Slovenia really took me by surprise and up to this day it is one of the most underrated destinations I have visited. Slovenia is a small country but extremely diverse and therefore you can experience everything from serpentine roads in the mountains and alp lakes to long stretched vineyards and coastal towns in a short distance. The ultimate trip to Slovenia is therefore a roadtrip of 7 to 10 days and below I have listed my top 10 places to visit, including activities, when in Slovenia. All of these locations will cover a route that will take less than 7 hours to drive.

Spend a day around Lake Bled

Lake Bled is one of the most popular places to visit in Slovenia and therefore a must on your Slovenia roadtrip. There are multiple activities for you to do around Lake Bled with the most popular one being renting a boat to row on the lake. There are several spots around the lake where you can rent a boat, or a SUP for that matter. The price is different depending on where you go but the fee is usually around 10 – 20 € for 30 minutes up to an hour. It is also possible to take a swim in the lake and at some places around it there are actual beaches. These tend to get a bit more crowded though, so a pro tip from me is to just search for any other place around the lake where you can enter the water.

Hike the Vintgar Gorge

The Vintgar Gorge is not far away from Lake Bled and was one of my top places to visit in Slovenia. Some say it’s one of the most beautiful gorges in the world. The crystal-clear Radovna River with its emerald to turquoise color has carved out a 1.6 km long gorge located in the Triglav National Park. This is the Vintgar Gorge. Along the gorge are boardwalks so you can follow the river all the way to the end, which all sums up in a waterfall with a pool where you can go swimming. You can experience the Vintgar Gorge by yourself, just walking, or you can go with a guided tour or even an audio tour. Entrance fee is 10 €.

Go toboggan sledding in Kranjska Gora

Kranjska Gora might be more famous for its skiing during winter season, but there are some fun activities to do even during the summer. Just a 20-minute walk away from Kranjska Gora is Lake Jasna. What’s unique about this is that Lake Jasna actually consists of two artificial lakes, both of an emerald color and swimmable. On the walk you can stop by the side of the road and drink fresh alp water. However, for me the highlight of Kranjska Gora was summer sledding. You started by taking the ski lift up to the top of the mountain and then you got to race down the 1500 m long track of the summer toboggan run Besna Pehta. One ride costs 19 €.

Drive Along the Vršič Pass

Just driving along a road might not sound so exciting, but route SS54 – also known as the Vršič Pass – is not your average road. If you are leaving Kranjska Gora you will start by heading up serpentine roads. I don’t know how many times we parked our car by the side of the road just to take in the scenery. The Vršič Pass will lead you through the majestic Julian Alps and present you to some of the best views in Slovenia. You will reach the top and then you will go down, and the picture friendly nature will never stop. At the bottom you will reach Soča Valley. If you want a complete guide on the Vršič Pass, where to stop, what to expect, you can read more here.

Experience Soča Valley and swim in Soča River

The Soča Valley in Slovenia is famous for its stunning natural beauty. It is framed by the Julian Alps, offering dramatic mountain landscapes, deep gorges and rolling hills. For the adventurer this provides great opportunities for hiking, mountain biking and climbing. The valley follow the course of the Soča River, known as the emerald river because of its turquoise water. Swimming in the Soča River is a must-do when in Slovenia, although I should prepare you that the water is very cold. This due to the river running from the glaciers, so it’s practically ice water. The Soča Valley is also a natural stop on your roadtrip through Slovenia after driving the Vršič Pass, mentioned above.

Stay at a vineyard in the wine region Goriška Brda

Did you know that Slovenia is an excellent wine producer with multiple wine regions in the country? Neither did I until I visited. One of the top wine regions in Slovenia is Goriška Brda, looking like a baby Tuscany. The soil over here creates a certain mineral, making the wine feel a bit tingly or sparkly. In this wine region there are multiple farmstays and vineyards where you can spend the night and try some home produced wine. I can highly recommend staying at Kmetija Stekar. We did that for one night and it was so picturesque with really nice hosts. Visiting the wine regions in Slovenia is definitely a top travel experience and you can read all about that in this post.

Stroll the cobblestone streets of Šmartno

In the wine region Goriška Brda there are several cute towns, my favorite one being Šmartno. This picturesque place with cobblestone streets and narrow alleys is a perfect lunch stop. One of the best restaurants in Šmartno is Hiša Marica.

Visit Vipava Valley

Vipava Valley is another famous wine region in Slovenia. The valley is almost entirely surrounded by mountains, creating a beautiful landscape. If you want to visit vineyards and do wine tours with wine tastings, Vipava Valley is perfect. We went to a wine tasting in the village Slap at a vineyard called
Petrič winery. The town of Vipava is a bit bigger and a perfect place for lunch.

Enjoy the Mediterranean in Izola

Slovenia actually do have a coastline, even though it’s very short. One of the few coastal towns in Slovenia is Izola with it’s cute, colorful houses and small harbour. Stopping for a night in Izola is a must-do on your Slovenia roadtrip. Take a dip in the Mediterranean, eat seafood and have a glass of Slovenian wine on the main square.

Spend a few days in the capital Ljubljana

Wrap your Slovenia roadtrip up by spending a few days in Ljubljana, the capital of the country. Ljubljana might be one of the less famous capitals in Europe but is actually really nice. The city is so clean and they put a lot of effort into their green identity. In fact, Ljubljana has for multiple years been awarded the greenest city in Europe. Some top things to do in Ljubljana is enjoying one of the cute restaurants along the river that runs through town, relax in Tivoli Park, visit the autonomous cultural centre Metelkova and walk up the hill to Ljubljana Castle for the best view of the city.