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The name of the country says it all. How could you not fall in love with a country that has love written right in the middle of it?
From the moment I first step foot on Slovenian soil, I fell in love. I’m already looking forward to returning again and exploring more of the country – especially in the places I haven’t been to yet (like the beautiful Piran). Slovenia, is one of the most underrated countries with many people skipping it in favour of its neighbours.
Location, location, location
Slovenia is right in the middle of everything. It borders Italy, Croatia, Hungary, and Austria, all of which bring a number of tourists every year. It is fairly easy to hop on a train from any major city and end up in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. There is also much diversity in its landscape. In a couple hours you can go from the Mediterranean to the Alps to the Carpathian Basin to the east. Not to mention the Karst region with the many intricate caves all underground.
Mountains, trees and plains! Oh my…
The countryside is lush and full of trees and greenery – they say about 60% of Slovenia is forest. In so many ways Slovenia reminds me of home which is partially why I love it so much. I grew up with the mountains. In Vancouver, I know that if I can see the mountains, that means I am looking north. I love that I was able to see the mountains in Slovenia. They’re not as big as the ones at home, but the rugged beauty capped off with a spot of snow makes my heart burst with love and familiarity. If you’re an outdoors lover, there are plenty of hikes and trails to keep you occupied.
Quiet and Quaint Ljubljana
Seriously, how gorgeous is this?!
Strolling the streets of Ljubljana, especially along the river, and you’ll be convinced that you’re in Italy somewhere. Minus the crowds. Minus the loudness. Minus the tourists. It is a slower pace of life and gives you a chance to relax after visiting chaotic cities elsewhere. The city is beautiful with a number of bridges each unique, colourful buildings and impeccably clean. At the centre of it all lies the Ljubljana castle which offers view of the city.
Picturesque Lake Bled
Visiting Lake Bled alone is enough reason to go to Slovenia. One look at the shimmering turquoise blue water broken only by an island, a church reaching for the skies and the Bled Castle, dating back to 1011, perched on a cliff high above and you’d be convinced you’ve stepped into a fairytale. You really can’t believe that a place so beautiful exists and yet it does.
Diversity of Food
This photo really doesn’t do the food justice, but it’s the only one I have. Apparently uncharacteristically, I didn’t take photos of what I ate.
Because the country is small and it has so many neighbours, you’re likely to see a lot of influence in the food. It is a mix of Mediterranean, Alpine and Balkan flavours. Slovenian food is a hybrid of sausages, Austrian pastries, Hungarian stews, Balkan meats and all with a bit of Italian twist. Coming from Hungary, many dishes looked familiar, and yet made uniquely Slovenian.
Affordability
Slovenia uses the Euro, but everything is still really affordable. From accommodation to food, you’ll be paying significantly less compared to their neighbour to the west (Italy ahem). If you’re looking for a place to have it all and at a good price, then Slovenia is where you should head.
Overlooking Ljubljana from its castle
If you going on a whirlwind backpacking tour of Europe, make sure you add Slovenia to your list. Don’t skip it thinking it’s just another little country that no one knows. Despite its size, the country has plenty to offer and many adventures await you. You won’t be disappointed that you went.
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I’m headed to Slovenia this summer. Honestly it was a country that was totally off the radar for me until I realized I would have to take a train through it to get from Italy to Croatia. Since that particular discovery I’ve been getting more and more excited to experience it! It looks absolutely stunning, and I can’t wait to check out Ljubljana.
Awesome! I hope you have a great time in Slovenia and you should try to get to Lake Bled if you can.
I almost visited Slovenia last year, just had trouble finding airfare that wasn’t sky high!
Aww 🙁 The problem with it being a smaller airport I bet. What if you flew into one of the surrounding countries and took the train? There are great connections to Vienna & Venice.
Looks like a beautiful place. One day!
Maybe when you’re in Europe 🙂
There is no doubt that Slovenia is a too-overlooked gem in Europe. Great post! Great weather, great capital city, Lake Bled is gorgeous, there’s great hiking, great caves, Slovenia should be on everyone’s itinerary when headed Europe way!
Yes! I so agree, but then I’m also afraid that it’ll get overrun with tourists and everything I love about the country will be lost to too many people.
My brother was just there recently and he loved it. As a souvenir, I got a hand-woven wool shoulder sling bag which is really gorgeous! Looking forward to visiting when I’m next in Europe
Nice! I hope you get a chance to see it for yourself.
Awwww such a nice post! I’m slovenian and reading this makes me really proud! 🙂
Thanks Urska! I love your country 🙂
I’d love to spend some more time in Slovenia. I’ve only been to Ljubljana and Bled, and that was back in 2009. The day I visited Lake Bled, it was raining, but that hardly mattered, since it’s just so gorgeous!
Ohh, it would be a completely different experience with rain. More mysterious, but still stunning I bet.
I went to Slovenia a few years ago, and loved it! We stayed in Ljubljana, and visited Bled for the day, but I’d love to go back and explore more of the country. Thanks for sharing and reminding me about this lovely place!
Thanks Molly! I’m in the same boat, looking forward to seeing more of the country. I hope you get a chance to go back!
Love, love, LOVE! One of my favourite countries for sure. And Piran looks gorgeous, I can’t wait to get there too.
I’m totally with you. I adore Slovenia and really want to go check out Piran.
Just returned from Slovenia and completely agree with all these points – aboslutely loved it out there especially Bled and Piran and Ljubljana was just such a pretty and unspoilt city! Love your photos 🙂
Ohhh I’m so jealous! I can’t wait until I can go back and explore more of the country, especially Piran.
I’ve only been to Ljubljana, but I really loved it. We cycled right around the city and out in the country and enjoyed it immensely.
The city is great and I bet seeing it by bike was a lot of fun.
We are so close, we definitely need to visit. It looks amazing! 🙂
Yes! It’ll be so easy for you to pop over (jealous!)
We loved Slovenia a lot too, we went to visit a friend who lives in the capital and ended up touring a lot of the country which is simply stunning! Unfortunately we have no photos of our time there because our camera broke which gives us an extra reason to want to return (not that we need one really).
Photos or no photos, Slovenia is always a good idea. I hope you get a chance to go back!
Slovenia looks like an amazing country to visit. I’d love to visit all those central European countries. Wonderful photos!!
Thanks Marsha! It really is as gorgeous as it seems. I hope you get a chance to go one day.
Great post! I’m a quarter Slovenian and absolutely adore the place. Ljubljana is one of the most charming capital cities and lake Bled is just stunning. Not to mention Postojna cave, Piran and so many more places… Definitely SLOVEnia!
Yes! Agree, agree, agree. There is so much to explore in the country.
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Slovenia is one of my all-time favorite places in the world… but I guess it goes beyond being a tourist? I feel like I would really love living there. I just loved the beauty and the atmosphere. Everyone there seemed so happy, it’s such a CUTE city and bright, and peaceful. I felt like it was like, real world Disneyland. 🙂
I thought of living there too, but I think after awhile I’d get bored by how quiet it is (and how early things close!). I need the hustle and bustle of a big city, but you’re right in saying it’s like a real world Disneyland. It’s so completely different from anywhere else.
Slovenia really is beautiful. We are driving through most of the time but we see the castles and things and wonder what they are called. We are planning to explore Slovenia a little more as the kids get older!
I hear Slovenia has lots of fantastic castles to explore and dive into. It’ll be fun for your kids for sure.
SOLD! 🙂 So beautiful! It’s not surprising this part of the world (i.e., Slovenia, Croatia, etc.) are getting big push, if the photos are any indication.
You would love it I think. It’s like BC and so gorgeous.
Very happy to hear you enjoyed. Most people leave very pleasantly surprised.
Slovenia has become one of my favorite countries and I think part of what I love about it is how unexpected it was. You really don’t know until you go yourself.
I’ve honestly never really thought of Slovenia as a travel destination but you may have won me over with your photos of ljubljana and Lake bled! What to do? So much to see but not enough time or money!!
That always seems to be the case with travel. So much to see and do!
I keep reading about Slovenia and it is so beautiful, especially the Lake Bled area! I’d love to go to that castle! Everything looks so lovely, I adore the mountain views!
It really is unbelievably gorgeous. The castle wasn’t too interesting (more about that soon!), but the view from the top was the best.
FAB!! I spent a week here and loved it, so much I am going back again this summer to see it in a different season!
Awesome! I saw it in spring and if that was any indication of summer, you’re in for a treat.
Ok.. I think you convinced me that I need to go to Slovenia one day. This summer, we will be in Austria and Hungary, but unfortunately, Slovenia wasn’t on our radar at all :(. It looks so beautiful… I’ll definitely have to put it on the list for next time, along with Croatia!
Yay! That’s the way to do it. I saw a bit of Croatia too before I headed to Slovenia.
I haven’t been to Slovenia yet (to be honest it wasn’t even on my radar) but this post has convinced me I should rethink that.
Yes you really should! It’s a gorgeous country and the beauty of being in Europe is just popping around the continent 🙂
Okay, I gotta go. I’ve only jumped in and done the Skocjan Caves, which was awesome…so it’s time to do a whole lot more! Great post! Love your title graphic!
Thanks Corinne! I’ve heard really great things about the Skocjan Caves so it’s on my list of things to do the next time I’m in Slovenia. It really is a gorgeous country and I hope you get a chance to go see the rest of it.
I spent a couple of weeks driving through the mountains of Slovenia. Stayed on a farm a few nights where they made their own sausage from the animals they raised. Visited a trout farm! Slovenia is a magical place. Ljubjana is lovely – but the countryside is unforgettable.
Wow, that sounds like an amazing experience. I would love to stay on a farm and see how they make sausages. Sounds like the perfect way to get to know a country.
My husband is hitting both Italy and Hungary this summer. Perhaps he should stop in Slovenia between them. That photo with the canal does indeed remind me of Italy. Minus the tourists, crowds and loudness seems very appealing to me. The food looks yummy, too.
Yes he should! Especially if he is taking the train, though to be fair, getting from Ljubljana to Budapest via train takes about 10 hours because of how slow they are. Let me know if he needs any help planning Hungary. I’m happy to help 🙂
Beautiful photos! So, I’ve never even noticed the love in Slovenia before and it will now stay with me forever. Thanks for that 🙂 I have always wanted to visit Slovenia after seeing pictures of Lake Bled. You’ve given me more reasons to go soon. I love hidden gems and underrated places like these.
Thanks Mary! I wish I could claim I was brilliant and saw the love in there, but I borrowed the idea from their tourism agency. The whole country is gorgeous. I cannot recommend it enough!
I too love Slovenia! Ljubljana is one of my favorite towns of all time. We go often there for a stroll, coffee or lunch.
It must be relatively close for you guys too. So jealous 🙂 Would love to just be able to pop over at a moments notice.
Yes, I love Slovenia! I wrote a very similar, all-praising post last week about my time there. There literally isn’t a bad thing I can think of about it!
Agreed! Its such a great country.
Slovenia is definitely on my list of must see places in the near future. I have only been looking into visiting Ljubljana and Lake Bled but now I will want to see more of this country.
Slovenia is gorgeous. I hope you get a chance to go asap! Before it gets discovered by the masses.