This central European country, nestled between Austria, Italy, Croatia and Hungary, will steal your heart. It has stolen ours.
If you love pristine natural environments and outdoor activities, Slovenia is the destination for you. Brimming with turquoise-colored rivers, spellbinding gorges, majestic limestone mountains, alpine lakes, and expansive forest, Slovenia invites you to hike, climb, raft, kayak, paraglide, and more.
In the Julian Alps, you can experience the majestic beauty of Triglav Lakes Valley, Mount Triglav, Lake Bohinj, and Pokljuka Plateau, whilst encountering grazing ibex and edelweiss flowers along the way.
In the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, you can explore Slovenia’s most heavenly glacial valleys, like Logar Valley, and attempt to keep up with Slovenia hikers along the Slovenian Mountain Trail.
In the Karawanks, you can sample traditional food including the best štruklji in the country.
Most travelers’ itineraries are limited to Ljubljana and Lake Bled. We urge you to read this travel guide to discover Slovenia’s most alluring landscapes and hidden gems beyond the well-traversed path.
If you’re planning a Slovenia road trip, also check out our 2-week itinerary and 5-day itinerary.
We have visited Slovenia many times, always finding new hidden pockets to explore. We hope this Slovenia travel guide will help you plan an unforgettable trip to Europe’s green heart.
PIN THIS
SLOVENIA TRAVEL GUIDE OVERVIEW
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO SLOVENIA
- Where to Stay in Slovenia
- Visiting Slovenia Without a Car
- Best Hikes in Slovenia
- Hut to Hut Hiking in Slovenia
- Slovenian Alps Hiking Destinations
- October in Slovenia
SLOVENIA GUIDED HIKING TOURS
GET THE GUIDEBOOKS
Slovenia Travel Map
Must-see towns, valleys, and hiking destinations in Slovenia.
SLOVENIA DESTINATIONS
Karawanks
Kamnik-Savinja Alps
Ljubljana
Piran
Best Things to Do in Slovenia
Explore Triglav National Park
Triglav National Park is the largest protected area in Slovenia and covers an area of 838 square kilometers. This alpine wonderland encompasses a huge chunk of the Julian Alps (Julijske Alpe).
The park’s name is derived from the highest mountain in Slovenia, Mount Triglav (2864 m), which is the mountain depicted on the Slovenian flag.
The park is accessible from many different towns, including Kranjska Gora, Kobarid, Trenta, Bovec, Ukanc, and Stara Fužina.
Read our Triglav National Park travel guide to find out how to get to the park, what to see and do, and where to stay.
Recommended Self-Guided Hiking Trips | Crossing the Julian Alps, Mountains and Lakes Hut-to-Hut, and Alpe Adria Trail Adventure
Triglav National Park Hiking Trails:
Visit Lake Bled
Nestled at the edge of the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia, Lake Bled captivates with its fairy-tale charm.
This picturesque destination features a medieval castle perched on a clifftop, a church-crowned island, a romantic lakeside promenade, and panoramic mountain views at every glance.
During your visit to Lake Bled, we recommend watching the sunrise at Mala Osojnica Viewpoint, walking through Vintgar Gorge, riding a pletna boat to Bled Island, and eating the famous Bled cream cake.
Best Places to Stay in Bled | Guesthouse Marko (budget), Hotel Starkl (lakefront midrange hotel), Old Parish House (B&B), or Vila Bled (lakefront hotel).
Learn More: Lake Bled Travel Guide
Hike in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps
The Kamnik-Savinja Alps are all about imposing limestone peaks, heart-pounding trails, and perfectly situated mountain huts.
This Slovenian mountain range is located in Northern Slovenia, a 90-minute drive north of Ljubljana.
For some very mysterious reason, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps see very few tourists. Even in high season, there’s very minimal foot traffic on the trails. For the life of us, we can’t understand why.
We spent 4 days traversing this mountain range from Kamniška Bistrica valley to Zgornje Jezersko village, sleeping in mountain huts (dom, koča) along the way. Here’s our hiking itinerary: Kamnik Savinja Alps Traverse.
If you want to experience the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, but don’t want to do a multi-day hiking tour, we recommend visiting Logar Valley, Robanov Kot, and Ravenska kočna Valley (Jezersko).
From Logar Valley, you can hike to the Kamnik Saddle and Planjava and Ledinski Vrh Peak.
The most well-known attraction in the Kamnik Alps is Velika Planina, a high alpine settlement with traditional herdsmen huts. We wrote about Velika Planina in our 5-Day Slovenia Itinerary.
Visit Kranjska Gora
Kranjska Gora is an alpine resort town in northwestern Slovenia. It’s actually the cheapest ski resort in Europe! So, most people visiting this Slovenian town come in winter.
If you’re visiting in summer, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a lot to do, including swimming in Lake Jasna, hiking to Peričnik Waterfall and the Martuljek Waterfalls, cycling, and via ferrata climbing.
Best Places to Stay in Kranjska Gora | Hotel Pino Alpino (midrange), Apartments and Rooms Bernik (midrange), or Boutique Hotel Milka (luxury)
Best Places to Stay in Gozd Martuljek | Triangel Boutique Hotel (luxury)
Learn More: Kranjska Gora Summer Guide
Swim in Lake Bohinj
Slovenia’s largest lake is the perfect destination for a summer holiday.
Lake Bohinj is located entirely within Triglav National Park, making it an ideal base for exploring the park.
We love Lake Bohinj, because it’s pristine, non-commercial, and non-privatized. The alpine scenery isn’t marred by ugly, mammoth resorts. There is only peace and beauty here.
Moreover, the water is unbelievably clear and clean.
When you visit Lake Bohinj, we recommend hiking to Triglav Lakes Valley. If you want to extend this day hike, take a look at this challenging 2-day Veliko Špičje hike or this 4-day Triglav National Park Traverse.
Popular attractions include the Savica waterfall, Mostnica Gorge, and Mount Vogel.
For the best views of the lake, either head to the Vogel Cable Car mountain station, or hike to Planina Vogar mountain pasture. The latter is a secret lookout point near the Kosijev dom mountain hut.
Best Places to Stay around Lake Bohinj | There are three hamlets around Lake Bohinj: Ribčev Laz, Stara Fužina, and Ukanc. We recommend staying in Hotel Bohinj in Ribčev Laz, or Hotel Majerca in Stara Fužina.
Learn More: Lake Bohinj Travel Guide
Savor Countryside Living in Zgornje Jezersko
Zgornje Jezersko is a small Slovenian village, located very close to the Austrian border.
Come here if you want to get away from the crowds, or simply admire heart-expanding mountain vistas.
What to Do in Zgornje Jezersko
- Walk to Planšarsko jezero and grab a drink at the lakeside Gostišče ob Planšarskem Jezeru.
- Hike to Češka Koča mountain hut for lunch in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Learn more about this hike in Best Hikes in Slovenia.
- Walk, or cycle Ravenska kočna valley.
Where to Stay in Zgornje Jezersko | Glamping and B&B Cvet Gora (budget), Tourist farm Šenkova domačija (midrange), or Boutique hotel Vila Planinka (luxury)
Discover Pokljuka Plateau
Pokljuka is an alpine plateau located in Triglav National Park, high above Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled.
Blissfully rural and tucked away from Slovenia’s tourist attractions, Pokljuka is a perfect destination to unwind. Slovenians come here in winter to cross-country ski and in summer to hike and bike. If you visit, don’t miss the Viševnik sunrise hike, the Debela Pec peak hike, and the Mount Triglav 2-day hike.
Where to Stay in Pokljuka Plateau | Šport Hotel Pokljuka (midrange), or Hotel Center Pokljuka (midrange).
Learn More: Hidden Wonders of Pokljuka
Logar Valley
Logar Valley (Logarska Dolina) is an alpine valley in the heart of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
Located in Slovenia’s Solčavsko region, Logar Valley is a bit out of the way, but more than worth the effort to get there.
We highly recommend staying in the valley for a few days, so that you can explore the trails leading into the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, but also the surrounding valleys of Robanov Kot and Matkov Kot.
Where to Stay in Logar Valley
Midrange | For a personal and local experience, the family-run Lenar Tourist Farm is the best place to stay in Logar Valley. Situated in the heart of the valley, there’s no better place to base yourself for a hiking, walking, or biking-themed trip in the Kamnik Alps. The breakfast is superb.
Luxury | Hotel Plesnik is the only hotel in Logar Valley. Stay here for the views, idyllic location, on-site restaurant, and outdoor pool.
Read Next: Best Things to Do in Logar Valley
Journey Back in Time at an Alpine Dairy Farm
Alpine dairy farming commenced in the 13th century and prospered until the mid 20th century, especially around Lake Bohinj.
As you travel across the Slovenian Alps, you’ll probably encounter many alpine pastures (planina) dotted with herdsmen huts. Many of these huts have been converted into accommodations for holidaymakers and tourists.
There are very few active dairy farms left in Slovenia. If you get a chance, visit Robanova planina in Robanov Kot (July and August only) and Dolga Njiva in the Karawanks (Karavanke).
Here, you can sample traditional herdsmen fair and homemade sour milk. We visited Dolga Njiva after hiking to Košutnikov Turn.
Learn More: Košutnikov Turn and Dolga Njiva Day Hike
Wine and Dine in Ljubljana
Slovenia’s capital is an approachable city that is best discovered on foot.
As you wander the city’s streets, you’ll notice that Ljubljana is heavily influenced by Viennese and Venetian architecture, resulting in a delightful fusion.
Many cities in Europe feel like an overwhelming “to-do” list. Ljubljana, by contrast, feels like a “to-be” list. You’ll feel compelled to simply enjoy yourself.
For us, that means hopping between wine bars and cafés along the Ljubljanica River, visiting shops, and hiking up to Castle Hill with an ice cream in hand.
After a day of sightseeing, unwind at Šuklje with a wine flight, featuring regional wines from Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda.
Best Places to Stay in Ljubljana | B&B Pod Vrbo (budget), New G&P villa (budget-midrange), Hotel Heritage (4-star boutique hotel), Zlata ladjica Boutique Hotel (5-star luxury hotel).
What to Eat and Drink in Slovenia
To eat the most authentic and traditional Slovenian cuisine, we recommend staying at a Turistična kmetija (“tourist farm” aka farm stay).
Slovenian farm stays serve homemade and homegrown food to their overnight guests.
Make sure to communicate any dietary restrictions in advance, because they will be preparing food specifically for you. You won’t be ordering from a menu.
- Tourist Farm Stoglej in Luče
- Govc-Vršnik Tourist Farm in Robanov Kot Valley, Solčava Region
- Turistična kmetija Kranjc in Koseč hamlet above Kobarid, Soča Valley
- Tourist Farm Šenkova domačija in Zgornje Jezersko
- Pr’ Hariž Farm in Lom pod Storžičem, just outside Tržič. Cash only. Unlike the farm stays listed above, this farm isn’t an accommodation, but they do have a restaurant. Contact them at least 24-48 hours in advance to make a reservation.
Soups & Stews
Jota is a thick stew made with sour cabbage (Sauerkraut) and beans.
Ričet is a barley stew made with beans, smoked pork, or sausage. We ate a delicious Ričet at Jarški dom na Mali planini, a mountain hut on Mali Planina (close to Velika Planina).
Pasulj is a bean stew.
Gobova Juha is a mushroom soup.
Savory Dishes
Kranjska klobasa, aka Carniolan sausage, is a sausage made with pork meat and bacon and spiced with salt, pepper, and garlic.
Ajdovi Žganci is buckwheat spoon bread, or buckwheat porridge, served with pork cracklings. Try it at Dolga Njiva.
Kislo Zelje is Sauerkraut.
Štruklji
Štruklji is a traditional Slovenian dough roll (or dumpling) made with various fillings. It can be served savory, or sweet. One of the best places to eat Štruklji is in Dom Na Kofcah (Kofce), a mountain hut situated below the Košuta ridge in the Karavanke (Karawanken) Mountains.
They make at least five different varieties:
- Štruklji Sirovi – cheese filling
- Štruklji Borovničevi – blueberry filling (recommended)
- Štruklj Čokoladni – chocolate filling
- Štruklj Čokolada malina – chocolate and raspberry filling
- Štruklj Ajdovi z orehi – buckwheat and walnuts filling
Getting around Slovenia
Car
Most people will say that the best way to get around Slovenia is with your own rental car.
If you want to see the mountains, coastline, wine region, and the lakes of Slovenia, that’s definitely true. Use this 2-Week Slovenia Itinerary or this 5-day Slovenia Itinerary for road trip inspiration.
Vignette
If you’re driving into Slovenia from a neighboring country, make sure to purchase a vignette right after you cross the border. You can purchase a Slovenian vignette at any petrol station.
Also, we recommend checking traffic conditions on the Promet website to see if there are any construction zones/closed roads along your planned route.
Car Rental
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Slovenia. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your car rental as early as possible.
Here’s a guide about hiring a car in Slovenia.
Public Transit
From other European cities, it’s easy to get to Slovenia by train or Flixbus.
If you plan to concentrate your time in a certain area, public transit is reliable and punctual.
We used buses to travel to and from Ljubljana, Bled, Kamnik, Zgornje Jezersko, Kranjska Gora, and Lake Bohinj. Buses were always on time, clean, and easy to find.
Use the Nomago.si website to look up bus schedules.
Read our guide to visiting Slovenia without a car for tips on getting around and how to plan a car-free trip.
Slovenia Facts
Official Name | Republika Slovenija (Republic of Slovenia)
Capital | Ljubljana
Government | Parliamentary republic
Regions | In 2000, Slovenia was divided into 12 administrative entities for legal and statistical purposes.
Population | 2.065 million
Language | Slovene is the official language of Slovenia. In several municipalities, Hungarian and Italian are recognized as co-official languages. German, Croatian, Serbian and Romani are also spoken in Slovenia.
Currency | Euro
Tipping Etiquette | 10% on bills.
Water Quality | Excellent
Something Interesting | The cheapest ski resort in Europe is in Slovenia: Kranjska Gora.
Slovenian Saying | Sekira mi je padla v med. Translation: My axe fell into the honey (an expression of good fortune).
Slovenia Travel Blogs
-
Best 2-Day Hikes in Europe: Hiking Weekend Getaways
-
Visiting Slovenia Without A Car: Tips + What We Did
-
Our Favorite Luxury Hotels in the Alps
-
5 Europe Travel Itineraries Without a Car: Adventurous + Outdoorsy
-
Europe Road Trip Ideas: 16 Adventurous Routes
-
Spring in Europe: March, April, May Travel Destinations
