Guide to Slovenia

AROUND SLOVENIA – Castles

Slovenia is a country rich in castles, manors and fortresses, most of the castles are situated atop hillocks and hills and in other prime scenic locations. They were built at various times during the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. In the past, they served as centres of local power and provided protection from attacks, with many being overtaken by such events and so only ruins remain. Thankfully a few of these buildings survived the test of time, the most famous are: Ljubljana Castle, one of the central and most distinct attractions of the capital city, offering an unforgettable view of Ljubljana and its broader surroundings, on a clear day you can see a third of Slovenia! Bled Castle, a mighty castle on top of a steep cliff overlooking beautiful Lake Bled and its island. Predjama Castle (with its caves and secret tunnels) was built more than 800 years ago in the middle of a 123-metre-high cliff, it ranks among the ten most fascinating castles in the world. Bistra Castle houses the Technical Museum of Slovenia, well known for its extensive collections, one of which is the car collection of former Yugoslav President Tito.

AROUND SLOVENIA – Caves

You have not truly experienced Slovenia until you visit its subterranean splendour. Stunning underground caves, including the world-renowned Postojna Cave, the largest Karst cave in Slovenia. 5km of stalactites and stalagmites can be toured on board a small train (taking 1.5 hours) marvelling at the sculptural rock formations, magical stalactites and stalagmites, underground halls and strange animals, the most famous and unique one being the Olms (Proteus anguinus) once thought to be baby dragons. Skojcan caves are a World Natural Heritage site – a spectacular underground world of gigantic dripstones, a subterranean river’s rapids, and tiny little lakes. Home to the deepest and largest underground canyon in the world. A maze of underground galleries, a guided tour will take between 2.5 to 3 hours.

AROUND SLOVENIA – Lakes

Slovenia has an exceptional abundance of waters. Everywhere you go, you will find water. The landscape is dotted with numerous lakes, both natural and man-made. They offer sanctuaries for both those looking to relax and those looking for active holidays by and on the water. Lake Bled with its famous island in the lake, is blessed with a fairy-tale beauty, surrounded by green hills. You can take a traditional pletna boat to the island in the lake and visit the magnificent Gothic church, making sure you ring its bell if you want your secrets wishes to come true. Take a walk around the lake and marvel at the nearby mountains and the lake itself and at the end of your walk treat yourself to the original Bled Cream Cake. Lake Bohinj is the ideal choice for nature lovers, as you experience the many joys of hiking in the Alps. A wonderful trail takes you to the enchanting Savica Waterfall and to the nearby hills, where you can take in the beauty and delights of the Alps.

AROUND SLOVENIA – Gorges and Waterfalls

There are many gorges and waterfalls in Slovenia, a few of them are accessible via walkways through the ravines enabling you to see these natural wonders up close.

The Vintgar Gorge, is one of them, located near Gorje, approximately 4 kilometres north-west from Bled. The 1.6-kilometre long gorge is carved by the Radovna River amidst the glorious vertical walls of the Hom and Boršt hills. A wooden walkway and bridges run across the gorge taking you to the mighty 13 metres high Šum river waterfall. The Tolmin Gorge is another of these situated at the southern-most portion of the Triglav National Park at the merging of the Tolminka and Zadlascica streams in northwestern Slovenia. It is 1,000 meters long, between 5 and 10 meters wide and up to 60 meters deep.

NB: Gorges are usually only accessible between mid-April and mid-October, please check opening times if you are planning to visit March/April or October/November.

The Savica waterfall, is not far from lake Bohinj and is the source of the Sava Bohinjka River, an icon of Bohinj tourism with great historical meaning for Slovenes and is an exceptional source of inspiration. The Boka waterfall can be seen from the road between Bovec and Kobarid, although it’s worth climbing up to the viewpoint from where you will be able to feel the full force of nature. Kozjak waterfall plunges into a rocky amphitheatre below the Krn mountain range, is a mystical place that will stimulate your imagination. This magnificent 15-metre waterfall takes the stage in a hollowed-out underground hall.

LJUBLJANA – The stunning historic capital city

Ljubljana is the green capital of a green country, a beautifully compact city and easily explored on foot. The area on either side of the river with its picturesque bridges and the central market owes its distinctive appearance to the great architect Jože Plečnik. The city of thousands of events is surrounded by parks and areas of protected nature. Ljubljana Castle, standing on a hill above the city for about 900 years, is the city’s main attraction. The castle offers some of the most beautiful views of the city. The castle can be reached by the funicular railway and has a cafe and two restaurants to choose from. Tivoli Park and Gardens, is Ljubljana’s largest and most beautiful park, stretching right into the city centre and covering an area of 3 square miles. Crossed by three horse chestnut tree-lined walks and landscaped with ornamental flower beds, interesting trees and numerous statues and fountains. There are many tours that can be enjoyed in Ljubljana, the ‘Free Tour’ is highly recommended. The city has many fabulous examples of Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture. Open-air street festivals of music, theatre and dance.

Lipica Stud Farm

The town of Lipica with the famous Lipizzaner stud farm is one of the oldest stud farms in Europe, where the same breed of horse has been bred for over 440 years. There is a lot to do on the estate: you can visit the oldest stable, where all the classic Lipizzaner lines are represented; Visit the Lipizzaner Museum and the Carriage Museum, take a stroll through the landscape of pastures, avenues and parks and get to know the peculiarities of Lipica and the Karst. You can visit the Lipizzaner horses with a guide who will explain all the special features of Lipica and the Lipizzaner horses. You also have the opportunity to explore the stud farm on your own.

Visit the official training of the Lipizzaners, which takes place with musical accompaniment and generally understandable commentary in the riding hall of the stud farm. You can experience the demanding figures that the Lipizzaner horses learn during their training during the performances of the classic riding school. The 45-minute performance is really worth seeing! Check the schedule of trainings and performances before your visit.

Cycling

Slovenia is a wonderful place to explore on a bike – and this is probably the very best way to see some of the most scenic areas. Bled and Bohinj are especially good places to cycle and there are several biking trails around the Triglav National Park where there are well-signposted biking tours and trails. The Slovenia Green cycling routes link beautiful nature, cultural and historical heritage and delicious local cuisine, you will get to know Slovenia in the most sustainable way. In addition to cycling through Slovenia’s natural landscapes, you can also explore Slovenian cities on two wheels. The capital city of Ljubljana is ranked among the most cyclist-friendly cities in the world and has more than 230 km of marked cycling routes. You can even enjoy a unique Moustache Tour around the city, involving very special guides. Another great option for bicycle exploration is Maribor, especially its Old Vine Route, which takes cyclists from the oldest grapevine in the world in the city centre to the nearby vineyards.

Walking & Hiking

Just walking around Slovenia is a joy in itself. The choice of trails is remarkable – from easier short walks along the valleys and foothills, to highly challenging protected trails in the high mountains, where you can enjoy views of the Alpine peaks. There is something for everyone so it is no surprise that walking and hiking are so popular. Slovenia covers an area of more than 20,000 square kilometres and has almost 10,000 kilometres of marked hiking trails, covering 70 percent of Slovenian land. The landscape stretches from the coastal region over the karst edge to the moderately high mountain region and high mountain region to an altitude of 2,864 metres, which is the height of Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s tallest mountain.

Canoeing & Rafting

Canoes are ideal for paddling down Slovenia’s quieter rivers and for pottering around on the beautiful lakes. Canoeing along the river Ljubljanica through Ljubljana itself is very popular. Canoes are also available for hire on many of the lakes in Slovenia and many local operators offer inflatable mini-rafts for rent so you can meander down the stunning river scenery.

Slovenia’s rivers offer exciting yet safe rafting adventures. The most suitable river for rafting is the Soča, a clear, blue–green river flowing through a beautiful valley. There are areas of white water on the river to add to the excitement. Rafting centres will provide all the necessary equipment and arrange transport back to the starting point, all with an experienced guide.

Other water sports, some more extreme, are available for those interested.

Swimming

During the hot summer months, Slovenia offers ideal opportunities for swimming with its healthy, clean waters. Its idyllic lakes, crystal clear rivers and turquoise blue sea invite you to come for a swim.

Lake Bled offers swimming from a platform at the Castle Bathing Area, as well as at camp Mala and Velika Zaka at the far end of the lake. Lake Bohinj offers swimming for people who prefer an authentic natural swimming experience from the shores of the lake at Fuzina Bay or in Ukanc. The Kolpa River is considered to be the warmest river in Slovenia and also the river Nadiža, but there are many other rivers to choose from. The Soca River’s best known swimming spots are the gravel areas between Kobarid and Tolmin.

Slovenia has 21 natural bathing sites along its 42 kilometres of coastline, some of which belong to hotels, while others are accesible to the general public. In addition to the sea, there are two freshwater lakes in Fiesa and the bathing site in Strunjan is also popular.

Fishing

Slovenia has an abundance of pure springs, lakes and rivers that are teeming with life, a paradise for anglers. The clear waters are home to several species of freshwater fish. Sport fisherman will be most interested in the marble trout, river trout, Danube salmon and carp. If you add to this relaxing by the rapids, deep pools, wild gorges and landscapes that surround the rivers and lakes, then you know you are in fishing heaven. The main rivers for fishing are the Soča, the Krka, the Kolpa, the Sava Bohinjka near Bohinj and the Unica in Notranjska. Locals will advise you about the best places to fish, but fishing is not cheap in Slovenia, a permit at the more popular rivers can be expensive, catch and release permits are cheaper. Short-term fishing permits can be purchased at local tourist information offices.

Guide Book

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