Slovenia is full of natural wonders and city escapes. Our beautiful central European country between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea is one of Europe’s top outdoor destinations. With its diverse landscape, Slovenia offers the perfect mix of breathtaking mountain views, endless outdoor sports options (hiking, kayaking, rafts, paddling, mountain biking, etc.), seaside escapes, natural caves, and much more.
If you’re thinking of visiting Slovenia, here is a list of the best things to do in Slovenia to get you started.
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THINGS TO KNOW WHEN VISITING SLOVENIA
🏡 Accommodation – Book your stay through Booking.com (most widely used in Slovenia)
💸 Use an internationally accepted card – I can’t recommend Revolut enough for traveling. Get your Revolut card HERE
🚆 Transportation – Public transport (mainly buses) are okay, but train connections are not one of the greatest. You can book tickets through Omio.com to guarantee discounts.
🚗 Renting a car is a must – it is quite important to have a car for your trip to Slovenia as the public transport is good, but doesn’t bring you to all destinations or it takes a long time to do so. The roads in Slovenia are easy to navigate and the drivers are quite patient. I’ve always booked my car through the Booking.com platform.
TOP THINGS TO SEE IN SLOVENIA
1. LJUBLJANA
Starting the list with the lovely Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. This cosy and green European capital is ideal for a one or two-day stop on your trip to Slovenia. I won’t stop here for long though. You can read all about Ljubljana, its history and vibe, and discover a list of the top 10 things to do in Ljubljana in the blog post, linked below.
READ ALSO: Visit Ljubljana, Slovenia’s Capital City
Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia
2. POSTOJNA CAVE
One of my absolute favourites. Postojna Cave is one of the most visited caves in Europe. It is also one of the rare caves with a built-in railway and home to one of the world’s most unique species – the human fish (proteus), sometimes referred to as baby dragons. If you’re lucky enough you’ll be able to spot them in the cave!
The temperature in the cave at any time of the year is about 10 degree Celsius (50F), therefore make sure to bring appropriate clothing. Postojna Cave is only accessible on advance booking by time slots, with ticket costs starting from 29.90€. Each tour takes about 90min.
Postojna Cave at Christmas time traditionally transforms into a magical land with a living nativity. Every year, between 25 and 30 December, the caves are lit up in colours, and you can witness the biblical story staged with live acts.
Similar Experiences
Below is a list of the caves in Slovenia, similar to Postojna cave:
- The Caves of Škocjan (Škocjanske jame) – UNESCO’s Heritage and Europe’s largest underground canyon
- Snow Cave (Snežna jama) – the highest-lying tourist cave in Slovenia
- Cross Cave (Križna jama) – known for its 22 underground lakes that can be crossed by boat
Postojna Cave during the Christmas time
3. PREDJAMA CASTLE
Next up on the list is Predjama Castle, located just minutes drive away from Postojna Cave. The two attractions are perfect for a joint daily visit. Note that the last part of the road to the castle is quite hilly and narrow, but not dangerous.
Predjama Castle is special for its position – it was strategically built within a cave mouth. It’s also one of the best-preserved castles from its era. The castle tour includes the tour of the castle grounds, including its own cave which had a hidden passage in case of emergencies.
Did you know that Predjama Castle was actually one of the filming locations of The Witcher Season 3? Yes, the Predjama Castle is the Vuilpanne Castle from the series.
Get combined tickets for Postojna Cave + Predjama Castle HERE
View on Predjama Castle
4. LAKE BLED
One of tourists’ favourites and the number one Slovene attraction on postcards and advertisements. And for a reason. Lake Bled is a beautiful glacial lake in the Julian Alps, surrounded by picturesque mountains and forests. The lake shore is about 6km long, perfect for a morning or afternoon walk.
Lake Bled is famous for its island, which happens to be the only island in Slovenia. You can reach the island by taking a traditional boat, named Pletna. There are several buildings on the Lake Bled Island, including a 17-th century church, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. You can reach the church by walking up a baroque staircase with 99 steps. The island of Lake Bled is a popular wedding spot – marrying on the island is considered to be a sign of good luck. Also, ringing the church bell on the island is supposed to grant wishes!
In case you’re wondering – yes, you can swim in Lake Bled but in specific areas only. There are two beaches on the Eastern side of the lake (Zaka and Velika Zaka).
Bled Lake – view from Mala Osojnica (source: Wirestock)
What else to do at Lake Bled?
- Have a stroll through the city of Bled
- Visit the Medival Bled Castle
- Taste the Bled cream cake (Blejska kremna rezina), a typical dessert. One of my favorite places to do so is called Slaščičarna Zima.
- For dashing views, head up to the scenic point of Ojstrica
- If you’re up for a short hike, consider hiking up to Mala Osojnica or further to Velika Osojnica
- Drive up to the Vintgar Gorge to see this natural phenomenon
Bled castle view in winter
5. PIRAN, SLOVENE COASTAL TOWN
Piran is a picturesque town on the Slovene coast, designed in Venetian style architecture. Piran is well known for its colorful main Tartini square, medieval walls with city views, and Venetian-style bell tower. It’s a lovely choice for a daily trip. The center is almost completely closed to traffic which gives Piran a special charm and the locals are friendly and accommodating.
If coming by car – you can either leave your car in a parking garage on top of the hill or in a parking lot before the city by the sea.
Postcards from Piran
Nearby Attractions
If you have time, I also recommend paying a visit these attractions close to Piran:
- Moon Bay / Mesečev zaliv – a natural bay below the cliffs with a free walking path on top.
- Portorož – a resort town full of spas and casinos with a long, sandy beach, and Sečovlje salina salt pans nearby.
- Strunjan – coastal town and natural reserve, home to the Moon Bay mentioned above. Strunjan and Portorož and connected by a walking path that even goes through a tunnel (completely closed to traffic).
- Koper and Izola – both beautiful seaside towns, connected by a just renovated walking path by the sea
Moon Bay (first photo), streets of Piran (second photo), Strunjan salt pans (last photo)
6. TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
Triglav National Park is Slovenia’s only national park. The park is located in the northwestern part of the country, covering most of the Julian Alps, including Slovenia’s highest mountain peaks. In fact, the park is named after Slovene’s highest peak – Triglav (2.864 m). Triglav National Park features unspoiled nature with diverse flora and fauna. It’s a top spot for hiking, which we often say has become somewhat of a Slovene national sport.
Top things to see in Triglav National Park
The list of what to see in Triglav National Park is endless, here are some spots to make you decide easier:
- Bohinj
- Soča Valley
- Kranjska Gora
- Zelenci
- Lake Bled
- Pokljuka Plateau
- Waterfalls: Savica, Kozjak, Peričnik
Planina Zajamniki on top of Pokljuka Plateau
Kozjak Waterfall (left) and Savica Waterfall (right)
Soča Valley (left) and Zelenci (right)
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Hi, it's Neja
I am an expat from Slovenia,
living in Milan since 2021 and writing a travel blog for all of you who are curious about life in Italy or traveling in Europe.
Follow me on my journey and learn everything about Italy and the European destinations.
