Include Slovenia in your Balkan tour

When in Slovenia, Ljubljana is the city to stay overnight! Make sure you take a guided walking tour.

Ljubljana

The Slovenian capital is very small, but adorable city which represents the meeting of East and West cultures, architecture, food and mentality. There are many things to do in Ljubljana, however you can visit all of them for a day. The Ljubljana city’s symbol is a dragon and can be seen on the Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle which rises on a hill over the city

Things to do in Ljubljana

• Try the specialties of the best Slovenian and international restaurants every Friday on the little square by St. Nicholas church which changes into a market of different flavors.
• Drink a coffee on the top of the Nebotičnik, a modern building builtin 1930, rises to over 70 meters height, with shops, offices, private residences; on the top floor are an observation desk, a cafe, and a bar.
• Take the funicular from the center to the Ljubljana Castle and enjoy the view
• Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Ljubljianica River
• Take a look at the street art at Metelkova Mesto
• Swim to the galaxy of fun in the Slovenian museum of illusions

Lake Bled

• The Bled lake, glacial and tectonic in origin, is not far from Ljubljana.
• It is over 2km long, around 1,400m wide, and almost 30m ideep.

The environment of the lake combines forests and mountain scapes. On the north stands the Bled Castle, dating from Middle Ages. On an island in the lake several buildings are located. The most visited one, the church dedicated to Mary’s Assumption, dates from the 17th century. Its tower is 52 meters high, and a staircase with 99 steps leads to the building.

Postojna Cave

• Postojna Cave is a long cave system with karst caves, in southwest Slovenia.
• The caves were shaped by the flowing of the Pivka river and spread along over 24 km.

In 1872, the first train for the transporting of tourists started its operation. Another modernization was the replacement with electric locomotives. Now 5.3 kilometers are open to be visited by tourists. Cave divers are exploring sections of this huge system of caves.

Triglav National Park

• Being Slovenia’s only national park, Triglav is unmissable.
• It lies in an alpine massif, and comprises the Triglav Peak.

Now the park area is 880 square kilometers, which makes up 4% of Slovenia’s territory. The species of plants, including medicinal ones, are over 59. Look for waterfalls which are numerous. Most waterfalls are in the valleys where the Soča and its tributaries flow. The water of Boka Falls, the highest one, falls from 106 meters. The largest glacial lake is Bohinj; other lakes worth visiting are Triglav Lakes and Lake Krn.

What to do in Slovenia?

• Visit the Postojna cave and Predjama castle
• Go hiking in the summer
• Explore the winter sports snowboard and skiing
• Visit Metelkova – Sprawling alternative music and art center

Hiking

Slovenia has great conditions for captivating hiking tours, in its only national park, Triglav, in the Julian Alps.

The most impressive lake is Bled, near the capital Ljubljana.

You can do hiking tours with different difficulty grades. The abundance of ridges, valleys, meadows along  the international Via Alpina is enchanting with alpine scapes. Via Alpina will show off quiet but uniquely charming mountain villages. It will also lead you to the famous lakes Bled and Bohinj.

Caving

With over 10,000 caves, Slovenia is a worthwhile place for caving experiences.

The Postojna is a caving system of impressive length, with around 5 out of the 24 kilometers of it which can be walked.

Škocjan Cave is UNESCO’s site of heritage importance, with a massive underground canyon.

Sightseeing

From Ljubljana, visit the Postojna, an impressive cave system, and lake Bled.

Triglav, the country’s nature park, will show the mountainous part of Slovenian nature.

From Kobarid, near the Soča river, one of the most stunning Slovenian waterfalls, Great Kozjak, will expect you.

Postojna is impressive with its underground tunnel. In and by the large lake Bled, the features will provide unique experiences. Great Kozjak waterfall is approached via a spectacular route, with a bunker from World War I; below the fall, a pool is formed. For historic sightseeing, visit Predjama, a castle dating from Renaissance times and housed in a cave mouth, by the Postojna town. In the castle, some movie scenes have been shot.

Festivals in Slovenia

• Kurentovanje – International Carnival in Ptuj.
• Days of National Costumes and Clothing Heritage Festival
• Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival
• Mladi Levi – International festival of dance and contemporary theater
• Salt Pans Festival in Piran
• Chocolate Festival in Radovljica
• Cherry Festival in Goriška Brd

Here you can see the list of all festivals in Slovenia for 2020

UNESCO sites in Slovenia

Cultural (2)

• Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija (2012)
• Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (2011)

Natural (2)

• Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (2007,2011,2017)
• Škocjan Caves (1986)