Slovenia may get confused with its not so far neighbour; Slovakia but it is miles away in culture and in distance. Having not known anything about the little country sandwiched between Austria, Croatia, Italy and Hungary, I was intrigued about the place they call ‘the heart of Europe.’
With an area of nearly 8,000 square miles, Slovenia is a delight to the eyes and is one of the prettiest countries in Europe. Because of its population of only two million people it never feels crowded and with mountains, rivers and 46km of coastline to choose from, there is always an area to explore.
The capital Ljubljana may be difficult to pronounce but its ease and charm shines through its Baroque style architecture with alpine parks and forests on its outskirts. Meaning ‘the beloved city’ Ljubljana is big on culture and you’ll often find musicians and people dancing in the main square or locals reciting poetry. Restaurants line the Ljubljana river which separate the old town from the new and taking a walking tour gives a great insight into the history of the city.
Go Bohemian
The bohemian area of Metelkova Street is a graffiti artist’s dream and stands out from the rest of the capital with decorated walls and shoes hanging from above. You can even stay the night in this area in an old converted jail.
Lake Bled
Not far from the capital is the stunning Lake Bled, the most tranquil spot I have ever come across. Bled Island sits spectacularly in the middle and you can hire a rowing boat to explore it or just sit and take in the view of the Church of the Assumption which stands tall in the midst of the lake.
Why I love Slovenia
No where is far here and travelling around the country is so easy and incredibly scenic past lush landscapes and rolling hills. If you only have a week to spare, you can easily visit more than one area of the country. Visit Ptuja, the oldest town of Slovenia, experience the traditional Slovenian Karst village or explore the Kingdom of Seven Lakes at Triglav National Park.
Slovenia is not just for summer either, there are plenty of winter sports you can do here too and I predict it’s the place to go in 2014.
This heart of Europe is a treasured gem definitely worth exploring…
My favourite Moments
1. Listening to a musician in the main square and watching the locals dancing away.
2. Standing on one of the bridges in Ljubljana hearing a brass brand then realising it was coming from the boat below.
3. Sitting on a bench at Lake Bled next to an old man, both staring out at Bled Island in the morning mist in silence.
Travelling Solo in Slovenia
Slovenia is so easy to travel around. Because the country is so small, nowhere is further than a couple of hours and there's a really good bus network (with Wifi). It's really safe to walk around the capital at night and go to restaurants and bars by yourself. Join the Ljubljana free walking tour on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11am if you want to meet company or stay in a hostel like me!
Tip – There's a great fresh juice place near the start of the tour in the main square too.
Accommodation in Slovenia
I stayed at Hostel Celica in Ljubljana which if you're looking for something different is THE place to stay. Sleeping in a prison for me was a once in a lifetime experience (hopefully anyway!)
In Lake Bled, I stayed at The Ace of Spades; a really modern hostel with black and white decor and a huge kitchen. There's a supermarket across the road and it's just a 5 minute stroll to the stunning lake.
Travelling to Slovenia
From Sarajevo I took the train to Zagreb in Croatia and stayed one night at the Chillout Hostel (which is wicked!) From Zagreb the train took 2.5 stopping for border control who board the train. The train journey is a really pretty one and cost approx £22 one way.
Slovenia was my favorite country when I did my first backpacking trip – Bled in particular. It was just so beautiful.
It’s a stunning country isn’t it. I’m so glad you liked it too 🙂
The Ace of Spades hostel looks like a cool place to hang out in Bled! May just have to visit them.
It’s really cool and so modern. The beds are comfy and the kitchen is high plus you get a discount on activities in Bled too.
I´ve already heard so much about Slovenia — seems like people talk about it in superlatives only. Lake Bled and Ljubljana would be on my list, of course, but I´d love to see Predjama castle, as well. Half of the castle built in a giant cave — must be one of the most uniquely located castles I´ve come across so far!
Predjama castle sounds amazing doesn’t it and you’re right about it being very unique. That will be on my list for next time.
So nice to hear/read that you enjoyed your stay in Slovenia 🙂 I am from Slovenia and not many people even know, where our country is, so goodjob, you have found it and traveled around it 😉
Even though we are so small, there’s still plenty of things to see here, so maybe next time 😉
I loved Slovenia. Before I left I knew nothing about the country so I am so pleased that I went. It’s a great country 🙂
It looks like you really enjoyed your stay and have seen some of the best things of Slovenia. I love the way you started the post, stating that this is Slovenia not Slovakia, many people find this confusing indeed. If you come back I suggest you visiting second largest city Maribor (has one of the oldest vines in the world) and maybe Postojna cave.
Hi Rok, thank you. I definitely want to come back as it’s a great country so Maribor is now on my list. Happy New Year!
Hello!
I am hoping to spend 4-5 days touring Slovenia solo. I’ve read loads about all of the outdoor adventures and am looking for tips/recommendations on doing this as a solo traveler. I’d love to do some hiking, kayaking on the Soca River, and perhaps try out canyoning (Prsjak Gorge?). Any tips on guided activities that I could sign up for would be very much appreciated. Also, suggestions for outdoor activities that are solo-traveler friendly are also welcomed! Lastly, thoughts on renting a car vs. taking a bus East-West? I’ve read that a car is useful, especially if you want to drive through the Julian Alps, but since I’ll be on my own and am hoping to keep costs down, I’m thinking bus is my best bet. Are there buses to take through the Alps for those without a car?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hi Hayley, thanks for your comment. Slovenia is perfect for outdoor activities and Life Adventures is a good company to go with. The bus is cheap and the country is small so it’s easy to get around. I’m not sure if there is one that will take you to the Alps but if you speak to Life Adventures about your tours they should be able to advise. Let me know how you get on x
We visited Slovenia a few years back when we went to Ljubljana and Piran for a week. We really enjoyed the country and it is do much to see 🙂
I am so glad that you enjoyed it too. It’s such a cool little country.
I was on a cruise ship recently which stopped in port of Koper, Slovenia. I went on several tours and shore excursions. I must say that Slovenia really is a hidden treasure. People are very kind. A vacation to remember! I used Koper Tours services for my tours and shore excursions. http://kopertours.com/
Hey there! We also have a travel blog called http://oitheblog.com and we are going to Slovenia next month. Your article’s been really useful for us and we are so excited to explore Slovenia! We just wanted to say thanks for all the information. 🙂
Greeting from Istanbul!
I went to Slovenia last summer, and absolutely loved it. Even though it lasted only half a week, I got to explore Ljubljana, the depths of Postojna Cave, and briefly enjoy the landscape around Predjama Castle. The scenery is really beautiful indeed. I would definitely go back there and see the rest of the country.
P.S. The river running through Ljubljana is called Ljubljanica.
Thanks Eamon. You’re a star 🙂
I have heard great things about Slovenia and the places you should visit there. Have you also been to the sea side? And did you also visit the Balkans?
Hi Anja, I didn’t visit the seaside no. That will have to be next time. Yes I went to the Balkans and you can find the posts on the blog menu. I love the Balkans and definitely recommend going there.
Very nice article about Slovenia! I was there a few months ago and its was wonderful. Slovenia is a hidden gem! If yours looking for Koper and Slovenia tours or shore excursion I recommend http://kopertravel.com/ services. My husband surprised me with Ljubljana & Bled tour. Unforgettable experience for sure!