22 places to see in Slovenia
The sunny Alps, the blue Mediterranean, more than 5,000 years of culture, and the beautiful Lipizzaner horses: the small country of Slovenia has a lot to offer. Slovenia is an ideal holiday destination with its various sights and its Mediterranean climate. If you want to explore all that Slovenia offers, you’ve come to the right place. We present to you the places of interest to see in Slovenia.
Contents
- 1. Ljubljana
- 2. Predjama Cave Castle
- 3. Piran seaside town
- 4. Bled Castle
- 5. Lake Bled
- 6. Ljubljana Castle
- 7. Church of Saint George in Piran
- 8. Vintgar Gorge
- 9. Vršic Highway Pass
- 10. Lipica stud farm
- 11. Kozjak Waterfall
- 12. Triglav National Park
- 13. Postojna Cave
- 14. Wochen Lake
- 15. Cow Dance and Cheese and Wine Festival
- 16. Zelenci Lake
- 17. Velika Planina
- 18. Old Celje Castle
- 19. Slovenian cuisine
- 20. Port city Koper
- 21 Soca Valley
- 22. Skiing in Slovenia
1. Ljubljana
Ljubljana remains one of the reference cities in Europe. In our opinion, the small Slovenian capital has a lot to offer and is perfect for a weekend trip. There is a nice old town with a promenade along the river, interesting museums, places of interest and some good restaurants. What else do you need for a good weekend trip?
2. Predjama Cave Castle
Predjama Castle, built in the portal of a cave, is one of the most unusual places in Slovenia.
Predjama Cave Castle is one of the most popular sights in Slovenia. This whimsical 12th-century castle was built into a rock facing a large cave portal. It currently makes it the largest cave castle in the world.
It is only about a 15-minute drive to the famous Postojna Cave. That is why many tours in Slovenia combine the castle and the cave. If you want to visit the castle, you can also take a free bus from Postojna to the castle during the summer months.
3. Piran seaside town
Piran is an old port city on the Slovenian Adriatic coast.
Piran is the most beautiful seaside town on the Slovenian Adriatic, 47 km long. The history of the city dates back to Roman times. A Venetian atmosphere and a dreamlike clear sea await you here. Explore the narrow streets with pastel-colored Venetian house facades and take some nice photos there.
You can also bathe on the stone beaches near Piran. There are hotels along the coast. Piran is about 120 km from Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, and is only 15 km from the Croatian border.
4. Bled Castle
Bled Castle stands on a 130 m high rock in the interior of Slovenia.
Visit an exhibition on the historical development of Bled in the medieval castle. In the castle cellar, you can fill a bottle of red wine and put a seal on it. Visitors can also try things out for themselves at the castle printing shop.
Lastly, enjoy the wonderful view of Lake Bled from the castle cafe. If you have your car, visit the castle first thing in the morning, before the first buses arrive.
5. Lake Bled
Lake Bled is the most photographed place in Slovenia. The viewpoints of the lake, with the small island and the mountainous backdrop, make it easy to take beautiful photos of the “Jewel of Slovenia.”
You can visit the lake island by boat. For this, there are also organized own tours from all over the country. An alternative is a walk around the lake. It takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to cover the 6 km of the route.
6. Ljubljana Castle
Perched on the hill that has dominated the city center for some 900 years, Ljubljana Castle is the landmark of the Slovenian capital.
The castle halls house the museum exhibition on the history of Slovenia, the puppet theater museum, and other exhibits. There are also two restaurants (Gostilna Na Gradu and Strelec), a castle cafe, and a nightclub.
The castle complex regularly holds various cultural events, events for the whole family, and dance evenings. In summer, the castle courtyard is used as an open-air cinema under the “Cinema under the starry sky.”
You have a beautiful view of the city from the lookout tower and the castle wall. You can reach Ljubljana Castle by cable car from the Old Town or on foot in about 15 minutes.
7. Church of Saint George in Piran
Piran is a port city on the Slovenian Adriatic coast.
The tower of the church of Saint George dominates the north side of the coastal town of Piran. The church’s tower, 47.2 meters high, is a smaller copy of the Tower of San Marco in Venice. The church was probably built in the 12th century, but there are no exact dates.
St. George’s Church was expanded to its current size in the 14th century. From the bell tower, you have a beautiful view of the city and its surroundings.
8. Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is another Slovenian highlight near Bled. It is only a 10-minute drive from the town.
The Radovna River has carved a spectacular gorge out of the rock. You can walk through the gorge through wooden walkways and enjoy the beautiful views of nature. To travel the entire gorge, you need about 50 min. At the end of the gorge, the Sum waterfall awaits you, dropping 13 meters into the depth. It is the highest waterfall in Slovenia.
The path through the gorge is very popular. Therefore, you should leave early, preferably shortly after the opening of the gorge, around 8 in the morning.
9. Vršic Highway Pass
The port of Vrsic is the highest road port in Slovenia. It is located on the north side of the Triglav National Park. The mountain pass connects Kranjska Gora in the north with the towns of the Soca Valley and the highlights of the Triglav National Park.
The road pass is popular and well known, especially among motorcyclists. However, it is also a perfect starting point for hiking and mountaineering in the northern part of Triglav National Park. Hiking and mountain trails start from the port. The Ticarjev dom mountain hut is popular for a getaway.
The Russian chapel, Prisank’s window/eye, and the Ajdovska Deklica (pagan girls) on the pass are worth seeing. There are also several viewpoints with a magnificent view of the area.
The Vrsic Pass is closed in winter due to snowfall and avalanche danger.
10. Lipica stud farm
The Lipica stud farm is located in Sežana, in southwestern Slovenia, very close to the Italian border.
The history of Lipica is closely related to the Habsburgs. Horses represented a strategic asset in Baroque Europe and were of utmost importance to the Habsburgs. Spanish horses were ideal. The Karst region, with its landscape and climate, is very similar to the Spanish one; Archduke Charles II founded a court stud farm in 1580. For this purpose, 24 broodmares and six stallions were purchased in 1581.
The Lipizzaners come from Arab and Andalusian stallions crossed with European mares. By the way, horses are not born white but are dark brown to black at birth.
At the stud farm, you can visit the magnificent Lipizzaner stables, learn about the history of the stud farm and watch the horses during training or dressage demonstrations. If you dare, you can also ride a Lipizzaner yourself.
It is a different way of approaching horses compared to the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
11. Kozjak Waterfall
The mysterious Kozjak, framed by a semi-cave, is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slovenia. Not far from Kobarid is the Kozjak Waterfall Gorge, where you can hear the roar of the impressive 15-meter-high Kozjak Waterfall.
The Kozjak stream rises from several springs, flows through several gorges, and plunges into six waterfalls. However, there are only two waterfalls accessible to visitors: the Veliki Kozjak waterfall and the 8-meter-high Mali Kozjak waterfall.
The walk from the town of Kobarid to the big Kozjak waterfall takes about 1 hour. For the path, you need athletic shoes in any case because it is very slippery in places.
It may interest you: 10 most beautiful cities in Slovenia.
A well-maintained hiking trail leads to the waterfall in places with suspension bridges. At the trail’s end, a viewpoint offers a good view of the green basin and the white waterfall.
12. Triglav National Park
The only national park in Slovenia covers the entire area of the Slovenian part of the Julian Alps and covers a total of 838 km².
Crystal clear lakes, green valleys, babbling streams, unique views, and diverse flora and fauna await you in Triglav National Park. The national park is one of the oldest in Europe. It is named after the highest mountain in Slovenia, the 2,864-meter-high Triglav.
13. Postojna Cave
Postojna is the second-largest stalactite cave in the world and a popular attraction in Slovenia.
This gigantic cave is located in the inconspicuous town of Postojna, between the capital Ljubljana and the Slovenian coast. Magnificent stalactite sculptures and unique animals await you in the cave.
The cave train takes you inside the cave for about 10 minutes. Already on the walk, you can see how incredibly large the cave system is. You can also clearly see it in the countless strange stalagmites and stalactites.
Make sure to bring a jacket. The temperature in the cave is always around 10 degrees Celsius. The easiest way to visit the cave is with guided tours. It is usually part of the typical day trips around Slovenia.
14. Wochen Lake
Lake Wochein, the largest in Slovenia, is located southeast of the Triglav National Park. In summer, it is a popular destination for bathers. The crystal clear waters warm up to 22°C in the summer months.
Active vacationers and water sports enthusiasts like to explore the lake with its surrounding rivers by canoe or kayak.
15. Cow Dance and Cheese and Wine Festival
On the karst plateau of Fužinske Planine in Bohinj, you can visit cheese factories and taste succulent Mohant. In September, the traditional cow dance and the cheese and wine festival are held on the plateau. Festivals are a good alternative to other possible experiences in Slovenia, especially in the mountains.
At the end of February, in Ptuj, you can meet the mystical figure Kurent, who expels winter with the sound of cowbells.
16. Zelenci Lake
Many interesting plant species await you in the nature reserve surrounding the lake, such as the carnivorous sundew, and amphibians and breeding birds are represented among the animal species.
You can walk to the lake by a separate wooden walkway from the park without harming nature, wander around the marshy surroundings and enjoy nature simultaneously.
17. Velika Planina
The Velika Planina plateau is one of the few preserved high-mountain pastoral settlements in Europe. There you can learn about the traditional culture of the shepherds. In addition, the nature of the picturesque alpine pastures of the Styrian Alps is beautiful.
The easiest way to get to Velika Planina is by cable car. In addition, various hiking trails lead to alpine pastures. Velika Planina is especially popular for hiking in summer, but the snow-capped plateau is also beautiful in winter.
You should try the traditional shepherd’s food in high mountain pastures, made with sour milk and Sterz.
18. Old Celje Castle
Celje Old Castle is a complex of medieval castles with a Romanesque core and Renaissance defensive walls in Slovenia. It is known as the first castle of the famous Count of Cilli, who belonged to Slovenia’s most important princely family.
The family built the complex in eastern Slovenia into the largest castle in the country.
You can visit the sprawling castle complex, including the mighty keep, Federico’s Tower, and a few remaining ruins. The castle itself is only open between June and August.
Since the castle is elevated, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.
19. Slovenian cuisine
Neighboring countries heavily influence Slovenian cuisine. The similarities with Italian, Austrian, Croatian, and Hungarian cuisine are obvious at first glance.
The many doughs and pasta dishes harken back to Italian influences. The popular strudels in Slovenia are reminiscent of Austrian cuisine. Many pork dishes are reminiscent of Hungarian specialties, and the sausage trays have their origins in Germany. The seven different regions of Slovenia also influence Slovenian cuisine.
In addition, some influences go back to the Ottoman Empire. For example, the preparation of coffee in Slovenia with an Ibrik (Cezve).
Here is our list of interesting dishes from Slovenian cuisine that you should try:
- Ajdovi zganci – A simple dish made from buckwheat flour, pork rinds, and oil. It is traditionally served with stew, sauerkraut, or sausage.
- Bujta repa – is a traditional Slovenian beetroot stew with pork. The stew is especially popular in winter.
- Prosciutto Karster: air-dried ham. It is best served with a glass of red wine from Karst, Teran.
- Štruklji – dough rolls with various fillings. Štruklji can be made from different types of dough, savory or sweet. The most popular varieties are Štruklji with tarragon, curd, walnut, apple, or poppy seed filling.
- Potica – Yeast dough rolled cake with various fillings. Potica is the typical Slovenian dessert.
- Prekmurska gibanica – strudel-like dessert filled with poppy seeds, cottage cheese, walnuts, and apples.
- Kranjska klobasa – a sausage from classical Slovenian and Austrian cuisine.
- Slovenian coffee: a traditional Slovenian coffee brewed in the Turkish-Greek style with a cezve. You can try it at Slovenska Hisa.
20. Port city Koper
Koper is the largest city on the Slovenian coast. The city hosts the only cargo port in the country. In addition, many cruise ships also call at the port.
The old town of Koper is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the city. Be sure to stroll through its picturesque and narrow streets. The two most important monuments of Koper, the Cathedral and the Praetor’s Palace are located on the city’s main square. It is named after the former Yugoslav head of state Tito (Tito Square or Tito Trg in Slovene).
The Praetor’s Palace is one of the most famous palaces in Slovenia. It originally dates back to the 14th century. However, it was rebuilt many times afterward. The palace acquired its current appearance in the mid-15th century; the last renovation occurred in 2001. Today, the palace is best known for its kitsch battlements.
21. Soca Valley
The Soca River rises in the Julian Alps in northern Slovenia. It then heads south to empty into the sea in Italy (as the “Isonzo”) in the Gulf of Trieste.
Soca Valley is perfect for all adventurers. You can go rafting, canoeing, or kayaking along the river. In addition, there are countless short and long hiking trails to waterfalls and other natural landscapes.
The famous Slovenian museum train also passes through the Soca Valley. You can ride the steam locomotive with its old carriages on the over 100-year-old Bohinjska železnica (Wochein Railway) through the beautiful natural landscape of the valley. Note that the museum train doesn’t run that often, and be sure to check the timetable if you’re planning a trip.
22. Skiing in Slovenia
Slovenia has everything you need for a varied and relaxed ski holiday: the picturesque backdrop of the Julian Alps and the Limestone Alps, a high snow guarantee, and ski slopes to suit all needs.
In Slovenia, you will find several smaller, family-friendly ski resorts suitable for beginners, children, and experienced skiers.
The most beautiful ski resorts are Kanin, Kravavec, and Vogel.
22 places to see in Slovenia