THE TRAVELLING TECHY

Inspired by the stunning photos of Lake Bled and having loved a trip to neighbouring Croatia, Slovenia rose to the top of my travel bucket list!

The country and it’s culture were somewhat unknown to me and my travel buddy, Mhairi. When speaking of our plans, we were met with helpful advice from frequent visitors and a local – as well as confused looks and, “Where’s that?” type comments! Undeterred, we created a 10-day itinerary to explore the country and experience all that it had to offer.

Days 1-2: Ljubljana

At the time of writing, there are no direct flights from Scotland to Ljubljana, so a short layover in Germany or Netherlands is required. (There are some direct flights from London airports.)

Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, is a city of beautiful architecture, tree-lined river walks, and a bustling cafe culture. When we arrived in July, the temperatures were mid-20s, so perfect for exploring the city by foot.

It is possible to cover the city centre within 30 minutes, but what’s the rush? Take a seat in one of the many outdoor bars on the banks of the Ljubljanica River. Explore the cobbled streets in the shadow of the castle, making sure to sample the famous pastries made with local honey. Climb – or ride the funicular – up to the castle itself and take a tour of the museums and ramparts. Go slightly off the beaten track and immerse yourself in the art district of Ljubljana, from the open-air Metelkova to the more traditional galleries and museums. Sail along the river and learn the rich history of the city and it’s bridges. There really is no shortage of things to do in Ljubljana!

The city centre is also home to both an indoor and outdoor market, selling fresh produce from local farms. And every Friday from mid-March until the end of October, the square hosts a unique food market where chefs of Slovenian restaurants prepare various dishes from all over the world. 

Ljubljana bus station is the main travel hub for Slovenia (and further afield), so we did see it often during our trip. It’s well-connected and journey times are fairly short, so it would be possible to stay in Ljubljana for the entire trip and use it as a base for day trips to other destinations. It’s possible to buy bus tickets online and from the bus station. My advice would be to do this as soon as you can, as buses quickly fill up and those without pre-paid tickets are often left behind!

Days 3-5: Bled

With lush scenery comes rain! Be prepared for storms in Bled, even in summer.

Whether choosing to visit Bled as a day trip, or to stay for a bit longer, you will likely travel here by a local bus. The journey from Ljubljana to Bled is around 1 hour to the north west, with frequent departures. Make sure to be at the correct bus stance in the station as many buses travel to and through Bled.

Previous visitors to Bled might tell you that “a day trip is long enough”. If all you wish to see is the infamous Lake Bled then I’d agree, but there is so much more to explore in this diverse landscape.

If staying in Bled, there are a few accommodation options – but not a huge amount – so best to pre-book to avoid disappointment. There are a couple of hotels at the lakeside, nearby campsites, and a selection of self-catering apartments which are made available by entrepreneurial home owners. There is also a good bus service (both local and tourist) to help you get around, and a well-stocked supermarket.

Lake Bled

Lake Bled is the most popular spot in all of Bled. And you can see why. The lake is home to a church nestled on an island, surrounded by verdant forest and the Julien Alps, and overlooked by Bled Castle. The (many!) photos cannot capture its true scale and beauty.

The lake is the focal point of the town. It’s surrounded by hotels, restaurants, water sports centres and beach facilities. Take a stroll around the lake (6km flat circular route), or challenge yourself with a hike up to Ojstrica for a birds-eye view.

From outside the Park Hotel on the lakeside, you can join 17 other passengers – and the skilled oarsman – to travel in a traditional pletna (gonolda-like boat) to Bled Island. Take in the scenery as you meander across the lake, and take countless photos of the iconic Church of St Jacob sitting proudly on Bled Island. For the more adventurous, you could hire a paddle board or kayak.

Vintgar Gorge

The best place to organise your trip to Vintgar Gorge is from the Mamut travel shop, right beside Bled bus station. For €10, you will travel to and from the gorge by shuttle bus, with 2 hours to explore the gorge and surrounding areas. It’s recommend to buy your entry ticket in advance as this will let you queue jump on arrival.

Once through the entry gates, you are led onto a 1.6km route of criss-crossing boardwalks. Although it’s suitable for most travellers, make sure to wear shoes with good grip as the boards can be wet from the river spray and the from humid climate within the gorge. The boardwalk is wide enough in places for you to step aside to take photos and admire the incredible landscape, so don’t feel like you have to rush if someone is trying to jostle you along! There is a cafe and toilets at the far end of the gorge for a refreshment and rest, before you head uphill to catch the shuttle bus back into Bled.

Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is Slovenia’s only national park. It is a pristine natural area, stretching over most of the Julian Alps, and is centred around the highest peak, Mount Triglav. The wildlife and landscape is diverse: there are valleys, ravines, waterfalls, dense woodland, and white-knuckle trails through the mountain range.

We chose to explore this vast area as a full day trip, with a guide and two other travellers. I imagine if you had your own car that you could make this trip on your own, and organise your own activities, but the tour guide option was the best choice for us. A local tour guide can share local knowledge as you drive through rural towns and villages; explain the history behind the ‘car train’ from Bohinj to the Soca River; recommend various viewpoints and walks throughout the trip; and handle the hairpin mountain roads like a pro.

Days 6-7: Piran

Piran is picturesque seaside resort on the Adriatic coast of Slovenia. Whether you’re coming from Bled or intend to holiday in Piran alone – you’ll come via Ljubljana bus station. The journey from Ljubljana to Piran is around 2.5 hours south-west.

Perhaps we were just unlucky with the particularly wet weather in Bled, but leaving there and arriving in Piran felt like we’d crossed many borders! Behind us was lush greenery and an active lifestyle, and ahead was a sun-soaked laidback coastal town with a distinctly Italian feel.

Piran is the perfect place to wrap up your Slovenia trip, and I’m sure you could happily spend more than a couple of days here! We took a subaquatic boat trip from the harbour near Tartini Square, and a walking tour the following day. Both gave a unique perspective of Piran, it’s rich history, and the neighbouring towns – I highly recommend both!

Being on the coast, it’s no surprise that many of the waterfront restaurants have fresh seafood on the menu. They are often accompanied by delicious local wine, called Malvasija, and freshly made pasta. Head to Rostelin to soak up the atmosphere and incredible food in their open-air restaurant.

There are a few swimming spots, both near the bus station and tucked away in the depths of the town. And if you fancy walking ~2km along the Fiesa footpath, you can cool off at Fiesa beach – or in the beachside bar.

Accommodation-wise, there are some hotels near the waterfront and a number of apartments. Note that Piran town centre is largely pedestrianised and apartments can be tucked away – and up! – cobbled streets, so familiarise yourself with the location in advance, and avoid a pull-along suitcase. Slightly further out in Fiesa, there are a number of campsites that looked to be very popular with campervanners and campers alike.

Day 8: Ljubljana

And much like arriving in Piran, to leave you must go via Ljubljana bus station. It’s really not a hardship as the bus station is close to the city centre, so it’s easy to spend time whilst waiting for your next bus.

It’s absolutely possible to make the trip from Piran -> Ljublana bus station -> Ljubljana airport in one day, but we took an extra day in the city to revisit favourite spots and to see what we missed in the previous stay. It felt like an old friend by the end of the trip! If you have somehow missed the chance to try burek – flaky pastry filled with cheese, or meat – now is your chance!

There are many more places to explore in Slovenia that we couldn’t fit in, such as Postojna Cave and Lake Bohinj, so I guess we’ll just have to go back!