Places to Visit in Slovenia & Is It Worth Visiting?

Slovenia is one of my favourite countries in Europe, and we have visited several times. This guide covers the places we have actually visited, including Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Ptuj, Kranj, Lake Bled, Vintgar Gorge, Pivka, Laško and Divača.

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We have visited many places in Slovenia on multiple visits with Henry, my dog, and all have been great. There are many positive dog-friendly aspects of Slovenia. Travelling around Slovenia by train is pretty straightforward, and many of the places we visited were reachable by rail. For places not on the train network, local buses helped fill the gaps. If you are short on time, there are various tours available on the Viator website.

Cities in Slovenia I Visited

Ljubljana, the Capital City

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and a fantastic city to visit. It is one of the smaller capitals in Europe and thus is very walkable when exploring the sights. Ljubljana is a popular destination with many options for things to see or do. The city centre is ideal for walks and sightseeing, including a visit to Castle Hill.

The central areas of the city are beautiful, including Prešeren Square and along the river. Other places of interest include museums, art galleries, and even opera.

The city also has some wonderful options for bars and restaurants. This includes many that serve traditional local cuisine.

Maribor: A City in Wine Country

Maribor is the second-largest city in Slovenia and is surrounded by countryside, which includes rivers, hills, vineyards, and forests.

The city centre has some very interesting buildings and tourist attractions. Maribor is famous for its wine and is home to the world’s oldest vine. The city also has many bars and restaurants to visit, many with outside and inside seating.

Celje: A City Surrounded By Countryside

The fourth largest city, Celje, is a lovely place to visit. The highlight of any visit is to see the castle that overlooks the city. Celje is also a good city for hiking, and many trails leave directly from the city centre into the nearby hills or up to Celje Castle.

The central areas have lots of green space, and across the river there are many opportunities for hill walks. The price of eating out and beers was far cheaper than in the principal tourist centres of Slovenia. Thus, it’s a suitable option for budget backpacking if cheap accommodation is available.

Ptuj: The Country’s Oldest City

Ptuj is the oldest city in Slovenia, so its old town has a few historic attractions, churches and landmarks. This includes Ptuj Castle, which overlooks the town and has some fantastic exhibits.

Ptuj is also home to the River Drava and the largest man-made lake in the country. Both are good for hiking or sitting by the water and relaxing. Both the lake and river have bars or restaurants where you can eat out while enjoying the views.

Kranj

Kranj is the third-largest city and an interesting place to visit. I only popped to Kranj for a shopping trip to get some essentials, as Kranj was the closest place with retail options.

There are some colourful buildings and some pleasant churches to see. The town centre didn’t seem as touristic as the capital and Bled, which was a plus point for me. The river runs through a gorge, which you can see from several bridges in Kranj. The main town squares had a selection of cafes, bars, and restaurants, including some with comfy outside seating areas.

Mountain Lakes, Gorges and Countryside

Lake Bled

Lake Bled is one of the most popular places to visit in Slovenia. It is brilliant for hiking, including around the lake and on the trails in the nearby countryside. There is a castle overlooking the lake, which is a top-drawer tourist attraction.

You can also hire a paddleboat or enjoy a boat trip to see the lake. Also, you can enjoy water sports and other adventurous activities when visiting the area. There are lots of options for bars & restaurants at Lake Bled, including lakeside ones.

Vintgar Gorge in the Triglav National Park

If you like hiking and beautiful scenery, Vintgar Gorge is a fantastic place to visit. Vintgar Gorge is in the Triglav National Park near the iconic Lake Bled. The gorge is a mile long and 250 metres deep, with the Radovna River running through it. There is a lot of nature to see while walking through the area.

Its gorge section is the major attraction, with many wooden walkways that provide access. The walkways cross the gorge at various points, offering splendid views of the river below, including rapids and waterfalls.

Small Town Slovenia

Pivka

We only popped into Pivka while travelling between Italy and Croatia. We didn’t stop for long, but visited a restaurant, Pizzeria Herman. Pivka is small; however, it has some nearby mountain hiking trails and a military history park. One of the main reasons to visit is to enjoy hiking the Great Krpan trail. The Great Krpan Trail is a 110 km circular walking route that passes castles, mansions and beautiful scenery.

Laško: A Town In The Hills

Laško is a small town on the Savinja River and is pretty. It is surrounded by pleasant countryside and is perfect for hiking adventures into the hills. Overlooking the town is Tabor Castle, a small castle that is now home to a posh restaurant.

In Laško, there are a few other interesting sights, including colourful buildings, churches, a thermal spa, the brewery and some historic monuments. There are many bars and restaurants in the town, and a few shops for picnic supplies.

Divača

Another small town we enjoyed a brief stay in is Divača, which is near the Italian border. Divača is a small town surrounded by lush countryside, ideal for hiking and cycling. The town also has a few attractions, including the museum of Slovenian film actors, some pretty buildings and Divaška Caves. There are also some good restaurants and neighbourhood bars for refreshments.

Best Time To Visit Slovenia

I’ve visited Slovenia during three of the four seasons. This includes spring, summer and autumn. All three were excellent, and I’m intrigued by what it’s like to visit during the winter, maybe for the snow-covered mountains or a Christmas market. You can find out what the weather is like by month on Weather Atlas.

Spring

Spring was an ideal time to go hiking when the weather wasn’t too hot. We enjoyed river walks and hikes through the wine region. We found that accommodation was cheaper, and the tourist attractions were not busy.

Summer

During our summer visit, budget accommodation options were limited, and prices were higher. The weather was wonderful for sightseeing, but in the tourist hotspots, we found it busy, especially in the capital.

Autumn

Autumn in Slovenia was special, especially in the countryside, and we found it great for longer hikes. The colourful forests in the mountains and by the lakes were beautiful. It wasn’t as busy, and accommodation prices had dropped. Overall, every season has its merits when deciding when to visit.

How To Get To Slovenia

There are various ways to get to Slovenia depending on your starting point. This includes driving, by coach, by train or by plane. The capital has an international airport with flights from various countries.

We have always arrived by train, including from Hungary, Italy and Croatia. There are many direct train routes to neighbouring countries, making the country a wonderful destination for a train holiday or an Interrail trip.

Is Slovenia Worth Visiting?

I really enjoyed my multiple visits to different parts of Slovenia, and it’s well worth visiting. Both the popular tourist hotspots and the smaller cities were very enjoyable. You are never far away from some stunning countryside, which adds to the experience.

We found all the places we visited in Slovenia were interesting and scenic. The food was delicious, and the local beers flowed too. For a first-time visitor, I’d recommend seeing at least the bare minimum of the capital and one of the lakes in the mountains, with Lake Bled being the most popular and easiest to reach.

We’ve enjoyed Slovenia loads, and plans are afoot to explore the Slovenian seaside and further into the mountains.