Slovenia is a beautiful small country in central Europe, on the eastern side of the Alps and the northern shores of the Adriatic Sea. Slovenia, no matter how small the country, is full of wonderful destinations. You’ll find tourist attractions in Slovenia that are worthy of a fairytale: flower-filled fields with small wooden chalets, snow-capped mountain peaks in the background, freshwater springs, blue-water rivers, breathtaking mountain lakes and castles.
How much time to plan to visit Slovenia
You can spend almost any amount of time in Slovenia, but we’ve put together a list of the most important sights you shouldn’t miss. To visit the main attractions on the list, you need at least 1 week, but preferably 10-14 days. If you live nearby, you are fortunate as you can organize separate smaller trips in Slovenia. Because some of the best places in Slovenia are seasonal, we recommend traveling more than once.
When to visit Slovenia
The best time to visit Slovenia depends on your destination and activities. Basically, we would suggest summer, when the weather in the mountains is ideal for hiking and the beaches are open for vacationers.
However, as written, the list also includes seasonal destinations in Slovenia, which are particularly good in one season only. For example, the flower fields are usually at their best in spring, or the ski resorts are recommended in winter. In fact, the best places in Slovenia on this list are recommended in different seasons.
Best places to visit in Slovenia
So here are the top 8 attractions in Slovenia.
1. Lake Bled
Lake Bled is without doubt Slovenia’s biggest tourist attraction. A church stands on a small island in the middle of this beautiful blue-water alpine lake. Just like in a fairytale. You can get there by boat, so the island is open to visitors. But the best views are from the mountain peaks south of the lake, which can be reached by short but steep hiking trails. On the northern side of the lake, at the top of a high cliff, is Bled Castle, another popular tourist attraction.
Bled is so crowded in summer that we would no longer recommend a summer visit. Spring or autumn are much more ideal for a trip to Bled. Bled is a very charming place in Slovenia, definitely worth a visit, even if not just once. The walk around the lake is about 6 kilometres, which we do regularly, it is a pleasant afternoon activity. It’s worth trying the famous Bled Cream Cake, which is served in several local patisseries.
2. Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge is located quite close to Bled. If you are visiting Bled in Slovenia, the Vintgar Gorge is a good choice for an extra afternoon activity. Note, the gorge is one way (which we didn’t know at the time), you can take a bus back to the car park at the very end.
Otherwise, the gorge is beautiful and very enjoyable to walk through, if you’re not afraid of heights.
3. Kranjska Gora
Kranjska Gora is located in the west of Slovenia, close to the Italian and Austrian borders. It is one of our personal favorite places in Slovenia. It has several attractions and offers opportunities for tourists in winter and summer. In winter there is a ski resort. In the other seasons, most tourists are interested in the two main attractions: the Zelenci Nature reserve and the Lake Jasna. Both are breathtaking destinations, absolute must-see places.
The Zelenci Nature Reserve is accessible by car, a short walk from the car park and you will find the small lake, which is in fact the source of the Sava River. The best photos can be taken from the lookout point at the lake.
Lake Jasna is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Slovenia. It is a good place for photography all year round, as the lake rarely dries up. It’s most crowded in summer, but that’s also when you can take the best photos (especially from the pier). Thanks to the bars next to it, you can spend some really relaxing hours here. There is also a spectacular waterfall next to the lake and the Kranjska Gora sign, which is well worth a look.
4. Soca Valley
The Soca River Valley is located on Slovenia’s western border. It is a popular tourist destination because of its many hiking trails, famous mountain peaks and magical waterfalls. Plus there are rafting opportunities on the river. The clear blue-green waters of the Soca River make the river itself a beautiful sight to behold, making it a great photo opportunity. In addition, there are several interesting Slovenian villages along the river, such as Bovec and Kanal ob Soci. Near Bovec is the breathtakingly beautiful Slap Virje (waterfall) and a little further away the Slap Kozjak (also a waterfall). It is well worth spending a few days here, especially for hiking and/or photography enthusiasts.
5. Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia. It’s quite small compared to other European capitals, but it has a lot to offer. You can go up to Ljubljana Castle to see relics of Slovenian history, with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. You can walk along the Ljubljanica River and Preseren Square or in the city’s largest park, in the Park Tivoli.
6. Velika Planina
Velika Planina is probably the second most visited Slovenian attraction on the internet after Bled. The enormous, all-encompassing fields of crocuses that bloom in April and May are the reason for the plateau’s popularity. We had the opportunity to visit it several times. You can go by mountain lift or by car. We prefer the car, but recommend it only for experienced drivers, as the road uphill is bumpy and narrow in places. One more thing to be prepared for: the flowers bloom slightly differently every year. So we use webcam recordings to see when to go. When most of the snow has melted, that’s when the crocuses come out, that’s when you have to travel there to see most of the crocuses.
Velika Planina can also be visited during the rest of the year, but there are no spectacular flower fields then, so the best time to visit is definitely mid-spring.
7. Piran
Piran is a seaside town on the Slovenian Riviera, the most picturesque of all Slovenian coastal towns. We love each of the Slovenian seaside towns for something, but Piran is the most worth a visit as a tourist.
From photos on the internet, it is often confused with the Croatian town of Rovinj.
You cannot drive into Piran, the city can only be seen on foot or by bike. There are many view points with breathtaking views of the city’s interesting buildings and the Adriatic Sea. But just walking through the streets of Piran is an experience in itself, especially in the summer sunset.
8. Rogla
Rogla turns into a real winter wonderland in winter, when everything is covered in snow. We therefore recommend a trip to Rogla mainly in winter, but of course you can visit it at any time of the year. In winter, there is also a ski resort, so it is very busy. Rogla has a canopy path with a fantastic lookout, which is well worth a look. In the winter months you can go skiing or sledging in Rogla, which is great fun at a good price.
In this article we have listed the most beautiful sights of Slovenia. We hope we have given you some inspiration for your trip to Slovenia. It is almost guaranteed that you will not be disappointed when you visit Slovenia.
