11 things to know before booking a trip to Slovenia

02.05.2024 - 11:57 / lonelyplanet.com

I’ve been writing about Slovenia for Lonely Planet now for more than a decade.

On every trip, I’ve found Slovenians to be highly welcoming and proud of their country, particularly of Slovenia’s commitment to the environment and sustainability. English is widely spoken and you’re unlikely to have any problems hitting the ground running.

That said, a little local knowledge can help grease the wheels and make a trip to this beautiful country more rewarding and pleasurable. Here are some ideas and tips for how to prepare before you get there.

By now, word has traveled far and wide about Slovenia’s immense physical beauty and its emerging rep as a high-end foodie destination. That means it’s no longer possible simply to turn up and expect to find accommodation bargains or tables at top restaurants. Ljubljana is popular year-round, so start your room hunt the moment you decide to visit. The same goes for Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj and the towns and resorts along the country’s Adriatic coastline. These all can get full to bursting in high season (July and August).

Top Slovenian chefs like Ana Roš, and her Michelin-starred restaurant Hiša Franko in Kobarid, have got gourmands around the world salivating at the very prospect of visiting the country. Book any restaurant with a whiff of foodie cred at least a month in advance.

Many travelers, regrettably, allocate just a long weekend or perhaps a week at most here. That may be enough time to get a sense of Ljubljana and possibly make a side trip to Lake Bled or the Adriatic coast, but it’s not enough for taking in all the sights Slovenia has to offer. The country may be small, but it packs in tremendous geographic diversity. After you’ve hit the main highlights, consider at minimum visiting the Soča Valley, the Goriška Brda wine communities, and the spectacular caves and landscapes of the Karst Region.

And certainly don’t overlook the east of the country, around cities like Maribor and Ptuj, which sees far fewer visitors than the Alpine and coastal regions of the west. In interacting with many, many travelers over the years, I’ve never once heard a visitor on returning home say they wished they’d planned to spend fewer days here.

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A visit to a Slovenian winery, with a chance to meet the winemakers and sample the grape, is a highlight of any visit to the country. Prime tasting areas include Goriška Brda, Metlika, Brežice, Maribor, and many others. That said, resist the temptation simply to pull up at a winery gate and expect a tasting (as you might in other countries). It’s better to phone in advance or book a tasting over the winery website.

Travelers are often reluctant to invest in city tourism cards