The Perfect Slovenia Itinerary For 5, 7 or 10 Days

Looking for the best Slovenia itinerary? So was I, not so long ago. After my trip around Ljubljana, Bled, Lake Bohinj and Piran, I think I cracked the perfect route. In this guide, I’ll advise you how long to spend in each destination and what to do there, as well as other tips & tricks for making the most of your trip to this unbelievably beautiful country.

Following the, ahem, events of 2020 and 2021, I was thrilled to visit Slovenia because it was my first new country in over 2 years. I’d run out of time when I was backpacking in Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria in 2019 so it had been a long time coming.

SLOVENIA ESSENTIALS

Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld

Tours & activities: GetYourGuide / Viator

Getting there: flight / car / bus / train

I spent 10 days in Slovenia and stayed overnight in four different places. However, you could see the big names (Ljubljana and Bled) in as little as 3 days if you’re pushed for time. Personally, I would recommend at least a 7 day Slovenia itinerary because you can get past the must-sees and check out a few other wonderful destinations.

Best time of year for a Slovenia itinerary

I would always recommend shoulder season to visit Slovenia. April to June and September to October offer pleasant weather, lower prices and reduced crowds compared to the busy summer months of July and August. During this season, small but popular destinations like Bled become totally overwhelmed and you’ll be lucky to find a spare bed!

If you don’t mind the cold, you can even visit Slovenia in the winter. You’ll get bargains on accommodation and perhaps see the lakes frozen. Ljubljana also hosts Christmas markets.

5 day Slovenia itinerary: 2 days Ljubljana, 2 days Bled, 1 day Bohinj

7 day Slovenia itinerary: 2 days Ljubljana, 2 days Bled, 1 day Triglav Nat Park, 2 days Bohinj

10 day Slovenia itinerary: 2 days Ljubljana, 2 days Bled, 2 days Bohinj, 1 day Triglav Nat Park, 3 days Istria.

Slovenia itinerary for up to 10 days

Now let’s get stuck into the details. I’ll share what to do in each place to help you plan a fun trip packed with sights, food and… well, more food!

Most people’s Slovenia itinerary will start in the capital. You can get there by flight (I recommend Skyscanner for finding the cheapest tickets), car, bus (I arrived on the Flixbus) or train.

Ljubljana is a small but lovely city with a historic Old Town, castle, river with many impressive bridges, and places to eat and drink outside.

Ljubljana is a fitting capital for Slovenia. Electric kavaliers transport people around (for free!), the main statue in the central square is of a poet not a war hero, and there are large green spaces for picnics and woodland walks. The city is developed and systems are efficient but nature and culture are prioritised. It feels like a blueprint for how cities should be.

Things to do in Ljubljana:

Now for the important stuff! I ate so much in Ljubljana, once during my first trip when my friend Kerrie and I were catching up after being separated for the turbulent years 2020-21. We had terrible weather so spent most of the trip in cafes and bars.

During my second trip solo, I ate and drank even more! I don’t mean to brag (okay, that’s a lie) but I offer the BEST food advice. Here were some of the highlights.

Where to stay in Ljubljana

• Hostel – I heard great things about Hotel Celia inside a refurbished prison! It’s had a funky refurb and hosts events and activities. (Note – I hear it can be a bit loud at night. If that’s an issue, try the Sax Pub Hostel – guests note it’s cosy, relaxed and quiet, despite sharing a building with a friendly pub).
• Budget hotel – for a clean, spacious hotel with indoor & outdoor seating, White House Bela Hiša has coffee machines in every room and fantastic reviews. Book from €75.
• Splash out hotel – treat yourself at uHOTEL with its rooftop wellness centre, swimming pool, fitness centre and renowned buffet breakfasts. Book from €120.
• Apartments – check out Stella Sky with equipped studios and swimming pools with city views and Castle View Apartments with hot tubs and private parking.
• Browse all Ljubljana hotels on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld.

If your itinerary for Slovenia is tight, it’s easy to see the highlights of Ljubljana in a day. I’d prioritise a free walking tour, lunch at Central Market, walking up to the Castle and visiting a museum or gallery.

With a second day, you can see the city at your leisure, spending a full afternoon relaxing in Tivoli Gardens if you have good weather. You’ll also have time for alternative attractions like Metalkova arts centre and Trubarjeva Cesta street with its diverse cafes and restaurants. If you enjoy the Ljubljana nightlife and take a bar crawl, you’ll appreciate the extra day to relax.

So, if you like the sound of taking it slow, dedicate an extra day to Ljubljana!

Slovenia itinerary day 2 – Predjama Castle & caves

One of the best surprises of my Slovenia itinerary was visiting the vast Postojna Cave complex and finishing the day at Predjama Castle built into a karst cliff.

I hadn’t researched these destinations much because I’d been told I couldn’t take a day trip to them both by public transport. As a result, I booked a GetYourGuide day tour and waited to find out about them when I got there. It’s nice to switch off and let someone else do the work sometimes!

Both were impressive but Postojna Cave was my highlight.

If you’re visiting Predjama and Postojna, there’s another set of caves just a 20-minute drive away in the town of Divača. UNESCO world heritage Škocjan Caves are more than 200 metres deep with 6km of passageways.

Take a guided tour of the karstic complex (€18), follow the Reka River underground for 3-5 kilometres or take an above-ground 2km loop along the Škocjan Education Trail.

From Ljubljana, you can drive, take a train to Divača or an Arriva bus.

Things to do around Lake Bled

• Walk around the lake path (which takes a couple of hours depending how often you stop to snap photos and lust over the views) or hire an e-bike
• Explore from the water by taking a stand-up paddleboarding tour or by gliding across the lake in a transparent kayak.
• Hike up to Osojnica viewpoint on the opposite side of Lake Bled from the town. It’s a one-hour steep hike with lots of steps but the views are just phenomenal!
• For a real bucket list experience, go paragliding! A few people in my hostel did this and loved it
• Visit Bled Castle dating back to 1004. Even if you don’t want to pay the €17 entry (my hostel were quite honest and told me it’s not worth it), it’s a nice hike to the summit
• Hire a paddleboat at a cost of around €16 an hour
• Board a pletna (taxi boat) to take you to the island
• On the island: climb 99 steps to the Assumption of Mary Church bell tower and ring the Wishing Bell, thought to make your desires come true.

Honest thoughts – the ticket to ring the Wishing Bell and climb the tower on the island was expensive at €10 and neither attraction was very impressive. The only thing I was wishing for my money back!

As a solo traveller, the only downside to visiting Lake Bled was wanting to hire a paddleboat but not having anyone to split the costs and rowing with. I hoped to meet people in the hostel but alas, no one’s sightseeing plans lined up with mine. Still, I can’t complain because Bled is paradise! I had a great time.

Bled cream cake

No Slovenia travel itinerary would be complete without eating Bled cream cake (Blejska Kremna). I had it twice in two days. It tasted better than it looked with a layer of sweet custard and a layer of cream sandwiched between flaky pastry dusted with icing sugar. More than 15 million portions have allegedly been served and I can see why!

Try it at:

• Confectionery Zima – this is one of the OG places to eat cream cake with a history of more than 50 years.
• Grajska Plaza Restaurant – here I ate Bled cream cake with beautiful views of the lake. The cake itself was a little better at the first place but it was still very tasty and the views are unrivalled.

Where else to eat in Bled

• Mega Burger Bled – although it doesn’t look much from the outside, this takeaway place serves amazing burgers with loads of options including truffle burgers in black buns, fried chicken burgers, veggie burgers, wraps and healthy boxes. Grab a burger and eat it by the lake.
• Oštarija Peglez’n – I can’t rave about this place enough and, with over 2,000 reviews almost all positive, neither can anyone else it seems! It’s an atmospheric restaurant with a local feel and shaded courtyard area. Slovenian food like meat, seafood and pasta comes in enormous portions. I had a giant chicken fillet with ham, cream sauce, crispy potatoes and roasted veggies.
• Pizzeria Rustika – I didn’t have time to eat here but my hostel recommended it. The reviews mention fantastic pizzas and indoor & outdoor seating areas.
• Old Cellar Bled – for excellent risottos, pastas and other dishes with creative ingredients plus fantastic local wines, don’t miss this atmospheric evening venue.

Where to stay in Lake Bled

• Hostel – I stayed at Bled Hostel which was a great base with cooking facilities, a bar and friendly staff who will give you maps and help you organise everything about your trip. Highly recommended! Book from €20.
• Budget hotel – a great option is Nature Hotel Lukanc with comfy rooms, parking and a garden area. Check availability from €90.
• Mid-range hotel – just 2 minutes from the beach and set inside a 19th-century mansion, Vila Prešeren is a charming base. Check availability from €120.
• Apartments – for all your home amenities, check out Apartments Mojca and Apartments Skok.
• Browse all Bled accommodation on Booking.com and Hostelworld.

Half a day in Vintgar Gorge

Even if you have just 7 days in Slovenia, I’d suggest squeezing in a trip to Vintgar Gorge while visiting Bled. This natural paradise is one of the loveliest places I visited with a cool, misty climate even on a hot day.

The gorge is huge, reaching 1600 metres in length and 250 metres in depth, with the vibrant blue Radovna River gracefully cutting through the jagged rocks below.

You have superb views as you meander along wooden boardwalks built into the cliff, narrow passages, and bridges. At the end, you’re treated to the magnificent sight of a 16-metre waterfall.

Entry to Vintgar Gorge costs €10. Operating with a one-way system, you’ll start at the ticket gate near Podhom village and end at Waterfall Šum near scenic St. Katherine Church. The gorge is closed during the Winter.

How to visit Vintage Gorge from Bled: walk (but make sure to bring enough water and sunscreen as there’s no shade), ride an e-bike, take a shuttle bus or drive.

Even if you want to see Vintgar Gorge but you’re not staying overnight in Bled, it’s possible. Tours from Ljubljana visit Lake Bled & Vintgar Gorge during one day.

• Take a boat ride across the lake between Bohinj town and Camp Bohinj. This sightseeing boat has the dual purpose of transporting you to the start of the Savica Waterfall hike & the Vogel Cable Car.
• Hike to Savica Waterfall. Although there’s a car park and restaurant at the beginning of the hike, you can make it longer by starting at Camp Bohinj and walking through the Fairy Trail forest. If you’re super energetic and don’t mind a 4-hour return walk, you can even start in Bohinj town and hike along the north bank of the lake.
• Hike in Mostnica Gorge, a beautiful wooded area 6km from Bohinj. I hiked all the way to Planinska mountain hut serving hearty meals, beers and honey tea with jaw-dropping views of the valley.
• Ride the Vogel Cable Car to Vogel Ski Resort. Even if you don’t ski, it’s worth visiting the top for the best views around.
• Hire a kayak or canoe to explore the lake or go swimming.

For a 5 day Slovenia itinerary with a car, base either in Bohinj, Bled or anywhere in between for the final 3 nights and spend a day in each lake town then a day in Vintgar Gorge or Triglav Nat Park.

Where to eat in Bohinj

I survived on packed lunches and pasta in Bohinj as I was usually out hiking during the days and too tired to go for dinner when I returned. Still, I heard good things about the burgers at Foksner. A lovely place to enjoy drinks by the lake is Restavracija Kramar.

Slovenia itinerary for 7 days – Triglav National Park or Soča Valley

Getting to Piran

From Ljubljana, drive in 1 hour 20 minutes or catch an Arriva bus in 2 hours 40 minutes. Some buses will drop in Portorož rather than Piran so hop on a quick €1 bus or in a taxi. From Bled or Bohinj, you can drive in around 2 hours or catch a bus transferring through Ljubljana or Trieste, Italy.

Things to do in Piran:

• Admire the key buildings in Tartini Square and stop for a coffee
• Walk the Walls of Piran dating back to the 7th century and offering spectacular views
• Climb to the bell tower of St. George’s Parish Church for yet more amazing views
• Visit the quirky Magical World of Shells Museum
• Take a walk around the headland. There are plenty of cafes and beach bars where you can drink in the views… And Aperol Spritz! Continue along Fiesa footpath until you’ve had your fill.

• Rostelin – two words: truffle pasta! They also serve other dishes but I only tried the tartuf fuži, a traditional type of pasta native to Istria. Large strips of pasta are cut diagonally to make diamond shapes.
• Fritolin Pri Cantini – right beside Rostelin, this is another highly-rated restaurant with outdoor seating. Mussels, sardines, whitebait and calamari are all on the menu. I heard great things but didn’t eat here because the menu is largely based around platters for multiple people and I was travelling solo.
• Ladja Podlanica Piran – the best meal I had in Piran was at this super local restaurant aboard a docked boat in the harbour. There’s no menu, just a few fresh seafood dishes of the day explained by the staff. It’s wonderful!
• Gostinstvo Jasmina Račan – this was another gem I stumbled upon with excellent reviews and quality local fare. The squid I had was super fresh and very affordable.
• Piran Pirano PastIccerIa – the best gelato in town with SO many flavours!

Where to stay in Piran

• Hotels – Art Hotel Tartini is decorated with art by Slovenian artists and has an enviable breakfast buffet (€120) / Hotel Piran is right in the centre of town with a restaurant, terrace and patio with sea views (€130)
• Apartments – traditional Piran house (€40)
• Browse all Piran accommodation on Booking.com and also check Portorož (a short bus ride away) for more options

Portorož

This was where my Flixbus from Croatia arrived. Although I didn’t stay long, it’s a popular destination with a fancier vibe than Piran. There are hotels, beach bars and cafes. Cafe Central is known for its famous cakes so of course I swung by with all my luggage before heading to my accommodation in Piran. Priorities in check!

If you do prioritise longer in the spa town of Portorož during your Slovenia itinerary, there are a few things not to miss. If you’re staying for the seaside, then laze on Portorož Beach or Moon Bay (or rent a boat!), enjoy epic coastal views from the Strunjan Cliff path and try the local seafood. A more unique option is visiting the sculptures at Forma Viva – there are 120 ocean-side stone statues here, deftly melding art and nature together.

Due to its history as a spa destination, dating back to the 13th century when Benedictines from the monastery believed the nearby seawater and mud would help cure diseases and benefit health, it’s well worth trying a spa experience while you’re here (if your budget allows for it)! The Water Park Laguna Bernardin features a massive heated seawater pool, but many hotels feature spa treatments.

If you have more time to spend in Europe, consider crossing a border.

Croatia

I spent 3 months living in Croatia so it’s somewhere I’ll always love and recommend to fellow travellers. The popular Dalmatian coastal cities like Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar aren’t especially close to Slovenia, however Zagreb is approximately a 2-hour journey by car, bus or train from Ljubljana. Ticking off the best things to do in Zagreb would make a cool 2-day city break.

Likewise, if you’re visiting Piran, it’s only a short drive over the border in Istria to reach Croatian destinations like Pula and Rovinj. Pula has well-preserved Roman ruins and boat trips to the Brijuni Islands while Rovinj is ridiculously quaint and charming with fantastic food and colourful streets.

Read next: the ultimate Croatia itinerary

From Slovenian Istria, you’re just a few kilometres from Italy. The closest city is Trieste, a port city full of culture. The medieval Old Town takes influence from Italy, Slovenia and the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Visit Miramare Castle, eat seafood, tour the museums and enjoy being in the Italian city that consumes the most coffee!

You can also reach Venice in under 2 hours from Ljubljana. This is what I did, catching the Flixbus at the end of my Slovenia itinerary and finally ticking Venice off my bucket list. This city can be expensive and crowded (and dirty compared to Slovenia) but it’s a wonder of our world. See it before it’s too late!

After that, I continued my Northern Italy itinerary and departed from Milan airport. This would make a great route if you have the time and energy left over!

For more Central Europe inspo see my guides to Budapest, Bratislava, Prague & more!