Slovenia

Slovenia itinerary – places to visit in Slovenia in 3 – 10 days

Last Updated on 31/12/2024 by kami

Slovenia is one of these compact countries where you can see a lot even if you are short on time.

It is also one of the countries that are very diverse and offer a lot: from charming capitals to breathtaking caves, from the Adriatic Sea to the Alps – these are just some of the best places to visit in Slovenia.

No matter how much time you have in Slovenia, if it is 3 days or a week, you will enjoy your stay for sure. After all is there any other country that has “love” in its name?

I was lucky to visit Slovenia a few times and I can say I know the country fairly well.

But even if I’ve spent some 2-3 weeks there in total there are still some places I would love to visit – there are just too many great things to do in Slovenia!

Slovenia itinerary

Lake Bled

I put together the Slovenia itinerary that will help you plan your trip to Slovenia.

You can modify it, depending on how many days in Slovenia you have but I believe that 3 days in Slovenia is the absolute minimum to see the highlights.

You can base yourself in Ljubljana, the capital city, and do day trips from there.

Most of the place included in this Slovenia itinerary can be reached easily from Ljubljana either by public transport, rented car or with tours (sometimes taking the bus or train is a bit time consuming).

I listed all the options so you can choose whatever works best for you.

Slovenia essentials

Planning a trip to Slovenia? Here are the services I always use and personally recommend:

  • Accommodation: I always book a place to stay on Booking.com
  • Tours: when I decide to go on a tour I either use Viator
  • Get insured for your trip to Slovenia with SafetyWing
what to see in Slovenia

Ptuj

Best time to visit Slovenia

There are some great Slovenia attractions available all year long but for me the best time to visit Slovenia is either late spring (May-June) or early autumn (September).

The weather should be good but not too hot and there are not that many tourists around as in the summertime but the days are long enough so you have lots of time to enjoy your holidays in Slovenia.

places to visit in slovenia

Ljubljana

How to get to Slovenia?

Slovenia is located at the crossroads, some say it is Central Europe, others that it is part of the Balkans.

Fortunately the location makes it very easy to reach Slovenia, either by plane, bus or by train.

Ljubljana Airport is well connected with numerous cities all over Europe by both regular and low-cost airlines.

From the airport frequent buses will take you either to the capital or to nearby Kranj, the journey to Ljubljana takes around half an hour.

You can also take the private transfer from the airport to Ljubljana – click here for details.

Slovenia has regular train and bus connections with all the neighboring countries (Austria, Italy, Croatia, Hungary) and beyond.

You can check the schedules and offers at the websites of Slovenian Railways or Ljubljana bus station (I will reffer to this link a lot later in this article).

Slovenia itinerary

Slovenian countryside near Lake Bohinj

Where to stay in Ljubljana?

As I mentioned above, you can base yourself in the capital and do day trips from Ljubljana.

It really takes up to 2 hours (but usually less) to any place in the country so there is no point to pack and unpack every other day, especially if you are spending only a few days in Slovenia.

Here is the list of recommended Ljubljana accommodation:

You can also browse other accommodation options in Ljubljana – just click here.

Slovenia must see

Ljubljana

Slovenia itinerary – the highlights

Below you can see the Slovenia itinerary, divided into days and with all the Slovenia must see included.

These are just the general ideas of how you can spend your Slovenia vacation. You can combine and switch the days however you prefer to create your own perfect plan.

You might even create a fun Slovenia road trip from this itinerary!

Day 1: Ljubljana

Start your Slovenia trip in Ljubljana. This is one of the most charming capitals in Europe. It is compact, cute and one of these places you instantly fall in love with.

Spend the time wandering along Ljubljanica river or in the backstreets lined with pastel houses, take a funicular up to the castle and find as many dragons as possible.

Once you are done with the Old Town head to Metelkova or Rog Factory to see a different face of the city – alternative Ljubljana.

Before sunset visit the cafe on the top floor of Neboticnik – the views from there are the best!

You might be interested in joining the tours in Ljubljana, to get to know the city better. These are the best ones:

If you plan to explore Ljubljana independently you should consider getting a Ljubljana card that gives you free entrance to numerous attractions and activities. Click here to order a card.


Read more about Ljubljana:


Slovenia itinerary

Ljubljana Old Town



Slovenia itinerary

Metelkova



Slovenia itinerary

View from the cafe at Neboticnik

Day 2: Bled and surroundings

On your second day head north, to the Alps, to visit one of the biggest Slovenia tourist attractions and most famous Slovenia lake – Lake Bled.

You probably have seen pictures with the church on the island in the middle of the lake surrounded by the stunning Alps – that’s Bled!

The picturesque town is located only an hour away from the capital and makes a perfect day trip from Ljubljana.

Be sure to have your battery full as you will take lots of pictures in Bled and beyond as these are true Slovenia highlights and many consider them the most beautiful places in Slovenia!

There are just so many things to do in Bled! Once you arrive you should talk a walk along the lake, climb up to the castle and take a boat to the island to visit the well-known church.

Bled is also famous for its cream cake – it is a real calories bomb but so worth it! You won’t regret a single piece you taste.

The cake was originally invented in the Hotel Park but you should head to Vila Bled (where the legendary ruler of former Yugoslavia used to spend his holidays) and Cafe Belvedere located on its premises.

Not only you will be able to try the famous delicacy, but you will also be able to admire Lake Bled and surroundings from yet another perspective.

Once you are done with Bled sightseeing you should catch a bus to your next destination – Lake Bohinj.

For me personally, this is one of the most stunning places I have ever seen and you definitely should include it in your Slovenia itinerary and Balkans trip.

Take the bus to Ribcev Laz – a charming village at the shore of the lake. From there catch the boat to the other side of the Lake Bohinj – the views along the way are impressive and once at your final stop, you can admire a completely different landscape.

If you still have time you can take the cable car up to Mount Vogel (the lower station is a short walk away from where the boat drops you off in Ukanc) or just take the bus back to Ljubljana.

How to do it: You can travel independently and it is doable, just check the schedule before so you won’t get stuck anywhere as the buses might run every hour or so.

You can also take the tour from Ljubljana and I definitely recommend it if you don’t want to bother with dealing with public transport. You might also see more when going with the tour as it might include Radovljica (a charming little town some 10kms away from Bled towards Ljubljana) or Vintgar Gorge.

Here are some of the options:


Read more: Slovenian Alps – a paradise on Earth!


Slovenia itinerary

Lake Bled seen from Cafe Belvedere



Slovenia itinerary

Bled castle



Slovenia itinerary

Lake Bohinj



Slovenia itinerary

Lake Bohinj



Slovenia itinerary

Radovljica

Day 3: Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

Did you know that the second largest cave in the world is located in Slovenia?

Postojna Cave, as that’s the name of the place, is located only an hour away from the capital and is easily accessible as a day trip from Ljubljana too!

When visiting Postojna Cave you first take the small train that will get you deep into the cave and from there you will start wandering along underground passages.

You will see only a small part of the cave but still, you will be impressed by how enormous and diverse it is (or maybe it is just different lighting in various parts).

Postojna is the most visited cave in Europe and that is for a reason as this place is really incredible. I didn’t expect to be amazed by some underground structures so much, to be honest!

Only a short ride away from Postojna you will find Predjama Castle – one of the most famous Slovenia attractions.

The castle dates back to the 13th century but it became well-known two centuries later when the owner, Erazem, was besieged for one year and one day.

What makes this place special is that the castle is partly built into the cave.

It’s worth to visit the interior of the castle not only to see rooms and exhibits but also to check how it is incorporated with nature.

How to do it: There are only three bus connections per day from Ljubljana to Postojna Cave but it is possible to do the trip independently.

In the summer season you can use the free shuttle between Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle, you only need to have the entrance ticket to the cave.

If you don’t want to get stuck in Postojna or if you travel outside of the summer months you should join the organized tour – click here for the details, current rates and to book the tour.


Read more: Postojna Cave and Predjama castle – highlights of Slovenia


Slovenia itinerary

Postojna Cave



Slovenia itinerary

Postojna Cave



Slovenia itinerary

Predjama Castle

More places to visit in Slovenia

Now, that you know the best places to visit in Slovenia it’s time to see some more of the country.

Below I give you suggestions on how to spend the rest of your Slovenia holidays and you can choose what exactly to do, based on the time you have left in the country and your interest.

You can mix the days, spend more time in some areas or do everything as day trips from Ljubljana. Whatever you decide you will have a blast for sure!

what to see in Slovenia

Savica waterfall

Slovenian coast and Skocjan caves – 2 days

While Croatia is the most known of the countries on the Adriatic coast, Slovenia got its share of the seaside too.

The Slovenian coastline is only 47 km long but offers some real gems.

The biggest town is Koper which is partly a big harbor but you can find a small yet charming old town too (don’t miss going up the tower to see the view from above).

You should also visit Portoroz, Izola and especially Piran that is known as the gem on the Slovenia coast (and it surely is picturesque!).

On the way to the seaside, you should stop at Skocjan Caves – second famous underground system, after Postojna Cave.

The place is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List and was awarded the title mostly for one of the largest underground canyons in the world.

Even if it is located not that far Postojna this cave is a bit different than the more famous sister and it deserves the visit too.

Fortunately, the entrance is only 5 km off the main road from Ljubljana to Koper so it’s easy to do a quick detour.

Before you reach Koper you should also stop for a quick visit at the 12th-century church in Hrastovlje.

You can admire here an old and unique painting on the wall showing the Dance of Death (Danse Macabre).

How to do it: there are several bus and train connections from Ljubljana to Koper, the journey takes around 2 hours. From Koper, you can easily get to the towns further down the coast: Izola, Piran or Portoroz.

If you are short on time you can also go on a day trip from Ljubljana – click here for details and current rates.

Where to stay: It depends on you if you would just quickly see the coast or if you would like to relax here a bit longer. If you decide to stay there are plenty of places to accommodation options to choose from, all over the coast.

Click on the name of the place to find the best accommodation there:
Koper | Izola | Piran | Portoroz

Slovenia itinerary

Koper rooftops



Slovenia itinerary

streets of Koper



Slovenia itinerary

Inside Hrastovlje church

Bovec for adventures seekers – 2 days

If you like adventure and adrenaline rush you should include Bovec in your Slovenia travel list.

But before you get there you should stop in Vipava valley, famous for its wine. Even if you are not a big fan of this drink you should see this picturesque valley, it’s really beautiful.

Bovec is known as the Slovenian capital of adventure and you can try all sorts of adrenaline based activities here: rafting, canyoning, rock climbing or zip line, just to name a few.

When I visited the weather wasn’t really on my side and the zip-line I finally convinced myself to try was closed on that day.

But everyone I talked to says Bovec is a perfect destination for adventure lovers and you can’t be bored here.

How to do it: The main reason to come to Bovec is to do all the activities so plan your stay here according to what you want to do.

You can also combine the trip to Bovec with the rest of Julian Alps, especially if you travel by car. There is an interesting and unique way to cross the mountains from Most na Soci near Bovec to Bohinjska Bistrica (between Lake Bohinj and Bled) – by mototrain. You can find the details here.

There are two direct buses from Ljubljana to Bovec, the journey takes around 4 hours. You can also get directly from Bled to Bovec, but only in the summertime.

Book the activities:

Where to stay: There is a high demand for Bovec accommodation so it’s better to book a place to stay as soon as you decide to visit the town.

Click here the accommodation for your trip to Bovec.

Slovenia itinerary

Vipava Valley



Slovenia itinerary

Misty Bovec



Slovenia itinerary

Mototrain

East Slovenia: Celje, Maribor, Ptuj – 2 days

Eastern part of Slovenia is often overlooked by tourists but it is definitely worth your time too!

You can find here some of the charming towns, typical for Central Europe with red rooftops and distinctive architecture from the turn of the 19th and 20th century.

When visiting this region don’t miss Maribor (the second largest city in Slovenia), Ptuj or Celje – they all offer lots to do and see, you can also relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the place.

How to do it: There are both trains and buses connecting Ljubljana with Celje and Maribor. To Ptuj you can only use the train. You can also use public transport to travel between the cities.

Where to stay: the best option would be Maribor since it’s a fairly big city with a lot to offer and numerous accommodation options to choose from.

Click here to find the best place to stay in Maribor.


Read more: Ptuj, Slovenia – a charming little gem


Slovenia itinerary

Celje castle



Slovenia itinerary

Maribor



Slovenia itinerary

East Slovenia countryside



Slovenia itinerary

Ptuj

More time in the mountains

If you like mountains you should definitely give it more time as Slovenian Alps are spectacular.

Besides Bled, Lake Bohinj or Bovec you should also consider visiting Kranjska Gora with the biggest ski jumping hill in the world – Planica.

The town can be also a good base for hiking around in the Triglav National Park (so is Lake Bohinj and surroundings). More experienced travelers might even consider going to the highest peak of Slovenia – Triglav (2 864 meters above sea level).

How to do it: You can easily get to Kranjska Gora from Ljubljana by bus, there are frequent departures through the day. The journey takes around 2 hours.

You can also go for a day trip from Ljubljana – click here for the details and current rates.

Where to stay: if you would like to explore more of the area the best places to stay would be either Kranjska Gora, Lake Bohinj or Bled.

Click below on the name of the place to find the best accommodation there:
Kranjska Gora | Lake Bohinj | Bled

Slovenia itinerary

Slovenian Alps



Slovenia itinerary

Slovenian Alps

Further reading

I published many articles about Slovenia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Balkans and ask your questions there.


Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Slovenia

Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Slovenia here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here.

Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.


For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

  • Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
  • Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
  • I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Slovenia too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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Slovenia itinerary


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6 Comments

  • Reply
    advid
    03/07/2019 at 12:26

    Thanks for informative sharing.

    • Reply
      kami
      20/07/2019 at 12:09

      Thank you

  • Reply
    JANE
    18/07/2019 at 18:17

    Thank you so much for sharing this information. It is really helpful.

    • Reply
      kami
      20/07/2019 at 12:43

      Thank you!

      • Reply
        Mike Fanning
        23/01/2023 at 02:16

        Kami,
        Any recommendations on transportation from from the Ljubljana to Medugorje?

        • Reply
          kami
          27/01/2023 at 19:47

          I don’t think you can do it in an easy way, you would need to change buses at least two times (my guess is Zagreb and Sarajevo, maybe also in Mostar).

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