5 Reasons to Visit Slovenia

This captivating yet unfamiliar country in the east of Europe is a hub of culture and nature—harboring mountains, lakes and castles.

Bled Lake, Slovenia. Mirci. CC by 2.0

Although a lesser-known European country, Slovenia possesses many natural landscapes and beautiful scenery. Originally, the nation’s current shape was established in 1945 as part of Yugoslavia, but Slovenia won its independence in 1991. It is bordered by four countries—Austria to the north, Italy to the west, Hungary to the northeast and Croatia to the south. Slovenia also shares a coastline with the Adriatic Sea, along with mountain ranges like the Julian Alps and the Karavanke Alps. This variety of landscape is a traveler’s dream, because of the different environments one can experience. The most notable of Slovenia’s must-do adventures include cave exploring, mountain hiking, castle tours and lake excursions.

1. Postojna's Extensive Cave System

Postojna Cave. Shadowgate. CC by 2.0.

Postojna’s Cave System, located in the south of Slovenia and near its capital Ljubljana, is a subterranean wonder that enraptures its visitors with its otherworldly beauty. Being one of the most extensive cave systems in the world, it is a 15 mile cave system easily accessed by both Croatia and Italy, featuring passages, cavernous chambers, stone sculptures and interesting rock formations. Postojna’s cave system tends to be the most popular and friendly, particularly because of the alluring activities that it offers. Visitors can explore underground via a train that travels all the way throughout the entire system and gives views of breathtaking stalactites and other geological configurations. The natural attraction has received major attention ever since it opened in 1819, since reaching a total of 34 million visitors.

2. Predjama Castle Tours

Predjama Castle in Winter. Shadowgate. CC by 2.0.

Predjama Castle, perched dramatically on a cliff in the picturesque Slovenian countryside, is a medieval marvel that combines architectural ingenuity with a captivating history. Predjama Castle is actually buried into the side of the Postojna’s cave system, so both excursions combine very efficiently together in a day’s worth of experiences. The tours emphasize the medieval past of knightly honor and architectural accomplishment, even describing the enriching culture of daily life in the context of the castle’s history. Legends are also told regarding some of the castle’s inhabitants, such as the knight Erazem Lueger, prized for his exploits during the Habsburgs’ sieges of the castle. Cave tunnels used as a hiding place or secret transportation extend behind and below the castle into the cave system. A usual visit, with all of the tour time included, lasts around one to two hours.

3. Vintgar Gorge's Mountain Bridges

Walking in Vintgar Gorge. Wuestenigel. CC by 2.0.

The boardwalks of the Vintgar Gorge are a natural masterpiece with its pristine beauty and gorgeous sight of the Radovna River. Carved through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Borst hills, the gorge extends for 1 mile, offering a spectacular display of nature's forces. The highlight of the gorge is the breathtaking Sum Waterfall. The experience of walking along wooden walkways and bridges that traverse the gorge provides an intimate connection with the surrounding nature, revealing moss-covered cliffs, lush vegetation and the soothing sounds of rushing water. Because of these attributes, Vintgar Gorge has been ranked among the most important sights in Slovenia. It’s also extremely easy to get to, located three miles northwest of Lake Bled. However, this excursion can last up to two or three hours because of the length and complexity of the bridge paths, so the visitor should be committed to this beautiful yet time-consuming trek.

4. Triglav National Park's Hiking Trails

Triglav National Park, Slovenia. Boris Kuznetsov. CC by 2.0.

One of the most important activities a traveler could take part in is visiting Triglav National Park, located in the Julian Alps. Named after the country's highest peak, Mount Triglav, this national park spans over 522 square miles and includes a diverse range of landscapes, including rugged mountains, alpine meadows, crystal-clear lakes and dense forests. The park is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a network of well-maintained hiking trails of various difficulty levels that lead to glacial valleys and serene lakes such as Lake Bohinj. Triglav National Park also boasts a rich biodiversity for both flora and fauna, being home to approximately 7,000 species of animals and 1,600 species of plants. Lastly, for travelers that crave the most intense and challenging adventure, they can hike to the top of Mount Triglav itself. However, this comes with the added protection of climbing gear and a guide, so there are extra requirements.

5. Vogel Cable Cars at Lake Bohinj

Vogel Cable Car. Delaina Haslam. CC by 2.0.

If the Julian Alps are the central fixation of the trip, then the Vogel Cable Cars at Lake Bohinj are a recommended event. They offer a breathtaking and convenient ascent into the heart of the Julian Alps, providing visitors with panoramic views. These cars begin at the lower station of Lake Bohinj with stunning views of the lake itself, but more series of cable car lines also transport passengers from the valley floor to the summit of Mount Vogel, where a high elevation unveils a spectacular landscape. The Vogel Cable Cars also offer an immersive experience of traditional Slovenian food because of the several mountain chalets and restaurants available. A visit here can last up to three hours if all of the lines are explored, and as little as one hour if a person only desires lakeside views. Lake Bohinj itself boasts a scenic and peaceful experience with activities like paddleboarding, swimming and hiking. During the winter months, the Julian Alps are a popular destination for world-class skiing and snowboarding, and the cable cars have access to the Vogel Ski Resort.

Riley Baker

Riley is a first-year student at James Madison University majoring in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication.  She enjoys elements of storytelling and creative writing and likes listening to music. In addition, she is interested in journalistic-style writing and editing, and intends to focus on writing articles about lesser known travel locations and impactful world topics.

Ljubljana: The Green City of Slovenia

The city has enacted sustainability initiatives that consistently earn recognition for eco-friendly daily living.

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is known for being ‘green’ due to its lush landscape and eco-friendly living. The small city, surrounded by the Alps and the Adriatic, has a population of roughly 290,000 residents. The city was awarded the European Green Capital award in 2016 for its commitment and vision for an eco-friendly city. Locals are dedicated to creating a sustainable city and take the green initiatives seriously. In 2008, the city center was deemed a zone free of motor vehicles. As a result, many people use bicycles to get around the city, and Ljubljana has become very bike-friendly to accommodate the influx of cyclists. The city has a free bike sharing network that allows residents and visitors to easily commute throughout the city. The city also has an eclectic vehicle service that can be hailed on the street as another form of public transportation in the city center.

Ljubljana is not only dedicated to sustainable transportation. Beekeeping is at the heart of Slovenian culture and thrives in Ljubljana. While the rest of Europe is experiencing a concerning decline in their bee population, Slovenia’s bee’s are thriving. Bees are essential to the environment and ecological systems, and Slovenia’s dedication to beekeeping is an essential part of what makes them an eco-friendly destination. Ljubljana has established urban beekeeping, with over 4,500 hives in the city. Beekeeping in Ljubljana can be traced back to the Bronze Age and remains an integral part of the city’s culture. To keep beekeeping thriving today, the city of Ljubljana started The Bee Path, a group of people who promote activities related to urban beekeeping and encourage co-existance with bees in an urban setting. Created in 2015, the path takes visitors throughout the city to learn about the importance and history of beekeeping in Ljubljana.

Ljubljana is known for its natural beauty and, prior to winning the Green Capital award in 2016, the city planted thousands of trees to add to the existing greenery. There are currently ​​65,000 registered trees in the cityMany of these trees are located along the city’s Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, which follows the location of barbed wire placed in the city during the World War II occupation. Today, the path is surrounded by trees and is used as a trail for joggers and bikers.

The city has a noticeably large amount of per capita green space, at 542 square meters. The city is also the first capital in the European Union to announce a zero waste initiative.The eco-friendly commitment is not just limited to Ljubljana; Slovenia itself was declared the first green destination in the world in 2017, meeting 96 of the 100 environmental initiatives. Ljubljana’s eco-friendly character is the result of the local community and government passionately making sustainable changes. 

Dana Flynn

Dana is a recent graduate from Tufts University with a degree in English. While at Tufts she enjoyed working on a campus literary magazine and reading as much as possible. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she loves to explore and learn new things.