There are so many awesome places to visit in Slovenia, that we simply couldn't fit it all in our complete Slovenia Travel Guide. That's why we're diving a bit deeper to share all of our favorite locations with you!
With just a week in the country we were able to visit almost every single one of these amazing places to visit in Slovenia. From beautiful waterfalls and turquoise rivers to rolling hills and charming towns, there truly is something for everyone in Slovenia. Its size allows you to see an incredible amount of places in a short amount of time, and most spots don't require much effort to visit at all!
While nearby countries like Switzerland or Austria require demanding hikes to reach some of their top destinations, all of the best places to visit in Slovenia can be reached within minutes! So let's jump right in and discover all the beautiful gems that this country has to offer.
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Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Cities & Villages
Some of the most highly visited places are cities, as they are the best places to base yourself, and to learn about the history and culture of a country. Here are some of the best cities and villages to visit in Slovenia.
1. Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of the country, and it's the perfect place to base yourself for a trip around Slovenia. Located in the middle of the country, it's really easy to do day trips from Ljubljana to most of the best places to visit in Slovenia, and it's the most fun spot for enjoying nightlife, as well as a variety of dining options.
The city center itself is very small, and can easily be done in just a day! That being said, we definitely think it is worth visiting Ljubljana, and even if you don't want to base yourself there, it is still an excellent place to start or end your trip in Slovenia.
2. Piran
Piran is the most beautiful town along the Slovenian coast. With its vibrant orange roofs contrasting the turquoise waters, it looks very similar to a lot of the pretty coastal towns of Croatia, and it's definitely one of the best places to visit in Slovenia.
Photo by Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson on Unsplash
3. Skofja Loka
Located just a half hour from the capital, Skofja Loka is the perfect town to spend a few hours. It is small, but very picturesque, and yet to be discovered by mass tourism. We even went to a super cute coffee shop, and all of the people working there were so shocked we were there! The people were extremely welcoming and even treated us to a free pizza while we were there.
It's honestly towns like Skofja Loka that really allow you to interact with locals, and get a feel for what life is like for the average Slovenian.
Skofja Loka is a great day trip from Ljubljana.
Here are a couple of tours that visit Skofja Loka:
4. Radovljica
This is another small town that we absolutely loved, and found was the perfect place to walk around and grab a cup of coffee. There is a small museum you can check out, a view of the valley, and some great shops with local products to check out.
Radovljica has a cute center and great views.
5. Koper
The first time I actually visited Koper was when I was working on a cruise ship. It's an increasingly popular cruise port which is located on the Slovenian coast. Similar to Piran, it is characterized by its bright orange roofs and its picturesque small streets running through it.
Photo by Malcolm Ketteridge on Unsplash
6. Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in the country, and is located a bit far from the rest of the top places to visit in Slovenia. The beautiful old town is perched over a river and it is also known for its wine culture, which are two reasons alone to include Maribor to your Slovenian itinerary.
Photo by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Unsplash
7. Stanjel
If you're looking for a fairytale village packed with history, then Stanjel is definitely one of the places to visit in Slovenia for you.
The medieval village is one of the oldest settlements of Karst, in the west of Slovenia. It has a castle which is often used as a wedding venue, gardens, an exhibition, and a wine shop. Stanjel is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, or to spend a night to truly immerse in local life.
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8. Planina Zajamniki
Planina Zajamniki is the name of a plain, but it has an adorable village that will truly make you feel as if you've stepped back in time.
One of the most quaint places we visited in Slovenia, it certainly wasn't as easy to find as we were imagining. You can either reach here by driving down dirt roads, or by a lengthy trek (but we would definitely recommend driving).
Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Lakes
Slovenia is most famous for its lakes, and it truly has some of the most beautiful lakes in all of Europe! More than just bodies of water, each one of these spots has something special to offer- whether it be the surrounding landscapes, or the amenities and activities surrounding them.
9. Lake Bled
Lake Bled is the most iconic of all of the places to visit in Slovenia, and definitely the most famous spot in the entire country. This gorgeous lake itself makes Slovenia a country worth adding to your bucket list.
The fairytale lake is known for it's small island in the middle with a church on it. Lake Bled also has a castle overlooking it, a beautiful viewpoint, and boat rentals. If you have one day in Slovenia, then let it be a trip to Lake Bled.
Lake Bled is one of the most famous places to visit in Slovenia.
10. Lake Bohinj
While tourists typically flock to Lake Bled, there is another stunning lake that is just around the corner! The first time I visited Lake Bohinj it was simply captivating with the snow surrounding it.
Unfortunately the second time we visited (in early Autumn) the weather wasn't in our favor. Apparently if you wait until the late morning though, the clouds typically clear. So make sure to plan a visit closer to midday if you aren't visiting in the sumner.
Lake Bohinj is one of the prettiest lakes in Slovenia.
Here are a few excursions that go to Lake Bohinj:
11. Lake Jasper
One of the most underrated lakes in Slovenia is definitely Lake Jasper. With deep blue waters and mountains surrounding it, this place is extremely magical.
There is also an incredible hotel located right on the lake that you can stay at. It is beautifully lit at night, and also has a restaurant, as well as plenty of outdoor seating to relax and enjoy the views.
Lake Jasper is the most underrated lake in Slovenia.
12. Lake Cerknica
Located just outside Slovenia's capital, Lake Cerknica is one of the most peculiar lakes in Europe, as it goes back and forth from full to vanishing. In the spring it fills ups from all of the snow melting, while by the end of summer much of it dries up.
Lake Cerknica is a great place to go kayaking, and to enjoy the nature outside of the city - just make sure to go there before it disappears!
Lake Cerknica starts to vanish when the temperatures rise.
13. Plansarsko Jezero
Located in the north of Slovenia near the border, this lake is the perfect place to visit in Slovenia if you are driving to or from Austria.
Plansarsko Jezero is a picturesque lake with a backdrop of the alps behind it. There is also a restaurant right next to it so you can enjoy a meal along your road trip. The entire area surrounding it is super picturesque, with large green fields and cute cows roaming around.
Plansarsko jerezo is one of the hidden gems in Slovenia.
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Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Waterfalls
Slovenia has some really great waterfalls, and most of them are right near one another! Here are a few of our favorites to add to your Slovenian bucket list.
14. Kozjak Waterfall
This is definitely the most popular waterfall in Slovenia. It is surrounded by a canyon, and is accessed by a small trail. There are two different areas that you can park. The main parking lot is a 25-30 minute walk, but if you park by the suspension bridge you can make it there in just 10-15 minutes.
The waterfall can be accessed from 8 am to 8 pm, and has a charge of 5 euros to enter. You're not allowed in the water, but you can appreciate the views from the platform above. We accessed the waterfall from below for the picture, but made sure to still take the photo from outside the water.
15. Pericnik Waterfall
Another popular waterfall to visit in Slovenia is Pericnik Waterfall, which was definitely our favorite. With just a 5 minute walk you can appreciate the waterfall from the front, but also get right behind it!
16. Virje Waterfall
Virje waterfall is another waterfall you can reach within just a 5-minute walk, and easily get up close to it. It also has some more area surrounding it, if you're looking to cool off and take a dip in the waters around it.
17. Savica Waterfall
Savica is one of the largest waterfalls in Slovenia, and is fed from a karst spring in the north west of the country.
It can be visited from 9:15 am to 4:30 pm, and it has a charge of just a couple of euros. Sitting behind Lake Bohinj, you can take a 1 mile out-and-back trail to reach the waterfall.
Photo by Marcin Szmigiel on Unsplash
18. Boka Waterfall
Boka waterfall is the one waterfall in Slovenia that you actually need to hike to in order to get up close to it. However, it is certainly one of the most impressive ones, and worth the two-hour hike.
If you don't have the time or energy to dedicate to the hike, you can still appreciate a view of the waterfall from the side of the road, and in our case, we flew our drone to get a cool shot of it.
Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Caves
Slovenia is full of caves, and some of the most unique ones in the world! Here are a few of the coolest caves to visit around the country.
19. Postojna Caves
One of the most interesting and unique places to visit in Slovenia is definitely Postojna Cave. The system is actually so big that there is a train that takes you through a large part of the cave!
After the train ride there is a large part of the tour that takes you through different areas, and then it has a gift shop at the end. Stay tuned for our full article about Postojna Cave, and everything you need to know for visiting!
Here are a few tours you can take to Postojna Caves:
20. Skocjan Caves
Skocjan is another one of the most visited caves in Slovenia, and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit by guided tours from 10 am to 3 pm, and there is also plenty to do in the park around it including educational trails and a museum.
Here are a few tours you can take to Skocjan Caves:
21. Planina Cave
Planina cave is another one of the most unique caves and places to visit in Slovenia. Unlike many caves where you can simply walk around and take a tour, Planina has boat rides that go through it!
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22. Otolisko Okno
This cave is a true hidden gem! Located in the west of Slovenia, this was the first place that we visited entering Slovenia from Italy.
The cave is unique because it is situated above a valley and has a natural window with incredible views. It is free of charge to visit, and can be found by a short hike from the village of Otlika.
Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Viewpoints
With a variety of landscapes including mountains, valleys, and lakes, it's no surprise that Slovenia has some fantastic views to appreciate! Here are some of our favorite lookout points to appreciate around the country.
23. Mala Osojnica
Our absolute favorite view and one of the best places in Slovenia to visit is the viewpoint of Osojnica. Situated right next to Lake Bled, you can appreciate stunning views above the lake in just a 5-10 minute walk!
To reach here you'll have to park at the campsite, and you'll find the trail right in front of it. We went for sunrise, and it was simply magical, with just a few other people there.
24. Vodnikov Lookout
We love this lookout because it's perfectly situated between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. Just a couple of minutes walking along a super easy trail leads you to a panoramic view of the entire valley between the two lakes, which is free of charge to visit. It's a bit of a hidden gem, so one you'll need to hire a car for.
25. Jezersko and Kamnik- Savinja Alps
If you're planning on driving from Austria to Slovenia or vice versa, then you'll find a beautiful viewpoint just near the border. Overlooking the valley, it's situated right along the road, and is just minutes away from the lake we mentioned earlier "Plansarsko Jezero".
Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Other Cool Places in Nature
We've already mentioned some beautiful waterfalls, lakes, and caves. However, there is so much more nature to enjoy around the country of Slovenia! Here are a few other amazing places in Slovenia to add to your bucket list.
26. Soca River Valley
One of our favorite places in Slovenia is the Soca River Valley! The river running through it has a vibrant turquoise color, and there are actually plenty of places you can go for a refreshing dip, or even jump off some cliffs if you dare.
There are a ton of cool places to enjoy the beautiful nature around the Soca River Valley. As the area is quite large, we had to do a bunch of research to find the best spots through. Buy us a coffee and we'll share the exact coordinates of three of the best places around the Soca River Valley!
The Soca River Valley is full of beautiful spots.
27. Vintgar Gorge
As far as the best places to visit in Slovenia, the Vintgar Gorge is another of the top picks. A gorgeous gorge with turquoise waters, this area can be visited along a long path inside. Just above Lake Bled, this 1.6 km walk is great for all ages and activity levels.
We had a bite to eat at the restaurant right next to the entrance of the gorge, and absolutely loved it! What we didn't know though was that the entrance to the gorge closes quite early, so we ended up not being able to go in.
Parking costs 5 euros, and the entrance to the gorge is 8 euros. The gorge has two routes to come back, and it is open from April to October.
Here is some information from the official site:
The Last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
April weekends and holidays – 9:00 – 17:00
April weekday – 10:00 – 16:00
May 1st – May 26th – 9:00 – 17:00
May 27th – June 23rd – 8:00 – 18:00
June 24th – August 15th – 7.30 – 19.00
August 16th – September 10th – 8.00 – 18.00
September 11th – October 10th – 8.00 – 17.00
October 9th – the rest of the season – 9.00 – 16.00
28. Zalenci Nature Preserve
This was was definitely one of our favorite places to visit in Slovenia, and is such a hidden gem!
Zelenci Nature Preserve is located in the north of the country, and has easy guided trails from its parking lot. The spot in our pictures is just a 5-minute flat walk, with spectacular views! There is even a platform you can walk up a flight of stairs to, which is free of charge to visit.
The Zelenci Nature Reserve is one of our favorite places to visit in Slovenia.
29. Napolean’s Bridge
If you plan on visiting Kozjak waterfall, then you can actually pair it with this incredible suspension bridge. Napolean's bridge connects to the beginning of the trail to the waterfall, and has fantastic views around it.
Napoleon's Bridge also leads to the Kozjak waterfall trail.
30. Spicnik
This beautiful park is a bit off-the-beaten-path, and one we ended up not being able to make it to.
However, we were totally intrigued by the beautiful heart-shaped platform in the middle of it. So if you happen to make it to the north east of the country, we highly recommend checking it out! (It is just 25 minutes north of Maribor).
31. Logar Valley
Logar Valley is one of the prettiest places to visit in Slovenia, and it has a ton of natural beauty to offer. Here you can experience large green meadows surrounded by snowy peaks, which are perfect for exploring by car or by foot.
Located in the north of the country, this area is one of the most remote places in the country, which makes it even that more special to visit.
Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash
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Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Castles
You can't visit any European country without checking out some of the castles. Slovenia doesn't have crazy elaborate castles like Italy does for example. However, there are certainly a few that are worth adding to your list of places to visit in Slovenia, and here are a few of our favorites.
32. Ljubljana Castle
Located right in the capital, this is the number one castle to visit in Slovenia. It sits right above the city, and has become a popular place to watch the sunset due to its spectacular views.
33. Bled Castle
Bled Castle is another famous castle worth visiting in Slovenia, and is another one that is frequented due to its location.
Sitting high above Lake Bled, you can appreciate the lake from above, as well as get cool views of the castle itself from the lake below.
Bled Castle can be appreciated from all different views.
34. Predjama Castle
Apart from the two most famous castles, this is definitely one of the most popular castles to visit in the country.
While it isn't known for its views, the castle itself is interesting because it has been built right into the side of a cave, making it one of the most unique places to visit in Slovenia.
Awesome Places to Visit in Slovenia: Churches
Other than castles, European countries are always known for their churches. Slovenia's churches are quite small and simple in comparison to some of the well-known churches in the surrounding countries. However, what we love about these churches are the incredible landscapes that surround them.
35. Sveti Tomaz
If you've ever seen pictures on Instagram of a tiny cute church in a massive green valley surrounded by mountains, then this is it. Actually, there are a few of them in the country, but the one you'll want to visit is just a bit outside Ljubljana.
You can park just minutes away from it and experience 360 degrees of incredible views. Also, if you visit early in the morning, you may be lucky to find yourself above the clouds like we did.
36. Church of St Primoz and Felicijan
Just like Sveti Tomas, St Primoz and Felician is another pretty church that is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes. You can drive right up to it, and you'll find yourself high above rolling green hills, and surrounded by a variety of landscapes.
While we had to visit Sveti Tomaz super early to find ourselves surrounded by clouds, this church is so high that we were above the clouds in the middle of the day!
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So are you ready to explore all of the incredible places to visit in Slovenia? We're sure you're going to fall in love with all of the great nature and history that this country has to offer. If you'd like to learn more about the logistics of visiting and getting around, make sure to check out our Complete Slovenia Travel Guide for all of the details.
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