MÁRIBOR, BLED, SKOFJA LOKA & LJUBLJANA
Slovenia is a true gem in the center of Europe, which makes you feel inside of a fairytale. It is one of those destinations that sometimes go unnoticed, but that undoubtedly has a lot to offer. This small country, hidden between the Alps and the Adriatic See, surprised us with its natural landscapes, tranquility and charming towns.
On this express Road Trip through Slovenia, I will take you through the places we discovered on our vacation. The idea was to establish first contact with Slovenia. From the quiet city of Maribor, with its vineyards, to the impressive Lake Bled, where the turquoise waters and the castle seem from another world. We will also get lost in the medieval streets of Skofja Loka, a charming little town, and end up in the vibrant Ljubljana, the capital, where the modern and the ancient mix in perfect harmony.
So, if you are thinking about your next getaway or just want to dream for a while about new destinations, join me on this trip through Slovenia. Let's get to it!
A little about Slovenia...
Slovenia borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. Its capital is Ljubljana, one of the greenest cities in Europe.
The currency is the euro (€), as the country is part of the European Union and the Schengen area, which means that you will not need to pass border controls when entering from other European countries.
The official language is Slovenian, although in the more urban areas Hungarian, Italian and a little English are also spoken.
Winters can be cold, especially in mountainous regions, with temperatures dipping below 0°C, while summers are mild, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 30°C, perfect for exploring the outdoors.
It is a country with a very small coastline to the Adriatic Sea through the Gulf of Trieste, around 46 km. About half of the country (11,691 km²) is covered in forests, making Slovenia the third most forested country in Europe, after Finland and Sweden.
Arrival in Slovenia
One of the reasons why Slovenia tends to be an unknown or unpopular destination is because it does not have a large airport like the rest of European cities. This means that there are few flights, with stopovers and generally expensive.
So... how can we get to Slovenia?
The easiest option is to look for cheap flights to one of the countries bordering Slovenia (Italy, Austria, Hungary or Croatia) and then rent a car. This will also allow you to travel around the country comfortably, since the train networks are not as extensive as in other European countries.
Of all of them, the most practical and popular option is to fly to Venice-Marco Polo airport in Italy, which is located just an hour from the Slovenian border and about two hours from Ljubljana, the capital. This airport is the closest and usually offers the cheapest flights.
However, in our case, we decided to fly to Vienna, the Austrian capital, and start the trip from there. In this way we took the opportunity to combine both countries on our road trip. If you want to know more about Austria, you will have it very soon on the blog :)
Travelling by car inside Slovenia
To enter Slovenia by car you will not need to pass border controls, as it is part of the European Union. However, it is important that you acquire a vignette to be able to travel on Slovenian highways. This can be weekly, monthly or yearly, and you can purchase it online at this link or physically at establishments near the border.
You should also make sure that your rental contract allows you to transfer the vehicle to other countries. Companies usually charge extra for this service, so remember to check in advance.
With this, you can now move freely around Slovenia!
First stop: Maribor
From the airport in Vienna, Austria, we headed directly to Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia behind Ljubljana. The 255 KM route takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Located on the banks of the Drava River, Maribor is a city of great historical and cultural importance, known for its winemaking tradition with numerous vineyards on its hills and its famous oldest vine in the world. The city is also distinguished by its medieval charm, with a picturesque old town that includes cobblestone squares, elegant baroque buildings and the emblematic Glavni and Grajski Squares.
In this post I tell you in detail what to see on your visit to Maribor
We visited Maribor on a Saturday in August and we found it to be a very quiet city, with hardly any tourists. On weekends street parking is free and it is easy to find free spaces.
After Maribor we headed to Ljubljana, where we had reserved our accommodation with Booking. The truth is that we liked it a lot and we recommend it 100%. We were also able to park our car for free right at the door, which is a plus on a family road trip :)
The impressive Lake Bled
We head to Lake Bled, located about 50km from Ljubljana. Lake Bled is, without a doubt, one of the most magical and surprising corners of Slovenia. In its center, above the glacial waters, stands a small island, the only one in all of Slovenia.
Here you can climb the hill of Bled Castle, kayak around the lake, visit the Church of the Assumption on the island, walk along the shore or take a refreshing swim. Also, don't leave without trying the famous Bled cream cake, typical from the area.
Despite being a very quiet place, Lake Bled is one of the most popular destinations in the country, both for tourists and locals who spend their summer days here. Therefore, I recommend you arrive early in the morning. Parking areas are limited (and paid) and the road leading to the lake tends to collapse at midday.
In this post I tell you how to spend a dream day on Lake Bled and all the practical information you should know.
Skofja Loka, a charming village
On the way back to Ljubljana from Bled you should definitely stop in this charming little village, where we took the opportunity to have a picnic. Skofja Loka is one of the best preserved medieval villages in Slovenia.
The Škofja Loka Castle at the top of the hill offers spectacular views and pleasant gardens. You also can't miss the postcard-worthy views of the Capuchin Bridge and the charming Main Square (Mestni Trg).
In this post I explain you in detail what to visit in the medieval town of Skofja Loka
Ljubljana, city of dragons
Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, is the largest city in the country. The dragon is, without a doubt, the most iconic symbol of Ljubljana. This mythological animal not only is present in the city's coat of arms, but has been an integral part of its history and culture for centuries.
Ljubljana is a fairytale city that you will fall in love with from the first moment. It is small, cozy and has that special charm that mixes modern with old. Imagine walking through its streets, with beautiful buildings on each side of the Ljubljanica River, full of beautiful bridges and cafes where you can sit and enjoy.
The Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square or the Dragon Bridge are mandatory stops, and I assure you that going up to Ljubljana Castle will give you incredible views. But the best thing about Ljubljana is its atmosphere: it is a young city, full of life, but also very quiet and green, with parks and spaces to relax. You will love the combination of culture, history and that modern touch that makes it so special.
Finally... some extras!
This was the road trip that we took through Slovenia. If you consult other guides, you will see that we left out many things. In our case, we had only a few days and we decided to go to the essentials, however, Slovenia has much more to offer. This is just a first trip and I am sure that we will fully discover this country again.
These are some places that we could not visit but that you can include in your trip to Slovenia:
Vintgar Gorges
Lake Bohinj
Predjama Castle
Savica Waterfall
Soca Valley
Piran
Ptuj
I also share with you some links that were useful to us when preparing our trip and that I hope can help you too.
Driving and circulation information: https://www.slovenia.info/es/planifica-tu-viaje/desplazarse-por-eslovenia/a-eslovenia-en-coche
Ljubljana tourism: https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/
Коментарі