In this guide, you can find the most exciting things to do and see in northern Slovenia between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj.
In a recent post, I talked about a place in Slovenia that few people know about: Velika Planina and a beautiful Eco Resort in the heart of the Kamink Alps. Today I’ll give you some suggestions about other places you can visit in northern Slovenia.
In this article, you will find my travel guide to Slovenia. Don’t miss it if you want more detailed information about this country.
One week between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj
My first suggestion is to visit Slovenia by car, if possible. The country is not big, but getting around without a car will be difficult. You’ll need at least 5 days to see the main attractions, but if you have more, it’s better. These are my suggested places to see:
- Lake Bohinj
- Lake Bled
- some trekking in the valleys between these two lakes
- Velika Planina
- Ljubljana
If you only have 5 days, this itinerary is tight, and you may have to skip something.
Where to stay in Slovenia
Slovenia is a relatively cheap country. There are plenty of options for accommodation, from Eco Resorts to 5-star Hotels. A good place to find excellent deals is Booking.com. Another good choice is Trip.com.
Lake Bled
Lake Bled is famous and is probably considered the country’s landmark. All around the lake, there is a nice pedestrian path.
If you like taking pictures, you can look for the Ojstrica trail leading to the hill facing the lake. The trail is short and won’t take you more than 15 minutes, but keep in mind that it is steep. The view is stunning.
Since Bled is the most famous place in Slovenia, it can get pretty crowded in summer.
Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is probably even more beautiful than Lake Bled. The water is crystal clear, and on sunny days, you can view the top of the Triglav mountain, which, with its 2.864 meters, is the highest peak in the country.
Compared to Bled, there are fewer tourists in Bohinj, even though it’s only about 30 minutes away. I took the picture at the top of this post in the mountains near Lake Bohinj, and you can see that the place is truly beautiful.
I stayed near Lake Bohinj because it’s cheaper than Bled and more peaceful.
Vintgar Gorge and Mostnica Gorge
If you like trekking, you’ll have many options in northern Slovenia. Some trails are easy, while some are more challenging. I visited the Vintgar Gorge and the Mostnice Gorge.
Discovered in 1891 by cartographer and photographer Benedikt Lergetporer, the Vintgar Gorge is 1,6 Km long and increasingly popular. The fresh air is perfect on hot summer days. To get to the gorge, you have to pay an entrance fee, but it’s worth it.
If you have time, the following day, you can visit the Mostnica Gorge, a trail immersed in the forest along a small river. After hiking for about two hours, you’ll end up in a low plain dotted with typical mountain cottages. Trekking is a bit more difficult than Vintgar Gorge.
Velika Planina
I talked about Velika Planina in a previous post. To get to Velika Planina, you’ll have two options: take the cable car or walk to the top of the mountain. The first option will save you 15€, but it will take you 3 hours to get to the top and another 3 hours to get down.
A day trip to Ljubljana
Ljubljana is becoming increasingly popular, and I’m not surprised about it. It’s a very small capital, with a population of fewer than 300.000 people, so it’s quite peaceful. It’s a green city with many parks and trees everywhere, and the historic center is a pedestrian area.
Half a day would be enough to visit Ljubljana. Don’t forget to walk to the castle. The view of the city from the top of the hill is nice, and you don’t have to pay to get inside.
When is the best time to visit Slovenia?
Slovenia can be visited all year round. Besides the winter itinerary I suggested in this post, you can also ski.
Prices in Slovenia are not too high, especially compared to other European destinations. Remember that if you take the highway, you’ll have to pay the vignette (a fee). I personally avoided the highways: I saved money and saw some beautiful places in the countryside, just like I did on my trip to Normandy and Brittany.
Slovenia is quite a safe country, and the people are really friendly. Everyone I met spoke good English, so communication wasn’t a problem. On a previous trip to Slovenia, I spent some days in Portoroz, a location by the Adriatic Sea famous for its Hotels with Spas. If you want to relax after a few days of hiking, it might be a good option for you.
One of the cheapest options for traveling to Slovenia is with FlixBus. Here’s my review. Here are other pictures I took in Slovenia, and here are some tips on how to visit Rome on a budget.
