Alex is the author of the travel books A Long Weekend in Ulaanbaatar and Running the Milk. Between writing, he currently splits his time between the UK & U.S. expanding his knowledge of city escapes, small town USA and regional differences whilst researching his next books.
Sometimes, no matter how much a seasoned traveler you are, a city takes you by surprise. In my case, Ljubljana did just that. Sitting on the banks of the Ljubljanica, the Slovenian capital’s pedestrianised center blends modern efficiency with old world charm.
Voted the European Commission’s Green Capital in 2016, Ljubljana bares few similarities to its former Yugoslav counterparts. Its imposing 16th century castle, cobbled old town and eclectic museums will easily keep you occupied for a long weekend. And that’s before you add in the nightlife and world class dining scene.
Ljubljana’s Old Town is dotted with grand buildings, souvenir boutiques and traditional restaurants (Credit: Alex Johnson)
But aside from being the ultimate Central European city break destination, Ljubljana is the perfect base for exploring Slovenia, as well as its neighbors. If you do find yourself with more than a few days here, there is no end of great day trips from Ljubljana. These are a few of the best.
Just 55km from the city center, Lake Bled is the easiest and most popular of all day trips from Ljubljana. And whilst that does mean it gets crowded, particularly though the summer months, Lake Bled is one of those tourist hotspots which simply have to see.
Lake Bled sits in a glacial valley in the Julian Alps (Credit: Alex Johnson)
Leaving Ljubljana behind, head for the town of Bled which sits at the head of the lake. It’s very much a seasonal town and if you, as I recently did, visit in winter, you’ll have the place more-or-less to yourself. That said, a number of restaurants and shops are open year-round, as is the castle.
Talking of the castle, Blejski Grad is probably the most photographed spot in what is one of Slovenia’s most photographed locations. Built in the Medieval period, it’s perched on a hilltop overlooking the lake and, as fascinating as the museum inside is, the view is the real draw. To reach the castle, you’ll need to take a fairly steep, but caved, 20-minute walk.
If you venture inside the castle, don’t miss the wine cellar which offers tastings of Slovenian wines (Credit: Alex Johnson)
Once you’ve descended back down to the town, there’s no end of options for lunch. My top recommendation is Kavarna Park. They serve up a range of local favorites with lakeside views, and their cakes are sublime.
Weiner Schnitzel is never far away when you’re in a former Habsburg country (Credit: Alex Johnson)
The real highlight of taking a day trip from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, though, is getting out on the lake itself. All year-round, electric ferries run from the pier beneath Kavarna Park to Bled Island. Schedules change with the season, so it’s worth checking before you visit. The ferry is cash only, and can’t be pre-booked.
Bled Island is, I must admit, a bit of a tourist trap. The ferry isn’t cheap, and if you want to explore any of the buildings on the island, or even use the toilets, you’ll need to purchase another ticket. But it’s one of those places you only visit once, so you might as well splash out and enjoy the experience.
The church on Bled Island was built in the 17th century (Credit: Alex Johnson)
If you’re visiting during summer and want to hit the lake but avoid other visitors, you can take a guided kayaking tour instead. The bottom of the kayaks are completely transparent, so you’ll get an unobscured view of the water beneath you.
Getting to Lake Bled
The reason Lake Bled tops every list of the most popular day trips from Ljubljana is simply it’s proximity to the capital. If you’ve hired a car, Bled is an easy 45-minute drive. By public transport, the most efficient way to reach Bled is by bus. Arrivabuses depart every 30 minutes from Ljubljana Bus Station, stopping a two-minute walk from the lakefront. Purchase your tickets from the bus station; on the way back, just pay the driver (cash only).
The electric boats which sail to Bled Island are known as pletna (Credit: Alex Johnson)
Alternatively, you can take a guided tour. If you’re planning to visit the castle, and don’t fancy the walk, this can be the best option. This half-day tour departs from central Ljubljana, stopping at Bled Castle before heading back down to the town.
Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle
Postojna Cave
Slightly further away than Lake Bled, still popular though less overrun with visitors, Postojna Cave is my personal favorite day trip from Ljubljana. Located half way between the capital and the Italian border, Postojna is one of Slovenia’s largest cave systems.
Anywhere with a miniature train gets my approval (Credit: Alex Johnson)
Postojna Cave runs for a staggering 25-kilometers and has likely been in use since the 12th century based on graffiti found discovered on the walls. When Austro-Hungarian Archduke Ferdinand visited in 1819, the caves suddenly soared in popularity and have been a tourist attraction ever since.
Railway tracks were laid in 1872 and, unlike many cave sites where trains initially served an industrious purpose, Postojna’s train was built purely to carry visitors. If you’d visited Postojna in the 19th century, your train wouldn’t have been propelled by power. Originally, tour guides had to pull the carts themselves. Luckily for them, gas-powered locomotives were installed at the turn of the 20th century.
The age-old trick to telling stalactites from stalagmites is to remember that stalactites hold tight to the ceiling and stalagmites might reach the ceiling. Alternatively, do as I do and Google it every time (Credit: Ahmed Almakhzanji)
Predjama Castle
What makes this stand out as one of the best day trips from Ljubljana is that a visit to Postojna is so easily combined with Predjama Castle. Predjama sits a few miles west of the caves and is one of Slovenia’s most impressive castles.
Built in the 13th century, Predjama is a feat of engineering. Built into the cliff face, it’s one of those sights you have to see for yourself to believe.
Predjama is an icon of Slovenia (Credit: Simon Hermans)
Impressive nature aside, Predjama has played an important role in Slovenian history over the years. Legend has it that Erasmus, a knight of the castle, fought off the Habsburg army and killed their commander during a 15th century siege. The Habsburgs only regained control when they summoned back up from Trieste.
Getting to Postojna and Predjama
If you’re not driving, the best way to reach Postojna Park is to take a guided tour from Ljubljana. This 6-hour trip includes admission to both sites.
Travel Tip: If visiting independently, save money by purchase combined castle and cave tickets from whichever you visit first. Both sites are administered by Postojna Park.
Much of the castle was destroyed during the siege. It was rebuilt soon after, and the current building was completed in 1570 (Credit: Bram van Geerenstein)
It is also possible to take a bus from Ljubljana to Postojna. There are two departures daily from the bus station; one early in the morning, the second around lunchtime. The journey takes an hour each way.
The Slovenian Coast
Piran
I’m often surprised at how overlooked the Slovenian coastline is. Sitting on the Adriatic, the same ocean which have given Croatia and Montenegro celebrity status amongst travellers, Slovenia somehow flies under the radar. Once you’ve seen it for yourself, you’ll soon see why a visit to the coast is one of the top day trips from Ljubljana.
Piran is the underrated jewel of the Adriatic (Credit: Mark Pisek)
To my mind, there’s one coastal town which outdoes any other Slovenia has to offer: Piran. Once part of the Roman Empire, Piran’s walled old town could rival even Kotor. Venetian architecture is all around. Once you’ve done a loop of the town walls, take a walk up to St George’s Church, perched high above for the best view.
Take a lunchtime walking tour with a local food and wine tasting included, or sample seafood on the breakwater at Ladja Podlanica. Spend the afternoon exploring the cobbled passageways, darting in and out of shops, the sort in which you simply can’t help but leave with a full bag of curios and local produce. Round off your day with a visit to the Maritime Museum to learn a little about Piran’s past.
Portoroz
If your idea of a day at the seaside is more lounging in the sun or buckets and spades, Portoroz is the ideal Slovenian coast day trip. A few miles east of Piran, Portoroz manages to combine its history with laid-back resort town vibes.
Adriatic sunsets are another level of beautiful (Credit: Robert Katzki)
Spend the day unwinding on Central Beach, take a walk out along the jetty to Pier View Point or splash out with a day pass to one of the luxury resorts.
Getting to the Slovenian Coast
Both Piran and Portoroz, along with a number of other coastal resorts, are within easy reach of Ljubljana. This is one of those day trips from Ljubljana where having a car and driving yourself will really come in handy. It’s one of the longer drives, and having the flexibility to stop off whenever you fancy is a major bonus. If not, buses run frequently from the bus station, with journey times of around two-and-a-half hours.
Alternatively, join a guided tour. This 6-hour tour runs daily from Ljubljana to Piran, with a walking tour of the historic old town included. If time is limited and you fancy combining two of the best day trips from Ljubljana, this full day option covers Postojana, Predjama and Piran all in one.
Alpine Slovenia – The Logar Valley
When you think of the Alps, Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are probably the countries which first spring to mind. Just like its coastline, Slovenia’s mountainous interior is often forgotten. But let there be no doubt: the Slovenian Alps are as, if not more, impressive than those of its neighbors.
Both the Julian and Kamnik Alps traverse Slovenia (Credit: Aydin Hassan)
Head north from Ljubljana to within touching distance of the Austrian border to visit Plansarsko Lake. Grab a hearty Austrian-inspired lunch at Gostisce Jezersko before following the Solcava Panoramic Road as it twists and turns its way high into the mountains.
Make a stop in Solvava village before heading for Rinka Waterfall. It’s an easy, and picturesque, 20-minute walk from the road, but the solitude when you arrive makes it feel a million miles from anywhere.
Rinka Waterfall is at its most powerful during spring and fall (Credit: Jonatan Pie)
Getting to the Logar Valley
The Logar Valley is another of those day trips from Ljubljana which is best by car. Having the freedom to break away from the main roads and explore for yourself is invaluable. However, if you prefer to travel with a group, there is a full day tour from Ljubljanawhich covers all the sights we’ve included.
Maribor & Slovenian Wine Country
In what seems to be emerging as a recurring theme as we look through the best day trips from Ljubljana, the next spot on our list is the home of something else Slovenia manages to keep quiet. Slovenia has been producing wine since the 5th century BC. In other words, it’s one of Europe’s oldest wine producing regions.
Unlike most European wine producers, Slovenia were growing vines before the Romans arrived (Credit: Janko Ferlic)
Our final day trip from Ljubljana takes you to the far north of Slovenia. Start off in Slovenia’s second city, Maribor, capital of the Styrian region. Spend a while rambling through the medieval old town. To get beneath the surface, join a guided walk to learn about Maribor’s history from the Middle Ages to the present day.
After a relaxing riverside lunch at Restaurant Maribor, make tracks for the Styrian countryside. There are several vineyards to choose from. Our top recommendations are Valentan, who specialise in organic wine, and Meranovo.
Getting to Styria
Maribor itself is extremely easy to reach on a day trip from Ljubljana. Buses depart Ljubljana every 15 minutes, taking around 2 hours to reach Maribor. For a slightly more scenic ride, opt for the slower hourly train service.
Styria has the perfect conditions for cultivating vines (Credit: Janko Ferlic)
Reaching the vineyards is a little less simple. For that reason, this day trip from Ljubljana works best with your own transport. If you aren’t driving, though, it is possible to take a full day tourwhich includes both Maribor and some of Styria’s best vineyards.
International Day Trips from Ljubljana
Despite being part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia is geographically Central European, not Balkan. Hemmed in by Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy, there are plenty of hassle-free international day trips from Ljubljana. The easiest of all is to the beautiful Italian port city of Trieste.
Trieste sits on a tiny strip of Italy between the Adriatic and the Slovenian border (Credit: Alex Johnson)
The journey across the Italian border is a scenic one, with several daily buses (90 minutes) and trains (two hours). If you fancy heading to Croatia, Zagreb is just two hours by bus.
Travel Tip: Slovenia, and all its neighbors, are part of the Schengen zone. This means that no passport checks are required in either direction, making international day trips from Ljubljana even more appealing.
The easiest day trip to Austria will take you to Graz. Often overshadowed by Vienna and Salzburg, Graz has the architecture and views to rival its larger siblings. The journey takes just under three hours by bus, and just a fraction longer by train.
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