Slovenia 2024
6th - 21st June
Our first visit to Slovenia, we chose our route from recommendations on the Slovenian Tourist Info web-site, with some insider tips from Andi & Domi: starting in the north east corner, Krajnska Gora, then Bled, followed by Postojna Cave with Predjama Castle, on the way to the coast, Piran. We then headed west, visiting the capital city, Ljubljana, then Podravska, one of the 3 main wine-growing regions (Winery Püklavec, near Jeruzalem. After visting Maribor, we visited Lake Bohinj and spent our last evening in Bled.
Ljbljana
The capital of Slovenia and European Green Capital 2016. This charming and vibrant city will captivate and fascinate anyone keen to explore it.
Piran and salt pans
Piran (Portoroz), the most beautiful town of Mediterranean Slovenia.
Bled
Lake Bled and a castle perched on a cliff is one of the most beautiful Alpine resorts in Europe.
Postojna cave
Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle are world-class attractions!
Cycling
Getting There
Baldham - Bled
Tour Route
Baldham -Kransjka Gora 3:52 (344 km)
Kransjka Gora -Bled Camping 35 min (38.5 km)
Bled Camping-Postojna 1 hr 10 Mins (110 km)
Postojna - Piran 1 hr (75 km)
Piran - Ljubljana 1:29 (121km)
Ljubljana - Jeruzalem 1 hr 57 min (173 km)
Jeruzalem - Maribor 1 hr (65 km)
Maribor- Bohinj 2:20 (210 km)
Bohinj-Bled 30 mins (30km)
Bled - Baldham 4:30 hr (380 km)
Bled (town, lake, island, castle & camping)
On the edge of the Triglav National Park, Bled was nominated one of the seven new wonders of the world. It is distinguished by a mild, healing climate and thermal springs of lake water.
Just off the A11/E61 motorway from Austria/Germany, on the way to Ljubljana, Bled is an ideal first stop on our Slovenia adventure.
As with most picturesque places, I ended up taking loads of photos, many of which looked the same... below a small selection.
It is probably the biggest tourist attraction in Slovenia, and although we were there before the sommer holidays started, it was already quite busy: roadworks on the road between Bled and Bled Camping (also the way to Bohinj) resulted in longish waits at traffic lights.
We stayed 4 nights at Bled Camping pricey (€48/night) but well-run. We were glad we'd booked in advance, as it was full by noon.
We had mixed weather: sunny at first, but then 2 solid days of heavy rain. The front brakes on the camper van needed replacing, which was done at a very reasonable price by the local garage (thank you Auto M!), but as they had to wait for the parts, we stayed a day longer than planned, spending the last night on the camper stop near the garage (€25 incl. electricity).
Bled Map
Map showing Bled, with Bled Lake, Bled Island, Bled Castle (Straza), Vintgar gorge (Soteska) and the campsites Bled Camping and Bled River Camping.
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia’s Julian Alps is one of the most beautiful gorges in the world. It's a ten-minute bike ride from Bled. You can take your dog but not your bike into the gorge.
Nature had the wild Vintgar Gorge to itself for more than 10,000 years – since the end of the last ice age. More than 600 species of plants can be found along the 1,600-metre path through the gorge.
After walking through the gorge, make sure you walk past the cafe/restaurant to below the waterfall, to get a good view looking up at the waterfall and bridge. From the viewing point I walked back on the same side of the river to join the path back, but care was needed: it was steep, muddy and slippery.
Allow time for the (indirect) walk back to the entrance. I visited the gorge by bike from Bled Camping, and the round-trip took 2 hours 10 minutes (komoot tour), including a ten-minute wait at the entrance - I'm sure this wait would be much longer at peak times.
Ljubljana
The capital of Slovenia and European Green Capital 2016: colourful and lively! Our visit coincided with a wine festival, EM 2024 public viewing and an LBGT demo.... and we had perfect weather. We camped a 20-minute bus-ride from the centre, just off the motorway (€22 with electricity), but spent the whole, very full day, in the city.
Ljubljana
We parked at a small camper stop behind Avtosola Jezica (not to be confused with the nearby Lubljana Resort), about 5km from the city centre: €22 / night with electricity.
Postojna Cave
Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle are world-class attractions!
The most visited tourist cave in Europe is habitat of the "human fish" (also called proteus or olm).
It was believed that a dragon lived in Postojna Cave, and that the human fish are its offspring. The only European underground vertebrate and the largest underground predator can live for up to 100 years and can survive more than eight years without food.
The cave railway has been operating at the cave for 140 years.
The train ride takes 10 minutes to the main cave and ten minutes back, winding past many wonderful stalagmite and stalagtite formations.
In the main cave, there's a 40-minute walk through many different-sized caverns, one more amazing than the next: definitely the best caves I've ever visited!
We spent the night on the Postojna parking lot (€20), and visited nearby Predjama castle on the following morning.
Predjama Castle
Predjama Castle is located in the vicinity of the Postojna Cave and is the largest cave castle in the world. For over 800 years it has been guarding a rock face, 123 metres high. Mysterious underground tunnels connect it with the cave directly beneath. Many of the rooms have a natural rock face as one of the walls, so it's an interesting natural and man-made architectural mix.
Piran
Piran, Istria, Slovenia, A Pinch of The Mediterranean: we stayed at Parking Fiesa next to the Pizzeria. There was no space for our table&chairs, but when we weren't exploring Piran, we dozed on our rug on the grass next to the stony beach, in the shade of some large trees. We ate in Piran (excellent sea-food in the restaurant Pavel) and at the Pizzeria. Josie enjoyed swimming in the clear water.
On the second night (Friday) some local youngsters partied loudly until 03:00: maybe it's best to avoid weekends!
Slovenia Riviera
The Slovene Riviera is the coastline of Slovenia, located on the Gulf of Trieste, by the Adriatic Sea. It is part of the Istrian peninsula and is 46.6 km long. The region comprises the towns of Koper and Piran with Portorož, and the municipality of Izola. It is a seaside tourist destination, with a vibrant multiethnic Slovenian and Italian heritage.
Maribor
We arrived at Maribor in a heat-wave: staying at a free camper-step, 30 minutes walk along the river Draha from Maribor city centre, on reaching Maribor, after a brief wander-round, we sought a shady cafe. While Esther & Josie re-hydrated, I took a quick tour of the famous wine cellar.
Vinag Wine Cellar
One of the largest and oldest classical wine cellars in Europe! The oldest part of the cellar spreading over 15,000 m2 and boasting 2.1 km long underground passages was built in 1847. Wooden barrels, concrete tankers, bottles with wine patina, etc. have a total capacity of 3 million litres! Link
Maribor
Maribor is located along the Drava River, surrounded by the green forests of Pohorje and picturesque wine-growing hills. Welcome to the tourist destination Maribor - Pohorje!
Oldest Vine in the World
Right next to the river in the centre of Maribor is the Old Vone house, in front of which grows the oldest vine in the world: over 400 years old, according to the Guiness Book of Records.
Maribor, Wine Cellar & Campsite
Maribor is a very pleasant city, but as we arrived in a heat-wave, we lacked the energy to do it justice!
The camper stop was free, with free electricity, but campers were kindly requested to eat in the Gostilna Koblarjev Zaliv restaurant: we did, and eat well, for a very reasonable price, and were also happy to make a voluntary donation to cover electricity costs.
Püklavec
Peaceful, unspoilt, tranquil.... utterly relaxing!
The Püklavic winery, hotel and restaurant has 6 pitches for camper vans, with water & electricity (€20/night), and a panoramic view of the rolling hills, with Jeruzalem in the distance.
A fixed 3-course menu is offered for €18 per person (highly recommended). And, of course, the excellent Püklavec wines are the perfect accompaniment!
We even indulged in the extensive €10 breakfast, after which no lunch was needed.
Kransjka Gora
Kranjska Gora is an attractive mountain and tourist sports centre throughout the year. However, we arrived in the rain and although we had a nice meal with a view up the ski-pistes to the magnificent Triglav mountains / national park, we felt no compulsion to delay our onward journey to Bled.
Peričnik Waterfall
Peričnik Waterfall with its 52m one of the highest among Slovenian waterfalls.
Lake Jasna
Reflections of mountains in the crystal clear lake water.
Mount Triglav
The highest peak in Slovenia.
Zelenci
Nature Reserve with pretty blue-green lake and numerous springs
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