9 Best Places to Visit in Slovenia

Wondering what your next European destination should be?

Well, let me show you the best places to visit in Slovenia and you’ll see why this country in Eastern Europe would be a wonderful idea.

With dense forests, towering mountains, emerald rivers, scenic lakes and old towns, your eyes will have difficulty processing all the beauty around you.

Below you will find 9 of the best places to visit in Slovenia showcasing their scenic and colorful landscapes that you can admire during your trip, some of the best things to do in Slovenia.

And yes, the colors are real!

I remember telling my parents: “Look at the bright green of that grass, people are going to think that I have used filters!”

Best places to visit in Slovenia

Now that you’re thinking about what to do in Slovenia, you can’t go wrong with these places!

1. Lake Bled

Lake Bled - one of the best places to visit in Slovenia

Lake Bled is probably the most famous of the places to visit in Slovenia, and a must-stop on any trip around the country.

It is so charming with its intense color and surrounding mountains. Plus it has a tiny island where you can ring the bell for your wish to come true.

The best ways to appreciate its beauty is to hike up one of the hills, hop on a traditional Pletna boat or climb to the castle built on a precipice to admire the lake (as in this photo). A wonderful view, isn’t it?

To learn more about all the things to do in and around Lake Bled Slovenia, check out this guide.

2. Vintgar Gorge

Vintgar Gorge - one of the best things to do in Slovenia

My favourite experience in Slovenia was walking through the Vintgar gorge, not far from Lake Bled.

Boards and trails have been set up so that you can discover this narrow canyon on an easy walk.

Several bridges allow you to admire the best views from the middle of the river. The transparency of the water flowing between the steep cliffs is mesmerizing.

At the end of the walk you can choose to walk down 60 steps to admire a small waterfall as colorful as the gorge.

Check out my videos and many photos of the Vintgar Gorge in this article.

3. Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj - one of the best places to visit in Slovenia

Lake Bohinj is not as famous as Lake Bled but ask the locals, and most will tell you that it is one of their favorite things to do in Slovenia.

Bohinj is just 40 minutes from Bled but it is a lot wilder and less touristic. No castle, no island, just a couple of small churches, a charming bridge and once again those incredible shades of green.

You can drive along one half of the lake, and you can walk all around.

However if you are limited in time, you can enjoy one of the best views from the bridge, just when you arrive at the lake.

4. Savica Waterfall

Savica Waterfall - one of the best things to do in Slovenia

Slap Savica is the most visited waterfall in Slovenia and for good reasons: the water, which flows in an underground river, gets out of the middle of the mountain wall, drops in an A-shape and falls into an emerald sparkling pool.

As it is located at the west end of Lake Bohinj, you can combine visits to both for a very scenic day.

Just be aware that to deserve that view, you have to climb 550 steps under the trees!

5. Piran

Piran - one of the best places to visit in Slovenia.

Let’s have a break from green and discover intense blues and oranges.

The old town of Piran is the most scenic one on the short Slovenia Coast. Located on a peninsula, it used to prosper thanks to the saltpans.

But now it attracts mostly tourists who appreciate a stroll in the narrow alleys and enjoy delicious seafood.

You can get a fantastic view of the whole old town and the Adriatic Sea from the fortification walls. It is especially great to watch sunset over the horizon.

6. Lake Jasna

Lake Jasna - one of the best places to visit in Slovenia

On the way to the highest pass in Slovenia, you can take a break at Lake Jasna.

Enjoy a swim or simply sit by the statue of Zlatorog, a golden horn mystical creature of the Julian Alps.

The views are breathtaking with many shades of green in the water and in the trees. Its beauty is hard to describe with words.

7. Logar Valley

Logar Valley - one of the best places to visit in Slovenia

Located close to the border with Austria, the Logar valley, known as Logarska Dolina, offers a peaceful environment.

In the area, you can enjoy sharp mountain summits and charming traditional farms.

Several valleys are opened to cars and hikers. Or you can choose to drive the panoramic road to reach some of the farms, taste their product and admire the postcard-perfect views.

It is actually located in the Kamnik Alps, one of yTravel Blog’s 10 hidden secret destinations in Europe

8. Soca River

Soca Valley - one of the best places to visit in Slovenia

Another jewel of Slovenia, the Soca River, is often called ‘the emerald river’ due to its intense colors.

As you drive down the valley, many small bridges allow you to discover its different sections: sometimes wide with transparent water and sometimes narrow with intense green waterway.

It is especially appreciated for rafting and kayaking.

9. Novo Mesto

Novo Mesto - one of the best things to do in Slovenia

When you visit Slovenia, you’ll notice that many old town centers are located near a river; with a church often erected uphill – this is great for photography!

On this picture is Novo Mesto, a town not far from the border with Croatia along the Krka River.

For more ideas about things to do on that road trip, planning information, beautiful photos, and practical maps to help you plan your travels, check out ZigZag On Earth’s eBook: Road Trip Guide to Slovenia

Plan your trip to Slovenia

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What do your think of the colors in Slovenia? Is Green your favorite one? Are you inspired for some Slovenia travel experiences now?

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7 thoughts on “9 Best Places to Visit in Slovenia”

  1. Slovenia looks like a country with scenic rivers and lakes. Really beautiful photos mate. And can’t believe those colors are real, the water is so blue and the mountains are so green. A great spot for travelers who love walk and wander through old cities. Thanks you for introducing this hidden beauty for us. Keep writing mate. Cheers.

  2. Slovenia is one of my fav places in the world! So stunning- the town of Bovec is a great base for exploring the Soca, and also a good spot for canyoning, hiking, and walks.

  3. Wow, an awesome and very informative post. I plan to visit Slovenia this summer and I’ll sure remember to check your recommendations. Obviously everyone talks about Lake Bled, Bohinj and Novo Mesto, but I’ve never heard of Lake Jasna or Piran before. You made me look forward to my summer adventure even more! 🙂

  4. This is great! Thanks! I am 1 eighth Slovenian so we were going to go last summer, but we didn’t with covid. But I will be looking forward to this!

  5. My wife and I visited Slovenia in 2018. We found Ljubljana to be wonderful. The central city is car free with a lot of biking. Their coastline on the Adriatic was very enjoyable. Lake Bled was spectacular and we were able to book a joy air balloon ride over the lake and surrounding countryside. Vinegar gorge was a wonderful afternoon of hiking. I would recommend Slovenia for a spectacular relaxing vacation.

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