Slovenia is one of those hidden gems that you only learn about from other travellers. I can’t recall when it was first put on our radar, but it had been on our bucket list for quite some time before we finally managed to make it there in the spring of 2023.
Slovenia is a very small country, only about the size of Massachusetts, but it has so much to see that I wanted to wait until we could dedicate enough time to do it justice. As our daughter Luna approached her first birthday, we started looking for some place to spend a couple of weeks in late April / early May and the idea of Slovenia resurfaced.
We wanted a nature-based trip, and it would certainly be difficult to top Slovenia in that regard. In two weeks we saw everything from impressive caves and turquoise blue rivers in the southwest to crystal-clear lakes and snow-capped mountains in the northwest. There’s even a tiny but charming coastline that looks and feels more like its neighboring countries of Italy and Croatia. What’s really remarkable is that everywhere we traveled on this trip was within just a two-hour drive of Slovenia’s capital city of Ljubljana.
Aside from an unplanned trip to the emergency clinic midway through the trip (par for the course when traveling with kids), we had a fantastic time. With so many amazing places to see in Europe, it’s pretty rare that I’ll repeat a destination, but Slovenia is one where I’d happily go back for more.
Overview of our trip
We started the trip with a flight from Amsterdam to Slovenia’s capital city of Ljubljana. We were traveling with our one-year-old daughter and were unsure about what challenges we’d face traveling with a toddler, so we allowed ourselves a bit more time than usual at the start of the trip to get settled in and find a new rhythm.
After three days in Ljubljana, we finally hit the road to explore more of the country. The remainder of our two-week trip would be spent across several parts of the country: the Karst and Mediterranean regions to the southwest, the Julian Alps and alpine lakes to the northwest, and the valleys to the north.
Our primary mode of transportation was car, and even with a child that hates a car seat, it was a super enjoyable way to see the country. Despite it’s small footprint, you can see a huge variety of landscapes with very little driving time, which makes it an excellent candidate for a road trip.
Itinerary
Below is an overview of the itinerary with highlights from each leg of the trip.
PART 1 | Ljubljana
Days 1-3
Visiting the capital city’s landmarks, Ljubljana Castle, Tivoli City Park and Ljubljana Zoo, and getting to know Slovenian cuisine with a guided food tour and visit to the Open Kitchen
PART 2 | Piran
Days 4-5
Enjoying Piran’s seaside charm: Tartini Square, St. George’s Parish Church‘s clocktower, and fresh seafood from the Gulf of Piran
PART 3 | Soča River Valley
Days 6-8
A scenic drive to the Soča River Valley with stops en route at Skocjan Cave and Kanal ob Soči, hiking to the Virje and Boka Waterfalls, and the Tolmin Gorge
PART 5 | Julian Alps & Kranjska Gora
Days 9-10
Driving the Vršič Pass through the Julian Alps with stops along the way and an overnight stop in Kranjska Gora with visits to Lake Jasna and Pericnik Waterfall
PART 5 | Lake Bled
Days 10-13
Hiking around Lake Bled with a pletna boat ride to its picturesque island, a visit to Bled Castle, and a day trip to Lake Bohinj
PART 6 | Logar & Jezersko Valleys
Days 14-15
Taking the Solčava Panoramic Road through the Logar Valley with a short hike to Rinka Waterfall and a rainy day walk to Planšarsko Jezero Lake in the Jezersko Valley
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