In this article you will find the top things to see and to do in Slovenia in 4 days.
Slightly larger than Lombardy in Italy, Slovenia is a country that has a lot to offer especially for nature lovers. In the past, I talked about what to do in two specific areas of this country: Bohinj and Bled, and in another beautiful but little-known area: Velika Planina.
In this travel guide, you will find some more ideas about what to see in Slovenia. It will help you to organize your itinerary for 3 or 4 days, preferably by car.
Useful information for visiting Slovenia
Remember that to drive on the highways you’ll need to purchase the vignette just like in Switzerland. You can buy it at the border with neighboring countries and, unlike in Switzerland, there are different versions depending on the length of the trip: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 1 year.
Slovenia has a climate similar to Italy with 4 distinct seasons. The area near the coast is slightly more temperate while in the mountains it’s much colder. Summer is the busiest season for tourism. The best time to visit the country is in spring since, besides having pleasant temperatures, it also rains much less than in autumn. That said, every season offers several interesting activities and very beautiful landscapes to photograph.
Another aspect not to be underestimated is that Slovenia is one of the safest countries in the world. In short: there is no excuse not to add Slovenia to your bucket list!.
Immerse yourself in the culture and nightlife of Ljubljana
Ljubljana has a lot to offer both from a cultural and architectural point of view. Even if it’s not a very big city, and half a day is enough to visit it, it’s still worth spending some time there. I suggest you take a walk downtown in the area of the Dragon Bridge and of course climb up to the Castle. Along the river, there are many bars and restaurants where you can relax for a while. In Metelkova there is a complex of barracks that have been converted into bars, art galleries, and cultural institutions.
When I visited Ljubljana I had the feeling that I was in a rather quiet capital city. You can easily visit it on foot but if you prefer to use public transport you can buy a ticket that allows you to travel for 90 minutes, regardless of the number of buses used.
Velika Planina
I talked extensively about Velika Planina in this article and why it’s worth spending at least one day in this beautiful place. It’s relatively unexplored and the architecture of the houses is completely different from anything you have ever seen. Not to be missed!
Near Velika Planina, you can also find one of the best Eco Resorts in Slovenia.
Bled e Bohinj
The area of Bled and Bohinj is my favorite in Slovenia. I talked in more detail about these two lakes in this article where you will find useful info about what to see and where to stay.
If you like adventure holidays I am sure you will love Bled and Bohinj. The crystal clear waters of these two lakes are ideal both for those who want to relax during a boat trip and for those who prefer other activities such as Kitesurfing and Kayaking.
Just outside Bled you can find the ski resort Straža-Bled which makes this part of Slovenia interesting to visit even in the coldest months of the year when water activities are not exactly an ideal option for most people.
Getting to Bled is not difficult even if you do not have a car. There are two train stations and a bus station.
Lake Bohinj is connected to Mount Vogel by a cable car.
Mount Vogel
Slovenia is not a country that many associates with skiing, but those looking for snow will find in Vogel the perfect destination for downhill and cross-country skiing in the months between December and May. The ski slopes are about 22 km long and those for cross-country skiing are about 8 km.
Immerse yourself in nature in Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge can be reached by Shuttle Bus from the main bus station in Bled. Discovered for the first time in 1891, it has been a tourist attraction since 1893. There is a 1.6km long wooden path that allows you to visit the gorge easily.
The Vintgar Gorge is the perfect way to see the power of nature in action. Keep in mind that even on hot days the temperature is lower in the gorge.
Some of the activities you can do include boat tours and ziplining.
Exploring the Skocjan Caves
Discovered in 1823, the Skocjan Caves are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and have one of the largest stalagmite formations in the world (the Giant), 15 meters high. Another characteristic of these caves is the presence of at least 15 different species of bats. On this page, you can find more details about the native flora and fauna of these karst caves.
One of the main differences between these caves and those in China, such as the Jiuxiang Caves in Yunnan, is the crazy artificial lighting used. In Slovenia fortunately the illumination is less “artificial”.
So far, about 6200 m have been explored. The tour includes only a small part of the explored area and takes about two hours to be completed. Guides are available in several languages, including English.
You can get to Skocjan by public transport by taking a bus or train to Divaca. There you will find the shuttle bus to the caves.
Visit Piran and Portorož
Piran is often referred to as the Slovenian gem on the Adriatic Sea, and it’s not difficult to see why. If you are looking for a day trip with a view of the coast, then a visit to Piran is definitely worth considering.
The medieval architecture and the numerous bell towers make this town even more characteristic. It’s the perfect place to relax while drinking coffee at sunset in one of the bars on the coast. If you decide to visit this part of Slovenia, I recommend spending a day in nearby Portorož, famous for its numerous spas and nice, and affordable, resorts, especially when compared to other European countries. Here you can find some offers for hotels.
You can reach Piran easily by public transport. There are regular bus connections with Koper, Izola, Portoroz-Piran.
Jasna lake and Vrsic Pass
Located in the Triglav National Park, Lake Jasna is a beautiful alpine lake as well as a popular tourist attraction. Recently the whole area has been renovated to accommodate more tourists. From the lake, you have a beautiful view of the Julian Alps.
The Vrsic Pass is a winding mountain road that leads visitors to the Julian Alps from Lake Jasna, although it should be noted that the Vrsic Pass is closed for five months a year due to snow, so access will not always be possible.
Predjama Castle
Predjama Castle is located in the village of Postojna. This Gothic-style castle was built in the 13th century and is one of the most important in Slovenia. It’s located in a cave and is one of the symbols of Slovenia. It has become quite popular in the world after appearing in several films.
Near the castle is the Postojna Cave, another of Slovenia’s symbols. About 21km long, they are a little more popular than the Skocjan Caves and therefore more frequented by tourists, but still interesting to visit.
A shuttle bus connects the caves to the city of Postojna.
Don’t miss this article where you can find the live webcam on the International Space Station.
