With dramatic craggy peaks in the Julian Alps, stunning colors of the Soča River Valley, and old town charm of central Ljubljana, Slovenia is easily one of the most attractive countries in Europe. With so much to see and do, here are a few tips for first-timers.
Photo © Jase WIlson
- Getting There
- What Season Should You Go to Slovenia?
- What are the Top Things to Do in Ljubljana?
- Skiing in Slovenia
- Hiking in the Julian Alps
- Must See Places and Top Experiences
- Rent a Car
Getting There
Getting to Ljubljana is simple if you fly to the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport. However, it's often cheaper to fly to Venice or Trieste and take a Flix Bus (or other) to Ljubljana. Busses cost around €20, one way.
What Season Should You Go to Slovenia?
Summer and winter are the big seasons in Slovenia for tourism. However, the weather in late spring and early fall is still very warm.
Depending on what you want to do (hiking for example) consider that snow stays in the higher Julian alps (above 1500m) until late May/early June, or even July sometimes.
What are the Top Things to Do in Ljubljana?
In the summer, there are many free festivals and events happening in the city, generally around Tivoli Park, Park Zvezda, or in the Presernov Square.
Prices for restaurants and attractions are quite reasonable. You'll find plenty of options in the €5-20 range. Vegan, Thai, vegetarian, Balkan, Indian, Chinese, Italian, Mediterranean... it’s all there! Go to Visit Ljubljana to find out more about the city.
Taxis, or the city's bike share program, are the best ways to get around. Go here for more information.
Here are some other things do in Ljubljana:
- Take a boat cruise on the Ljuljanica River.
- Wander through Tivoli Park and the National Museum of Contemporary History.
- Metelkova—a grunge/punk-rock inspired, autonomous part of the city, a good place for parties.
- Take a €12 guided tour around Ljubljanski Grad (city castle)—€7,50 non-guided.
- Walking tours.
- Sample some of the many amazing places to eat, try some Cacao ice cream!
- Visit one of the many museums.
- Hit up Jazz nights at Zoo (Monday)
Skiing in Slovenia
Slovenia is home to many quality ski resorts: Kranska Gora, Krvavec, Vogel, and Kanin are some of the highlights.
Prices for lift passes vary, however they are almost all under €35 for day passes.
It's possible to connect to the resorts via ski shuttles, which depart from the main train station near the city center.
Hiking in the Julian Alps
The Julian Alps are often referred to as "the biggest little mountains in the world".
In the summer months, you can hike to the summit of Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain. There are plenty of other itineraries for early season, such as Golica and Krn. You’ll need a car for this.
Must See Places and Top Experiences
- Lake Bled & Bohinj—1 hour from Ljubljana, busses and trains will take you there from the city.
- Savica Falls—close to Bohinj.
- Raft the Soča River—rafting outfitters can be found in Bovec.
- The massive Postojna Caves—information about how to get there can be found here.
- Check out the stunning coastal town of Piran!
Rent a Car
In my opinion, this is the best way to get around Slovenia; it’s affordable, flexible, and fast.
At Avant Car, you can rent a car for the weekend (3 days) WITH excess insurance coverages for only €55.
For an example itinerary, you can make a complete circular tour of the Julian Alps by driving from Ljubljana towards Kranska Gora, then to Bovec, Tolmin, and eventually back to Ljubljana.
Points of interest along the route:
- The Tolmin Gorge
- Most na Soci
- Bovec
- Kranska Gora
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