If you’re looking for exciting places to explore on your next travel journey, you should definitely visit Slovenia!
Slovenia is the hidden gem of the Balkans. It’s a small country situated in Central Europe. The country is known for its beautiful mountains and breathtaking lakes.
Slovenia is the best place for a fun and adventurous get-away. Here are some of the most beautiful places in Slovenia (urban areas and natural sites), waiting for you to explore.
Here is a list of the most beautiful places in Slovenia.
Lake Bled is the most popular attraction in Slovenia. It’s the most iconic and picture-perfect lake in the country. It’s located in Upper Carniola, in the Julian Alps, close to Ljubljana.
The best part? There is a small island in the middle of the lake, which is the home of the Bled Castle.
Aside from hiking around the lake, you can canoe, make a boat trip, take a castle tour, and visit the small pilgrimage church on the island.
If you are traveling by car from Ljubljana, the journey to the lake will take you 40 minutes. Then, all you have to do is follow the signs for Bled on your Google Maps.
Once you reach your destination, you can park your car in one of the available car parks near the lake. Prices range from €3 to €10 per day.
There are regular bus rides you can take from Ljubljana to Bled. There are hourly departures from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
In this super beautiful village, we recommend Vila Bled! The hotel itself is a lovely and historic building. Offers excellent views of Lake Bled! And boat rides are included.
Near Lake Bled and in the heart of the Triglav National Park, there is a 1.6-km-long canyon called the Vintgar. Carved by the Radovna River and its waterfalls, the gorge gives breathtaking views to hikers who decide to take the wooden walkway and explore the canyon. The hike is approximately 1 hour long.
To get to the gorge, you can take one of the direct shuttles from Bled to Vintgar. The ride is 15-20 min long. The shuttles are usually waiting for 2h at the entrance to get you back to Bled.
If you prefer hiking to the destination, you can walk from Bled. Then, you should head northwest to Cesta Vintgar. This is a relatively easy hike with a length of 4.5 km.
The breathtaking lake of Bohinj competes for the hearts of nature lovers. The largest natural lake with turquoise water is just 26 km southwest of lake Bled. The location is less crowded, and it’s the perfect summer/spring destination.
You can swim in the clear waters, hike the surrounding area, ride horses, or kayak in the waters of the lake.
You can reach Bohinj lake by taking the highway that connects Ljubljana and Villach in Austria. However, you need to drive an extra 30 minutes from the highway exit to reach the lake. Furthermore, you’ll pass the city of Bled and Lake Bled.
You can also take the train to Bohinj from Jasenice or Nova Gorica. The closest you can get by train is to the Bohinjska Bistrica train station, around 9 km from Bohinj Zlatorog. To finally reach the lake, you need to take the local bus or have a 90-min hike.
If you are nearby, you should definitely try Hotel Majerca. Although the hotel is literally immersed in nature, it offers modern amenities and also bike rental options. On booking, the breakfast is included in the price.
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, and the Old Town is one of the best travel destinations in the country. The Old Town is situated on the right shore of the Ljubljanica River.
If you visit this gem, you can walk the streets of Mestni Trg, and Gornji Trg, or Ljubljana Castle. In addition, you can tour the Ljubljana Cathedral, Franciscan Church, and the Ljubljanica River Canal. It is a wonderful and peaceful walk tour. On the way, you’ll find cool cafés where you can take a break at the river.
The old town is located in the heart of the Slovenian capital, which makes arriving at the destination extremely accessible.
There is an airport in the city which serves millions of passengers each year. If you are coming to Slovenia by place, you will be landing at that airport. So maybe you should start your Slovenia itinerary by exploring Ljubljana. You can catch the connection bus from the airport to arrive at the center of the city.
It operates between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm. You can also catch a train or bus from all major cities in Slovenia and abroad.
While in the old city, consider spending a night in Vander Urbani Resort. It has very affordable booking prices, comparing to the offered amenities and the high-standard room.
Bonus: you can enjoy their infinity pool on the rooftop!
Lake Jasna is an alpine lake located close to the Austrian border, and it’s 2 km away from Kranjska Gora. A statue of Kozorog – a golden-horned ibex, is guarding the white-sand shores.
The lake is the perfect place for taking beautiful photos or grabbing a delicious meal or drink at one restaurant nearby.
You can take a 2-hour bus ride from Tivoli bus station in Ljubljana to get to Kranjska Gora. The tickets cost around $25. You need to take a 2-km long scenic hike from Kranjska Gora around Pisnica lake to reach the lake. The bus is bookable on the ap-Ljubljana website previously shared 😉
Apartmaji Telemark Kranjska Gora is an excellent quality-price accommodation that offers independent apartments with equipped kitchens. All apartments have nice views of the mountain, and the area is perfectly calm for a rest!
The Soca Valley is a scenic region and offers amazing hut-to-hut hiking tours in the Triglav National Park, near the city of Bovec. The trail follows the beautiful turquoise waters of the Soca river. You can walk around and take outstanding photos, raft in the waterfalls, ride a boat, and more!
Getting to Triglav National Park is pretty easy since the park is well-connected to all major cities in the country. For example, to get to Soca Valley from Ljubljana, you can take a 2.5-hour bus ride to Most na Soči. The regional buses depart five times a day. From there, you can take a shuttle transfer, private transport, or rental cars to get further in Soca Valley.
There are not so many options in this area. Luckily, we found Gostišče Andrejc. It is a cute and calm guest house with amazing staff (very friendly, kind, and nice), a great location (few meters from Soča river), free parking, nice seatings outside, and a comfortable and clean room!
Slap Pericnik is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Slovenia. The beautiful waterfall is 52 m high, and it’s formed in the riverbed of Pericnik river. It’s located near Mojstrana village, and it’s a part of the Triglav National Park.
Or you can get to the waterfalls through Mojstrana. Take a 2-hour bus ride from Ljubljana to Mojstrana Podkepa. Once you arrive in the village, you can park there and hike another 5 km to the waterfall.
If you’re traveling by car, there is parking just outside the waterfall entrance for your disposal.
The Pokljuka Plateau is a forested karst plateau at an altitude of about 1,100 to 1,400 meters. It’s located in the Julian Alps.
Pokljuka Plateau is another gem situated in Triglav National Park, between Bohinj and Bled. The picture-perfect scenery is unique, with the wide valleys, beautiful mountains, and farming villages.
If you travel by car, you can drive through Bled, Gore, and Pokljuka. The forest road is about 5 km long and will take you to a parking lot by Javornik meadow at 1300 from the Plateau.
There are regular bus rides from Ljubljana and other major cities to the city of Bled. From there, you have to enter the Triglav National Park and follow the signs to find your way to the plateau.
Piran is a small beautiful coastal town with a scenic view of the Adriatic Sea. The city is known for its Venetian architecture and Gothic style. The city is narrow and long, located on a small peninsula. You can visit the Church of St. George, the Port Piran, and the Sergej Masera Maritime Museum (Pomorski muzej)
To get to Piran, you can take a direct bus from Ljubljana. The trip lasts about 2.5 hours, with several stops along the way. The route is picturesque, going up and down the mountains. There are also regular ferries running from Venice, Italy, to Piran and Piran to Rovinj, Croatia.
Our best accommodation option in Piran was Morski Val. Everything was perfect. A really nice apartment, sparkling clean and only 30 meters from the lake. The staff was very, very friendly and more than helpful.
Maribor is another beautiful city located 20 km away from the Austrian border in the wine hills of the Drava river. It is located next to ski resorts and a bunch of beautiful places to explore.
The old town has historical landmarks like the Maribor Castle houses, the Regional Museum of Maribor, and the Renaissance-style Town Hall.
The city is located at the crossroads of several European roads, making it easily accessible from all over the continent. In addition, there are regular buses and trains from all major cities in the country.
If you’re traveling from Ljubljana, you can take a 1h 40min bus ride from the Ljubljana Central Bus Station to the Maribor Central Bus Station for 15$.
Getting a shuttle from Ljubljana’s bus station to Maribor’s bus station is faster – 1h 15 min, but it costs around 40$.
Guesthouse Hiša Budja is a great option. It is charming, with clean, comfortable, and cozy rooms. A huge plus are the mosquito screens on all of the windows. The staff is great, very kind, friendly and speaking several languages. The restaurant offers delicious food and great local juices.
Bovec is a small mountain town located in the northwestern part of the country. It is surrounded by beautiful Alpine peaks and breathtaking views. The town is 90 km from Lake Bled and is at the other end of Triglav National Park.
If you have come for an adventure, you can walk the route from Lake Bled to Bovec on foot or by bike through Triglav Park.
The road is about 45 km long and is not recommended for beginners. However, you can rent sleeping places or sleep in tents during the hike. You can also take a bus from Bled, which will arrive at the destination in about 3 hours.
One of the greatest places to stay in this region is Bovec Apartments. They offer various apartments with well-equipped kitchens and great views. The apartment is located at a good starting point for hikes. In addition, it offers a nice price-quality ratio.
Idrija is a mountain town located in the western part of Slovenia. The city is scattered on several hills, and it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is home to the second-largest mercury mine in the world. Visitors to the city can enjoy walks among the city’s mines, old churches, and castles.
You can visit the Anthony’s Shaft Mining Museum, the Gewerkenegg Castle, and the Idrija Municipal Museum.
To get to the city, you can take one of the regular buses from Ljubljana to Idrija. The journey is about an hour long, and a one-way ticket costs about $20. Unfortunately, there are no direct trains to the small town.
Where to Stay in Idrija?
Hotel Jozef is about a 5-10 min walk from the village. It has a perfect calm location (although when sometimes there is live music in the village). The staff is fantastic, very helpful with local information.
Kolpa River is next to the town of Metlika. The river is part of the border between Slovenia and Croatia. The river attracts countless tourists, especially during the warmer months. It presents opportunities for numerous adventures – swimming, camping, hiking, or walking on the shores.
You can reach Metlika by bus, car or train. There are direct buses from Ljubljana to Metlika. The trip is about 2 hours long, and a single ticket costs $15. The train is also direct, but the journey with it is almost 3 hours long. Train ticket prices are around $10.
The Logar Valley is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful valleys in all of Europe. This breathtaking park is located in the Kamnik Alps and has wonderful locations for taking pictures and staying. It also offers countless entertainment, such as horseback riding, cycling, picnic, hiking, and even taking a photo safari.
If you’re traveling by car from Ljubljana, take the Logar Valley exit to reach your destination. The whole trip would take you around an hour and a half. The closest town to the park is Solcava. From there you can reach the destination on foot. The hike is about 11 km.
Here, you’ll find a variety of great choices. Our most loved ones are Apartments BBI, Boutique rooms Pri Rogovilcu, and Apartments Savinja. The last one is at the river and offers fantastic views and time-off in nature. Here is a pic from the Hotel:
Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built in a cave. The castle is located in southern Slovenia. Scientists claim that there are signs that people lived in the cave during the Stone Age. Visitors to the attraction can enjoy a walk around the castle and a walk through the corridors of the cave.
Postojna Cave is situated in the city of Postojna. The city is 40 km from Ljubljana and is easily accessible by train, bus, and car. From the train station in the city to the cave is about 30 minutes walk. The train ticket is about $7. If you travel by bus, expect to arrive directly at the entrance of the cave. The ticket price is about $11.
Skofja Loka is a small mountain town lying on the banks of the Poljane Sora and the Selca Sora rivers. The city has historical value and is located in the Julian Alps. During your stay in the city, you can hike on the scenic trails, attend a cycling trip, walk through the corridors of the caves in the area and visit the beautiful medieval castles.
You can take a bus or train ride from Ljubljana to Skofja Loka. The trip is short because the city is only 20 km from Ljubljana. The train is direct, arrives in 40 minutes, and the ticket is about $8. The bus arrives in 30 minutes, and the ticket price is 3-4 $.
Hotel Garni Paleta is one of the greatest options, as it is just at the river and has one of the unique views of the village. Very comfortable, extremely tidy, and beautiful rooms in a 400-year-old building, next to the river. The host is an amazing and really kind person. And the breakfast is also delicious.
Tolmin Gorges is a deep canyon formed by the rivers Tolminka and Zadlascica. The natural attraction is filled with breathtaking views and Instagram-able places. The canyon is about 1 km long, and the hike is relatively easy to make and suitable for any age.
The canyon is located near Tolmin, about 2 hours from Ljubljana and about 1 hour 40 minutes from the town of Bled. The price for a visit varies between 5-$8. You can travel between Ljubljana and Tolmin by bus. If you are traveling by car, you will find accessible parking areas – P1 and P2 at the canyon entrance.
Kranjska Gora is an alpine resort located in the northern part of Slovenia near Triglav National Park. The ski resort is located in the Alpine Alps and attracts tons of tourists during the winter months.
Many people prefer to visit it during the warmer months to inherit the beautiful views and fantastic hiking trails.
You can take a bus from Ljubljana to Kranj, and then from Kranj to Kranjska Gora. The ride is 2-hour long at the price of around $15 per ticket. In addition, there are flexible bus transfers directly from Ljubljana’s airport to Kranjska Gora.
Apartment La Terraza is cool accommodation with a great location. You will have an easy walk to the lake. The host is accommodating and made sure we had everything we needed.
Did we help you choose your next destination? Slovenia is full of natural wonders and is a suitable destination for nature lovers and enthusiastic hikers and campers.
Read now my post about the Top Destinations in Central Europe
We visited this country twice and still want to revisit it! It is just such a beautiful hidden gem in Europe.
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