Slovenia vacations

Ljubljana might just be Europe’s most underrated capital. Stroll its charming town square, lush parks and trendy neighborhoods to experience the best of this forward-thinking city.

The Slovenian Alps town of Bled is the stuff of real-life fairy tales. Explore its tiny castle, verdant forests and lakeside adventures.

One of the best things to do in Slovenia is to explore its dramatic Alpine scenery, either on foot or on two wheels. And there’s no better place to start than the Juliana Trail. Located in Triglav National Park, the trail runs 167 miles past rushing rivers and storybook villages, with 16 sections that can be mixed and matched depending on your ability.

Slovenia’s capital city of Ljubljana is not only historical, it’s also one of the most sustainable cities in Europe. The city center is car-free, and many of the restaurants in town specialize in locally sourced ingredients and organic, biodynamic wines. You can even take a tour of the Ljubljanica River in an electric boat.

Even if you’ve never been to Slovenia, you’ll probably recognize the iconic church floating on an island in the middle of Lake Bled. It’s achingly beautiful and one of the most photographed places in Europe. You’ll find another good photo op among the vineyards of Špičnik, where you can take a break from wine tasting to snap a pic of a charming heart-shaped road.

At just 29 miles long, Slovenia has one of the shortest coastlines in the world. A handful of small towns, like Koper, Izola and Piran, form the main coastal destinations. Each has its own charms, from historical architecture to buzzing nightlife. With so little room to spare, the beaches in Slovenia can get quite crowded in the summertime, so book your travel well in advance.

According to locals, you only become truly Slovenian when you’ve scaled Triglav, the highest point in the country. The mountain sits inside Slovenia’s only national park, alongside scenic waterfalls and Alpine lakes. The Julian Alps make Slovenia a destination for skiers, with much of the appeal of the Swiss Alps but with far smaller crowds.

There are ten Michelin-starred restaurants in Slovenia, and they tend to focus on seasonal, sustainable ingredients sourced from just a few miles away. Stock up on sauerkraut and pumpkin seed oil at Central Market in Ljubljana. Or sample traditional fare like ‘štruklji’ (dumplings with sweet or savory filling) and ‘frika,’ a fried potato and cheese dish.

Get a dose of history at the museums in Slovenia. See the world’s oldest musical instrument — a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal flute — at the National Museum of Slovenia. Or check out the world’s oldest wooden wheel with an axle at the City Museum of Ljubljana. To take the pulse of the country’s art scene, head to the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova in Ljubljana.

This is a year-round destination, so the best time to visit Slovenia depends on what you want to do. Beachgoers make for the coast between May and September, and skiers head for the resorts in the Julian Alps between December and February. Spring and fall are both lovely for hiking and exploring the inland lakes.

As one of the more affordable states in the eurozone, it’s not hard to plan a cheap trip to Slovenia. You can enjoy a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for 12 euros (€). A local beer costs about €3, while the average short cab ride costs roughly €5.