Things to do in Slovenia

The 17 best things to do in Slovenia

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1. 1Bled

   Walk the shore path around Lake Bled

   Lake Bled lies in a basin carved by the Bohinj glacier, with a small island and its church at the center. A path of about 6 km circles the shore, with benches for the view, and horse-drawn carriages are another way to go around. The lake is up to 30 m deep. In summer the surface reaches about 25°C, and in winter it can drop to 4°C and sometimes freezes. Thermal springs on the east side feed the pools of three hotels. Pletna boats, the traditional wooden boats of Bled, wait at Park Hotel, Mlino and Velika Zaka. Local legend says the lake appeared when springs flooded a meadow where mountain fairies once danced.

   Tip: Arrive by bus if you can: the central Bled bus station is a 3 minute walk from the lake, so you can start the loop from there.

   Free to visit
   Search tours on TiqetsSources: Bled Tourist Board (official); Bled Tourist Board (official); Bled Tourist Board (bled.si)
2. 2Ljubljana

   Ride the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle

   Ljubljana Castle has stood on its hill above the old town for about 900 years and is the city's main attraction. A funicular railway takes you up quickly. Climb the Outlook Tower and the ramparts for some of the best views of the city, then explore the exhibition on Slovenian history, which reaches back about 200,000 years to the earliest traces of people in the area. The castle also holds the Puppet Museum and historic rooms including the Chapel of St George and the Prison. It is open 365 days a year and has a cafe, a wine bar and two restaurants, so it fits a long morning or a lunch with a view.

   Tip: The last ticket is sold one hour before closing, and the castle closes at 6:00 PM from October to April and 8:00 PM from May to September.

   €[fee] with or without the funicularKnow the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Ljubljana Tourism (visitljubljana.com); Ljubljana Castle (ljubljanskigrad.si)
3. 3LjubljanaBook ahead

   Ride the underground train through Postojna Cave

   Postojna Cave is Slovenia's best-known underground sight. You ride a cave train for 3.7 km on what the park calls the world's only double-track cave railway, then walk an easy footpath through halls and past the Brilliant, a five-meter-tall white stalagmite that is the cave's symbol. The first railway in an underground cave opened here in 1872, and Murano-glass chandeliers hang in the Dance Hall. The tour takes an hour and a half, with guide commentary in Slovenian, Italian, English or German and audio guides in 19 languages. It is a constant 10°C inside. Postojna is under an hour from Ljubljana by road, with hourly buses from the capital.

   Tip: Wear warm clothes and sports shoes, and arrive 30 minutes before your tour, since the train boards 15 minutes before the tour time.

   Book a time slot
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Postojna Cave Park (postojnska-jama.eu); Postojna Cave Park (postojnska-jama.eu); Postojna Cave Park (postojnska-jama.eu)
4. 4Ljubljana

   Visit Predjama Castle in its cliff

   Predjama Castle is built into a cave mouth in the middle of a 123 m cliff and has stood there for more than 800 years. The park calls it the world's largest cave castle. Behind it runs a network of secret tunnels, and the rebel knight Erazem of Predjama is said to have withstood an imperial siege for over a year. Inside you can walk through the armory, chapel and kitchen, and the attic has a view over the valley. The castle is about 9 km from the Postojna Cave entrance and open year-round. The cave beneath it opens only from June to August, because bats hibernate there the rest of the year.

   Tip: The park suggests seeing Predjama first and Postojna Cave in the afternoon; the shuttle between them runs only part of the year, and taxis can be arranged at the ticket office.

   Buy a ticket
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Postojna Cave Park (postojnska-jama.eu); Postojna Cave Park (postojnska-jama.eu)
5. 5Bled

   Cross by pletna boat to Bled Island

   Bled Island is reached by pletna, a flat-bottomed wooden boat steered by a standing oarsman, a craft whose origins date to 1590. Lake Bled has 23 of them. On the island, a monumental staircase of 99 stone steps leads to the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake. The site has prehistoric and early Slavic history, the first brick church was consecrated in 1142, and the church kept its present shape in the 17th century. Ring the wishing bell, climb the bell tower for the view and see the exhibition in the Provost's House. Tradition says a groom must carry his bride up all 99 steps if the couple marries here.

   Tip: The island has no time limit and you return with the first free pletna or an electric motorboat; its hours run shortest from November to February.

   Island admission: €12 (about $13) · Pay for island admissionFee changed?

   Last verified Nov 7, 2026

   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Bled Tourist Board (official); Bled Tourist Board (official); Bled Tourist Board (official); Bled Tourist Board (bled.si)
6. 6Ljubljana

   Cross the Triple Bridge in old Ljubljana

   The central bridge has stood here since 1842, replacing a medieval wooden bridge on a route that linked north-western Europe with the Balkans. Between 1929 and 1932 the architect Jože Plečnik added the two pedestrian side bridges and gave all three stone balustrades and lamps. From each side bridge two stairways lead down to terraces just above the river, planted with poplar trees. The bridges sit where two of Plečnik's urban axes cross, the river and the line between the castle hill and Rožnik hill. Two churches dominate the center: the pink Church of the Annunciation on Prešeren Square and Saint Nicholas's Cathedral.

   Tip: Use the side bridges rather than the central one, and take the stairways down to the terraces just above the river.

   Free to visit
   Sources: Ljubljana Tourism (visitljubljana.com); Ljubljana Tourism (visitljubljana.com)
7. 7Bled

   Climb to Bled Castle above the lake

   Bled Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia. Its history goes back to 1004, when the German king Henry II gave the Bled estate to Bishop Albuin of Brixen, and the bishops built the first castle around 1011. Earthquakes damaged it in 1511 and 1690, and a fire in 1947 led to restoration in the 1950s. Today you can walk the two courtyards, see the museum on the history of Bled, the chapel, the printing house, the wine cellar and a well up to 12 m deep cut into solid rock. The castle looks out over Lake Bled, and its restaurant is open daily.

   Tip: The castle is open every day of the year, until 8:00 PM from April to October and 6:00 PM from November to March, with last entry half an hour before closing.

   Adult: €19 (about $21) · Buy at the ticket office or onlineFee changed?

   Last verified Nov 7, 2026

   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Bled Tourist Board (official); Bled Castle (blejski-grad.si); Bled Castle (official)
8. 8Bled

   Swim or walk the shore of Lake Bohinj

   Lake Bohinj is the largest natural permanent lake in Slovenia, set in a glacial basin 4,100 m long, up to 1,200 m wide and up to 45 m deep, with an 11.35 km shoreline. In the warmer months you can swim, kayak, canoe or walk its shores. Beside it, the Church of St. John the Baptist was built before 1300 and holds Gothic frescoes. In the village of Stara Fužina, the Alpine Dairy Museum shows the cheese-making tradition of the mountain pastures, and Bohinj cuisine includes cheese, mohant and trout. Regular buses run between Bled and Bohinj.

   Tip: In summer the surface warms to about 24°C, so bring swimwear then; the lake often freezes in winter.

   Free to visit
   Search tours on TiqetsSources: Bohinj Tourist Board (bohinj.si); Bohinj Tourist Board (bohinj.si); Bohinj Tourist Board (bohinj.si); Bohinj Tourist Board (bohinj.si); Bled Tourist Board (bled.si)
9. 9Bled

   Hike up to the Savica Waterfall

   The Savica Waterfall is a double, A-shaped waterfall, 78 m high at an altitude of 836 m, in the heart of Triglav National Park. Water from the Triglav Lakes Valley reaches it through a cave tunnel under the mountain. The waterfall features in France Prešeren's poem The Baptism at Savica. From the car park below the falls, about 15 minutes and 9 km by car from Ribčev Laz, the trail has quite a few steps. On foot from Ribčev Laz it is about 2.5 hours one way, or about an hour from Hotel Zlatorog to the car park. Swimming is not allowed, and a mountain hut near the car park serves food and drink.

   Tip: Entry closes in heavy rain, snow, black ice or when rocks may fall, so check conditions on the day and wear shoes for the steps.

   Adult: €4 (about $4) · Pay at the entry pointFee changed?

   Last verified Nov 7, 2026

   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Bohinj Tourist Board (bohinj.si)
10. 10Piran

    Linger on Tartini Square in Piran

    Tartini Square is the heart of Piran. It was the town's inner harbor until it was filled in, and by the 200th anniversary of the violin virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini's birth in 1692 it had become the central square that bears his name. A statue of Tartini, erected in 1896, gazes toward his birthplace. In the 1980s the square was redesigned as an ellipse paved in white stone. It is now closed to traffic and is the town's most popular meeting place and the starting point for its landmarks, including the path up to the city walls. A mini bus connects the main parking areas with the square.

    Tip: If you drive, park in the Fornače or Arze garages and continue on foot or by the local shuttle bus.

    Free to visit
    Sources: Portorož and Piran Tourist Board (official); Portorož Tourist Board (portoroz.si); Portorož Tourist Board (portoroz.si)
11. 11Piran

    Climb Piran's walls to St George's bell tower

    The best views of Piran are from the city walls and from St George's Church on the hill. The third wall, built between 1470 and 1533, is best preserved around the Mogoron slope, and seven city gates survive. The path starts at Tartini Square and takes about 10 minutes uphill. The present church dates from the 14th century and became Baroque in the 17th. Its 46 m bell tower was modeled on St Mark's Campanile in Venice, and since the Venetian tower collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt, Piran's is actually the older. Legend says that if the angel on top faces Trieste, the sea will be calm.

    Tip: Wear shoes for the uphill climb; it takes about 10 minutes on foot from Tartini Square.

    Check this season
    Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Portorož Tourist Board (portoroz.si); Portorož Tourist Board (portoroz.si)
12. 12Ljubljana

    Browse the Central Market and Plečnik's colonnade

    Ljubljana's Central Market is more than a place to shop; locals have long met here too. It has an open-air market on Vodnikov trg and Pogačarjev trg squares, a covered market between them, and a row of small food shops along the Ljubljanica river in a colonnade designed by Jože Plečnik and built between 1940 and 1944. Farmers sell fresh fruit and vegetables, dry-cured meat products and flowers, and food kiosks and cafes add to the choice. Every Friday from mid-March to the end of October, Pogačarjev trg hosts the Open Kitchen, where chefs from Slovenian restaurants cook dishes from all over the world.

    Tip: Come on a Friday between mid-March and October for the Open Kitchen, which is cancelled in bad weather, or on Saturday for the organic market.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: Ljubljana Tourism (visitljubljana.com)
13. 13Ljubljana

    See Plečnik's National and University Library

    Built between 1936 and 1941 to designs by Jože Plečnik, the National and University Library is considered his most important work in Slovenia. It stands on the site of a 17th-century Baroque palace destroyed in the earthquake of 1895. The brick and stone facade was modeled on the Palazzo Zuccari in Rome. Inside, a monumental staircase with 32 pillars of black Podpeč marble leads to the grand reading room, lit by Plečnik's chandeliers and glass walls that bring daylight to the wooden desks from two sides. The library's archives hold medieval manuscripts and Renaissance prints, and Plečnik placed a line of monuments outside to mark the course of the old town walls.

    Tip: Look at the main door first: each handle is a Pegasus head, a winged horse guiding visitors toward knowledge.

    Check visiting hours
    Sources: Ljubljana Tourism (visitljubljana.com)
14. 14Bled

    Taste the original Bled cream cake

    The Bled cream cake is the symbol of Bled cuisine. The original, made since 1953, has a crisp butter-dough crust, a layer of vanilla cream of just the right consistency, whipped cream on top, another thin crisp layer of butter dough and a dusting of icing sugar. It was developed by Ištvan Lukačevič, the Park Hotel patisserie manager, and almost 16 million original cakes have been made so far. Many patisseries across Slovenia sell a cream cake, but the original is made fresh every day and served at Kavarna Park, opposite Park Hotel. It has been awarded a certificate of national origin.

    Tip: Order the cake at Kavarna Park, opposite Park Hotel, if you want the original recipe rather than another cafe's version.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: Bled Tourist Board (bled.si)
15. 15Bled

    Walk the boardwalks of Vintgar Gorge

    Vintgar Gorge is a river canyon on the Radovna, whose water stays around 10.5°C all year. The trail runs 1.6 km one way through the gorge on wooden walkways, bridges and stairs to the Šum Waterfall. From there the King of Triglav Trail, 4.1 km over the slope of Hom Hill, brings you back to the start, 5.7 km in total with 80 steps and views toward Bled. The route suits people who are moderately fit, and it cannot be done with strollers or wheelchairs. Allow at least 3 hours. A free electric shuttle runs from the main parking area to the gorge.

    Tip: Buy your ticket online, since the number is limited and none are sold at the entrance, and go in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. crowds.

    Book a ticket online
    Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Vintgar Gorge (vintgar.si); Vintgar Gorge (vintgar.si); Bled Tourist Board (bled.si)
16. 16Piran

    Explore the Sečovlje salt pans

    Piran grew on salt, and the Piran salt pans date back to 804. Today the Sečovlje Salt Pans are a nature park where salt is still made the traditional way, harvested daily from brine on a bio-sediment called petola. The Sečovlje and Strunjan salt pans are the only ones in this part of the Adriatic still producing salt, and Piran's pans are known for their fleur de sel. You can walk the abandoned part, called Fontanigge, with its meadows, many birds and old salt houses, and visit the Saltworks Museum. Guided tours and self-guided visits are both possible.

    Tip: The Saltworks Museum is closed from 1 November to 31 March, so April to October gives the fullest visit.

    €[fee]Know the fee?
    Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (official); Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (official); Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (kpss.si); Slovenian Tourist Board (slovenia.info)
17. 17Ljubljana

    Explore Metelkova mesto in the evening

    Metelkova mesto is Ljubljana's center of alternative culture, set in former Austro-Hungarian army barracks built in the late 19th century. In 1993 about two hundred volunteers occupied the northern part of the complex to stop its demolition. Since then artists, both well-known and little-known, have transformed the buildings, and the place is still changing. It has music clubs with concerts by alternative performers from around the world, club nights, DJ sets, exhibitions and festivals. A mixed crowd of students, culture fans, international visitors and office workers gathers there every evening. The address is Metelkova ulica 10.

    Tip: Go in the evening, when the clubs are open and the crowd gathers.

    Free to visit
    Sources: Ljubljana Tourism (visitljubljana.com)

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