When we talk about the tourist attractions in Slovenia we can separate them into two parts – the more known and the lesser visited but worth the time. Slovenia is a small country with the positive thing being that you travel less and see more. You can stay for the whole week in the capital and do almost the whole Slovenia tour from Ljubljana. It’s like doing daily excursions and not changing hotels every night – probably a more comfortable trip for you. Below you can get a feel of some of the things you can see and let us know which of them should we add to your next trip to Slovenia.
Read about the places below and let us know which you would prefer on your trip. We can easily do a mix – since all our tours can be tailor-made for you.
LJUBLJANA
This little jewel has its city center positioned right along the lovely Ljubljanica River. Several bridges are connecting the two parts with the Ljubljana Castle looking over the old part of town like a concerning parent. Parents, do bring your children, the centric part is closed for traffic making it a safer and more comfortable visit. Jump on one of the boats doing tours on the river and see the city from another perspective. Passing under the Triple Bridge and the Dragon Bridge, seeing the Franciscan Church and charming baroque houses. You can also see almost all of the attractions on foot since the distances are pretty short. Have your lunch or dinner in one of the local restaurants, whether you are looking for a Michelin Star place or a more casual option. You can also grab some fresh fruit to go, when passing the open market – one of our architect’s Jože Plečnik’s Unesco tourist attractions in Slovenia.
Below-the-radar options
➔ Many go to the castle for the views. Next time take the elevator to the top of Ljubljana’s skyscraper Nebotičnik and your Instagram followers will be happy – plus there is a rooftop bar there for some cake, coffee, or a cold refreshment.
➔ Nature is closer than you think. A couple of minutes’ walk from the city center you will find Tivoli Park. A lovely place for walks, great for runners, with an open-air gallery, the National Museum of Contemporary History, and a large children’s playground.
➔ Metelkova City – a more alternative culture center. And right there stands Celica Hostel. This ex-prison is an interesting place to visit and we can also organize a tour for you. If you are passing by, enter and have a cup of coffee in their bar which is next to the staircase that leads to the old solitary confinement cells.
POSTOJNA
In this little town, you find the largest show cave in Europe. Postojna Cave is really a must when in Slovenia, either as a daily excursion from Ljubljana or a full tour of Slovenia. Part of the visit is done by foot and part by a small electric train, making it one of the more entertaining tourist attractions in Slovenia. When you finish the visit, we also suggest you visit the Predjama Castle the largest cave castle in the world. More than 800 years ago this medieval fortress was ‘’carved’’ on a cliff more than 120 meters high.
Below-the-radar options
➔ This second option for a cave visit will not disappoint. The Škocjan Caves are the first monument in Slovenia and in the Karst region inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Accompanied by a guide, you will set off on foot to explore this interesting underworld rich in a wide variety of dripstone formations.
➔ Like the underground world? It’s very mysterious visiting a mercury mine. See the world’s second-largest mercury mine and explore its underground. In the town of Idrija, 240 million years of geological history await you in the Antony’s Tunnel which was excavated in the 1500s and is the oldest surviving mine entrance in Europe.
➔ A king’s accommodation – the Otočec Castle. You might as well make a short stop on your way from Slovenia to Zagreb when on your trip to Slovenia and Croatia. The Otočec Castle is special for two reasons. First, it is the only water castle in Slovenia – on an island in the middle of the Krka River and second, it is a Relais & Châteaux hotel.
Do you wish to have a mix o tourist attractions in Slovenia and below-the-radar options on your trip?
BLED
Have you bought a postcard with a lake and an island in the middle? It is Lake Bled. This place attracts different languages almost year-round. Some take the Pletna boat and visit the island in the middle, some also visit the castle overlooking the lake and some also visit the beautiful Vintgar Gorge in the vicinity. And somewhere in the middle of everything, take a break and try Kremšnita, a typical Bled cream cake.
Below-the-radar options
➔ Try Lake Bohinj – the largest Slovenian natural lake, Ptuj Lake – the largest Slovenian artificial lake, Lake Zbilje – a romantic place with swans or maybe Lake Podpeč – small but very deep, popular among fishermen to catch big carp, pike, chub, tench, perch, and giant gudgeon.
➔ For an escape from the crowds but still stay in nature, try the Logarska Valley, one of the most beautiful alpine glacial valleys in Europe. The Logarska Trail is a natural ethnographic trail that leads through beautiful corners of the preserved nature of the landscape park.
➔ Prefer to share the tree line with the birds? The tree top walk above the majestic forests in the Pohorje mountains gives a nature lover a different point of view. About a kilometer-long path provides an easy walk among some amazing flora and fauna.
Among the tourist attractions in Slovenia – lovely towns
PIRAN
Piran is located at the very tip of the Piran peninsula, in the immediate vicinity of Portorož. An old fishing town with a lot of history, with its famous salt pans, and known as the birthplace of the composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini. Tartini Square is given a special character by the Benečanka, a beautiful building built in the middle of the 15th century, an example of Venetian-Gothic architecture. The narrow streets are full of stories and also great for romantic walks.
PTUJ
Of course, visit Ptuj in winter (February) when a spectacular carnival takes place. Kurentovanje, the name of the carnival, comes alive with one of the most famous masks in the world, Kurent. In 2017, the international organization UNESCO inscribed the Kurent March on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The oldest town in Slovenia also invites you in other months if you’re hungry for culture. On our guided tour you can visit the castle’s nationally important museum collections, the exhibitions of Ptuj’s many galleries, the 120+-year-old and longest-running cinema in Slovenia, or one of the country’s smallest, yet most successful theatres.
MARIBOR
The Guinness World Records also put it on the map with the oldest vine in the world. The Old Vine has more than 400 years and it still bears fruit. The area of today’s Maribor was part of the border county of the Frankish state at the beginning of the 12th century and the town developed along the Drava River, especially on the left bank below the castle. On your walking tour, you will see the Maribor Cathedral – built in the 12th century as a Romanesque building, the “reddish” Franciscan church with its monastery, and the Main Square.
Among the sights on this square, you can find the Town Hall – built at the beginning of the 16th century, the late Baroque Aloysius Church – built in the 18th century, and in the center of the square stands the Virgin Mary statue or the Plague Marker, constructed by the inhabitants in the 17th century to commemorate the plague that claimed the lives of almost a fifth of the population in 1680-81.
Below-the-radar options
➔ Kamnik
A town in the lap of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Slovenia with a castle complex on the town’s hill, also known as the town balcony, from the 11th century. Only the two-story Romanesque chapel with its crypt has survived, and today it is one of the main symbols of the town. A special feature of Kamnik is also the Library of the Franciscan Monastery. The museum part of the library contains material dating back to 1800, comprising around 10,000 items. On your walking tour through the old part, you will also be able to see the works of Jože Plečnik, recognized by Unesco.
➔ Škofja Loka
A mystical medieval town of UNESCO’s Living Heritage. Its medieval streets are full of good stories, romantic views, and handicraft secrets. You can instantly transform into a gentleman heading to Škofja Loka Castle. Today, the castle houses one of the most beautifully arranged museums with archaeological, historical, cultural, artistic, natural history, and ethnological collections. In the castle park, you can also see a very well-preserved 16th-century farmhouse.
➔ Radovljica
The charming old town center of Radovljica is one of the most beautiful in Slovenia. The town began to develop in the 13th century on a sunny terrace above the Sava River. Central Linhart Square is adorned with beautifully preserved townhouses from the 16th and 17th centuries. After seeing the buildings by the church square, visit the Radovljica Manor. The first floor houses the Beekeeping Museum, renovated in 2021, and the Radovljica City Museum.
Many don’t know, but Slovenia is also well known for its wellness and spa centers. A lot of locals and foreigners visit them in all seasons, making them one of the tourist attractions of Slovenia.
Let us know which of the below-the-radar options should we add to the already existing route of Slovenia.
In the meantime, keep browsing our website if you get any additional ideas for your trip, and then just simply send us a short email and we’ll be right with you.
