This tiny little country is greedy with its beautiful offerings; it’s the only place in Europe that you can see the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain, and the Karst Plateau!
Its man made structures are just as impressive, and possess touches of Gothic and baroque influences. Make sure you fit in a visit to Triglav National Park, and the city of Marbior for its diverse culture, fine wines and super tasty food.
Slovenia feels like Europe in miniature, with its short Adriatic coastline and dramatic Julian Alps, the mix of Latin and Slav culture and the country’s tolerant attitudes.
Slovenia’s separation from the rest of Yugoslavia was quick and relatively painless and today it’s a full EU member and part of the Euro currency zone.
All of which makes travel here a delight – straightforward, affordable and fun. The country is famously green, half of it forested, and has a rich biodiversity, which includes the distinctive eroded limestone karst scenery between Ljubljana and the coast.
Ljubljana
I’d heard good things about Ljubljana, so I decided to visit while I was in Croatia. My first impression of Ljubljana was that it is a pretty cool place. Walking around, I found lots of boutique shops selling handmade items, vintage shops, ‘hippy’ and ‘goth’ cafes and quirky wall art. It’s worth taking some time to just wander through the streets and see what you can find.
There are also quite a few good art galleries in Ljubljana including the Museum of Modern Art if you like your contemporary stuff, and the National Gallery for more classic pieces.
It’s worth visiting Ljubljana Castle as well for some amazing views of the city. There is a funicular and a tourist train which will take you up to the top, but you can walk it if you don’t mind the steep hill. You can pay to go into the viewing tower but the viewing terrace is just as good if you want to take a few photographs.
The capital is, like Slovenia itself, built on a small scale, barely 3km across, with woods, hills and fields reaching close to the city centre, where the winding Ljubljanica River twists through the cobbled historical quarters. Make the most of your time in the city by grabbing a free map from one of the friendly tourist offices and exploring the tiny and very accessible old town, which has good shopping, as well as galleries and pavement cafés. Top attraction is Castle Hill, for its views, while simply hanging out in the squares and on the riverbank is an easy runner-up. Ljubljana’s open market is highly recommended, too.
The great thing about Ljubljana is that it’s not a massive city so you can quite easily find your way around and get from A to B without much hassle.
The city has a big student population and nightlife in abundance if you want to see a gig or go clubbing. Or, if having a few drinks and people-watching is more your thing, then head to Macek, Plocnik or Dvorni. The latter features dozens of Slovenia’s excellent wines and sometimes has free tastings.
One thing which I didn’t get chance to do is visit Postojna Caves. They are a little way out of the centre but I have it on good authority that they are worth a look – maybe next time!
More Places to Go
If you get the chance to travel further afield, make a bee-line for the extraordinary Postojna and Skocjan caves, an hour or two southwest of Ljubljana. These huge cave systems include a 10,000 capacity underground concert hall with awesome acoustics at Postojna and are also home to a mysterious troglodyte salamander, the proteus, which lives only in this part of the world. Not far away, at the village of Lipica (or Lipizza), is the stud farm for Vienna’s white Lipizzaner horses.
Another major attraction is the fantastically picturesque Lake Bled, north of Ljubljana on the Austrian border. Walk along the spectacular shore, call in at cliff-edge Bled castle, and climb the Osojnica viewpoint. If you’re feeling weary, do the whole circuit by tourist-train, which would leave more time for a boat trip to the impossibly cute Bled island, with its postcard-perfect church.