When I think about all the countries I’ve been to and the ones that blew my expectations, I think Slovenia pretty much sits at the top of this list. From Alpine mountains to idyllic lakes and from colorful town squares to jaw dropping cave formations, tiny Slovenia really packs a punch! It is also an easy country to visit! This post overs the 10 must visit places in Slovenia.
1. Ljubljana
The colorful and compact capital of Slovenia, is a great place to start exploring the country. The old town of Ljubljana is where the action is at. Here you will find a castle, many iconic bridges, churches and markets. You can easily spend one night in Ljubljana and experience most of its major sites in a day.
THIS post covers all the best things to see and do in Ljubljana.
2. Lake Bled
Lake Bled is an absolute must visit place in Slovenia. In fact, Bled was one of my biggest reasons for wanting to visit Slovenia before I fell in love with the entire country. Whether you are hiking to one of it’s lookout points, boating on its beautiful lake or taking a trip to its iconic island, Bled has a little something for everyone! Plus, it’s the birthplace of Bled cream cake!
See all the things you can do in Bled HERE
3. Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is close to Lake Bled and is one of Slovenia’s most visited sites. Visiting the gorge is made easy by walking on a boardwalk that follows alongside the Radovna River, crisscrossing it at several places for about 1.6 km. Some parts of the boardwalk are suspended over the river and it really is a fun and relaxing place to visit. The water here is the most emerald green color I have ever seen!
As one of the most visited sites in the country, it can sometimes get crowded. I went late afternoon and there was no one there. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the mid-day rush.
4. Bohinj
The quieter but bigger sister of Lake Bled, Bohinj is a must visit site for any nature lover. Bohinj is officially a part of Triglav National Park, which is the only national park in Slovenia. Lake Bohinj is well known for its water sports, hikes along the lake and a stone bridge with an old church in the background.
Also located in Bohinj is a cable car ride that you can take to the Vogel mountains with stunning views of the Julian Alps. Once up Vogel, you can enjoy the views or hike the several great alpine hiking trails.
Learn more about the things you can do in Bohinj HERE
5. Julian Alps
The Julian Alps is one of Slovenia’s and Europe’s best hidden secrets and is a must visit place in Slovenia. The best way to visit the Julian Alps is to drive up and then down the Vršič pass driving through 50 switchbacks or hairpin bends. There are also lots of hiking trails. The Slatnica Saddle and the summit of Slemenova Špica are two of these hikes you can do.
6. Soča Valley
The Soča Valley lies at the bottom of the 50th hairpin bend of the Vršič pass and is another must visit place in Slovenia! In fact, this maybe my second favorite place after Lake Bled. The Soča river runs alongside this valley and is simply stunning. There are lots of suspension bridges along the river. Some sites not to miss along the valley are Kamp Korita, Kamp Jelinc and Velika Korita Soče.
9. Tolmin Gorge
Tolmin is another beautiful gorge in Slovenia. It is located about 45 minutes from Bovec on the southern end of Triglav National Park. It’s a relatively short walk with a few steps in some locations. The gorge is quite narrow at certain places but what really struck me was its sheer height!
Read more about the Julian Alps, Soča Valley and Tolmin Gorge HERE
8. Predjama
Predjama Castle is the largest cave castle in the world and is perhaps one of the most famous sites in Slovenia. Perched in the middle of a cliff, this castle is more than 800 years old!
9. Postojna Caves
Postojna Cave system is a series of caverns, halls and passages. These caves are more than 24 km long and two million years old and are truly impressive. You can tour Postojna Caves as a part of a tour. Expect to spend around 1.5 hours here.
There is another cave called Skocjan which is also famous. Skocjan Caves are bigger and a little less touristy but Postonja has more defined formations.
Unless you are a cave enthusiast and/or have a lot of time on your trip to Slovenia, I would say pick one of the two for a visit.
10. Piran
Piran is a small, costal, resort town in Slovenia. Some of the best things to do here is to walk its medieval walls and enjoy its coastal views from the bell tower located at the Church of St. John. Also explore the colorful main square with its Venetian architecture and enjoy some fresh seafood from its many seafood restaurants.
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