Slovenia - tell me about it.

[5foot5]

DH and I are in the early stages of planning this summer's holiday. For the last few years we have done self-guided, hotel to hotel walks for the first week and then in the second week we usually rent a property in the region we are in so that we can sight see and explore.

We intend to do the same this year and we are quite interested in a walk in Slovenia, this one in fact The Lakes and Julian Alps

The question is what to do and where to stay in the second week. We have never been to Slovenia and don't know what the must see things are.

Should we aim to stay in Ljubjana as it is the main city and quite central?
Are there other regions that people would recommend to stay in? What is the coast line like?

What should we try to see?

Also would a hire car be essential?
Would a day trip to Venice be feasible and if so what is the best way to get there?

Anything else anybody can think of!

Thanks

I went to Slovenia in 2016 and loved it. Ljubljana is definitely where I would stay again as we like to go out for dinners etc. Only been to the coast for a day, it was nice but nothing special. Loved the caves, so definitely to those. And lake bled...

Also, car hire: yes!
Trip to Venice: several ferried daily so defiantly worth it.

We went a few years ago but stayed in Kranska Gora
wonderful
Beautiful walking, loads to do,
cycled to Italy one day,
another day rented a car and went to Austria
another day drove down to the coast and went to Skokjan Cave

Food was good, people were nice.
Ski resorts in summer are fab.

THe Pyrennees ski places in high summer are good too

Watching with interest as we might go there this year!

I live in Slovenia. It's great.

Ljubljana is beautiful, but very small. Fine for a base, but a couple of days would be ample to explore the city.

Day trip to Venice is feasible, although personally I think Venice is a nightmare in the summer. You could also go to Trieste, which is much closer.

The coast is lovely. Very small and frequently ignored, so not as touristy as it's (similar) neighbours Italy & Croatia. Piran is particularly beautiful.

There are MANY amazing places to see here besides the half dozen that are currently in every colour supplement...

We live in Bled, we rent out self-catering accommodation and my husband is a local mountain guide, would be happy to answer any further questions in a private message if you want!

I went last year and loved it.

Ljubljana was brilliant but you wouldn't need a whole week, we did Ljubljana in 3 days, although could have done another as one day was at the Postojna caves which I really enjoyed.

In Ljubljana itself I would recommend the free walking tour and a trip up to the castle was ok but only really for the views. We also went to the Illusion museum which was good but a long queue to get in. I wanted to go to Metelkova which is an area with lots of street art and that's why we could have done with another day.

Then we went to lake Bled for 4 days which was plenty for there including a chilled out day when we could have gone on a day trip to Lake Bohinj if we'd fancied it. Whilst there we rowed to the island (not much actually on island). Took a taxi to Vintgar Gorge then walked back, lovely walk all through the gorge and stopped at a village on the way back which had a little restaurant that did amazing food. We also went on the toboggan ride which was a lot of fun. Went on a couple of walks around the lake and up a very steep hill at one end of the lake to get a brilliant view.

We didn't hire a car because DH drives for a living so doesn't want to on holiday and I don't drive at all. It was fine, public transport was good but it would have been handy on days like when we went to the caves and wanted to spend a bit longer but would have missed the bus.

Oh I loved Slovenia when we went a few years ago! I can’t wait to go back once our children are a bit older.

Few days in Ljubljana - 2/3 is probably enough. Then onto Lake Bled for a few days, day trip to Lake Bohinj from there (take a picnic as there are literally no shops/restaurants!).

We then went up to the mountains and camped. We went canyoning but also loads of white water rafting etc to do.

Then to the coast for a few days. Piran is simply stunning.

We also went to the caves on the way back from the coast to the airport on the last day.

I would love to go to the wine regions and explore the west of the country next time.

Enjoy, I’m very envious!!!