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.

The Surprising Popularity of Rock Climbing in Slovenia

Slovenia, a Central European country, holds a lesser-known secret: its rock climbing. Not only does Slovenia have many beautiful natural climbing sites, but it also has world-renowned rock gyms and some of the most acclaimed rock climbers in the world. 

People climbing Mount Triglav in Slovenia. Derbeth. CC BY 2.0.

Formerly part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia can often be reduced down to its political turmoil. However, this Slavic country is incredibly mountainous and hilly, providing the perfect terrain for rock climbers of all skill levels. Slovenia has produced numerous renowned climbers and built a culture around the sport. 

The most well-known Slovenian rock climber would have to be Janja Garnbret, who became the first woman to win gold in sport climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—the first year that sport climbing was featured at the Olympic games at all. While many people may find rock climbing intriguing and even do it in their free time, it wasn’t well known as a competitive sport until it became an Olympic event. However, competitive rock climbing has a large community, and a major facet of that community is in Slovenia, Garnbret’s home country. For example, Garnbret also placed first in the International Federation of Sport Climbing World Cup in September of 2021, which happened to be hosted in Kranj, Slovenia.

Garnbret follows in the footsteps of years of successful Slovenian women climbers, such as Martina Cufar, who made it on the podium at sixteen different world cup events between 1997 and 2002. Slovenia’s climbing history—specifically when it comes to women—goes back to the early 20th century with Pavla Jesih and Dana Kuraltova, two Slovenian women who climbed the famous Mount Triglav in 1925. 

Slovenia’s rock climbing success isn’t by chance. An obvious source of the country’s enthusiasm for the sport is its spectacular mountains such as Mount Triglav. But the success of the Slovenian National Team today can also be attributed to how small the country is and thus how close knit the coaches and the team members are able to be. For example,  Slovenian National Team coach Luke Fonda owns Plus Climbing gym in Koper, Slovenia, a gym which the team often practices at. 

Climber in Koper, Slovenia. David Glanzer. CC BY 2.0.

In addition to Plus Climbing, rock gyms are plentiful in Slovenia, especially when compared to the country’s size. Some of the most famous gyms are First Ascent in Kranj and The Climbing Ranch in Vrbnje, which serious, competitive climbers from around the world strive to visit. In terms of Slovenia’s natural climbing sites, the country boasts stunning mountains such as Mount Triglav, Mount Viševnik and Mount Prisojnik. The mountains in Slovenia range from beginner to advanced level climbing, with Mount Triglav and Mount Viševnik being doable hikes for most travelers. Mount Prisojnik is known to have a range of trails and climbs—some good for beginners, and others that will be engaging for experienced climbers. Ultimately, Slovenia is a great option for an off-the-beaten-path visit in general, but is especially perfect for those interested in rock climbing, given its rich history and multitude of climbing sites.



Calliana Leff

Calliana is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is passionate about sustainability and traveling in an ethical and respectful way. She hopes to continue her writing career and see more of the world after she graduates.