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If we attempted to sum the highlights of Europe up in one simple sentence, itself an impossible task, it would ineffably include Italy’s Roman history, the Croatian coastline and the beauty of the Swiss Alps. The chances are, Slovenia wouldn’t get a mention. You might not believe, therefore, that Slovenia contains all those things and more.
Often mistakenly grouped with its former Yugoslav counterparts, Slovenia may sit on the Adriatic, but is by no means Balkan. Bordered by Italy to the south, it was once ruled from Rome, but that’s where the similarities end. To the north, Austria also laid claim to these lands, but you’ll find no Germanic influence here. Instead, Slovenia has combined the best bits of all these cultures to create its own. If ever a country could truly be dubbed Central European, Slovenia is it.
Big enough to be diverse, yet small enough to cover in one visit, Slovenia packs rugged Alpine scenery, historic cities and coastal charm. Our itinerary for Slovenia packs every one of them into a five day trip which works perfectly as part of an adventure overlanding through Europe, and just as well as a trip in its own right.
Getting to Slovenia
Most visitors to Slovenia arrive at Ljubljana Jose Pucnik Airport (LJU), the country’s main international gateway. LJU sees regular flights from across Europe, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Paris which open up connections to every corner of the globe. There are also daily flights from Dubai and Istanbul. Buses run every 30 minutes between the airport and bus station in the city center, with the journey taking around 45 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on board (cash only), or at the ticket office in Ljubljana Bus Station.
Given Slovenia’s location, many travellers pass through on an overland journey across Europe. International trains connect Ljubljana with Trieste, Italy and Vienna, Austria. Intercity buses operate from Ljubljana to destinations in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Czechia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Serbia.
Getting Around Slovenia
Slovenia has an excellent public transport network, making getting about during this itinerary for Slovenia simple. A limited rail network exists, concentrated on Ljubljana, but for the most part, Slovenia relies upon its extensive bus network. Arriva operate from Ljubljana to all major, and many smaller, towns and cities across the country. Buses are reliable, frequent and, better still, cheap. You can find up to date timetables on their English language website. Tickets don’t need to be booked in advance, but ensure you have enough cash for your journey as cards are not accepted. Ljubljana itself is very walkable, but it does have a good network of trams and local buses if you want to give your feet a rest. Taxis can be hailed on the street, though most people prefer to use Uber.
All the better known tourist spots can also be reached on organised tours from Ljubljana. Alternatively, rent a car from Ljubljana Airport and explore at your own pace. If you’re including this itinerary for Slovenia as part of a longer trip, remember to purchase an e-vignette to cover tolls when you cross the border.
5-Day Itinerary for Slovenia
Day 1 – Ljubljana
Our itinerary for Slovenia kicks off in the country’s history-rich capital and largest city. First settled around 2000 BC, Ljubljana is one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in Europe. In the millennia which followed, Ljubljana played host to the Illyrians, Celts and Romans before the city you see today began to emerge in the 12th century.
One Day in Ljubljana
That city grew up around Ljubljana Castle, where the first day of our itinerary for Slovenia begins. It’s well worth booking a ticket with the funicular railway included, unless you’re feeling especially energetic. The armoury now host an informative local history exhibit, although the real highlight of a visit to the castle is the view over the Old Town.
Back down in Mestni Trg, the main town square, stop off for a traditional Slovenian lunch at Gostilna Sokol. Skip dessert and, whatever you do, make sure you grab a handmade ice cream from Vigo before joining a tour of the Old Town.
If you have a little time left over, pay a visit to Slovenia’s oldest museum. Narodni Muzej Slovenije occupies a grand Renaissance palace and is home to the best preserved artefacts from prehistoric Ljubljana. Once darkness has fallen, wander across Presernov Trg to admire Tromostojve.
All that’s left to do before our itinerary for Slovenia leaves the capital behind, is to experience nightlife Ljubljana style. The riverside promenade running south from Tromostojve is buzzing with dozens of bars, all with outdoor seating and patio heaters. If you’re in the mood for a late one, Cutty Sark Pub is the place to go. Decked out, slightly excessively, to resemble the famous warship on the River Thames, it attracts a diverse young crowd of local students and travelers alike. When the time comes to head home for the evening, make a stop at 24-hour Nobel Burek. Trust me on this one.
Where to stay in ljubljana
To make the most of your short time in the capital during this itinerary for Slovenia, we recommend staying in the Old Town. This way, you’ll be within walking distance of all the sights, shops and restaurants, and only 20 minutes from the train and bus stations. I love the Grand Hotel Union, which has one of the best locations in town along with a full service spa and indoor pool. For somewhere a little lighter on the wallet, Vander Urbani Resort is a great spot for a relaxing or romantic getaway.
If you’re seeking the best bargains, you’ll want to stay on the edge of the Old Town, closer to Ljubljana station. Boutique Hotel Asteria boasts its own vineyard offering wine tastings, whilst Meksiko Hotel offers possibly the best value in the city.
Day 2 – Lake Bled
It’s true, every itinerary for Slovenia ever curated includes more than just a cursory mention of Lake Bled. But, for good reason. Flanked by the snow-capped peaks of the Julian Alps, Slovenia’s most famous lake is about more than getting the obligatory snap for Instagram.
Morning
Just an hour from Ljubljana by car, train or bus (the latter being our preferred way to reach Bled), it’s best to set out early in the day so you reach the lake before the hoards of day trippers from the capital arrive. However you reach Lake Bled, make the castle your first stop.
Bled Castle dates from the 11th century, although several additions came in the centuries to follow. It’s a fairly steep climb from the village on foot, but the path is paved. The castle itself houses a chapel, history museum and a printworks, along with a cavernous wine cellar. Just like Ljubljana Castle, though, the view is the real reason to visit.
Afternoon
Once you’ve made it back down to Bled village, pause for lunch at one of the lakefront restaurants. As you’d expect, opening hours are seasonal. Kavarna Park is our top pick. It’s open year-round, and the food is classic, hearty Central European fayre. The piece de resistance has to be their cream cakes. Cremeschnitte, or Bled Cream Cake as it’s better known, is a divine local delicacy that you simply have to try.
Of course, no visit to Bled on our itinerary for Slovenia would be complete without getting out on the lake itself. Electric boat trips operate all year round from the pier underneath Kavarna Park. They can’t be prebooked and are cash only, so come prepared and get in the queue early if you’re visiting in season. The boats act more like ferries, shuttling visitors to and from Bled Island, a tiny islet home to a 14th century church.
If a boat ride sounds a little too tame for your liking, you can do the paddling yourself on a guided kayak experience around the lake. This evening, watch the sun disappear behind the Alps over dinner at the Old Cellar.
Where to Stay in Lake Bled
There’s no denying Bled is a tourist town. What this means is that hotels get booked up quickly, especially during summer and school holidays. If you can travel in the off-season, you’ve far more chance of finding a bargain.
Travel Tip: If you’d rather avoid changing hotels every day, Bled is an easy day trip from Ljubljana. Join a half day tour, or take the bus.
There can be no contest as to our top pick place to stay in Bled on this itinerary for Slovenia. Bled Rose Hotel is a local institution. A stone’s throw from the lakeside, it comes with an on-site spa, indoor pool and a top-tier restaurant. All those amenities pale into insignificance when compared to the stunning rose garden.
Hotel Park is another Bled stalwart. Some rooms come with balconies and lake views, and their restaurant is the place to try a cream cake. A bargain, by Bled standards at least, is Hotel Lovec. If you’re tackling our itinerary for Slovenia with your own transport, Hotel Starkl, a couple of kilometers south of Bled, is well worth a look.
Day 3 – The Slovenian Alps & Maribor
If you think of Alpine countries, Austria, Switzerland and France are probably the first countries to come to mind. Wherever you visit the Alps, they never fail to impress, but Slovenia’s thoroughly underrated mountains come with an added bonus: the Slovenian Alps are far less commercialised. There are a handful of ski resorts, but for the most part, they’re untouched.
Head north from Bled, making your first stop at Park Brdo to explore the grand castle, before briefly crossing the Austrian border at Bad Vellach. Follow the slow and winding mountain pass through Lesnik to cross back into Slovenia and the Logar Valley. Several photo stops later, pause for lunch at Hisa Plesnik, then push east following the Savinja River.
Take a detour through Velenje to visit the Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia, before finally reaching Maribor by late afternoon. Once you’ve checked into your hotel for the night, wander along the riverside. Grab a table at Stari Grill for dinner. The menu is meat-heavy; mutton is their specialty, but there’s plenty of vegetarian friendly options too. Wind down for the evening with a glass of Slovenian wine at Vinoteka Maribor, housed in a medieval water tower overlooking the Drava.
Insighter tip: If you’re using public transport to get around during this itinerary for Slovenia, the best way to reach Maribor from Bled is to backtrack through Ljubljana.
Where to stay in maribor
Slovenia’s second city is even more walkable than the capital, so wherever you stay in the city center, you won’t be far from the action. Our Maribor favorite is riverfront Hotel Lent. In comparison to Ljubljana and Bled, Hotel Lent is an absolute steal. Some rooms come with views of the Drava River. Garden Rooms is the best place to stay for a bit of R&R; their cavernous dining room is a must for dinner. For a more traditional full service stay, check out Hotel City Maribor.
Day 4 – Wine & Caves: Maribor to Postojna
Spend the fourth morning of your itinerary for Slovenia exploring medieval city of Maribor. Take a guided tour of the Old Town to uncover centuries of history, before descending into the 175-year old wine cellars of Vinag for a tasting.
As is a well established fact, such a thing as too much wine does not exist. As you leave Maribor behind, make a stop at eco-winery M-vina for a vineyard tour with tastings. One word of warning: Visits must be prebooked.
This afternoon’s journey can go one of two ways. If you’re trying to pack as much into this itinerary for Slovenia as possible, take the slower road and pause in spa town of Lasko, home to the namesake brewery behind Slovenia’s most famous beer. Alternatively, you can stick to the main roads and skirt Ljubljana on the journey south.
Either way, the plan is to end up in Postojna in time to visit another of Slovenia’s most iconic attractions. Postojna Cave is a 25km long subterranean limestone cave system with some of the most awe-inspiring stalactites and stalagmites in Europe. Around 5km of caves are accessible to visitors, most of which is covered on a miniature electric train.
Where to stay in postojna
For a town of just 9,000 people, Postojna has an impressive choice of hotels. Closest to the caves themselves, Postojna Cave Hotel Jama is ideally situated for this itinerary for Slovenia. It’s within reach of the town too, but once you’ve experienced their rooftop terrace, you won’t want to venture out.
If you’d prefer to stay in the town center, unimaginatively named Hotel Center is the top spot. Right next to the museum, it has a solid restaurant, although nearby Pizzeria Minutka is too good to miss.
Day 5 – The Slovenian Coast
Just like its mountains, Slovenia’s coastline is often overlooked. Tourists flock to neighboring Italy and Croatia for a taste of the Adriatic, completely missing out the Slovenian Riviera. Small but mighty, Slovenia has barely more than 45-kilometers of coastline, a perfect amount to explore on the final day of our itinerary for Slovenia.
Leaving Postojna behind, hug the Italian border en-route to Koper. If you fancy popping into Italy for the morning, head for Muggia then follow the coast road back across into Slovenia. Koper Regional Museum is well worthy of a short stop before grabbing a fresh seafood lunch at Stella Maris.
Our final destination on this itinerary for Slovenia are the cobblestone streets of Piran. Pay a visit to the Maritime Museum before heading off on a guided walking tour with local food and wine tasting – yes, you read that correctly. As the sun begins to set, head down to Pirani Klesani Kamni to watch the light fade over the southernmost tip of Slovenia.
Where to stay in piran
The final night of our itinerary for Slovenia puts you in one of the country’s most photogenic towns. It would seem wrong not to wake up with a view of the Adriatic. Hotel Piran is, hands down, the number one place to stay. Complete with a full service spa, bar and restaurant, splurge on a balcony room for the full experience.
If you’re driving, or don’t mind taking a taxi, Barbara Piran Beach Hotel is another excellent choice. Set at the foot of a tranquil, turquoise cove, it’s right by the beach, overlooking a quaint harbor.
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