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How to Spend 5 Days in Slovenia

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

Last summer I had the chance to spend 5 days in Slovenia. For some reason I had pictured Slovenia as a developing country — but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Slovenia is a modern European country with cultural cities and charming villages nestled among tranquil lakes and snow-capped Alpine mountains. English is widely spoken in Slovenia, so we didn’t have any problems there.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

Slovenia is very near Austria, Croatia, and the Dolomites in Italy, so if you’re planning a trip to any of these regions, you could easily add a few extra days in Slovenia. If this is your first time in Slovenia, keep reading below for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don’t miss any of the highlights!


Ljubljana

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

Ljubljana (pronounced Loo-bee-yah-nuh) is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe. It’s quiet, laid-back, and nestled along the Ljubljanica river. Colorful baroque facades line the narrow, cobblestone streets. It reminds me of a mini Prague. There’s even a castle on a hill.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!


Best Things to Do In Ljubljana

Ljubljana is very easy to explore on foot. Here are the main highlights you should see in Ljubljana:


The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

We spent two nights in Ljubljana in an Airbnb along the river near Cobbler’s Bridge.

Join Airbnb using this link to get $40 off your first booking.


Lake Bled

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

This lake in Slovenia is straight out of a fairytale — complete with a tiny chapel, on a tiny island, in the middle of a turquoise blue lake, with a high castle and towering Alps in the background.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

There are two hiking trails nearby where you can get picture-perfect panoramic views of the lake. Both trails offer views of the lake and island from slightly different perspectives. The trails are not too long, so you could easily do both in a couple hours.

  • Ojstrica — This trail is a bit shorter and easier, about 20 minutes to the top.
  • Mala Osojnica — This is probably the more popular overlook (it’s where I took the pictures above) but it’s a bit longer (about 45 minutes to the top) and more challenging because you start at lake-level and you have to climb all the way to the top!
The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

You can rent a wooden boat and paddle out to the island in the middle of the lake and go up in the clock tower at the church. There’s also a little ice cream shop on the island. The perfect afternoon treat after hiking.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

Another spectacular hike near Lake Bled is Vintgar Gorge. A flat, easy boardwalk along the steep canyon walls leads you through the narrow gorge above unbelievably emerald waters to a waterfall at the end of the trail.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

There is a big parking lot at the beginning of the trail {GPS Location}. To reach the waterfall is about 1 mile, one way. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the waterfall from the parking lot.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

Another beautiful lake in the area is Lake Bohinj. It’s a bit bigger than Lake Bled. There’s a path around around the lake with gorgeous views.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!


Where to Stay in Lake Bled

We stayed in Lake Bled for 3 nights at an Airbnb near Restaurant Sova Bled. Also highly recommend Restaurant Sova Bled — this was one of my favorite meals in the area!

Join Airbnb using this link to get $40 off your first booking.


The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary in Slovenia. First time in Slovenia? Here is a checklist for the best things to do and see in Slovenia so you don't miss any of the highlights!

Thanks so much for reading!

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8 Responses
  1. Alzbeta Murphy

    I just enjoyed reading this blog. I regularly visit your blog and every time I found & learn something different on travelling. So I want to thank the admin for putting your efforts in making this well-developed post and I’m looking forward for more post like this.

  2. Merita

    I really enjoy your Facebook page and blog. You should also check out Montenegro & Albania. Turkey is beautiful as well. Keep up the good work and enjoy life as we all should.

  3. Felicia

    Your post made us reconsider some upcoming vacation plans and we’re now looking at flights to Ljubljana! Did you guys rent a car or take public transport? I know the city is rather small–are the touristy areas walkable?

    1. Amanda

      You definitely don’t need a rental car in Ljubljana! It’s very small — everywhere is walkable. :) We took a rental car from Ljubljana to Lake Bled — it’s very easy to drive in Slovenia. After that we took a Flixbus from Ljubljana to Zagreb, Croatia. Hope this helps! :)

  4. Lisa Anderson

    I used to live in sLOVEnija for 18 months as a missionary for the LDS (Mormon) church. Your post made me so HAPPY & heartsick for this country that I LOVE! Thanks for sharing your AMAZING pictures that took me right back there from my computer desk at work! ? ? ?

  5. Carol kaufmann

    We are visiting Slovenia in May. Thanks for the tips, we are looking forward to exploring this beautiful country.
    I love all your posts about your travels and you have inspired me to add many of the places to our bucket list.

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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