Belfast did not have the best of starts to 2024. Never mind the mass public sector strikes, the not-unrelated fact of Northern Ireland being without a functioning government (the government returned, the strikes were settled, or suspended … for now), at the end of January, one of the city’s most respected – revered – publicans, Pedro Donald, who over the years had brought us the John Hewitt, La Boca, the Sunflower and the American Bar, announced that he was leaving for Amsterdam. There may not be bombs and bullets any more, he said, but Belfast was “a dump and derelict”. Indeed, apart from a few good years between the Good Friday agreement and the financial crash, the city was in many ways no further on than when he started in the trade in 1984.
5 of the best road trips and long-distance cycling routes in Slovenia
29.04.2024 - 17:11 / lonelyplanet.com / Julian Alps
Slovenia is often called small.
And while it’s true the Central European nation ranks 24th in size out of 27 EU countries, this is a positive for drivers and cyclists. In the course of one visit, you can see many of Slovenia’s most picturesque villages, pristine forests, vineyard-covered foothills, karst landscapes, and seaside towns, and shoot a lifetime’s worth of majestic photos.
What many travelers learn as they drive or ride around Slovenia: the country may be compact on a two-dimensional map, but it’s a 3D heavyweight. The topography is dense with stunning mountain ranges – their peaks reflected in alpine lakes fed by rivers that roll across undulating hillsides and merge with the Adriatic Sea.
The key to a drive or a cycling excursion here, regardless of season, is to take your time and soak in Slovenia’s quiet byways. Allow yourself to be as free as the open road. Here, we’ve outlined three scenic trips for exploring by car, and two long-distance cycling journeys. The distances provided are not direct between the start and end points; they assume some diversion from the main route and allow you to explore more of each region.
Best road trip to sample everything
Kranjska Gora–Koper; 300km (185 miles), allow 1–2 days
Summer or early autumn is the best time for this “Greatest Hits of Western Slovenia” journey that combines the highlights of the Julian Alps, the karst region and the Adriatic coastline. The trip starts near Kranjska Gora, and winds its way through the mountainous Triglav National Park and along the luminous, turquoise Soča River before breaking through the hills at vineyards and ending up at Koper on the Adriatic. You can do it all in a day, but there’s so much to see en route, you could easily stretch it into a week.
From Kranjska Gora, follow main road no 206 south into the national park and snake your way up and down the 50 breathtaking hairpin turns of the Vršič Pass, Slovenia’s highest mountain pass, at 1611m (5285ft). Continue along the same road, moving deeper into the park until you reach the whitewater-rafting mecca of Bovec. Turn south along main road 203 to the historic town (and now culinary hot spot) of Kobarid.
From here, pick up main road 102 heading south, following the Soča River, in the direction of Tolmin. Bear right on main road 103 through the heart of the Goriška Brda’s vineyards, to the modern city of Nova Gorica. You could easily spend days in Goriška Brda, sampling the wines and touring pretty villages like Šmartno. From here, follow the H4 highway that merges with the A1 expressway to take you down to Koper. A slower journey follows main road 204 out of Nova Gorica and passes through lovely, medieval villages like Stanjel.
Planning tip: Don’t try the Alpine
A festival of music, film and spectacle: the best of Belfast 2024
5 of the best road trips to take in the Netherlands
Beyond the Netherlands’ biggest and best-known cities, a patchwork of farmland, fields, villages and towns laced by canals, polders, dykes and windmills unfolds across the flat, low-lying Dutch landscapes.
Local Bites: the best places to eat and drink in Chiang Mai
I first arrived in Chiang Mai in May of 1992. I came to visit a high school buddy who had married a local – a professor at Chiang Mai University. They introduced me to the local cuisine, and to their friends and family members who took me under their collective wing.
15 of the best road trips in Europe
Be inspired to explore Europe by car this summer on one, or more, of these themed driving routes.
Record-Breaking Road Trip Weekend Slated For Memorial Day
A forecast from AAA estimates Memorial Day weekend travel will be up from last year with boosts in travelers across modes of transportation — but still shy of the all-time record set in 2005.
The best ways to travel around in Slovenia
Slovenia is small and it’s possible to cross the country by car, bus or train within the course of a day.
The best times to visit Slovenia
Slovenia is an all-year destination. Every season has its appeal, but the best time to visit depends on your interests and priorities.
6 of the best European train routes for summer 2024
Are you planning some European travel this summer? Me too. Getting from A to B by train has never felt so exciting, with a thrilling mix of new routes, classic journeys, and under-the-radar options to choose from.
The best day trips from Copenhagen to explore more of Denmark (and beyond)
The culturally rich city of Copenhagen has plenty to keep visitors busy for many days, but it’s also ideally situated for day trips to a variety of other interesting and scenic destinations in Denmark and beyond, bringing to mind knitted wool sweaters, colorful snow-topped houses and warm hygge vibes.
‘Ahead lay cypress-lined Tuscan roads waiting to be discovered’: readers’ best road trips
Driving through the Tuscan hills, the sun beginning its slow descent in the hazy, glowing heat on an August evening was one of the most exquisite experiences I have ever had. Travelling slowly along small, winding roads near Siena in our old Polo, we settled in to the rhythm the locals live by. The peaceful embrace of the Tuscan way of life was felt at every turn, with every smile we saw and every vineyard we gazed across. The cypress trees lining other, yet-to-be-discovered roads in the distance added to our awe at our surroundings.Lotta
‘Slow travel at its most joyous’: our three-week road trip to Croatia
How far would you go – and how long would you take – to avoid flying and thoroughly embrace the idea of slow travel? In my case, it was 3,167 miles over three weeks. For nearly a decade I had wanted to do a road trip to Croatia, and to get as much out of the journey as the destination itself. Rather than bomb down the motorway for marathon stretches, the idea was to slow down and see new things.
5 road trips through Oregon’s amazing landscapes
What’s the best way to experience Oregon’s gorgeous scenery? From the open road.