Really liked Slovenia - where else would I like?

[Timetotakethtrain]

Had a really good holiday last year. Took the train through Austria to Ljubljana - beautiful mountain views. Spent a couple of days in Ljubljana - enjoyed exploring a new (to us) city that was scenic and walkable and felt very safe. Went on a day trip to Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves - enjoyed seeing sights that were different and spectacular. Caught bus to Bled and stayed a couple of days. Enjoyed spectacular scenery and going for walks. Overall we enjoyed the mix of spectacular scenery and other sightseeing.

So based on the above, can anyone recommend another holiday that you think I would like? Other people going would be DH and possibly our adult DC. One "must" is that it mustn't require us to drive. TIA.

South Tyrol!

A few days in Merano or Bolzano, then a few in the mountains? Plan de Corones or further east in the Dolomites?

Thanks! That sounds interesting. I've not been to that part of Italy. Are those places well connected by public transport?

Prague, it’s very beautiful.

You might enjoy Poland. For example - There is the Tatra Mountains, Białowieża Forest, the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds, Warsaw (Royal Castle, the historical old Town, etc.) Krakow (Wieliczka Salt Mine, Auschwitz Concentration Camp, etc). Gdansk and Malbork Castle. Great Polish Food. Reasonable and reliable Public Transport. Great range of accommodation.

Also coming to say Poland, it’s beautiful. Last time I was there we went on a day trip to Zakopane which was stunning.

Austria - couple of days in Vienna or Innsbruck then train to Krems for a five day Wachau valley walking trip along the Danube, with much wine tasting along the way at the many vineyards. Manages to combine gentle walking with spectacular views, and it never gets very remote so there’s always a cafe, restaurant or vaulted wine bar within a hour or two. Nice castles and ancient monasteries to explore. Then river boat back to your starting point and train to Vienna airport. Austrian trains are pretty good, as you’ve probably already discovered.

You can fly into Bolzano directly, and a lot of the larger resort towns are easy enough to reach by train.

We had a hire car when we were there, but I think it would work with public transport.

Croatia Dubrovnik and Split. Bucharest.

Thanks all! Will look into these suggestions.

Montenegro

Go to Lovčen in the mountains, and anywhere else up there for the good ham, cheeses & wines
Near Podgorica for the Plantaža wine cellar
Lipa caves, smaller than those in Slovenia, but have a bar in them.
Kotor, after wondering round the old town and visiting the car museum and churches, escape the crowds to the cafe restaurant up on the walls.
Perast & Lady of the Rocks island, stop at a restaurant over the water for fresh grilled fish & Dalmatian sides
Eat čevapi & kajmak in a lepinja anywhere and everywhere, they are awesome.
Stop at any bayside tiny shack and mussel farm for the best fresh mussels and fish, for €20
Hire a small boat and captain, if you don't have a licence, for the day to to take you round the bay of Kotor, to Mamula island, Žanjice, and to the Blue Cave (Plava Spilja),
Avoid Budva, it's sadly too built up, even if the old town is beautiful

Haven't been for a few years and want to go back.

There are trains along the Pustertal valley in South Tyrol and the Vinschgau valley in South Tyrol which are often included in local accommodation summer cards. The cards also cover buses and some cable cars plus other local attractions. Both valleys are very beautiful.

Oh, just seen no driving
There are buses
But I'd hire a car and driver, ask your Airbnb host and he'll probably do it himself or know a friend, and base yourself between Perast and Kotor on the bay.

Austria or Croatia (Austria better for no driving).

Or the suggestion of Merano is great, I had a lovely holiday there. There's a train line with some nice day trip possibilities, and local buses too - I found it really easy to get around and it was gorgeous scenery. As well as the Vinschgau train you can go in the other direction to Bolzano, Brixen and lots of other lovely places.

If you went the way I think you did, you already passed through Graz. It's worth a visit in its own right. There is the world famous Landeszeughaus - the largest collection of medieval weapons and armour in the world (2nd place probably isn't even close), the Johanneum museum, and the countryside around is beautiful and the food and wine is amazing if you go to the right spots. You can visit a Buschenschank, which is a kind of farm buffet with local produce, wine and schnapps. You can hire bikes and go up or down the Murradweg, which is a lovely cycle path along the Mur river. It's possible to cycle all the way to Maribor (75km) and get the train back in the evening.I sound like the tourist board, but I loved working and living in the city, and it's relatively unknown.

We've not done it yet, but this spring we are getting the train from London to Munich, with half a day in Paris (would have made that a couple of days if we had time), then direct train to Munich, couple days there, then train to Austrian Tyrol (lots of options, spectacular walking though not much else - we did a wonderful walking holiday there last year, very accessible from Munich or Innsbruck by train, and everywhere seems to have the accommodation cards that give you free local transport to start and end of walks and local towns. Clear signposted excellent walking at a variety of levels) for 6 days, then train back to Munich and flight home. Another option was sleeper to Vienna then train back to Austrian Tyrol.

We also LOVE Slovenia ! Do you want to go back to the Balkan? if so we spent the past two summers in Montenegro and it was just perfect! happy to share more

I’d love to hear more about it @mammasnow the logistics of getting there and places to walk / swim I’m looking at a getaway with my friend for her 50th and we like walking and lake swimming