Slovenia / Republika Slovenija – Let’s explore here
Ah Slovenia, land of the grass cutters! There are not many places as immaculate as Slovenia – it seems that grass trimming sales people made a fortune here! 😉
Slovenia is an absolutely beautiful mediterranean country set in the stunning Balkans, dominated by incredible mountains and forests. Not quite as well developed as some of its neighbours, it nevertheless offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the region, including the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park, as well as some of the best accessible caves in Europe. The highest point is Mount Triglav, in the north west of the country, at 9,395 ft (2,864m) above sea level.
It’s about the same size as Wales, UK and its population is just over two million people (2023). It shares land borders with Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy.
Current travels
We’ve created a blog for our visit to Slovenia. You may find it helpful, and you may pick up some tips, or more likely mistakes not to make that we’ve made 😉
On our current road trip we travelled from Pula in Croatia around the coast to Portorož and Piran before heading over to Postojna and the National Park of Caves. We then moved North to Kranj, the beautiful Lake Bled, and the mountains and valleys of Zgornje Jezersko, and the lake Planšarsko jezero. We then journeyed through the Triglav National Park and Vršic Pass over the mountains to Italy (to save on the massive costs of staying in the park itself, which was also fully booked), before returning to the capital, Ljubljana.
This is a map of the first route that we took travelling from Croatia through Slovenia before moving on to Italy.
Piran – Kotsina – Veliki Otok – Postojna cave – Lake Bled – Zgornje Jezersko – Planšarsko jezero – Logarska Dolina – Triglav National Park – Vršic Pass – Most na Soči – Ljubljana
This is a map of the route that we took travelling through Slovenia on the return route from Austria to Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Šentilj v Slovenskih Goricah – Ptuj – Zgornje Gruškovje
This is a map of the third route that we took through Slovenia, travelling from Croatia before moving on to Italy.
Obrežje – Ig – Staje – Vrtojba
We’ve been to several of the countries in the Balkans, and we know Italy very well. However we didn’t know Slovenia well at all before this trip. It’s a really interesting place that surprised us quite a lot, particularly in how well developed it is, how well so many people spoke English and just how incredibly beautiful (and manicured) it is. It reminded us a lot of Austria, with which it shares a border, Switzerland and Slovakia.
Also the people were, as most seem to be on this mammoth tour, incredibly friendly and generally seemed happy with their lot. Slovenia is definitely a place that most people would be delighted to visit.
Our best Slovenian places
Zgornje Jezersko and Planšarsko jezero
Zgornje Jezersko is a beautiful hamlet in Carinthia, on the border with Austria. It comprises a stunning valley looking on to the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, and in particular Mount Grintovec. There are numerous mountains walks in the area, as well as natural spas, and a beautiful lake Planšarsko jezero. It’s one of the most relaxing places we’ve ever stayed and is highly recommended.
Triglav National Park and Vršic Pass
The National park is very busy for quite obvious reasons. That said, it’s not so busy that you can’t find your own piece of outstanding beauty all for yourself. There are many mountain treks to be walked, many mountain roads to be driven, and many, many outrageous views to be seen.
In the first picture below you can just make out a hole in the mountain near the top to the right. The second picture is a close up of the hole – the Prisank window. It is around 80m high and around 40m wide, giving you an idea of the size of some of these mountains in the Julian Alps.
Postojna cave
Postojna cave is by far the biggest cave that we’ve ever been to. Once you’re through the entrance gate, you board a train to take you to the main viewing areas – and it’s not a short journey. The cave is 24,340m long and hundreds of feet high! There are literally millions of stalagmites and stalactites, many of which are massive and almost a million years old. The whole cave system formed due to a collapse of rocks underground and the river above slowly seeping through into the cave over the million years.
There are proteus salamanders that live in the cave which are totally blind and can live without food for ten years apparently – although how they found that out goodness only knows!
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is a small capital city, but really vibrant in the centre. It’s well set up for tourism and has loads of restaurants and cafés catering for every taste. there’s loads to do and see, and we found it a really relaxing place to be, especially for those wanted to simply watch the world go by! Outside of the centre it’s very quiet and easy to navigate your way around safely.
Lake Bled
Bled is an extremely pretty little town sited on the stunning Lake Bled. Parking is not easy and is not cheap – though similar to prices in Leeds. Queues to enter the town are quite lengthy, but once you’re in, it’s lovely. There is a tiny beach area and many restaurants, bars and hotel surround the lake.
What’s it like to drive in Slovenia?
When we entered Slovenia it was quite a shock as we’d just come from peaceful Croatia, with its lengthy stunning coast. Slovenia only has a tiny coast – it’s only 29 miles long – and as such it’s super maxed out busy! Like beyond what most would expect to be reasonable! We were in a queue of traffic from the border, all the way through Portorož to Piran, before finding out that the car parks were full and really we ought to be spending our valuable time elsewhere!
Elsewhere in Slovenia, life is MUCH more relaxed than at the riviera! To such an extent that – like several of the countries we’ve been through that have small populations – you’re often wondering where everyone is! Even the capital, Ljubljana, with its population of less than 300,000 people is mostly empty it seems! We drove in and out barely realising that it was a city! The centre is of course much more vibrant than the outskirts.
In the mountains and valleys to the North the populations and traffic is sparse. In the West, the Triglav National Park brings in hoards of tourists and traffic jams are common. Similarly treks up mountains passes can be slow, especially if you’re following drivers unused to driving in the mountains. Traffic in and around Jesenice for instance can be very busy.
We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂
What currency do they use in Slovenia?
In Slovenia they use the Euro. The use of credit / debit cards is now widespread. Traveller’s cheques are accepted. There are lots of ATMs.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in Slovenia?
They speak Slovenian in Slovenia, although Italian and Hungarian are also widely spoken. Many of the younger generations also Croatian and English, and along the border with Italy, they also speak Italian and German.
What time zone is Slovenia in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit Slovenia?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
Is wild camping legal in Slovenia?
No, wild camping is illegal in Slovenia, although it is widely tolerated.
Is it safe to drink water in Slovenia?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in Slovenia. Bottled water is also readily available across the country.
If you’ve got some awesome pictures, or some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!