That is the first thought coming to your mind when you hear the word “Slovenia”? Ljubljana? Mountains and lakes? The Adriatic Sea? Most probably, you might know all those places if you were already there? However, what about the most significant feature? France has the Eiffel Tower. Germany has the Berlin Wall and Oktoberfest. The Netherlands has Amsterdam’s water canals and windmills. Then what does Slovenia have? Definitely, it has diversity!
Generally speaking, the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia are Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Soča River, The Triglav Mount, Škocjan and Postojna Caves, Piran, and many others.
If you are acquainted with Slovenia, even a little bit, you should probably know that the country is one of the first green destinations of Europe. It has adorable mountains, the most picturesque lakes and rivers in the world, and even a little bit of seashore, the place where Mediterranean and Slavic cultures clashed and mixed into one of the unique experiences in the world.
On the other hand, Slovenia obtains interesting features from an urban cultural perspective as well. The heart of the country, Ljubljana, is a center of notable buildings, dragons, green parks, and the best festivals in Europe.
Here, we grouped the most visited tourist attractions of Slovenia in order for you to have a general knowledge of what Slovenia is and which are the most significant features of this small but quite interesting and diverse country in the very heart of Europe.
Mountain Attractions
As Slovenia was proclaimed as a Green Destination, and its capital Ljubljana got the European Green Capital award, let us start from the Slovenian nature. Furthermore, here you can find a decent number of UNESCO World Heritage protected places. Moreover, only 1/5 of the country is flat. So, let’s start with the most significant mountainous landmarks of Slovenia.
The Triglav Mount
Triglav, for Slovenians, is not just a mountain. It is the highest peak in the country. It is the national symbol. It appeared on the national flag as well as on the coat of arms. People dedicated their art to this mountain. They study it, climb, rest in the national park, find endemic animals in karst caves there.
Triglav has 2,863.65 meters (9,395.2 ft.) of height. The mount is located in the Triglav National Park in the east northern part of the country. Triglav became even a symbol of the partisans’ resistance movement. Everything connected with the national spirit is located near the mountain. That’s why this became the place of rising the new national flag after gaining independence in 1991.
Now, it is the place where you can challenge yourself and enjoy picturesque natural landscapes.
Škocjan Caves
In 1986, the caves were included in UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites. Scientific circles acknowledged the importance of the caves and related them to the natural treasures of planet Earth. Škocjan Caves represent the underground phenomena on the Karst Plateau of Slovenia. After gaining independence, the government established Škocjan Caves Regional Park
It is estimated at around 6,200 m (20,300 ft) of the explored length of caves. There, Škocjan Caves takes approximately 100,000 visitors every year. The first part of it was opened in 1933, but after that, the caves were reopened in 2011 because of a flood. Now, there are tours in Slovenian, English, Italian, and German here.
Logar Valley
The magnificent Logar Valley is the place where nature still rules. Officially, there are only 35 people living here on farms. It is a typical U-shaped valley formed by the process of glaciation. In simple words, a long time ago, a big ice boulder shaped the valley in this way.
The valley is full of hiking trails. Two of the most picturesque ones are Klemenči jami Hiking Trail and Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju Hiking Trail up to the Kamnik Saddle. The paths will open you the best views of mountains covered with flowers and forests. However, be prepared, because it is a challenge for people even if you like walking.
Furthermore, from the Kamnik Saddle, you will open the best view on the pearl of this place, the Rinka Falls. The height of its drop is 105 meters (344 ft), which makes it the highest one among the other 20 waterfalls in the Logar Valley as well as the highest waterfall in the Republic of Slovenia. The longest step is 90 m (300 ft) in its length, so the water here flies this distance uninterruptedly.
Water Attractions
For those people who want to spend a more relaxing weekend than walking in mountain hiking tracks, water landmarks are the next category of attractions they need to check.
Lake Bled
One of the most well-known tourist destinations in the entire country and one of the most beautiful places in Europe. It is located in northwestern Slovenia, near the town with the same name, Bled.
It’s quite big. The surface area is 1.45 km2. The lake has mixed origin, glacial and tectonic. It is 2,120 m long and 1,380 m wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m. There is a tiny island situated in the middle of the lake. The place is surrounded by mountains and forests. So, together with the crystal clear water, it is the perfect place for relaxation and looking for a muse or thinking about the matter of life.
Soča River
The Soča River is one of the unique natural attractions of Slovenia. The river turns emerald green in its color. Moreover, it is very rare for such a long river to have this interesting color throughout its length. In general, it is 138-kilometer (86 mi) long, whereas 96 kilometers (60 mi) flows in western Slovenia and 43 kilometers (27 mi) through northeastern Italy.
Aside from its definitive appearance, the river has a long and interesting history. It became a scene of 12 battles between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from June 1915 till November 1917, culminating in the Battle of Caporetto in 1917. Afterward, the river became the place of Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian filming. It is Disney’s movie of 2008 on the famous novel.
Slovene Riviera
Slovenian Riviera is a unique place in the country. If the rest of the territory is full of mountains, continental climate, and different activities, this one can be a perfect place for summer relaxation. You have a number of beaches to visit, 14 settlements, each one with its own story and memorable places, and a lot more around to explore.
Slovenian Adriatic shore is called Slovene Riviera. It is located on the Gulf of Trieste, by the Adriatic Sea. The coastline is part of the Istrian peninsula and is only 46.6 km long. On the other side, all the possible things to do are located in one location. Therefore, it becomes the perfect place for tourism.
Slovene Riviera is located in Slovene Istria, the most southwestern part of the country, and in the historical region of the Slovene Littoral. Also, it belongs to the Coastal–Karst Statistical Region, which has a unique feature of mixing marine and mountain landscapes, fauna and flora, culture, weather, and so on.
Urban Attractions
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is a city that is full of life as well as full of Slovenia. In the very heart of it, there is Prešeren Square, dedicated to one of the most significant national figures of Slovenia, Franc Prešeren, the author of the lyrics of the official hymn of the Republic of Slovenia.
Ljubljana Castle is a pearl of the city. It is located on Castle Hill, which includes Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural elements. The castle is the former residence of the Dukes of Carniola as well as nowadays residence of the Ljubljana Festival, one of the biggest and oldest festivals in the entire post-Yugoslav territory.
Of course, a must-see is a main watercourse of Ljubljana, the Ljubljanica River, that flows across the city. Thus, around the city, you will find many bridges. Most of them are adorably decorated. The most famous two are the Dragons Bridge that is protected by dragons, and the Butchers’ Bridge, where you can observe sculptures from Ancient Greek mythology and Biblical stories.
The city is full of life, you can find approximately 10,000 cultural events taking place here each year, including theatre, music, and art festivals. On the other hand, if you are tired of city life, not so far from the city, there are the Ljubljana Marshes, that were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage.
The Ljubljana Summer Festival
The Ljubljana Festival is a huge summer event. First of all, because of its durability. The most prolonged was the festival of 2015. At that time, it took place from the end of June to the end of September, which is an incredible duration. Now, the festival is usually happening in two months. However, the founders created a smaller “winter version” instead (approximately 4-5 days).
Secondly, it is the most important festival for Slovenians because of its history. It has been taking place since 1953. Moreover, the festival became international in 1977. Since then, it has gathered hundreds of artists from all around the world in Ljubljana.
Piran
The heart of Slovene Riviera, Piran. There you will find how the edge of a narrow peninsula straightly jumps in the Adriatic Sea. The most favorite place of Slovenians during the summertime. Also, you can observe the unique mix of Mediterranean and Slavic cultures, try both Slovenian vine and schnapps (rakija) and taste Mediterranean seafood with traditional Slovenian Potica dessert.
Moreover, this city will suit people who want to see not only beaches and water but the beautiful architecture and the feeling of old Europe. Piran is well-known for its romantic views of the Venetian and Austrian architecture in the old town of the city.
Not the End
Of course, it’s impossible all the significant attractions, places, landmarks, cities, etc. in just one article. In general, Slovenia is a hidden gem of Europe. Here, you can find how everything mixes, creating indigenous diversity in such a small territory. In Slovenia, nature mixed sea and mountains as well as people mixed Slavic, Balkan, and Mediterranean cultures. We are pretty sure that this dish is not only for gourmands but for everybody who loves adventures and the beauty of nature.
