Highlights
Ljubljana
A compact, largely car-free capital built along the Ljubljanica river. The architect Jože Plečnik shaped much of its centre, including the Triple Bridge and the riverside market colonnades, and the castle on the hill gives views to the Kamnik Alps on a clear day.
Lake Bled
A glacial lake with a tiny church-topped island, reached by traditional wooden pletna boats, and a medieval castle on a cliff above. Walk the six-kilometre lakeside path early in the morning and try the local cream cake, kremšnita.
Lake Bohinj and Triglav National Park
Larger and quieter than Bled, Bohinj sits inside Slovenia's only national park. Trails lead to the Savica waterfall and the Seven Lakes Valley, and experienced hikers climb Triglav, the country's highest peak and a national symbol that appears on the flag.
Postojna and Škocjan caves
The karst region gave its name to karst landscapes worldwide. Postojna is visited partly by underground electric train and is home to the olm, a blind cave salamander; Škocjan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has one of the largest known underground river canyons in Europe.
Soča Valley
The Soča river runs a startling turquoise through the western Julian Alps. Bovec and Kobarid are bases for rafting, kayaking and hiking, and Kobarid's museum tells the story of the First World War Isonzo Front fought along this valley.
Piran
A Venetian-era town on a narrow peninsula, with a marble square named after the violinist Giuseppe Tartini, a bell tower modelled on St Mark's in Venice and salt pans that are still worked by hand nearby.
Vršič Pass
Slovenia's highest road pass climbs through about fifty numbered hairpin bends between Kranjska Gora and the Soča Valley. The Russian Chapel near the bottom was built by prisoners of war who constructed the road during the First World War.
Interesting facts about Slovenia
- Slovenia's coastline is only about 47 kilometres long, one of the shortest of any country with a sea coast.
- More than half of the country is covered by forest, which makes it one of the most forested countries in Europe.
- Slovenia was the first country that had been part of Yugoslavia to join the European Union, in 2004, and adopted the euro in 2007.
- Slovene keeps the dual grammatical number, so nouns and verbs have separate forms for exactly two of something, as well as for one and for many.
- Beekeeping is a national tradition, and the Carniolan honey bee is native to the region. Slovenia proposed World Bee Day, which the UN marks on 20 May.
Best time to visit
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September) are the best all-round months: trails are open, rivers are full and towns are not yet crowded. July and August are warm and busy, especially at Bled and on the coast, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains. High Alpine trails and the Vršič Pass are usually only reliably clear of snow from early summer to autumn. Winter brings skiing at resorts such as Kranjska Gora and Vogel, and Ljubljana's Christmas lights draw visitors in December.
Practical information
| Capital | Ljubljana |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Slovene, Italian and Hungarian (co-official in their border areas) |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 ambulance and fire (and general emergencies), 113 police |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving around 10 percent for good table service is appreciated. |
Getting around
Distances are short. Buses connect Ljubljana with Bled, Bohinj, Piran and most towns, and are often quicker than the train on those routes. Trains are useful between Ljubljana, Maribor and some Alpine towns. To reach the Soča Valley, the Vršič Pass or small karst villages, a hire car gives far more freedom. Driving on Slovenian motorways requires an electronic vignette, registered online against your number plate before you join the motorway. In Ljubljana, the centre is best explored on foot or by city bike.
Staying connected in Slovenia
Mobile coverage is good across towns, motorways and the main tourist valleys, and 4G and 5G are widely available in Ljubljana and Maribor. In deep Alpine valleys, on high mountain trails and inside the karst caves, signal can drop out, so download offline maps before hiking. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and guesthouses. Slovenia is in the EU, but if you are coming from outside it, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land or cross the border.
See Slovenia eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Slovenia
- Google Maps: Driving and walking directions; download the Alps region offline before heading into the mountains.
- Slovenia Info (I feel Slovenia): Official tourism board app and site with events, trails and attractions.
- Google Translate: Slovene menus and signs, with offline download; English is widely spoken, so you will rarely need it for conversation.
- XE Currency: Quick conversions if you are arriving from a non-euro country such as Hungary or a non-EU neighbour.