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.

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!

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Ljubljana

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.

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Best Things to Do In Ljubljana

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

• Triple Bridge
• Preseren Square
• Ljubljana Cathedral
• Farmer’s Market Square
• Dragon Bridge
• Butcher’s Bridge (Love Lock Bridge)
• Town Hall
• Mestni trg / Stari trg / Gornji trg — These are three narrow cobblestone pedestrian streets lined with super cute shops and restaurants.
• Ljubljana Castle — Take the funicular up to the top for a panoramic view over Ljubljana!

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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.

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Lake Bled

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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Thanks so much for reading!