Cities, mountains, alpine valleys, gorges, caves and the many wonders of the land. Slovenia, one of the “greenest,” Earth-friendly countries on the planet, has it all. This two-part blog post honors our favorite vacation destination – one we have visited many times and plan to return to again and again. Its beauty is captivating and feels other-worldly…kind of like our home state of Maine on steroids! This post focuses on all the ways you can enjoy the land in this northern Balkan country. It was preceded by a post dedicated to the water (here). This has been a two year work in progress, and it will continue to be updated as we “check off” our bucket list items. There is so much to love about Slovenia – with endless opportunities for nature lovers, culture seekers, and adventurers! Behold, sLOVEnia.

**All photos are by the author unless otherwise noted. Please note cite if taking photos for personal use.**

The Cities

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a terrific city – a must-visit. It has a lively atmosphere and rich culture evident in the many shops, food, music, architecture and artwork on display throughout the city. As you walk through the streets of the old down, you’ll cross one of several bridges crossing the river Lubljanica and spot any number of statues depicting animals like goats or dragons. Walking along the river is rewarding, but meandering through the market is also a treat, with all the fresh and handmade goodies of Slovenia at the fingertips. My favorites are all things honey, lavender, meats and cheeses! In the photos below, a large market building flanks the river – a fun place to peruse. Don’t miss Dragon Bridge or Ljubljana Castle on the hill; and if you’re into history and culture, there are plenty of museums to browse in this college town. I would have loved to spend more time in Slovenia’s capital city, but I saw enough to recommend it highly!

Check out El Patron for some terrific, authentic tacos, and Le Petit Cafe for the cutest place to get eggs Benedict with the ambiance of a sidewalk cafe in France! You really can’t go wrong with any of the eateries along the river or in the downtown area.

Celje/Laško

We stayed in Laško on the tail end of a Slovenia road trip and boy, are we glad we did! It lies just a few minutes south of Celje (the 3rd largest city in Slovenia behind Maribor and Ljubljana) and straddles the river Savinja. Laško is a quaint little village in the hills of east-central Slovenia, and is the home of Slovenia’s Laško beer brewery. Along the river walk there are eateries, parks, playgrounds, and perhaps most notable, a massive Thermal Waterpark we spent the day at called Thermana Park Laško. It rivals what we have here in Hungary for sure! We stayed at a boutique hotel, but if we had to do it again, we would probably just stay at the Thermal Hotel. The kids loved it there, and it would probably be a more convenient home base.

Just up the road is Celje, a larger regional city that has a proper city center and a crowning castle – Stari Grad Celje – overlooking the city. On a clear day you can see far into the mountains. The castle is known as the seat of the Counts of Celje; there is quite the history and many dramatic stories of these counts! The basement of the main tower houses an impressive exhibit of medieval torture devices – the girls were fascinated by it and also grossed out! This is a terrific stopping point on the way back to Hungary. Even if you don’t have time to stay overnight, definitely stop at Star Grad Castle in Celje!

RADOVLJICA

Radovljica is a little village outside of Lake Bled that is overshadowed by its famous neighbor but deserves attention all its own. A city built on a hillside, Radovljica has terrific views of the surrounding mountains and Sava River Valley. When visiting the Bled region, we recommend staying at Apartments Jansa, as this family-run Air BnB is spacious, the hosts are friendly, and the price is right. This apartment is only a 5 minute drive to Lake Bled. From here you also have a good excuse to walk the historic streets of Radovljica, visit the sweet little Bee Museum (Cerkev sv. Petra) there, and maybe stop at one of the shops or restaurants with a view. If you plan it right, you could catch the Radovljica Music Festival in August! If you want to taste test all the different types of honey before you buy, go to nearby Lesce where a little bee shop (ČRICG) has plenty of varieties to try, and the upstairs bar has beehives in the back to visit! Restaurants in Radovljica are pricey but have small, quality menus. The best meal with a view is at Gostilna Avguštin, but Kunstelj 1873, Gostilna in prenočišča is also nice!

Maribor

Although we have only passed through this lovely little city, Maribor has a great reputation. As the country’s 2nd largest metropolitan area, it is a bustling college town in northeastern Slovenia. There are plenty of museums and galleries, wine cellars, eateries and things to do like the theater, enjoying a little bee tourism, and exploring nearby hiking trails. Maribor is nice, but it doesn’t quite compare to Ljubljana. If time is limited, Maribor can take a pass.

But definitely don’t skip Lake Bled! For more info on the water-city destinations of Bled and Piran, see Bucketlist Slovenia: The Water.

The Mountains

Hiking is one of the best ways to absorb what beauty Slovenia has to offer. The Mountains, Lakes, Gorges and Valleys sections of this blog all include hiking destinations and info. There are many other hikes in Slovenia for serious climbers, including hut-to-hut trails throughout the Julian Alps, Seven Lakes Valley, Bovec region, Soča Valley to Krn Mountain, and the great Triglav Mountain itself. Below are short, easy, accessible routes with beautiful views for families and just about anyone who wants to appreciate the majestic beauty Slovenia has to offer. As usual, we recommend arriving early (before 9:00 is best) to avoid crowds.

JULIAN ALPS

Vogar

This is one of our go-to hikes in Triglav National Park. Located near Lake Bohinj, the Vogar trails are some of the easiest, most rewarding hikes we have found. We love how the trail takes hikers past mountain huts and how manageable they are even in wet weather. The westward facing lookout is also a notable location for paraglide launches!

Travel to the car park in Stara Fužina here. It is possible to park there and hike up to Vogar (add an extra 45-60 minutes) or, what we recommend is to continue to drive through the pay-gate up the narrow but paved, winding road, about 20 minutes. There is a big sign indicating the start of the hiking trail (here), and an opening in the road where it’s ok for cars to park. From there, follow the trail about 12-15 minutes to Kosijev dom na Vogarju, a large hut, restaurant and even a place to stay for serious hikers. At the hut you can continue straight on the trail towards the paragliding lookout (about 10-15 minutes, approx location here), or you can cross in front of the hut to a very short trail through the woods that leads to the south-facing heart-bench lookout point (5-10 minutes, location here). If for some reason you get lost, just ask a local – Slovenians are so happy to help! AllTrails also has details about this hike from the parking lot. Here is a map of the locations:

If you have made it this far, definitely go to both lookout points! On the way to the heart-bench viewpoint, you have to pass directly by a little hut that is inhabited by the sweetest little old man and his wife. He was a former railroad conductor who now makes his own spirits (he insisted we try them once, and they were pretty good) and hands candies to the kids, and his wife is a beautiful artist. Keep an eye out for her artwork on display! On a clear day, there is a good chance to watch the paragliders launch from the other viewpoint – and if you book a paraglide, this is the best spot to inquire about! At Vogar, you get two bangs for your buck, which ends up being around €10 to pass through the gate.

Vogel

For an easier – but pricier – way to the top of the mountains, check out Vogel. On the opposite side of Lake Bohinj lies the Vogel gondola/cable car (20€/adults, 10€/child). At nearly 2,000 meters in elevation, this is a perfect vantage point to overlook the lake and surrounding Julian Alps. As the car ascends the cables, it often passes right through the clouds. The weather over Lake Bohinj changes rapidly thanks to the mountain peaks, but on a clear day it is possible to see for many miles! You don’t have to hike at all to enjoy the views north – or you can venture along the trails looking south and expand your horizons!

Once at the top, depending on the season, you can hike or ski, sled or just perch yourself in a chair on the deck taking in the scenery. There is also a fairly new panoramic restaurant to grab a drink or a bite in at the top. In the summer, hiking atop Vogel is marvelous! Here is the best site I found for more info on the topic.

Vršič Pass (pit stop at kranjska gora and Lake Jezero)

This area of Slovenia was recommended to us by our gracious hosts at Jansa Apartments in Radovljica. It is truly one of the most impressive (and white knuckle!) drives in Slovenia, with gorgeous, varying views of the jagged Triglav peaks along the entire route. If you’re already in the Soča Valley, head north on Rte 206 from Bovec, stop at Vršič Pass, and end at Kranjska Gora’s Lake Jezero. This is probably the more scenic direction to drive, as the mountains will mostly be visible ahead instead of in your rearview. However, if you can’t make the one-hour one-way trip all the way along the pass, just driving from Kranjska Gora to Vršič Pass and back is fantastic! Extend the trip with a hike around the halfway point, or linger at Lake Jezero (I don’t recommend swimming there) or walk around the river beds. The parking lot at Lake Jezero is free, and there are facilities nearby. On the route there is only one little refreshment and souvenir hut – and I believe restrooms as well – at the highest point, halfway along the route. If you don’t have time to drive the Vršič Pass, it is still worth stopping at Lake Jezero…the green water with towering mountains in the background are ultra impressive!

See if you can spot the hole in the mountain (below, left) not far from the Russian Chapel on the north side of the route. Also, don’t miss the sea of stacked stones – and leave a pile of your own – at the switchbacks on the north side of the route! There are plenty of places to pull over and take in the views. This route takes scenic drive to a whole new level! The route is closed in the winter as it is simply too treacherous. But skiing is pretty good in Kranjska Gora, and snow usually arrives early in the season; lodging and lift tickets are reasonable, too. This is a great place to add to the itinerary year-round!

Kamnik-Savinja Alps

KAMNIK SADDLE FROM SLAP RINKA

Further west, about 90 minutes from Ljubljana, lies the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and they boast some incredible hiking trails. Many of them are more strenuous and require entire days to conquer, but we managed this particular hike in just a few hours, and it was rewarding at every turn. It started with a waterfall, followed with well-maintained and varying trails and terrain, and ended at a little alpine valley where a makeshift hut served coffee, Coke, or ice cream bars to wobbly-legged hikers.

Just getting to this hiking route is stunning. Enter the Logar Valley (pay a small fee per vehicle) and go all the way to the end, following signs for Slap Rinka (waterfall). Parking is ample here, and there are facilities too, including food options and souvenirs. If all you want to do is see the waterfall, it is still well worth the trip! A quick 10 minute, gradual hike brought us to the towering waterfall, where you can climb the steps up to the lookout cabin and enjoy the views (below) of the mountains. If you’re ready for an adventure, cross the river at the bottom of the falls, and follow the trails that take you up into the mountains. We had an idea we wanted to reach Kamnik Saddle Lodge, but we weren’t sure if our legs could handle an all day hike, so we just started out and decided to stop when we were tired.

When we hiked it was a hot day, so it was a good thing we packed plenty of water. But even if you run out, there are plenty of places to fill up along the way. The water is freezing cold and the trail followed the babbling, cascading river almost all the way up the side of the mountain. The hiking was legit – but if you have active, adventurous kids, it is manageable. Some parts of the trail had wire to hold onto, steep steps built into the rocks, or hand over hand rocks to scramble up. We gained a lot of elevation quickly, so we took frequent breaks to sit and enjoy the views. Our children are 10, 8, and 5, and they did great…just gauge the abilities of your own family when planning hikes.

We reached an obvious stopping point after just over an hour of hiking. Here the trail opened up into a big alpine valley with wildflowers, and the jagged peaks surrounded us on all sides. There are two areas to sit and relax, and it is here where you can buy frozen treats, beer or coffee! It also looks like they are building some sort of cabin up there, perhaps for lodging. It is a magnificent spot, so we stopped and took stock of where we were on the trails. Serious hikers can continue on another 1-2 hours all the way to Kamnik Saddle Lodge, but we were not ready to commit to that plus the time to descend, so we rested our wobbly legs and called it quits. For more information on the full trail to the top, check out this blog.

I’m not positive, but I think the point we decided to stop was this valley here. Maybe when the kids are older we’ll make the all-day trek to the top. Regardless, this was a really fun and positively gorgeous hike that we highly recommend! It took us almost 2 hours to get to the valley from the parking lot, but that includes time to stop at the waterfall and plenty of breaks as we climbed up the mountain to the valley rest stop.

On the way down we dipped our Keen-clad feet into the ice cold waters near the trail and it felt soooo good to cool off. It took a lot less time to get down to the waterfall – maybe about 45 minutes. We were surprised to see so many people starting to ascend mid-day, including a group of school children who were venturing up together with their teachers. We love a hike with so much variation – it keeps things interesting! The trails are fairly well marked, but it does help to check your point on google maps from time to time.

The Caves

Postojna & PREDJAMA

Postojna is one of the coolest cave systems I have ever visited – and we have seen quite a few! The caves are 377 feet deep and almost 80,000 feet long – the largest system in Slovenia. About 3.5 miles of the caves are open for tourism – impressive! They were discovered in the 17th century and opened in the early 1800’s for visitors, although graffiti in the cave suggests it had been found as early as the 1200’s.

The cave tickets are organized by entrance time, so pay attention to that. It was great to have the audio guide too, as it helped keep the kids entertained and we learned tons of great info along the way. After entering the cave, visitors are guided to the railway cars that bring each tour group deep into the caves. Watch your head – some areas are low-hanging and the train car zooms right along! The train dropped us off at the start of a series of trails as we were ushered along by the audio guide. Important note: the caves are very cold and also quite damp – expect to be dripped on! Dress appropriately (we were glad to have warm rain coats but the kids wished they wore pants!) and have comfortable walking shoes. It takes between 1-2 hours to make your way through the caves, depending on how long you linger. Since we visited during the pandemic, we were expected to wear masks for the duration of the tour.

The highlight for the kids was seeing the olm, or proteus – a tiny salamander-like animal that exists only in these caves. It was fascinating to see it close-up and learn about how an animal like this has evolved to survive inside a cave; it can go years without eating! Incredible! There are all sorts of shops and places to pick up food and souvenirs, and lots of facilities. The Postojna area is a well built-up with a giant hotel, restaurants, and a museum aside from the huge cave system. We checked out the museum before our cave tour, which was really interesting. We learned a lot about the caves and even saw a few prehistoric animals including a wooly rhino. The girls especially loved the big hall filled with a bug collection – the butterflies were a big hit!

This area is quite touristy, so we recommend avoiding all the “add-ons” to your ticket and stick to the basics of the cave tour and museum. Nearby, the Predjama Cave Castle is fun to visit, too. It is possible to add this to the ticket package right at Postojna, but it is a 15 minute drive from the caves to get there. Predjama castle is an impressive 13th century work of art and architecture nestled right into the side of a cliff and basically inside of cave! It is definitely worth the visit.

škocjan

We weren’t able to explore Škocjan caves because at the time, the minimum age for entry was 15 years old. But Škocjan, similar to Postojna, is a well-maintained cave system and is very popular for its unique paths along the cave entrance as well as the impressive variety of formations inside the cave. Due to its unique and exceptional contents, Škocjan caves have been entered as a UNESCO world heritage site. My understanding is that this is a less touristy area as well, so for many this may be the preferred cave system. Now they allow children, but the more extensive walk through the system might be too long for small kids. We really loved our time in Postojna because of our kids’ ages at the time, but would love to return to Škocjan next time to see the deepest underwater canyon and Reka river running through it!

The Gorges

Vintgar GORGE & RETURN HIKE (From Bled)

If you’re already at Lake Bled and are interested in a nice morning or afternoon hike, head north about 12 minutes to the Vintgar Gorge. As usual, we recommend you arrive early. The parking area can fill up very quickly, but it is ample, so an early arrival time ensures you will have more space on the elevated trails to yourself and avoid the typical crowding along the paths. Parking is free, but there is a fee to pay at the entrance, where there are also facilities at the trailhead. Near the parking area there are also restaurants and facilities. There are no other restrooms until the end of the trail, so plan accordingly. The suspended, wooden trails are often damp as they duck and weave, following the river through the gorge.

There are many beautiful spots for photo ops, but the real enjoyment is feeling like you’re at one with the river. It is a rush to watch the green waters ripple through the canyon. It only takes about 30 minutes to walk from one end of the gorge to the other when there are no crowds. The end of the hike is marked by a waterfall crowned with a big arching bridge. From there it is possible to take different trails back towards the parking lot, so we chose the “scenic route.” It is longer, but far more beautiful, with very rewarding with views!

The hiking trail after the waterfall led us through the forest, promising to spit us out by St. Katherine Church. It wound through awesome trees that reached up to sky but were skinny like toothpicks! After about 30 minutes of hiking through the forest, we emerged by a little cafe and playground at the top of the hill near St. Katherine Church. We rested for a bit while the children played, and then continued on the narrow trail that cut along the hillside of a grassy alpine valley. What marvelous vistas overlooking Lake Bled and the surrounding mountains in all directions! Another 30 minutes of hiking brings you full circle, right back to the parking area. It is only about a 6km hike total, with lots of interesting terrain. We highly recommend it!

Mostnica GORGE (from bohinj)

The Mostnica Gorge is a lovely hike along the Mostnica River with routes of different distances depending on how much time you have. Park at the same lot in Stara Fužina as you would to head up to the Vogar trails, and follow the trail head as it parallels the nearby pasture fence.

It is possible to walk part of the way, about 10 minutes up the gorge without paying, but for only around $3/person, it is well worth going a bit further. The most rewarding part of the hike is from the little payment hut, walking up the right side of the gorge to the bridge where it is possible to cross the river and hike back on the other side. This takes around an hour or two depending on your speed and how many stops you make to climb around the rocks along the water’s edge. From what we read, it isn’t worth continuing on the trail another hour, one way, to see the waterfall. The most beautiful section of the trails is this middle section and in our opinion, it is well worth it! The trail is easy for everyone, and the varying terrain and views made it especially fun for the kids. You can complete the loop in 60-90 minutes depending on how leisurely you hike. Wear sturdy shoes – amphibious if possible! Considering we wanted to get down to Lake Bohinj to spend the afternoon swimming, we didn’t want to waste extra hours on an extended hike that everyone on google said wasn’t worth it.

There were many places to stop and peer deep into the gorges as the water rushed by. It reminded us of parts of the Soča Valley. The most famous attraction in the gorge is the Elephant Rock (seen below) that forms a beautiful archway in the cold, green water. It would be really fun to swim through! But I don’t believe it’s allowed…

Tolmin GORGE (from SOČA VALLEY)

A fun excursion in the Tolmin area is hiking the Tolmin Gorge. This is similar to the other gorge hikes except it boasts a high up suspension bridge at the pinnacle of the hike. As we didn’t do this particular hike, check out Earth Trekkers’ blog here for more information.

The Valleys

JULIAN ALPS

SOČA VALLEY

Everyone boasts about the Soča Valley and it is clear to see why. It has everything – the most beautiful mountains, rivers, waterfalls, quaint towns, valleys and alpine valleys, all in pristine, well preserved nature. It is picturesque in every way. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy it…

Kobarid

Kobarid is a must-see town and area in the Soča Valley. It has great places to stay, eat and play, and is a hub for many of outdoor adventure sports (see below). Around Kobarid there are other fun things to do, including take in the views as you cross the infamous Napoleon’s Bridge (pictured left). Crossing the bridge will lead you to Drezniča, a beautiful alpine valley (more info further down on the blog), and a wonderful hike to Slap Kozjak (see Bucketlist Slovenia: The Water, Part I of this blog, here). But Kobarid is a gem all its own, boasting incredible views of the Julian alps on either side of the valley, the emerald green Soča River, and one of the best restaurants in Europe, Hiša Franko with world-renowned chef Ana Roš! One spot that is not to be missed is the Kostnica s Cerkvijo Sv. Antona, an Italian military church memorial overlooking the town.

Tolmin

Another wonderful place to visit in the Soča Valley is Tolmin. On one of our trips we stayed at this terrific spot (pictured below) and highly recommend it. Ask Gregor, the host, to show you his goats! Nature View House is a perfect home base for all of your Soča Valley adventures!

Tolmin has a number of lovely areas to explore, including taking in the views from atop Tolmin castle hill, wandering around the beach park at Sotočje Tolminke in Soče, and of course, hiking the Tolmin Gorge (see above). Of course anywhere in the Soča Valley is great for booking a fishing trip or other nature excursion, too.

Srpenica

Looking for a place to stay in Soča Valley that is off the beaten path and nestled in amongst the locals? Look no further than the centrally-located Srpenica! The Polovnik House is a comfortable little home away from home for family on the go.

This tiny little village in the middle of the Soča Valley is a very sweet spot to rent an apartment and explore the entire region. Nearby, rafters “put in” for Soča River rafting adventures, and it is fun to walk down to the water’s edge and watch them float by. Below are photos from the Soča Riverside here that is never busy. The water is super cold but refreshing in the summer months. Just remember bug spray! The closest thing to see from Srpenica are Slaps Boca and Virje (see Bucketlist Slovenia: The Water for more info).

Bovec

For us, Bovec was more of a drive-through or stop-and-grab destination, as we picked up a few bakery, grocery, and market items (as well as pay a speeding ticket) in town. It is tough to do the place justice in photos, but the feeling of this quaint, newly renovated town nestled in the mountains is unmistakable. We didn’t get to go up the cable car nearby, but it looked fantastic.

One of the most iconic locations to visit in the Soča Valley is accessed from Bovec. The “Grand Canyon of Soca” is a spot used for filming advertisements and is adjacent to Kamp Soča Boštjan. This exact spot is perfect for climbing around on the rocks and getting stunning photos, or relaxing for a picnic lunch. It can get crowded in the summer time, but like always, head there early and you’ll have a little slice of paradise all to yourself!

If it is too busy there, you can park along the road between Bovec and Kamp Soča and hike down the many little trails to the river’s edge to chill for the day. There are tons of rocks to clamber around on, but remember the water is frigid year-round!

Drezniča, mt krn

One of the most beautiful alpine valleys to either stay in or visit is Drezniča. It feels like something from a fairy tale! To get here you have to cross the Napoleon Bridge in Kobarid and follow the winding road up, up, and up the mountain about 10 minutes. At the top, the entire valley unfolds in front of your eyes and can take your breath away! There are lots of hiking trails that lead up and around Mt. Krn, some more rigorous than others. This one is especially grueling but rewarding. Really, this is just one of those spots to come and breathe in, even if only for a moment. It’s that majestic!

KAMNIK-SAVINJA ALPS

Logar Valley (Logarska Dolina)

Logarska Dolina is one impressive place. It is a protected area, so you have to pay an entrance fee as you enter the park. There are places to stay inside the gates as well as in the little villages outside the gates. The Logar Valley is known for farm stays, where local farmers have opened up their land for hikes and homes for visitors to experience real Slovenian mountain valley life. It is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life (or a pandemic).

As you enter the valley, gorgeous green pastures are surrounded by craggy peaks and beautiful rocky mountains all around. It is a peaceful sight indeed! One road cuts through the valley all the way to the end, leading to Rinka Waterfall. There is only one way in and one way out. Trails are everywhere to hike all around the valley, but Slap Rinka hike is a must!

Robanov Kot

Robanov Kot is the neighboring valley to Logar Valley, and it is great for a peaceful hike. There are a couple of farms here, and they have generously allowed visitors to hike around their land to appreciate the valley. This is a quiet area – very little traffic and only one way in and out. Perhaps the most picturesque section was right next to where we parked, here. About 15 minutes up the trail is a huge dry river bed. We didn’t hike much further than that, but it seems the trails go on forever!

Adrenaline Seekers

Although Slovenia, an outdoor paradise, is a place you can hike, bike, ski, climb and experience just about any type of active holiday you can imagine, it is also known for more adventurous options for adrenaline seekers and risk takers, too! Expect to spend around $100 per person for these excursions. We did not get to do any of these things as the kids were too young. Someday, when he’s old enough, Beau insists on para gliding (we have seen them launch too many times to count) but Didi did get to go for a hot air balloon ride on her 7th birthday in Hungary!

Canyoning

Canyoning is a unique adventure that involves hiking, rappelling, and jumping through ravines and gorges as a group wearing helmets and a wet suit. It’s even possible to do it at night! There are several places to go canyoning in Slovenia, both in Tolmin, Kobarid, and Bovec in the Soča Valley region and Bohinj/Bled Region. Find what fits best for you here!

River Rafting/kayaking

River Rafting and Kayaking are best done in the Soča River Valley. You can book trips with large or small groups, or private tours, too. There are difficulty levels to accommodate everyone! See Think Slovenia for more info.

Para Gliding

Paragliding is very popular in Slovenia. You can find terrific spots to tandem jump all around the Triglav and Soča regions. As mentioned before, Vogar is a marvelous spot to choose, as well as over Lake Bled!

Additionally, there is a jump spot outside of Bled in Lesce, up the mountain to Sv. Peter nad Begunjami (below). This is also a great place for a quick, steep hike! For the hike, head up the hill to this parking area and trek the rest of the way up to the church, about 30 minutes. You will be rewarded at the top with gorgeous views overlooking the Radovljica and Lesce valley in one direction and the Julian Alps in the other. Just be sure to wear sturdy shoes and avoid this trail if it has been raining!

SKYDIVING

For the ultimate in adventure travel, book a skydive! Lake Bled is the most popular place to make that Slovenian skydive dream a reality, but Bovec is also a good option.

HOT AIR BALLOONING

Radovljica, Lake Bled and Maribor are three great places to book a beautiful hot air balloon ride. What better way to see the Julian Alps and soak in the scenery than from a quiet float above the Triglav region!

BONUS: A Best Kept Secret

In the tiny town of Šempas lies one of the most precious vineyards I have ever had the privilege of tasting wine from. Batič Winery of the Vipava region of Slovenia is a pure, biodynamic operation that produces exquisite organic wines. The vines have been farmed for over 500 years – an impressive feat! The family is warm, welcoming and friendly and the wine is to die for! If you visit the winery, it is basically just their home, and they will welcome you in for a tasting. This is by far the best way to stock up on my favorite wine at bulk prices, as it doesn’t come cheap if you’re ever lucky enough to spot it in a store. More often you may see it on the menu of a fancy restaurant. When you go, say hello to Miha, Mateja and the whole Batič family for me!

There simply is nothing else quite like Slovenia. As you can see, we have fallen in love with this little corner of the world and will forever feel like home whenever we return!

NOTE: I am committed to providing free, valuable travel info. If this add-free guide is helpful to you and you’d like to show your appreciation, buy me a coffee! Thank you!