Slovenia offers many sights and landmarks worth the visit. It is so beautiful, it’s hard to pick only 10 places to visit, however the most popular sights are truly amazing and they should be a priority while you are visiting this small European country.
Need a help? Check out 10 day itinerary around Slovenia to help you plan your vacation in Slovenia!
The 10 Best Places to Visit in Slovenia
On every step you can find many tourist attractions and natural sights and all are worth the visit. However, below is the list of the most popular attractions in Slovenia that are truly stunning.
1. The Capital Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital and the biggest city in Slovenia. It is an old city, with many extraordinary sites and monuments to visit. Ljubljanica river flows through the center of the city and paints a beautiful picture with cafes and restaurants on the riverbank. On the hill overlooking the city there is Ljubljana castle which offers beautiful views of the capital. On the other side, there is park Tivoli, that offers relaxation in the nature while still being in the center of Ljubljana.
2. Bled Lake
Bled Lake is definitely one of the most visited tourist sites in Slovenia. Visitors love walking on the paths along the lake or take a boat to the island and see the island church. Bled is very picturesque, with the castle on the hill and the views of clear water underneath. While visiting Bled you have to try kremšnita, which is a famous cream cake that comes from around Lake Bled. From Ljubljana it takes 1 hour to get to lake Bled by car.
3. Bohinj Lake
Bohinj Lake is a mountain lake, surrounded by forested hills and mountains that are reflected in the lake’s clear water. It is the largest natural lake in Slovenia from which Sava Bohinjka flows. Both offer many options for engaging in different water sports, such as diving, canyoning and kayaking. The lake is a popular destination for tourists, though it is not as touristy as Lake Bled. Bohinj is only one hour away from Slovenian capital Ljubljana.
4. Seaside Town Piran
Piran is a coastal town, 1 hour and 20 minutes from Ljubljana. It is the most famous Slovenian city on the seaside, with its romantic narrow streets and Venetian architecture reflected on buildings. In the center there is Tartini square, which is the venue for many concerts and other events.
5. Seaside Resort Town Portorož
Portorož is a resort town on the Slovenian coast . It is known for its hotels and sand beaches, very popular among tourists. Same as Piran, the city is a location for many events, one of which is the New Year’s jump into the sea. It is located just a little south of Piran at the start of Piranese peninsula.
6. Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle
In Slovenia are many caves you can visit and Postojna cave is the most famous. Inside the cave you can observe the underground world, chambers covered with stalactites and meet the biggest cave animal, the olm. Only 10 km from the cave is the Predjama castle, a medieval fort that is carved into the high rock. These are two peculiarities of Slovenia that tourists love to visit, situated only 50 minutes from Ljubljana.
7. Škocjan Caves
Another popular cave is Škocjan caves, the only monument in Slovenia that is registered in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. River Reka flows through the caves, and they altogether form one of the longest underground wetlands in Europe. Škocjan caves are located in the southwest region of Slovenia, a good one hour away from Ljubljana.
8. The Second Biggest City Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia, located in the northeast part of the country. River Drava splits the city in two parts, with the old town center on one end with many tourist sites and parks. Visit the 400 years old vine, walk along the riverbank on Lent, see the plague column on the Main Square and visit the castle on Castle square. On Poštna ulica you can relax with a glass of local wine, and for exercise walk from the town park up the Piramida hill.
9. The Oldest Slovenian Town Ptuj
Ptuj is the oldest town in Slovenia, known for its carnival masks and celebrations in the late winter. To get the feel of this town that dates back to Stone Age, walk through its center, past the town hall and up the hill to the castle. From the Castle there is a beautiful view of the city and river Drava flowing through. Ptuj is located in northeast of Slovenia, only 30 minutes from Maribor.
10. Soča River Valley and Triglav National Park
Slovenia offers beautiful mountain sites, one of the most breathtaking being Soča Valley and Triglav National Park that on the first part of Soča River coincide. The Park covers the area in Eastern Julian Alps with Soča river flowing through. The highest point of the National Park is mount Triglav, which is also the highest mountain in Slovenia with its 2864 m. Soča paints a picturesque picture of the valley with its dazzling blue colour in the middle of bright green trees. From Ljubljana it will take you less than 1 hour to get to Triglav National Park.