Top 7 small cities in Europe, where culture and history meet making these some of the coolest and most unique European cities great for weekend city breaks
Slovenia
Travel photos, blogs and more from Slovenia – one of Europe’s newest countries
Slovenia Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the coolest things to do and see in Slovenia
Wedged between Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and the Mediterranean, Slovenia is a surprising little country with a nice mixture of South and East European cultures, food and traditions. Start here with my basic Slovenia travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Slovenia travel blogs.
Top Slovenia Travel Guides
When to Visit
Like much of southern and eastern Europe, Slovenia gets busy in the summer, but also has its best weather then! Visiting in the shoulder seasons (May-July and September), it can still be warm and sunny, but without a lot of the crowds. In the run up to Christmas, there are plenty of nice markets to visit, and even in the late winter and early spring there are things to do, especially in Ljubljana.
If you’re interested in exploring the country’s beautiful outdoors by hiking, visiting vineyards or going to the beach, it’s best to come some time between May and September.
Top Things to Do
Visit Lake Bled – Possibly Slovenia’s most iconic natural landmark, Lake Bled in the northwest of the country is famous for its imposing castle that hangs over the lake and the impossibly cute church on an island in the middle of the lake which you can row out to.
Even if it’s raining, a visit to Lake Bled can still be spectacular! While Lake Bled itself is beautiful, there are also a number of interesting things to see and do in the area near Lake Bled.
Explore Ljubljana’s street art scene – There are two important areas of the city for street art: the former army barracks and art squat in the Metelkova district has been a popular destination for street artists since the ’90s and nowadays is home to some of Ljubljana’s best nightlife, and the abandoned bicycle factory and now cultural centre, Rog.
Go rafting on the Soča River – Between April and October you can climb into an inflatable raft (with wetsuit and helmet!) and float down this stunningly blue river for a couple of hours taking in the scenery of the Julian Alps, starting up in the northwest corner of Slovenia where its borders meet Austria and Italy. This isn’t something for the light-hearted, though, as it can get pretty rough with actual white-water rapids!
Slovenia Tours
As such a tiny country, it’s easy to base yourself in Slovenia’s capital and explore the country from there. Doing day trips from Ljubljana, you can cover a lot of what Slovenia has to offer in a relatively short time, especially if everything is organized for you by a tour! Take a look at this selection of Slovenia tours.
LGBTQ – Gay Slovenia Travel Guide
Neither among the most progressive nor the most forward-thinking countries in Europe, Slovenia is a relatively easy place to visit if you’re gay, but just be aware that it may not feel like that for all queer people living there. Unsurprisingly, Ljubljana, the capital and largest city, is the hub of LGBTQ life in Slovenia. Here are a few things you should know about.
Pink Week – Taking place in late May every year, the organizers of the annual Pink Week Slovenia are doing their best to put this little Balkan country on the map for gay travel. With a program of several nights in the capital, a good old gay ball, and a night or two outside the city experiencing the beautiful nature Slovenia has to offer, it’s something not to be missed!
Tiffany Club – This is Ljubljana’s most popular gay club, though every Friday it’s also just one of Ljubljana’s most popular clubs for everyone!
Q Cultural Center — Ljubljana’s LGBTIQ cultural center puts on events, debates and other programs for the city’s LGBT and queer residents. The cultural center is aligned with Club Tiffany and formerly known as Club Monocle.
More gay travel resources here.
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Slovenia Travel Blogs
February is traditionally the UK’s LGBT History Month. Over the past few years as LGBT individuals have gained more and more equal rights, there’s been a shift in traditional gay culture. And more of an understanding of what it’s like to be gay. “Being gay” is a diverse and uncommon trait, and with more discussion …
From trendy restaurants to street food, Ljubljana’s foods were a highlight of my weekend trip to the capital
Street art and graffiti photos from Ljubljana — a peek into the creative side of one of Europe’s coolest capital cities (but sssh! don’t tell anyone!)
Ljubljana just might be one of Europe’s coolest cities. These six tips will guide you to the best things to see and do in the Slovenia capital.