Slovenia is a relatively small country with just over 2 million people. It is nestled between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. It is really easy to either drive around the country or travel by bus, in fact we did both.
Part of the trip we did by bus and the other half with a rental car. Ljubljana as our base for the road trip as it is located in the center of the country and has great network of buses and trains.
➳ Find all: Hotels on Ljubljana
Slovenia has a great history, delicious food, and breathtaking landscapes but above it all is the amazing people with a smile always on their face. Out of all the countries we have visited so far, Slovenia has been one of the most beautiful. In this article you will find the 25 best things to do in Slovenia.
How long should you stay in Slovenia?
We stayed for 3 days and we wished we stayed longer. Each place we visited was doable in a day but there were so many other places we would have wanted to visit, so it depends on how many places you want to see and experience.
How to get to Slovenia?
Even though Slovenia is so close to Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, there is not an easy way to get to Slovenia. If you choose to take a bus or train, prepared yourself for a lengthy ride. The closest cities are Vienna, Budapest and Venice.
Ljubljana has a small airport with several flights from other European airlines including Easyjet and Wizzair.
The Best of Slovenia in 3 Days
I got super interested about visiting Slovenia when I saw photo of Lake Bled, and immediately I start planning my trip to this beautiful country. I did some research on the country and what it had to offer. Soon I discovered that there was a whole lot more to see than just Lake Bled.
Where to go in Slovenia?
Three days would be enough to see the best highlights Slovenia has to offer but I would recommend to stay at least a week to visit more places in this wonderful country. Based on our experiences we recommend spending a day at each of the following locations:
Ljubljana
You definitely have to visit the capital city of Ljubljana, one of the most beautiful and small cities in Eastern Europe. The old town along the Ljubljanica River will take your breath away. The capital city of Slovenia, will impress you with its many little boutiques and restaurants along the river. Each cobblestone road somehow leads to more beautiful part of the city.
Did you know that Ljubljana is the green capital of Europe? It is super clean and you can feel the happiness and authenticity of the local people. For a full list of things to do in the city read our complete guide to Ljubljana.
Some of the best things to see in Ljubljana includes the Ljubljana Castle, the Dragon Bridge, the Market, and Metelkova.
➳ Read More: What to do in Ljubljana in one day travel guide
How long should you spend in Ljubljana? One day is more than enough to get an idea of what the city has to offer.
Lake Bled and Bohinj in Triglav National Park
We only had time to visit Lake Bled and it was by far the highlight of our trip and it is definitely a “must see” in Slovenia. It is one of the most photographic places in the country, in fact, we visited Slovenia primarily for its stunning lake. Lake Bled and the surrounding landscape feels like an image straight out of a fairytale. It is really easy to get to Lake Bled from Ljubljana.
In the main bus station in Ljubljana you can get a bus ticket or a full package to visit the castle, the island and the transportation to Lake Bled. I recommend taking the bus versus the train as the bus drops you off right in Bled and the train stop is outside of town.
For a full list of things to do in Lake Bled read our complete guide to Lake Bled. You can do the hike and all the main attractions within a day or even half a day. It took us an entire day recording videos and taking photos and notes.
The main things to do in Lake Bled are Bled castle, The Bled Island, the viewpoints including Osojnica and of course trying the delicious Bled Cream Cake.
If you finish in Lake Bled quick you can take another 45 minute bus ride and visit Bohinj in Triglav National Park. You will need more than a day to explore the area but it is a great additional stop.
➳ Read More: A complete Photography Guide With The Best Photo Spots at Lake Bled
How long should you spend in Lake Bled? One day is more than enough to see the highlights of Lake Bled but if you want to visit Bohinj in Triglav National Park, you will need to stay for at least 2 to 3 days.
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is 13 minutes outside of Lake Bled, if you finish your visit in Lake Bled early then you can spend some time at Vintgar Gorge. There is a €5 entrance fee. You do not need more than a couple of hours to wander around the trails and fall in love with its turquoise water and steep rock walls.
How long should you spend in Vintgar Gorge? You can visit Vintgar Gorge the same day you visit Lake Bled.
Lake Bohinj and Savica Waterfall
Lake Bohinj is about 30 minutes from Bled and it is a truly beauty. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountain range. Another thing you must do in Slovenia is visit the Savica Waterfall. There is a small €3 euro entry fee but it is worth it!
Kamnik
Kamnik is arguably our favorite place in Slovenia. It is surrounded by so much nature. We visited the Kamniska Bistrica valley and the stunning Predaselj gorge, and took a cable car into the mountains to visit the Velika Planina village and walk the old town. We finished our day at the Terme Snovik where we swim in thermal pools and walked barefoot on a kneipp path. It was such a magical day enjoying of nature and the city.
How long should you spend in Kamnik? One day will be more than enough to visit Kamnik and the surrounding areas.
Piran
If you have extra time another great day trip from Ljubljana is the coastal town of Piran. It’s a seaside town located on the Adriatic sea, only 2.5 bus ride away from Ljubljana.
The best thing to do in Piran is to walk along the water, explore the little shops and hike to the old wall for a stunning panoramic view.
Postojna Cave
The Postojna Cave is the largest underground cave system in Europe and definitely one of the best things to do in Slovenia.
You can also visit their several castles, especially Predjama, which is a Renaissance stone castle carved out of a cliff, the Emerald River, kozjak waterfall, Škofja Loka, a medieval town close to Ljubljana, the Skocjan Cave, which is a UNESCO heritage site and much more. Slovenia is a country full of natural beauty.
⇟ More articles from Slovenia that might interest you:
➳ Read More: Complete travel guide of Ljubljana in one day
➳ Read More: The Ultimate Day Trip to Lake Bled from Ljubljana, Slovenia
➳ Read More: A complete Photography Guide With The Best Photo Spots at Lake Bled
Here you can find more activities to do in Slovenia:
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