Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Slovenia, a beautiful country nestled between Italy, Austria, and Croatia. Slovenia travel doesn’t get nearly as much attention as its neighboring countries. For first-time visitors, there are some shocks you might expect on your first tour of Slovenia.
Postcard Views in Every Direction
If you don’t know much about Slovenia, you will be shocked at how amazing it is! From snow-capped mountain peaks to alpine lakes and gorges, there is not a bad view in Slovenia! It’s a fairly small country, but you will probably take more pictures here than anywhere else you visit. In addition to the natural beauty, the towns and surrounding castles are also really pretty!
Caves in Slovenia
Cave tours are some of the best things to do in Slovenia. At Postojna Cave, you take a train underground to the cave and then can hike around inside on a tour. It’s the second-longest cave system in the country and one of the most popular tours. There are dozens of cave systems in Slovenia, so make sure you include at least one on your Slovenia itinerary.
High-Quality Souvenirs
If you go shopping during your Slovenia trip, you’ll notice a lot of high-quality hand-crafted goods for sale. We found amazing quality in the clothing, leather goods, and other souvenirs. You can also get some really great deals, so definitely plan on buying some locally-made crafts in Slovenia. They take a lot of pride in their workmanship, and it shows.
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Cleanliness in Slovenia
You will be shocked at how clean it is in Slovenia. Slovenians are very eco-conscious and they do a great job at reducing waste and keeping their cities clean! The streets and sidewalks are clean, and the buildings are kept up and maintained really well. We’ve already talked about how beautiful Slovenia is, so it’s no surprise they want to keep it that way. You can’t beat the fresh air of the mountains.
National Pride
Slovenians are very proud of their culture and history. You will hear repeatedly that Slovenians have the best this, the best that, and on and on. It’s certainly a country worthy of such pride, but after a while, you start to wonder if everyone is working for the tourism board.
Slovenian Food and Wine
You will be shocked at how good some of the Slovenian food and wine are! From savory meat dishes to sweet pastries, there is some seriously good food in Slovenia. They also make really great red and white wines from different parts of the country. There are tons of great breweries in Slovenia as well, from major brands to craft brewers.
Official Website of Slovenia Tourism: CLICK HERE
Lake Bled Experience
Lake Bled is probably the most popular tourist experience in Slovenia, and it’s for good reason. With turquoise water and a red-roofed chapel on an island, it’s one of the most scenic views in the world. The entire experience of visiting Lake Bled is phenomenal. You take a flat-bottom boat out to the island and climb 99 steps up to the church. Don’t be surprised if you have a lot of tourists sharing this experience with you. Expect to pay inflated tourists’ prices for everything near Lake Bled as well.
US State Department Website on International Travel & Travel Advisories: CLICK HERE
Austrian and Italian Influences
Slovenia has been heavily influenced by Austrian and Italian cultures, as well as the Hapsburgs of Germany. Slovenia is a really neat combination of all of the cultures from the surrounding countries. You’ll see it in the food, the art, and the architecture.
Size of Slovenia
You will be shocked at how small Slovenia is! It probably takes three hours to drive from one side of the country to the other. You can set up a home base in the capital city of Ljubljana and take day trips to see the entire country. There are just over two million people living in Slovenia, spread across a country that is about the size of Massachusetts. It’s really easy for tourists to get around Slovenia.
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Slovenian Language
The Slovenian language is really hard to learn. They have tenses that don’t exist in English, making it really tough to learn grammar here. Fortunately, many people in Slovenia speak English. Especially in the more touristy areas, you will easily find locals who speak English, German, Italian or Spanish, too!
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I’ve been to Slovenia several times, with my family and as a solo traveler. It’s really a great country to visit, with beautiful scenery and fantastic food. As you can see, you’re in for a lot of pleasant surprises when you visit Slovenia! Want more European travel tips? Check out these blog posts: