The 7 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Slovenia

Slovenia is one of those hidden gems, which not many people knew about for such a long time! However, the breathtaking photos of its natural beauty and wilderness has brought more people to visit Slovenia in the last past years than ever before! I travelled there, and admittedly, it is spectacular. Below you can find the top 7 reasons why you need to visit Slovenia!

Why Visit Slovenia?

Slovenia is a tiny country, about the size of Sicily with only 2 million inhabitants! That’s less than an average capital city of the world. However, I found a charm behind its smallness: it gives an impression of a fairytale. If you are a fan of budget travel, Slovenia won’t disappoint as it is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Europe. Also, it is very convenient to travel to and easy to drive around — you can climb a mountain and swim in the sea in the very same day!

Visit Slovenia

There are many reasons why you should visit Slovenia, but I have listed those that made me really fall in love with the country.

If you are looking for help planning your next trip, check out my travel resource guide.

1.      Full of Natural Beauty

From waterfalls to the mountains, from the seaside to the widest caves; Slovenia is definitely a must visit country for all of you travelers who appreciate alluring nature and would like to hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. The top location is Lake Bled in the North of Slovenia, which is perfect for a day trip. You can rent a boat and paddle to the island in the middle of the lake and enjoy in the serene landscape. The whole scenery is magical, especially in winter months, which usually amaze us with a snow-covered countryside. You can even enhance your trip and visit another nearby sight Lake Bohinj, which is, in local people’s opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Slovenia. Slovenia offers various options for day trips, such as hiking in the Alps, seeing waterfalls (Slap Savica) or taking a day off at the charming coastal little town such as Piran, Slovenia.

2.      Outdoor Adventures

If you are an adventurer like me, visiting Slovenia will leave you speechless! There are many opportunities to feed your adrenaline urge. If you like hiking or mountaineering, you can go for a one or two-day trip in the Triglav National Park and even summit the Slovenian highest mountain. Slovenian people say that one does not make a proud Slovenian until s(he) has hiked the Triglav! Thus, you can only imagine how much the locals love their mountains.  There are so many reasons to visit the Soca Valley in Slovenia.

Hiking in the country is suitable for all skill levels. In the winter, the snow-covered mountains also offer the joy of skiing. If you are more of a summer lover, you can as well find a lot of water adventures in the Municipality of Bovec, where you can experience canyoneering, try a picturesque bungee jump from the Bridge Solkan or observe the Alps while zip-lining in Planica.

3.      Castles

Remember when I mentioned Slovenia gives us an impression of a fairytale? Well, with its rich history, beautiful architecture and the castles make it seem so dreamy.  There are over 500 castles in Slovenia, many of which have been converted into museums and parks. 

The most iconic castle is the one in the city centre of Ljubljana, the capital, located on the top of a hill. Another gorgeous and worth of your visit is Postojna castle. It is very convenient to take a day trip to the South and see the spectacular Postojna cave, combined with the castle. If castles fascinate you, you can even take virtual tours of castles right from home!

4.      Easily Accessible

Slovenia lies in the heart of Europe, in the centre of the world. It borders four countries: Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. Since the country is tiny, it has a small airport, too, and not many airlines fly there. However, Venice is only short 3 hours away and many travelers fly there. It is effortless and actually very advisable to go around with a car, since it provides flexibility to plan your own day trip. Roads are well-kept and if you want to explore further, you don’t even have to worry about border checks because of the Schengen zone.

A special thank you to Brendan Williams for joining me this week in Slovenia and taking photos for me.

5.      Great Food and Wine

If you are a foodie like me, you will not be disappointed by Slovenian delicious culinary. There are many traditional foods you can try: Carniolian sausage, Prekmurian Layered Cake – which looks like one of the best cakes I have seen in a long time! It is a juicy dessert, stuffed with poppy seeds, cottage cheese, walnuts and apples. It is also protected by the “Recognized trademark of traditional reputation”. Štruklji is another traditional Slovenian food made from a dough and filled with variety of fillings. They can be eaten as an individual dish or a side dish.

6.      Spas and Thermal Baths

Slovenia is rich in mineral water and depending on the geographical location, the actual water offers different healing benefits. Honestly, the best thermal spas are in the Pannonian Plain, in the Karst Region or in the Alps. It is a perfect retreat to relax for a day or two and to prioritize your wellness and selfness. My personal recommendation would be Essence Spa, which is in Bled, therefore you can combine it with your day trip to the Lake. It is small, cozy and with a breath-taking view at the Alps.

7.      The Sea and the Sun

Even the seaside of Slovenia is notably diverse. Piran is one of my favorite towns since it has a memorable romantic vibe. It charms visitors with architecture, art, cozy cafes. It is amazing to get lost in its tiny streets which resemble Rome at some sights!

Although Slovenia is not best known as a beach getaway destination, it is still a good place for a summer swim. You can relax on the Portorož Beach, which is sometimes called the “Miami of Slovenia” with its clubs and casinos, but the real gem is Mesečev Zaliv beach, which is still hidden to many people, even to locals. On my next trip, I definitely want to get to Piran.

You can check out my other blog post about Slovenia HERE.

There are so many reasons to visit Slovenia and it will leave you speechless. I recommend you to visit Slovenia and decide for yourself, but I know for sure that I will be back! It is affordable, easy to travel around and suitable for all travel types: an adventure, a culture trip or just for relaxing and doing nothing in one of the amazing spas. You will love it, I swear it!

This blog post about my trip to Slovenia is brought you in collaboration with the Slovenian Tourism Board . Thank you for supporting the destinations that support me.