Slovenia is all of the hotness proper now. This tiny Balkan nation made National Geographic’s Best of The World 2023, was named European Region of Gastronomy 2021, and its capital hit the primary spot for 2022 Best European Destination. And as the primary nation to be declared a “green destination” and the one one with “love” in its title, Slovenia was a shoo-in for HoneyTrek’s record of The World’s Most Romantic & Sustainable Destinations. Though to ensure (and have some enjoyable alongside the way in which), we rented a electrical car to discover the alpine peaks, Adriatic coast, wine nation, historic villages, and culinary scene round this little nation with an entire lot of coronary heart. Enjoy our Slovenia journey information with highlights from our 500-mile street journey and begin plotting your journey to one among our new favourite locations!
Slovenia History 101
Slovenia is a comparatively new nation with a wild historical past. Tucked between Italy, Croatia, Austria, and Hungary, the Slovenian territory is barely 7,827 sq. miles (smaller than New Jersey) and has been deeply influenced by its neighbors and a wide range of rulers. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire for practically 1,000 years, below Hapsburg rule from the mid 1500s by way of 1918, and a part of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia till the Nineteen Nineties. Sharing Slavic languages and a spot on the Balkan peninsula, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia have been unified below the masterful (and a few say dictatorial) rule of president Josip Broz Tito. He suppressed spiritual and ethnic variations, whereas rallying across the idea of 1 socialist nation, working in close to isolation from Europe and Russia. In some methods, Yugoslavia succeeded below Tito’s rule, however when he handed away within the Eighties, the younger nation began to crumble after which additional divided below the dictator Slobodan Milošević. The economically secure and European-minded Slovenia declared their independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991 and managed to perform it with solely 10 days of battle (not the years of battle endured by lots of their Yugoslav counterparts to the east). Slovenia rapidly obtained on the street to democracy, grew to become part of the European Union in 2004, and has been thriving ever since.
Slovenia Road Trip Route
The alps, wine nation, seashores, lowlands and uplands, medieval villages, cosmopolitan cities, and Karst subterranean worlds, Slovenia packs quite a bit inside its borders. The nation is barely 200 miles throughout from the Adriatic Sea within the southwest to the Hungarian border within the northeast, however we zigzagged over 500 miles to discover the most effective of this attractive and charming nation. Renting an e-vechicle is unquestionably one of the simplest ways to discover this eco-minded vacation spot. While we have been initially a little bit nervous counting on a VW e-Golf battery to scale the alps, Slovenia has charging stations everywhere and now we have intensive rental automobile protection by way of our Allianz journey insurance coverage, so we determined to was the time to offer it a go! We did this route over the course of 11 days and it deserved each little bit of that point, if no more!
TIP: Check out the tourism board’s wonderful website Slovenia.information for extra useful journey planning instruments and hold a watch out for his or her “Slovenia Green” label locations, motels, and actions to floor essentially the most sustainable experiences.
Slovenia’s Capital of Ljubljana
Built alongside the foothills of the Kamnik Alps and Ljubljanica river, the capital of Slovenia is inherently lovely with wonderful structure courting again to the Romans. To protect its historical past and attraction, the outdated city shut visitors to automobiles over a decade in the past and changed them with a improbable bike program and free electrical “Kavalir” shuttles for everytime you want a carry (one of many many causes they gained “Green Capital of Europe in 2016). There is an lively, youthful air concerning the metropolis—due to its 50,000 college college students. Everyone was out benefiting from the river, from stand-up paddleboarding to outside eating at one of many many waterfront bars and eating places. We crossed over the enduring triple bridge designed by Jože Plečnik, a Slovenian architect so creative that his work is protected by UNESCO, to Prešeren Square. The fairly pink Seventeenth-century church and statue of the sq.’s namesake poet is the place everybody gathers, be it for live shows, protests, or to kickoff city-wide adventures. Narrow streets result in the central market sq., bustling with produce distributors and surrounded by cafes, just like the yummy Moji štruklji. We ate conventional Slovenian dumplings (tightly rolled, not stuffed, with candy or savory fillings). For a day drink, we walked into an unsuspecting Art-Deco financial institution and took the elevator to the twelfth flooring the place the Neboticnik rooftop bar presents panoramic views of the town. Ljubljana Castle on the hilltop dominated the vista and beckoned us nearer. It’s free to enter the medieval complicated, the place eating places and cultural occasions happen and the views get even higher. Buy tickets to partake within the numerous displays and experiences—together with every little thing from Slovenian History to the Culinary Time Machine six-course tasting. After an awesome day, we retired to Hotel One66, lodging so sustainable it’s achieved the worldwide Green Key designation. Their diligent efforts to preserve vitality, cut back water, and reduce waste are spectacular, as is their hip design. We walked by way of a veritable artwork gallery to succeed in our room. Bold colours and patterns accented mid-century furnishings for a retro Yugoslavia vibe. We obtained the Couples Goals Package (suggest!) which got here with a bottle of glowing wine and a late checkout to get pleasure from our suite, a leisurely breakfast from their in-house Airstream meals truck, and take their free bikes for a spin earlier than we hit the freeway. (Check out their glamping cabins, coming quickly!)
TIP: Make essentially the most of your time within the metropolis with the Ljubljana Card which will get you into 20 main points of interest, presents a metropolis tour, and nearly each mode of transit (together with 4-hours of free bike rental, a ship cruise, and the funicular to the fort.) Either method, set your self up with the town’s BicikeLJ bike system—it’s just one euro for the week!
Kamnik-Savinja Alps & Vila Planinka
Within an hour’s drive of the town, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps got here into view and pastures changed into slim canyons. Not a typical cease on the vacationer circuit, Jezersko Valley is a coveted spot for mountaineers and luxurious vacationers within the know. We examine Vila Planinka in some journey journal which raved about their meals, wine, and sustainability ethos and simply knew we needed to get there sometime. We walked into this Thirties chalet turned modern boutique resort and will really feel the optimistic vibes of this place, from the vitality factors it’s constructed on to the convivial sommelier. He handed us a glass of wine to kick off the check-in course of on the patio, the place the sheer peaks appeared to spring from the pavers and produce the Skuta Glacier so shut we may really feel its chill. He instructed us about their restaurant, pure wine workshops, spa companies, and journey choices, then led us to our room, The Lady Slipper. A kitchen, front room with a fire, wrap-around porch and bed room with mountain view had our jaws on the ground. “Enjoy your stay and we will see you downstairs for your Orange Revolution Wine Tasting.” The resort’s cellar holds over 250 Slovenian wines with an emphasis on “orange wines,” a Slovenian biodynamic custom of winemaking that predates Roman settlement and has been having a renaissance in current many years. Sommelier and achieved wine skilled, Marko Koren, set the desk with not simply glasses and spittoons, however lemons, salt, radicchio and extra instruments to convey out the traits of the wines. Maps lined the 9 Slovenian wine-making areas from coastal to karst, and our seven-stage tasting featured iconic wineries from Mlečnik to Gravner showcasing the most effective of those natural, sluggish maceration wines. It was the daddy of Slovenian biodynamic wine Rudolf Steiner’s perception {that a} winery isn’t a plot however a residing organism affected by the minerality, astrality, spirituality, and ideas of life. With mom nature and historic custom as their information, Slovenian biodynamic wines can’t be mass produced or mass exported across the globe…it’s a must to come right here to expertise them! Our tasting flowed right into a dinner at their Michelin-rated restaurant the place course after course of vegan dishes appeared like artwork on a platter.
Jezersko Valley
The subsequent morning we did a motorbike and hike combo to benefit from the alps and village life. The Villa Planinka receptionist can also be historical past buff and native information who tipped us off to go to St Oswald’s Church (which boasts a number of the oldest frescoes in Slovenia), the locals hangout of Planšarsko Lake cafe, and the village’s pure mineral water springs. After a 20-minute trip by way of the attractive Ravenske Kocne Glacial Valley we reached the trailhead to Golvinar Peak. Ever go on a hike the place the bottom is so fairly you’re feeling such as you’ve already made it to the head? That’s how we felt right here, however we nonetheless did the steep climb by way of the forest and reached (and crossed) the border of Austria! A ranger had carved a coronary heart bench on the ridge, which enticed to take a seat and watch the clouds swirl across the peaks for nearly an hour. These similar mountains are the place famend Slovenian alpinists skilled to be the primary folks to ski Annapurna Mountain and Mount Everest from peak to basecamp! Maybe we should always come again within the winter and produce our skis…
Lake Bled
Heading towards the Julian Alps, Lake Bled begins this area like a fairy story. Jagged peaks encompass the remarkably teal waters and in the course of the lake a Seventeenth-century church is perched on Slovenia’s solely island. It’s a practice for newlyweds to paddle in a conventional wood boat to the Church of the Assumption of Mary and for the groom to hold his bride up the 99 steps and ring the bell for good luck. As a lot as I’m positive Mike wished to throw me over his shoulder for historic StairMaster, it was raining so we opted for the simpler and equally romantic Bled Castle for lunch. Atop the lake cliffs and partitions of the 1,000-year outdated Holy Roman fortress is perched Bled Castle Restaurant. He reserved a window desk overlooking the waters and the vegan tasting menu, with every little thing from eggplant roulade to strawberry pistachio cake. After a whirl across the fort museum, we went to close by Kralov Med…among the many greatest locations to get a style of Slovenian beekeeping! The world’s first beekeeping faculty started in Slovenia and its grasp instructor’s birthday was chosen because the date of the UN acknowledged World Bee Day. Understanding their contribution to beekeeping and the significance of bees’ position in biodiversity, Slovenia has extra beekeepers per capita than some other nation. The household behind Kralov Med has been beekeeping for over a century and goals to make this custom extra approachable, with honey harvesting demonstrations, beeswax candle-making, even apitherapy, the place you possibly can meditate among the many hives. We laid down on the beds subsequent to the bee bins, listening to the whirl of exercise and respiratory within the aromatic air, adopted by a tasting of honey merchandise created from the very bees we bonded with.
Bohinj Valley & The Julian Alps
Too many individuals attain Bled and suppose, “It can’t get better than this,” nevertheless it does, so hold going guys! All of Slovenia’s Julian Alps are a wonderland of hovering peaks, waterfalls, and wealthy alpine tradition…and all of it culminates within the Bohinj Valley. Home to a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Slovenia’s solely nationwide park, and its largest pure lake, this area had us mountaineering and biking our hearts out. Staying at Hotel Bohinj, we have been completely located alongside the lake and in hanging distance to the historic Voje Valley, the snaking Mostnica Gorge, and the 255-foot excessive Savica Waterfall. By evening, we refueled with their farm-to-table delicacies, divine spa, and horny suites. The icing on the cake of our Bohinj getaway? The Cows’ Ball! We caught the valley’s largest (and most endearing!) annual competition of alpine tradition, with the farmers in conventional gown and everybody dancing their knee-socks off. Watch this video to really feel the vitality and enjoyable of this must-experience occasion.
TIP: Plan your Bohinj adventures with Hike & Bike. They lead improbable journeys, from multi-day biking or day hikes to the gorgeous Triglav Lakes. And in case you are trying to keep tucked within the mountains, additionally they have lovable chalets.
Soča River Valley: The Land of Narnia
Driving again out of the valley by way of Bled (so good, we have been completely satisfied to see it twice), we didn’t notice that our GPS had us going by way of the Italian alps to get to our subsequent Slovenian vacation spot! What began as a little bit of panic, as all of the indicators modified languages and our mobile phone plans stopped working, turned out to be a shocking drive by way of Travesio, again in direction of Slovenia’s tallest mountain, Mount Triglav. Each bend within the street revealed a brand new jaw-dropping view, all the way in which to the journey hub of Bovec village. Hotel Soča is a superb jumping-off level and clothing store for the Soča River’s many adventures. If this gorgeous river seems like one thing out of the Chronicles of Narnia film, it’s as a result of the Soča was one among their filming places! Canyoneering, abseiling down waterfalls and sliding into swimming holes, is meant to be completely unbelievable right here (we shall be again!), as was the hike we took alongside the Soča Trail.
Vipava Valley & Theodosius Glamping
Leaving the mountains, the panorama rolls into Slovenia’s premier vineyards and dives deep into their karst panorama. To get the most effective of the Primorska wine area and the nation’s spectacular cave methods, we positioned ourselves in Vipava Valley and Theodosius Forest Village. This glamping camp is ready excessive within the hills, amongst a 100-year-old pine forest and a sea of grape vines. To construct this property to Green-Key requirements, they didn’t reduce down any bushes or use heavy equipment on the land, and hand-carried native supplies to every forested website. The cabins are the proper steadiness of rustic and trendy, together with their showstopping mirrored dice. With partitions that replicate again the encompassing bushes, it nearly vanished within the forest, but referred to as to us like a secret hiding place. The entrance was all home windows with a patio for valley views that appeared to stretch to the Adriatic. For breakfast they ready an ITALICS TK spectacular vegan unfold of grilled veggies, plant-based sausages, butter-free croissants, and recent fruit from Vipava’s fertile valley. We requested the hostess concerning the origin of the property title and it seems that in 394 AD this village is the place Theodosius gained the Battle of Frigidus with the assistance of the valley’s sturdy “burja” wind. For extra Roman historical past, you possibly can go to the close by stays of the Castra Fortress, which has the most important surviving Roman wall in Slovenia, and find out about their legacy within the close by Ajdovščina Museum Collection.
The Mother of Slovenian Caves: Postonja
While it was tempting to begin wine tasting across the 40+ vineyards of the Vipava Valley, we had a tour to catch on the legendary Postojna Cave. Discovered in 1818 and nonetheless the most important present collapse Europe, that is the place the examine of caves (speleology) actually started! We have been issued our onerous hats and boarded a prepare into the 24 km-long cave system. The prepare has been in operation for over 140 years, bringing everybody from King Ferdinand I to Thomas Cook, who included it on his first journey around the globe within the 1873. We traveled by way of the labyrinth of stalactites and stalagmites, right into a subterranean ballroom and live performance corridor which can be nonetheless used right now, and reached the principle cave. Our information identified spectacular options like “The Brilliant,” a thick, bright-white limestone formation and “The Skyscraper” standing at 52-feet tall. The principal cave is definitely 1 of 5 within the system and so they have a slew of journey excursions the place you possibly can even go legit caving with ropes and river crossings. The river was too full for abseiling throughout our go to (take the “In the Footsteps of Luka Čeč” tour in the event you can!), so we opted for the Double Karst Marvel Experience by way of the Pivka and Crna Caves…and it was superior! The “Crna” or Black Cave boasts fantastic flowstone formations, whereas the Pivka Cave path follows a vanishing subterranean river. What began as a drip by way of the porous rocks three-million years in the past has change into one of the dazzling cave methods on this planet. This distinctive ecosystem has additionally created habitat for 150 animal species, together with the “baby dragons,” which might reside for as much as a century and go for eight years with out meals. This place is actually one among extremes and definitely worth the hype!
TIP: Extend your journey at Park Postojnska Jama and spring for the combo ticket to Predjama Castle, a large medieval marvel constructed right into a 400-foot-high cliff and with a community of secret tunnels.
The Slovenian Coast & Dazzling Piran
Slovenia could solely have 29 miles of coast nevertheless it connects them to a bigger Istrian tradition that extends from Croatia to Italy. In reality, this space was a part of the Venetian Republic for over 500 years, Italians have been the ethnic majority right here till the twentieth century, and the area remains to be bilingual! Piran is the gem of the Slovenian coast, a walled medieval metropolis with extra boats than automobiles. To reduce visitors and protect their historic environment, they’ve made the outdated city streets virtually completely pedestrian and provide free shuttles to and from the middle. (FYI If you might be driving right here, there’s a massive parking storage by the beginning of the bus route). We have been dropped off at Tartini Square, and we instantly felt the Italian affect, with its pointed arches and colonnaded balconies, a clock tower that mimics that of Piazza San Marco, and Venice’s signature winged lion overlooking city. We joined a beautiful tour with Jan of Piran Walking Tours, who took us by way of the slim streets to First of May Square, the Convent of San Francisco, and as much as the Cathedral of St George for views to 3 nations! You may also stroll the city partitions for a small payment and even higher views of the coast. For dinner we have been handled to an eight-course tasting menu at Stara Gostilna, residence of Slovenia’s youngest Michelin-awarded chef and one of many metropolis’s oldest residences. Each dish arrived like artworks–from the handmade ceramics the meals was plated to the interactive method every dish was served. Tomato tartare with pickled grapes and pistachio crust, barley risotto with peach gazpacho, pumpkin terrine with mango caviar, and rhubarb mousse with caramelized walnuts have been simply a number of the divine programs. We obtained chatting with proprietor Donata, and earlier than you recognize it she was exhibiting us her kitchen herb backyard, images from the early days of the restaurant (in its twenty sixth yr) and her secret B&B upstairs. Long story, however we didn’t have a spot to sleep that evening and she or he insisted we be her visitor. Thank you on your unbelievable hospitality, Donata!
Portoroz: Salt, Olives, & Spas
Did you recognize the world “salary” derives from being paid in salt (as soon as among the many most precious currencies)? Piran’s wealth and affect goes again to its salt pans in close by Portoroz. No longer the area’s principal business, however nonetheless an necessary a part of the world’s historical past and wetland habitat, Sečovlje Salt Pans at the moment are a nature park, Museum of Salt-Making, and a thalassotherapy spa to capitalize on the water’s well being advantages. Set in the course of historic salt pans and wildlife sanctuary, Lepa Vida Thalasso Spa is pure serenity–from its attractive setting to laid again vibe. Without the pretension of many spas, they provide salt swimming pools, brine baths, stone therapies & attractive lounge areas at a mere €25 for 2 hours! We leveled it up with an outside mud wrap, having fun with the ocean views, birdlife, and Slovenian wine, leaving with a sense of rejuvenation (and the softest pores and skin!). Another speciality of this space? Olives. Just above the salt pans, the fourth-generation Gramona Eco farm has orchards of olives in a dozen varieties. They’ve gained tons of awards for his or her oils and tapenades and say their secret is tough work, solar, sea breeze, and the saline microclimate. They confirmed us across the grounds, shared their permaculture processes, and completed with a wine and olive tasting overlooking the salt pans at sundown.
Northeast Slovenia Road Trip: Celje & Ptuj
Our eight-day automobile rental was up, however we didn’t wish to go away! So we returned it in Ljubljana and joined our Slovenian associates Ana & Jernej for a street journey to their favourite locations within the northeast (the place few vacationers go and don’t know what they’re lacking!). First cease, Celje: Slovenia’s largest medieval fort and the previous residence to the nation’s most influential dynasty. The construction is magnificent with a really effectively completed museum, together with Middle-Ages craft demonstrations, the craziest medieval torture exhibit, and breathtaking views from the tower. (You’d suppose the mountains wouldn’t be too spectacular exterior the alps however wrong-o!) With a competition to catch, we pressed on to Ptuj, the oldest recorded metropolis in Slovenia (est third century BCE). Their calm, shallow spot alongside the Drava River made it a key level on the prehistoric commerce route between the Baltic and the Adriatic Seas. They are fairly pleased with their historical past and have festivals all year long (the pagan Kurentovanje parade is meant to be unbelievable) and we occurred to be there for the Ptuj Castle Games, the place archery and broadsword combating are accompanied by artwork demonstrations, a winemaking competitors, and conventional music and dance. With no Americans on the competition, we have been rapidly adopted by a household of knights and maidens and clinking ceramic mugs of mead. Slovenians are so darn good.
Radgonsko-Kapelski: Vineyards & Farmstay
That evening we slept at Domačija Firbas of their lovable A-frame glamping cabins tucked amongst the apple orchards of this household farm. We awakened for breakfast, an excellent unfold cooked over an open-fire, accompanied by home made jams, breads, juices, and extra delights from their backyard. The son Bojan gave us a tour of the property together with the hayloft condominium, the place you possibly can sleep above animals, hearken to their rumblings and watch them by way of the glass flooring! After assembly the sheep, pigs, cows, and rabbits, he confirmed us to the e-bike barn for our day’s adventures. Being situated within the Radgonsko–Kapelski wine-growing area, vineyards have been a brief trip away, as have been castles, mineral springs, and cute cities. We weren’t pedaling for greater than quarter-hour and have been pulled right into a grape-harvesting and wine tasting session with a neighborhood household! They despatched us away with two bottles of their Riesling wine and instructed us the standard approach to drink it’s so as to add mineral water from the close by springs. We biked till we noticed a fountain by the stream, and low and behold the water was popping out bubbly! We combined ourselves an iron-fortified wine spritz and determined we wanted a bit extra wine with a tasting at Vinska Fontana. Perched on a hill subsequent to a phenomenal outdated church and overlooking the vines, it’s a improbable wine bar serving native wines, together with that of the lovable younger homeowners. Not simply any tasting room, it’s a serve-yourself wine fountain dispenser the place you scan a barcode and out comes the wine of your alternative. Be positive to strive Jurka, a regional and historic grape varietal, and kickback of their garden chairs to benefit from the view!
Slovenian Food & Wine
Of the 70 nations we’ve skilled on our HoneyTrek, Slovenia simply cracked our prime 5 for effective eating. And whereas many areas of the world dazzle with a melange of spices, Slovenia’s method is way easier…keep recent. Restaurants from the alps to the coast take nice delight in sourcing regionally, typically rising or foraging for his or her produce. They perceive how interconnected good meals is with a wholesome surroundings, and so they work in direction of its preservation with natural farming, even beekeeping. They’ve been making wine for the reason that 4th century BCE and have stayed true to their biodynamic traditions and are successful droves of awards for it. Slovenia is residence to 6 Michelin Green Star eating places, the very best score for sustainable delicacies, and such eco-conscious practices helped earn them the 2021 European Region of Gastronomy. And we’ll give Slovenian cooks an additional level as a result of they cooked us their most interesting with none meat or dairy. See how lovely plant-based consuming might be on this gallery of our favourite eating experiences–from harvesting olives earlier than our oil tasting to hand-making plum dumplings with a Michelin-green-star chef!
From their biodynamic wines to their recycling applications in distant mountain villages, Slovenia firmly earned its spot on our record of The World’s Most Romantic & Sustainable Destinations. Which city, resort, restaurant, or expertise referred to as to you essentially the most?
An enormous thanks to our sponsor Allianz Travel Insurance for believing within the significance of sustainable journey and supporting eco-minded content material creators like us!