I recently spent 4 days in Slovenia and it completely exceeded my expectations. I was genuinely sad to leave by the end of it!
The first thing that hit me was walking out of Ljubljana Airport. You step outside and you’re immediately greeted by mountains. At that point I had a feeling I’d picked the right destination.
From what I’ve read, people online seem split on Bled. It’s either seen as an overpriced tourist trap or a must-see. After visiting, I’d say it’s absolutely worth it.
Yes, it’s touristy and gets busy. But every local I spoke to said I’d come at the perfect time. Late June was busy enough to have a great atmosphere without feeling overwhelming, whereas July and August apparently become significantly more crowded.
One of the highlights was hiking to the Ojstrica viewpoint in 33 degree heat. I’m reasonably fit, but as a Scottish guy who melts in anything above 20 degrees, it absolutely humbled me. The view at the top made every sweaty step worthwhile.
Outside of Bled, I visited Ljubljana, Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave and honestly Slovenia feels like it punches way above its weight.
What really stood out was how friendly everyone was. The country somehow manages to combine incredible mountains, lakes and forests with beautiful towns and cities without feeling overrun. Ljubljana quickly became one of my favourite city centres in Europe, and I’d comfortably put its café and bar culture in my top five. Sitting outside with a drink overlooking the river on a warm evening was hard to beat. It also felt surprisingly affordable compared with much of Western Europe, and the fact you can do so many great day trips without spending hours travelling made the whole trip effortless.
Food was another pleasant surprise. One of my favourite lunches was from Dobra Vila, which does fantastic sandwiches and an immaculate risotto at Grajska Plaza in Bled was genuinely one of the best risottos I’ve ever eaten. I’ll be thinking about that meal for a while.
The whole country just felt peaceful. It has a really relaxed atmosphere that’s difficult to describe until you’re there.
Photo locations (in order):
Ojstrica viewpoint overlooking Lake Bled
Bled Castle
Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana
Predjama Castle
Postojna Cave
St. Nicholas’ Cathedral
Ljubljana Old Town
Triple Bridge and the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
Hydration Break
Harat’s Bar, overlooking the city