Slovenia travel guide
Discover Slovenia, plan your trip, and get inspired with this travel guide!
A lake with an island with a church on it, a charming capital city, breathtaking landscapes, and endless natural space.
Learn how to get to Slovenia, how to move around, and where to stay
Budget your trip and find out the best seasons to visit Slovenia.
Discover travel and photography guides for the main tourist attractions in Slovenia
How to get to Slovenia?
Slovenia is a Central European country, located in an idyllic location. It borders Austria and Hungary at the north, Croatia at the east and south, and Italy at the west. Moreover, it has direct access to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the so-called Julian Alps, a section of the Alps ridge with mountains over 2500 meters (over 8000 ft).
Getting to Slovenia is easy, although not as cheap as some of its neighbors. Its main airport is the Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport, located a short distance from the capital of the country, Ljubljana. However, it is a tiny airport, with not many flights, and almost no budget airlines.
Yet, Slovenia is a small country. It takes around 3 hours to cross the country driving from east to west, and this might be the reason why it is so well connected, both with bus and train. Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, is at less than 2 hours from Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana, and there are many connections between both countries. Same with Italy, where regular buses and shuttle buses cover the distance between Venice and Ljubljana at very affordable prices.
Thus, the best way to get to Slovenia is by bus or train, unless you live in one of the cities that has a direct flying connection with Ljubljana, such as Frankfurt, Paris, or London.
Moving around Slovenia
Slovenia is a country best explored with a rental car. Everyone who visited agrees. Unlike other European countries, with big cities, well communicated, Slovenia is all about small villages, lakes, hikes… and to do this, having a car is the best option.
Both at the Ljubljana Airport and at the Ljubljana train and bus station there are places to get a rental car. If visiting during winter, make sure that the car has winter tires. It is compulsory from mid-November until mid-March.
However, if you want to visit the main cities or attractions, it is, Ljubljana, Bled, Maribor,… there is a quite good public bus service. Frequency changes during the year, making it a bit more difficult in the winter months.
Check the official timetables and routes here
Where to stay in Slovenia?
Any travel guide has to include a section on where to stay. Being a European country with a quite strong tourist sector, Slovenia has a huge offer of apartments, hotels, hostels, and other accommodations. Prices can get as high as you can pay, and as low as 15€ for a shared dorm.
Yet, the real question is not what type of accommodation, but where to stay. What is the best city to choose as a base? Thanks to the size of Slovenia, it is possible to visit the whole country staying in 2-3 cities. In fact, some might argue that you can choose Ljubljana and do day trips to any location in the country. It all depends on what your plans are in Slovenia.
Of course, one of the best places to stay is in Ljubljana. It is the capital of the country, a must for any tourist, and with a lot of available accommodations.
The second place to use as a base in Slovenia is Bled. Not only because of its world-famous lake with an island with a church on it but also because it is at a very comfortable driving distance from the Julian Alps. Besides, it has all the facilities you can need as a tourist.
The third place to stay in Slovenia is only for those looking for the sun and Mediterranean vibes. Piran or Kopor are coastal cities that especially during summer get crowded with lots of tourists and visitors. Yet, if what you are after is a relaxing week by the beach, consider Italy and Croatia, as their coastline is way longer than Slovenia’s.
Finally, Maribor, the second-largest city in the country also makes it to this list. Famous for its wine cellars, it is closer to the Hungary border and Graz, Austria.
How expensive is Slovenia?
Slovenia is not on the list of the most expensive countries in Europe. Yet, it is not the cheapest country in Europe to travel to. Like most countries of the old continent, the main currency is the Euro, unlike their neighbors Hungary and Croatia, which still use their own one.
Check my full guide the Slovenia travel budget for exact approximates of food, accommodation, transportation, and how to save money on your trip!
You can expect to make it for less than 50€ a day if you use public transport, sleep in hostel dorms, and eat a meal a day outside.
When is the best time to visit Slovenia?
You are in luck! Slovenia is a country worth visiting at all times of the year. However, depending on what you are looking for, a specific season might be the best time for you.
- Winter: From mid-December until March, Slovenian countryside is a set of postcards taken from a fairytale. Snow is everywhere, lake freeze and hot wine is the thing to do. Driving is still possible, although some road passes are closed. Yet, the temperature drops to below zero and you’ll need thick gloves to survive outside.
- Spring: With snow still covering the mountain peaks, everything goes back to live. Waterfalls are at their best when the snow starts melting, and the temperatures are at the perfect sweet spot between too warm and too cold.
- Summer: The hiking season is at its best. All hiking routes are open now that all snow has melted, and people enjoy sunbathing by the lakes. It is the high season, and tourists are everywhere. Temperatures reach their peak, with over 30-celsius degrees in most cities.
- Autumn: While tourists are gone, the good weather still remains for a while. Soon the rain will make waterfalls look great again, while trees start changing their leaves tones to orange and red. The first snowfall arrives up in the mountain, and temperatures are at the sweet spot again.
What are the best things to do in Slovenia?
No Slovenia travel guide is complete without a list of destinations and activities. From outdoors activities to wine tasting, hiking, or winter sports, you won’t have enough time to do it all. Some of the best things to do in Slovenia are:
- Visit Ljubljana: explore the capital city of Slovenia, its famous three-bridge, and a cozy old town. Climb to the castle for the best views of the city!
- Discover Bled: the world-famous lake with an island with a church on it is much more than a cool Instagram spot. Do a one-day trip to the nearby lake Bohinj, hike, and try the typical Bled cake.
- Hike the Kranjska Gora area: Jasna lakes, waterfalls, hiking… with direct access to Mount Triglav, the tallest mountain in Slovenia, the Kranjska Gora area is a safe bet if you like beautiful landscape and outdoors activities.
- Practice winter sports: Slovenia is a huge winter sports hub. Ski jump, nordic ski, ski resorts… no matter what you want to do, you can do it in Slovenia.
- Try the Slovenian wine: Slovenia has been producing wine for many centuries, and vineyards are everywhere. Moreover, in Maribor, you can visit the world’s oldest vine.
Explore aniolvisuals Slovenia specific travel guide!
Slovenia photography guides
With amazing landscapes, waterfalls, lakes, and cute villages, Slovenia is becoming a very popular destination for travel and landscape photographers. There are countless places to photograph and explore, and all seasons make for amazing photos. Grab your camera and explore the Slovenian countryside, capture the cute old town of Ljubljana or photograph the highest mountains of the Julian Alps.
