What You Need To Know
Slovenia Travel Guide
Slovenia Unveiled
Your Slovenia Travel Guide to European Bliss
A small country located in Central Europe, Slovenia might not be on many people’s bucket lists and if it’s not, I promise you are missing out! One of the things I love about visiting Central Europe is it’s usually cheaper than Western Europe and you also see less tourists.
Most people only think of Lake Bled – the tiny church on an island – when they think of Slovenia. But because Slovenia is so small, it makes for an easy country to backpack! Take advantage of this and explore the country as a whole before moving on to its more popular neighbors.
When I went backpacking in Slovenia, it was my first stop on a multi-country trip. I went the end of August and even though it was summer, like I said, since Slovenia is not as popular, so there weren’t that many crowds! In total I spent a week backpacking Slovenia as a solo female traveler and felt that was enough time for me – in that time, you can easily see all the highlights this country has to offer.
How To Experience Slovenia
My Recommended Itinerary for Slovenia
Most likely you will fly into the vibrant capital, Ljubljana. This is where I started backpacking Slovenia and stayed a total of two full days. While that may not sound like much, Ljubljana is beautiful and quaint, but it’s so compact you can see all the attractions in one day if I’m being honest. I felt like I got to see everything I wanted within those two days.
After Ljubljana, I went to see the country’s most famous attraction: Lake Bled. It’s just a quick, 45-minute bus from Ljubljana, so in theory you could also do it as a day trip. However, I definitely think it deserves at least one overnight! I stayed two nights but could’ve done more. It’s really peaceful and beautiful on the lake. Even more so in person than what you’ve seen in pictures! To get to Lake Bled from Ljubljana, just show up at the bus station (Avtobusna Postaja Ljubljana; there are multiple buses a day, so no need to book in advance) and ask for a ticket to Lake Bled.
After enjoying the serene beauty of Lake Bled, I made my way back to Ljubljana.
Unbeknownst to many people (I love using big words), Slovenia does have a tiny sliver that is on the coast, by the Adriatic sea! Since I’m such a beach bum, I decided to check out the seaside town of Piran. There wasn’t a direct way to get there from Lake Bled, which is why I had to go back to Ljubljana. From there, it was about an hour and a half bus to Piran. I spent two days in Piran, which I felt was enough.
Whenever I plan on doing a backpacking trip, I spend weeks and weeks thoroughly researching. What I found was that Slovenia had a ton to offer. Ultimately, the three destinations I chose were what I felt to be the highlights and personally interested me the most. I didn’t go to Postojna Cave, which in hindsight I wish I did go to – so add that to your list as a day trip from Ljubljana! Lake Bohinj and Kranjska Gora are also popular attractions.
Vanessa's Insider Tips
My Travel Tips for Slovenia
- Visa Requirements: I did not need a visa when I went, but starting 2025 Europe is implementing ETIAS for U.S. citizens, which means you’ll need to apply for this before your trip.
- Local currency: Local currency is the euro.
- Language: Slovenian is the official language, though nearly everybody I encountered spoke English.
- Plugs: If coming from the States, you’ll need a converter and adapter.
- When to Go: Depending on what you want to do, you can visit Slovenia any time of the year. The winter would be beautiful, seeing snowcapped mountains. The summer would be just as beautiful, and you’d be able to visit the coast! Reminder that even in peak summer season, you still won’t see the crazy crowds that you’d get in other more popular European countries. I went in August and had perfect, sunny weather every day.
- How to Get Around: You can make your way around Slovenia easily by bus.
- Slovenia Solo Female Travel: Easily one of the safest countries I’ve been to, Slovenia makes for a perfect solo female traveler destination. I was never bothered by anyone, never saw any homeless or street beggars, etc. I walked alone at night and even in places it was residential or quiet, never felt unsafe. That, coupled with everyone speaking English and it being easy to navigate the country, is why Slovenia earns high marks for solo female travel!
