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Slovenia Travel Guide: 1 Week Itinerary for First Timers
01/05/2024
It's no secret that Slovenia is one of my favourite countries. This underrated destination has beautiful mountains, crystal clear lakes and plenty of outdoor activities. Slovenia is a hiker's heaven, with over 10,000 kilometres of marked trails throughout the country. Most of these are located in Slovenia's largest protected area and only national park, Triglav National Park.
We spent a whole week here in July, hiking around most of the country, from the mountains to the coast. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this trip was one of the top 3 trips of my life, full of incredible and adventurous experiences and beautiful landscapes. If you're planning a trip to Slovenia, don't miss this itinerary!
Practicals
Getting there: the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is just 460 km from Budapest, so the easiest way to get there is by car. There are no border controls, as Slovenia is part of the Schengen area, but you will need a motorway toll ticket, which you can easily buy online. There are regular affordable flights from other European cities into the capital city of Ljubljana, which is a short one hour drive from Triglav National Park.
How to get around: The roads are of good quality everywhere, parking is free in some places, and in the coastal towns it is €1-2 per hour, while around the more popular attractions it is €4-5.
How long to stay: 3-4 days should be enough to explore parts of Slovenia, but you can spend 1-2 weeks in the country.
When to visit: The summer period from June to September is perfect for outdoor activities such as rafting, kayaking, swimming and hiking. The mountain streams are only 17 degrees Celsius even in the summer heat, and cooler weather can be expected on the high mountain peaks. If you're just visiting the country for hiking, the late spring and autumn months are also excellent. Or, for skiers, the winter months are also an option.
How expensive?: Slovenia's currency is the euro, so it depends on the exchange rate. Supermarkets such as Lidl, Hofer (Aldi), Eurospin have about the same prices as in Hungary, and petrol is similar. You can expect higher prices at restaurants around popular attractions, but I think it is the same everywhere.
Accommodation: in the summer months, you can rent apartments or hotel rooms at good prices in the mountains and in the capital, but in the coastal towns, accommodation prices can be very expensive.
Vrisic pass
One Week Itinerary Overview
- Day 1: arrival in Triglav National Park, Vintgard Gorge, Lake Bled
- Day 2: Vogel and Lake Bohinj
- Day 3: Vršič Pass and Soca Valley
- Day 4: Lake Bled and Mostnica Gorge
- Day 5: Koper, Piran and Portoroz
- Day 6: Portoroz, Skocjan cave, Ljubljana
- Day 7: Ljubljana and travel home
If you would like to book your tickets in advance or are looking for organised activities, here are some recommendations.
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Itinerary Day By Day
Day 1: arrival in Slovenia, Vintgard Gorge, Lake Bled
I recommend an early start to avoid the traffic in Budapest and on the M7. So leave at 6am, and you will arrive around 12-13. The first stop on the way is Vintgard Gorge. This beautiful and popular gorge is a highlight of the trip. Deep in the gorge, you can walk along a small wooden path right next to a fast-flowing mountain stream. About half of the circuit, which is about 6 km long, runs alongside the water, while the other half passes through the fort. Entrance to the gorge is €10 and parking is €5. There are several car parks around the visitor centre, from where you can take a shuttle bus to the starting point of the rooute.
Then head to Bled. Lake Beld is by far the most famous place in the country, and for good reason. Situated in the middle of a crystal-clear mountain lake, the island offers an almost ridiculously picturesque view from every direction. There are several activities to choose from here. You can walk around the lake, which is about 6 km long. You can climb up to Bled Castle, try the tobbogan or dip in the lake. In principle, you can only swim in the designated launching area under the castle, where the entrance fee is €10, but you can go in practically anywhere. Don't miss the cream of Bled, a local dessert!
Stay for 4 nights: Hotel Lovec
Day 2: Vogel and Lake Bohinj
After breakfast, departure for Lake Bohinj. The lake, surrounded by huge mountains, is less well known than Lake Bled, although I think it is much more impressive. Today's first activity is the Vogel cable car, best known as a winter ski resort, but a hiking centre in summer and a great base for exploring the surrounding peaks. From the top, there are plenty of hiking trails, or you can continue on another lift to Orlove Glave and climb to the cross for stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Entrance fee €28.
A short drive from here is the Sava Falls. An easy 1.7km walk, the emerald-green Slap Savica cascades down a sheer cliff face some 60m high, with clouds of water vapour covering the area. Admission €4, parking €4.
Finish the day with a dip in Lake Bohinj. We recommend parking in the car park under the lift and finding a quiet spot on the beach around the campsite. You can swim anywhere and everywhere is free. The water is quite cold even in summer from the mountain streams that flow into the lake, but it's crystal clear, you can see deep and there are plenty of fish. A wonderful experience!
Day 3: Vršič Pass and Soca Valley
Day of the 206 road! This is a very nice winding mountain road that takes you up to 1611m and then down to the Soca Valley.
Start the morning at the Vršič Pass with a 6km hike. Be sure to start early, getting there by 8am at the latest, as parking spots run out quickly. Don't be surprised to see the road blocked by sheeps in some places. We did this hike: link. It is a moderately difficult hike, with steep, rocky sections to climb, but the scenery is beautiful. If you skip the hike, it's still worth a visit because the drive is scenic.
After lunch, head on to the Soca Valley. Once in the valley, the road continues along the Soca River and there are several places to stop. Not to be missed are the Great Soca Gorge (Velkita Korita) and the Small Soca Gorge. You can swim everywhere here too, but be prepared that the water is only 17 degrees in summer.
We drove across Italy from here back to the hotel, as we didn't want to drive up and down again, but you can also go back this way. It's also worth stopping at Lake Predil when you cross the Italian border.
+ Tip: if you have more time, it's worth booking a rafting tour in Bovec or taking a ride up to the Mangart mountain. For experienced drivers only!!!
Day 4: Lake Bled and Mostnica Gorge
This is the last day in the mountains, and it couldn't start better than with a pre-dawn hike to Mala Osojnica. There is a short but steep hike up to the top of the mountain. It offers the best views of the lake, the island of Bled and the surrounding mountains. As the sun rises above the horizon, it paints the landscape with soft golden hues. Afterwards, hop on a boat and paddle across to Bled Island. The island itself is a bit of boring, but it's still worth a tour, ringing the lucky bell and climbing the 99 steps of the chapel.
In the afternoon, visit the lesser known and therefore quiet Mostnica Gorge, where you can take an easy 3.6km hike around the gorge. Entrance and packing is €4. Finally, end the day with a dip in my favourite lake, Lake Bohijn. Here you can rent kayaks, boats and SUP for €10.
Day 5: Koper, Piran and Portoroz
After breakfast we say goodbye to the mountains and head to Koper and the coast. Driving from Bled to Koper takes about 1.5-2 hours, but you will arrive in a completely different landscape. Koper, with its shabby Mediterranean athmosphere is best known for its harbour, is the largest city on the short stretch of Slovenian coastline. It's not exactly a resort town, with no real beach, but it's still worth a visit. 1-2 hours is enough time to admire its Venetian-style houses, small squares and boats rocking in the harbour. Then visit nearby Piran. The Venetian-style old town of Piran is set on a small peninsula and offers a wonderful view from the nearby hills above. A great stop for lunch. After all that hiking, an afternoon of relaxation and idleness in Slovenia's most popular seaside resort town, Portoroz, will be a nice treat.
Stay: Boutique Hotel Portorose
Day 6: Portoroz, Skocjan cave, Ljubljana
If the weather is fine, spend the morning swimming and then in the afternoon visit the Škocjan Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The unique feature of this karst cave, apart from its unique stalactite formations, is the 146-metre deep canyon at the bottom of which the meandering Reka River flows. The cave can only be visited on guided tours that start every hour. The shortest hike is 2 hours, and the highlight of the tour is crossing the suspension bridge at an altitude of about 50 metres. Arrival in Ljubljana at half past midnight, walk and dinner in the old town.
Stay: ONE66 Hotel
Day 7: Ljubljana and travel home
Slovenia's capital Ljubljana is very small, so you've probably seen most of it the day before. The old town, the quays, and most of the city centre is pedestrian and cycle friendly, with all the sights within easy walking distance. Take a stroll through the charming city centre, explore the Old Town, cross the famous Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge, visit St Nicholas Cathedral and visit Ljubljana Castle for a beautiful view of the city. Once you've had a look around, you can set off on the 4-5 hour drive home or catch your flight.
