLORE
Postojna Cave | Predjama Castle | Skocjan Caves The caves are incomprehensibly massive and hundreds of thousands of years old - a must on your trip. The castle was built in the mouth of a cave and dates back to the 1200's. A trip to Slovenia wouldn't be complete without visiting here and it pairs perfectly with a trip to the Karst wine road.
Bohinj Rugged natural beauty anchored by the large and stunning Bohinj Lake. Ton of hikes and exploring you can do from here or just take the tram up Vogel Mountain for gorgeous views and a slightly scary ride straight up.
Piran This picturesque medieval town is set on the small stretch of Slovenian coastline and rivals the beauty of it's more known neighbor (Croatia). Their old town architecture is gorgeous and one of the best preserved towns in Europe. Come bask in the sun and beauty, enjoying the cobble stone streets and endless seafood restaurants. Visit Lepa Vida Spa for an outdoor salt and sea therapy experience to remember.
Lipica Visit one of the oldest stud farms in the world to see the noble Lipizzaner horses. For over 430 years they have bred these elegant white horses and trained them for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Central/Eastern Slovenia
Ljubljana is the country's revitalized capital that is perfectly sized for exploring by bike. It's lively, charming and probably the cutest European city you have never heard of. With plenty to see in this part of Slovenia, Lake Bled and the rolling hills of Maribor are not to be missed either. Driving through the countryside is almost worth the trip itself as there are countless quaint towns and villages to stop in and steal your heart.
TO SLEEP
Glamping @ Chateau Ramsak (Maribor) A beautiful new glampsite that sits on a 100 year old vineyard in the rolling hills. Each tent comes with a bottle of their delicious white wine, a hearty & healthy breakfast and your own hot tub. This place is the ultimate stop to recharge and relax.
Garden House | Garden Village (Lake Bled) GH is a budget friendly hostel that is very homey and extremely well designed. GV is an eco-resort that offers glamp tents, treehouses, and local culinary experience that is pretty unique.
Camping Bled Another beautiful camp and glampsite to experience the beautiful nature of Bled.
Vander Urbani Resort (Ljubljana) Boutique design hotel in the middle of it all. A splurge but high on value and a great way to experience the city.
TO EAT
Odprta Kuhna "Open Kitchen" (Ljubljana) In the town center, vendors travel from all over Slovenia to share their fare and post up booths in this open-air market. It's every Friday from March to October and absolutely worth planning your trip around. The diversity of food we tried, the drinks, live music and atmosphere was one of our favorite moments in Europe.
Kavarna Tiskarna (Ljubljana) A cool space turned all-day hang out spot - a true urban oasis equipped with a large covered patio. Coffee, breakfast or lunch this place is busy and for good reason. In the afternoon or evening it's also a great spot to try a Slovenian craft beer or a seasonal cocktail.
Sova (Bled) We stumbled into this gem and ate here 3 times in 4 days, no shame. The food is ridiculously good (& cheap), the restaurant is on the lake and they rent boats next door for your after lunch cruise to the island.
Pavus (Lasko) Multi-course meal by one of the top chefs in Slovenia, in the old Grad Tabor castle on the mountain top . The setting alone is worth going for and the culinary experience doesn't disappoint.
THE OUTDOORS
Lake Bled We visited in autumn for 3 nights, loving the colors and cozy vibes. There are fun hikes for better views over the lake and castle with plenty more to do outside. The food here is really, really good and rowing a boat to the church on the island is an obvious tourist move but super fun.
Bike Ljubljana It would be hard to find a city that is more well structured or supported for cyclists. Their bike share system costs €1 for the week as long as you turn the bike into another station under 1 hour. It's the best way to get around and explore the city.
Maribor & Pohorje Rolling hills covered with vineyards (claim to the world's oldest vine) and the Drava River running through, make this region idyllic for biking, running or a pretty drive. With architecture in the city dating back to the 15th century there is plenty of history to see or view the stunning countryside by hot air balloon.
Lasko An old spa and mining town, but also locally famous for brewing the country's staple beer. Don't leave without rejuvenating at Thermana Lasko's natural thermal pools, sauna, & massages - always a nice way to break up the adventures!
POSTS FROM OUR TRIP:
