Slovenia in a Nutshell

On 4th of July weekend we decided to visit Slovenia, which was less than a three hour drive to the country capital, Ljubljana.

In three days we visited:
Radovljica
 Lake Bled & Vintgar Gorge
Ljubljana,
Lake Bohinj,
 Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle. 

Where We Stayed
Ljubljana offered a central location, had more pet-friendly accommodations, and it was much cheaper than staying in Bled. Our bed and breakfast was located on the northwest side of Ljubljana, which provided easy access to Lake Bled.

Things To Do
There is more to Slovenia than its capital and famous Lake Bled. Those coming from the south will pass right by Postojna Cave, the most visited tourist attraction in Slovenia. For a less touristy cave experience, there is also Skocjan Caves nearby.

Wine lover's can sample wine from the unique red soil of the southern Kras region or the oldest grape vines in Europe near northern Maribor. 


Foodies can enjoy a mixture of Italian, German, and Balkan foods... oh and don't forget the cream cake!

---

Photo Credit: Slovenia For You

Triglav National Park, to the northwest, is a giant playground for outdoor enthusiasts!  Towns worth visiting include:

• Kranjska Gora: home to the Vrsic mountain pass built by Russian POW's, mountains, and waterfalls
• Bovec: famous for its white-water-rafting on the blue Soca River
• Kobarid: with more water sports and waterfalls
• Tolmin: a river gorge just as beautiful as Vintgar Gorge near Lake Bled
• Bohinj: a lake town much more enjoyable than its famous counterpart

15 Things I Learned About Slovenia

1. You need to buy a vignette in order to drive in Slovenia. They can be purchased at stations near the border. A weekly vignette was 15 euro in 2015. Make sure you place it on the on the windshield and keep your receipt.
2. Don't stop at vignette check points. Slow down to the posted speed, get in the appropriate lane for cars, and go on through. We got some angry car horns when we stopped at the booth our first time through.
3. There's no need to learn Slovenian. Most Slovenians speak a second language of English, Italian, or German. In fact, there are 50 different dialects of Slovenian, so sometimes they can’t even understand each other.
4. "Doh-burr-dhan" is the Italian equivalent of buongiorno. It means "good day" and is used in EVERY encounter.
5. Seat yourself! At most restaurants (in fact every single one we went to) it is customary to seat yourself at any open table. We stood around awkwardly several times.
6. Many waiters will ask "how can I help you?" before providing the menu. They want to know if you would like dessert, drinks, or a meal. It was a bit awkward at first... "umm we'd like to eat here? I think?"
7. As with most European countries, you HAVE to ask for the check if you want it. Even if they are clearing the plates from the table, you still have to ask... sometimes more than once.
8. Tipping is not necessary for anything! 
   
9. Portion sizes are much bigger compared to Italy… pasta is a meal, not a first plate. We learned the hard, yet still delicious way our first night in Slovenia.
10. Blueberry is the traditional liqueur of Slovenia, often served after a meal, and it tastes like cough medicine in my opinion. I'll take limoncello.
11. Buying wine at the grocery store is MUCH cheaper than buying it at a wine shop. 
12. Roasted pumpkin seed or "bucno" oil is AMAZING! Try it! Buy it at the grocery store for less.
13. Slovenian attire is very casual. I saw a lot of jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops. You'll have no problem blending in.
    
14. Speaking of casual, it is not uncommon to see young Slovenian women wearing shorts that expose half of their buttocks. An unusual sight coming from conservative Italy.
15. Slovenia is a beautiful country with friendly people, delicious food, and truly a hidden gem!

Our first day in Slovenia took us to the old town of Radovljica...

For everything else about visiting Slovenia, check out our Slovenia Travel Guide.