A hidden gem for nature enthusiasts with lakes, caves, national parks dominating the landscape of the country. I visited Slovenia with minimal expectations, more as a country to cover while travelling to Croatia and Hungary, but was pleasantly surprised!
Overall once you get used to the western Europe template of a city including a cathedral, river, train station, museum, it starts becoming repetitive. Eastern Europe was quite different. Yes, you will still find cathedral, river, train station, museums, but there is much more beyond them outside main cities
Best time to visit
Spring and Autumn between Mar- May, Sep- Nov are best months to visit. The temperature will be pleasant with minimal rains and snow. The beaches are the best in summer, but hot and humid at the same time
Visa
Schengen visa is valid here
Getting In and around
Ljubljana is the capital and hub for all flights and trains
If you are staying for more than a week in Eurozone and not opting for car rentals, Eurail pass can be worth the cost. It comes in variants as low as 4 days to 3 months, offering unlimited train travel among participating countries. Only long-distance trains are covered, the local trams or metros are not covered
You can explore all options here
Currency- Euro
Cards are accepted at most places
Places to visit
We visited Ljubljana and Bled. The caves at Skocjan and Postonja are spectacular with caves and stalactite formations. Škocjan Caves Regional Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site with its 10+ caves spanning 5+ km, a gorge, waterfalls. Postonja caves have a train within them to take you around!
Ljubljana
The old town with its market, triple bridge, dragon bridge and the slightly far away castle are all within walking distance
The markets of Ljubljana was the first place where I had seen Romanesco broccoli. The spirals on each head form a Fibonacci number! The markets are vibrant with colorful flower, fruits and locals purchasing daily supplies
We were also surprised to find began options here. There are plenty of outlets that offer wraps, lentil soup and many more vegan options
Lake Bled
A serene lake with a castle in the middle, about an hour away from the capital Ljubljana. The castle is reachable only by boat. It is close to Triglav National Park. You can do rock climbing at the nearby Iglica waterfall as the castle itself can be covered in half a day. Vintgar gorge is another natural attraction about 5 km away, with a river flowing between rock mountains. The wooden bridge on emerald waters make it a picturisque destination. It was closed during our visit though, due to heavy rains and some maintenance activity
How much does it cost
- Flights: $700-800 Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa/Swiss Air, Middle East carriers like Emirates, Etihad are typically the cheapest with best connections
- Accommodation: Hostels cost $10-20 per night and mid-range can be around $50
- Travelling around: Budget $10-20 per day for public transport
- Food: $10-15 for simple takeaways