36 Best Sights in Slovenia

The stately Bled Castle perches above the lake on the summit of a steep cliff against a backdrop of the Julian Alps and Triglav Peak. You can climb up to the castle for fine views of the lake, the resort, and the surrounding countryside. An exhibition traces the castle's development through the centuries, with archeological artifacts and period furniture on display, but the view steals the show.

Bled's famed lake is nestled within a rim of mountains and surrounded by forests, with a castle on one side and a promenade beneath stately chestnut trees on the other. Horse-drawn carriages clip-clop along the promenade while swans glide on the water, creating the ultimate romantic scene. On a minuscule island in the middle of the lake, the lovely Cerkov svetega Martina (St. Martin's Pilgrimage Church) stands within a circle of trees. Take a ride over to the island on a pletna, a traditional covered boat.

Lake Bohinj is the quieter, wilder, and prettier sister of Bled and lies entirely within the Triglav National Park. The entire length of the north shore is rugged and accessible only by foot. At an altitude of 1,715 feet, the lake is surrounded on three sides by the steep walls of the Julian Alps. The altitude means the temperature of the water—even in August—rarely rises above a brisk but still swimmable 74°F. The small village of Ribčev Laz, on the eastern end of the lake, functions as the de facto town center, where you'll find a grocery store, post office, currency exchange, an ATM, and the tourist information center. On the western shore lies the remote village of Ukanc, anchored by the Hotel Zlatorog, a campsite, and a few small shops. Just to the north and east of Ribčev Laz are the tiny hamlets of Stara Fužina, Studor, and Srednja Vas.

Situated in the grand Auersperg Palace, this museum's beautifully designed exhibits trace the city's history from pre-Roman times through the Austrian domination, the World Wars, the Tito years, and finally, the establishment of independent Slovenia. In the basement, you can walk on a piece of the ancient Roman road or see a cross-sectioned excavation that shows the burning of Emona by Attila the Hun through a black charred stratum. If you're interested, you can arrange for a museum guide to take you to other ancient Roman sites around the city. The city museum also houses the world's oldest wooden wheel, dating from 4000 BC.

Its color may now garner more attention than its history, but Ljubljana's famous Pink Church has plenty of stories waiting within. A High Baroque beauty built in the middle of the 17th century, the church flourished a century later under the watchful eye of the Franciscans, who decided to paint it red (hence the faded pink of today). The church's prime location on the city's main square makes it a prominent meeting point for people of all ages today.

Ljubljana's hilltop castle affords views over the river and the Old Town's terra-cotta rooftops, spires, and green cupolas. On a clear day, the distant Julian Alps are a dramatic backdrop. The castle walls date from the early 16th century, although the tower was added in the mid-19th century. Architect Jože Plečnik landscaped the surrounding park in the 1930s. The castle also houses a virtual museum showcasing Slovenian history through digital technology. Take a step back through time and do the tour; it's a great introduction to Ljubljana. The castle is also home to the Museum of Puppetry, one of the most underrated museums in the city.

The 11 interconnected chambers that compose the Škocjan Jama stretch for almost 6 km (about 4 miles) through a dramatic subterranean landscape so unique that UNESCO has named them a World Heritage site. The 90-minute walking tour of the two chilly main chambers—the Silent Cave and the Murmuring Cave—is otherworldly as winds swirl around the dripstone sculptures, massive sinkholes, and stalactites and stalagmites that resemble the horns of a mythical creature. The highlight is Europe's most extensive cave hall: a gorge 479 feet high, 404 feet wide, and 984 feet long, spanned by a narrow bridge lighted with footlights. Far below, the brilliant jade waters of the Reka River rush by on their underground journey. The view is nothing short of mesmerizing.

Covering some 4% of Slovenia's entire landmass, Triglav National Park is the ideological and spiritual heart of the country. The iconic three peaks of Triglav (the highest point in the country) are found on Slovenia's coat of arms and its flag, placing this dreamland of gorges, caves, waterfalls, rivers, and forests front and center for the nation. Winter sees locals and visitors alike head here in search of skiing and other snow-based activities, while the warmer months are perfect for amateur and experienced climbers and hikers. Mountain huts dot the landscape offering affordable accommodations for those looking to wander the meadows. Slovenia's only national park, Triglav contains everything that makes Slovenian nature magnificent, all within 840 square km (324 square miles) of magic.

From Kranjska Gora, head south over the breathtaking Vršič Pass, some 5,253 feet above sea level. You’ll then descend into the beautiful Soča Valley, winding through the foothills to the west of Triglav Peak and passing truly magnificent scenery. From Trenta, continue west for about 20 km (12 miles) to reach the mountain adventure resort of Bovec. The Vršič Pass isn’t for the faint of heart—every hairpin turn is fraught with danger—but roads in Slovenia don’t come much more exhilarating than this. The truly brave should make the journey via bus from Kranjska Gora. The pass closes when the weather is particularly bad in winter.

Protruding westward into Italy above the city of Gorizia lies Slovenia's best and most charming wine-growing region, Goriška Brda, or just Brda for short. Nestled near-by river Soča, half way between the Alps and the Adriatic, the region is quite accurately described as Petite Provence and features a mosaic of green hills liberally spotted with vineyards, cherry orchards and olive trees. Wine may not be the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of Slovenia, but the Brda region can hold its own with the European heavyweights. The wineries are all family-run and rather minute, yet exhibit an unmistakable tradition and deeply-rooted knowledge of the terroir. All of the manufacturers offer their products at winery prices at the castle in Dobrovo, the picturesque administrative center of the region, as well as several more established hotels and haciendas around the region. In September, visitors are welcome to help with the grape harvest at most wineries and if you chance to be there in May, hop on a bike and go cherry picking at one of the many orchards. Further attractions include Krčnik, a 5-meter natural stone bridge, smoothly polished by water and looming over the Kožbanjšček creek on top of a gorge. The refreshing beauty of the sight even compensates for pronunciation woes. While there, walk over to Kotline, three pools carved into the streambed of the creek.

An idyllic way to while away a day, Ljubljana's riverside is packed with cafés and restaurants that are perfect for people-watching. Prices have skyrocketed recently, but you're paying for location and atmosphere above all else.

This proud Baroque cathedral overlooking the daily market on Vodnikov trg is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen and boatmen who created a powerful guild in medieval Ljubljana. The building took place between 1701 and 1708 under the Italian architect Andrea Pozzo, who modeled it after the church of Il Gesù in Rome. The magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the nave are by the Lombard painter Giulio Quaglio and depict the transfiguration of St. Nicholas and the persecution of Christians under Diocletian and Nero. In honor of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1996, bronze doors were added to the church. The main entrance tells the story of Christianity in Slovenia, whereas the side door shows the history of the Ljubljana diocese.

Radovljica is an adorable town not far from Bled, and its intriguing Čebelarski muzej (Beekeeping Museum) may well be its cultural highlight. Located within the 17th-century Town Hall in the town center, the museum explores the humble bee through various interactive exhibitions. The museum also houses its own hive, a buzzing colony of some 5,000 bees, working away behind the safety of a glass cabinet.

You'll find the Triglav National Park Information Center at Dom Trenta in Trenta. Here, you can watch a presentation about the history and geography of the region and tour the small museum. It's also a good access point to the 20-km (12-mile) Soča Trail that winds along the river's banks. The center is open from the end of April through to the end of October, daily from 10 to 6.

Four fire-breathing winged dragons crown the corners of this locally cherished concrete-and-iron structure. The dragons refer to the mythological origins of the city when Jason, returning home from winning the Golden Fleece, killed a monster in a swamp on the present site of Ljubljana. It's undoubtedly one of the most photographed attractions in a city full of photogenic spots.

Slovenes love to get out and about, so don’t be surprised to see whole families packing the hiking and biking trails around the city on the weekend. Less than a mile from downtown Ljubljana, Golovec is a popular choice, with the path starting close to the Botanical Garden. The views from the top are fantastic.

Hidden behind the 16th-century defensive walls of this small town is the tiny Romanesque Cerkev sveti Trojice (Church of the Holy Trinity). The interior is decorated with a remarkable series of frescoes, including the bizarre Dance Macabre, completed in 1490. The church is locked, but if you ask in the village, the locals will gladly open it for you. Alternatively, you can make arrangements to visit at the tourism booth in Koper beforehand. From Koper, take the main road toward Ljubljana, then follow the signs for Hrastovlje, 22 km (14 miles) from Koper.

Founded in 1580 by Austrian archduke Karl II, the Kobilarna Lipica was where the white Lipizzaners—the majestic horses of the famed Spanish Riding School in Vienna—originated. Today, the farm no longer sends its horses to Vienna; instead, it breeds them for its own performances and riding instruction. The impressive stables and grounds are open to the public. Riding classes are available, but lessons are geared toward experienced riders and must be booked in advance.

The current town hall is the work of the Ljubliana architect Gregor Maček, who substantially renovated the 1484 original building from 1717 to 1719. The interior was completely reworked in the 19th and 20th centuries and now frequently hosts temporary art exhibits.

Right up the street from the Old Town end of the Triple Bridge, this cobbled square extends into the oldest part of the city. Baroque town houses, now divided into functional apartments, present marvelously ornate facades: carved oak doors with great brass handles are framed within columns, and upper floors are decorated with balustrades, sculptures, and intricate ironwork. Narrow passageways connect with inner courtyards in one direction and run to the riverfront in the other. The street-level floors contain boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries.

The strikingly modern one-story structure was designed by Plečnik student Edvard Ravnikar (1907–93) in the 1930s and finally finished in 1948. It contains a selection of paintings, sculptures, and prints by Slovenian and Eastern European 20th-century artists. In odd-number years, it also hosts the International Biennial of Graphic Art, an exhibition of prints and installations by artists from around the world. The gallery also has a permanent collection devoted to 20th-century avant-garde and the art of the Partisan Resistance.

At the west end of Lake Bohinj (near Ukanc), a cable car leads up Mt. Vogel to a height of 5,035 feet. You have spectacular views of the Julian Alps massif and the Bohinj valley and lake from here. From the cable-car base, the road continues 5 km (3 miles) beyond the lake to the point where the Savica River makes a tremendous leap over a 194-foot waterfall. The cable car runs every half hour from 8 am to 6 pm. A round-trip ticket costs €28.

The permanent exhibition on Slovenes in the 20th century takes you from the days of Austria-Hungary through World War II, the victory of the Partisan liberation movement and the ensuing Tito period, and up to the present day. Relics and memorabilia are featured along with a dramatic sound-and-video presentation (scenes from World War II are projected on the walls and ceiling, accompanied by thundering gunfire, screams, and singing). You'll find the museum in a pink-and-white Baroque villa in Tivoli Park.

This massive building houses an extensive collection of Slovenian art from the 13th through the early 20th century and a smaller but impressive collection of European paintings. It also houses the original of Francesco Robba's Fountain of the Three Carniolan Rivers.

The National Museum—home to more than 400,000 archaeological artifacts, rare books, historical documents, and artworks from the prehistoric era through modern times—is not to be missed. The centerpiece here is a bronze urn from the late 5th or 6th century BC known as the Vače Situla. Discovered in Vače, Slovenia, it is a striking example of Illyrian artistry and is decorated with friezes depicting a procession of men, horses, and chariots. Extensive collections of classic artworks from Western and Northern Europe, Russia, and Japan complement the already impressive exhibit of Yugoslav pieces.

Built from 1936 to 1941, the National Library is architect Jože Plečnik's secular masterpiece. The external facades present a modernist version of an Italian Renaissance palazzo, using brick, stone, and even archaeological remains from excavations around Ljubljana. However, these are not arranged in registers as in a traditional palazzo but instead are scattered haphazardly over the entire exterior, creating a dynamic and three-dimensional look that makes the massive building seem light and airy. Inside is a beautiful, colonnaded black marble staircase and a reading room with huge windows at either end to let in light. Plečnik also designed the austere furniture in the reading room. Don't miss the beautiful horse-head door handles on the main entrance.

Architecture enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to architect Jože Plečnik's house, which is home to his preserved studio, living quarters, and garden. A strange combination of refined aestheticism and severe, almost monastic, asceticism permeates the residence of the man who played a large part in transforming Ljubljana between the two World Wars. Exploring the house itself is only possible on one of the hourly tours, but the gardens and exhibition are accessible with a ticket.

This is one of the largest networks of caves in the world, with 23 km (14 miles) of underground passageways. A miniature train takes you through the first 7 km (4½ miles) to reveal a succession of well-lighted rock formations. This strange underground world is home to the snake-like "human fish," on view in an aquarium in the Great Hall. Eyeless and colorless because of countless millennia of life in total darkness, these amphibians can live for up to 60 years. Temperatures average 8°C (46°F) year-round, so bring a sweater, even in summer. Tours leave every hour on the hour from May through October, six times a day in April, and three times a day from November to March.

This museum tells the story of Piran's connection to the sea. On display are a beautiful collection of model ships, sailors' uniforms, and shipping instruments, as well as a fascinating historical section on the town's changing affiliations over the centuries.

This hall was built in 1891 for one of the oldest music societies in the world, established in 1701. Haydn, Brahms, Beethoven, and Paganini were honorary members of the orchestra, and Mahler was resident conductor for the 1881–82 season.