Slovenia：A Rustic Escape to Snowy Peaks and Venetian Culture

On the Southern Central Europe, lies the mountainous and the naturally beautiful Slovenia. It is easy to enjoy the beauty of nature in Slovenia as it prides itself in a high biological diversity with a rich river system, beech forests and diverse wildlife. Slovenia also offers exciting and astonishing caves and castles for you to explore. Though Slovenia is small in size, it has more than enough sightseeing attractions to rival destinations more than ten times its size. Here are the top sightseeing places in Slovenia that we are convinced will make you long for another holiday.

1. Postojna Caves (Postojna)

Postojna Caves without a doubt are the most marvelous of all the cave network systems in Slovenia. The Postonja Caves system is 24,340 meters long with four interconnected caves, making it the second largest cave system in Slovenia, after Migovec. The caves offer a home to the world's largest amphibian, the endemic olm, and 150 other animal species. Visitors to the caves get an opportunity to explore a network of karst tunnels, an underground post office, galleries and Predjama Castle, Slovenia's largest cave-connected castle. Temperatures in Postojna Caves range from 8 to 10ºC, so we recommend warm clothing and comfortable footwear. Being one of the top sightseeing attractions in Slovenia, the caves are relatively busy throughout the year, though the period between May and October is the most favorable due to the warm and clear weather.

2. Lake Bled (Bled)

On the northwestern region of Slovenia lies the glacial and tectonic Lake Bled. The lake provides a picturesque and unforgettable sightseeing view surrounded by a valley, mountains, forests and even a castle on the northern shore. The lake surrounds the only island of Slovenia, in which you can visit using a traditional pletnar-controlled boat. On the island, visitors get the chance to explore the Assumption of Mary pilgrimage church, Bled Castle and a museum. From Lake Bled one can hike Mt. Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. The best weather season for sightseeing is in summer, from May to September.

3. Ljubljana Old Town (Ljubljana)

Ljubljana Old Town is the old but still charming city center of Slovenia. The town is a mix of impressive ancient architecture, a blended culture, and a well-preserved historical heritage. The town center is small and you can explore it on a short stay. Notable sightseeing attractions to the town include the National Museum of Slovenia, Ljubljana castle, Park Tivoli and the Congress square. Ljubljana Old Town is best explored between May and September, the warmer half of the year and when the town is live with cultural performances and festivals.

4. Vintgar Gorge (Zgornje Gorje)

On the northern side of Bled island, River Radovna forms a spectacular gorge known as Vintgar Gorge. The gorge is undoubtedly a must visit while in Slovenia. Exploring the beauty of the gorge is easy as there are accessible and well-kept walkways along and across the river. On the northern edge of the gorge, you will enjoy Sum Falls and the lush green surrounding. During winter, Vintgar is not accessible as ice freezes in between the rocks, making it dangerous. On the other hand, summer is the best season for sightseeing when the weather is warm and the paths are dry and safe.

5. Predjama Castle (Postojna)

Predjama Castle is built within the mouth of Postojna Caves. The castle sits more than a hundred meters high on a cliff and is listed as one of the largest cave castles in the Guinness World Records. The castle was built more than 800 years ago, and today, it is a historical place to learn about the middle age history of Slovenia. The cave is open for sightseeing from May to September and remains closed in winter. During these months, the weather is favorable for most tourists. Visitors are allowed to view the torture chamber, an authentic display of furniture, coat of arms and many other items left by the families that lived there.

6. Vogel Ski Center (Bohinjsko Jezero)

Slovenia is an impressive destination throughout the year, but it gets more impressive in winter at the Vogel Ski Center. Vogel center is located in Triglav National Park, has a total of 14 miles of ski slopes and five miles of cross-country skiing tracks. Other than skiing tracks, the center also has a snow park, children's park and snowboarding school. In summers, Vogel is equally impressive. It is the time that visitors can access Mount Vogel using the resort's aerial cable car. The mountain is a favorite for tourists wishing to hike in Slovenia as its trails are ideal for both the novice and experienced hikers.

7. Church of St. George (Piran-Pirano)

In Piran, a port town of Slovenia is Church of St. George, a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to George, a patron saint of the city. The church was built in the 1500s using the Venetian architectural design, and though it has undergone several renovations, it has still maintained a significant portion of its ancient beauty. Visitors are allowed to tour most of the parts of the church, though the inner hall is only accessible during mass. At the viewpoint of the church, you get a breathtaking view of Piran city and a significant part of the coast of Slovenia. The most favorable time to view the church is either in the morning or late afternoon during summer.

8. Vrsic (Kranjska Gora)

Vrsic is a mountain pass in Slovenia that connects Savska and Soska Valleys. The pass runs 1,611 meters across the Julian Alps mountain ranges and has about 50 turns with many different views. On the eighth turn is a Russian Chapel that was constructed in the 1900s. Throughout the turns, you will enjoy a view of the towering mountains. On the pass are mountain huts that you can buy food and refreshments. If you like hiking, then you can consider Vrsic pass as your starting point for accessing the surrounding mountain peaks. If you would like to combine sightseeing the pass with hiking, we recommend that you visit between July and August when the sun shines, and the paths are dry.

9. Tolmin Gorge (Tolmin)

Slovenia never falls short of gorgeous sightseeing nature points and Tolmin Gorge is an addition to the list. Tolmin Gorge is on the southern tip of the only national park of Slovenia, Triglav National Park. The most notable attraction to the gorge is the Devil's Bridge which lies sixty meters above River Tolminka and a thermal spring that is under the bridge. Devils bridge is a name given to most bridges in Slovenia that are found in gorges. In the gorge is also Dante’s cave, the most complex cave in Slovenia, which you can only access with a tour guide. The best months for sightseeing Tolmin Gorge are the snow-free months from end-June to September.The gorge has some slippery pathways, so we recommend that you wear shoes with firm grips on the soles.

10. Kozjak Waterfalls (Kozjak)

A walk in Soca Valley along River Soca takes you to one of the nicest waterfalls in Slovenia, Kozjak Waterfalls. This 15-metered waterfall runs through several water pools making six other waterfalls, though only two are accessible for sightseeing. The waterfalls are part of the Kobarid nature trail which also includes Kobarid Museum, Italian Charnel House, Tonocov grad Hill, and Soca Gorge. Summertime in Slovenia is the best for hiking the trails leading to the waterfalls. Alongside a serene atmosphere, the surrounding of the waterfalls also offers a scenic view of expansive green nature and the historical Napoleon Bridge. If you are aiming at capturing a green scenic surrounding of the falls, we suggest that you visit in spring.

◎ Closing

Slovenia is all about enjoying the exquisiteness that nature has to offer and thus, there is no other better place to enjoy a countryside-like break than Slovenia. Moreover, with more than two thousand hours of sunshine in a year, Slovenia offers a remarkable outdoor sightseeing experience. Whichever part of Slovenia that you pass through, you will most probably find a charming destination with very friendly and enthusiastic people with an exceptionally diverse culture. The icing on the cake is that Slovenia is one of the most affordable countries in Europe, making it a budget-friendly vacation country.