When it comes to inter-rail itineraries tiny Slovenia is often over-looked, or simply used as an overnight pit-stop on the way to Zagreb or Budapest. After spending 4 days in this charming and unique country, I can safely say that Slovenia deserves more than a flying visit if you’re backpacking through Europe this summer.
Slovenia is relatively easy to get to from bordering countries Croatia, Italy and Hungary, with it taking just over 2 hours to reach Ljubljana from Zagreb and approximately 4-5 hours from Venice*. So, here are 5 reasons you might want to consider adding Slovenia to your inter-rail itinerary…
1) Lake Bled
Arguably Slovenia’s most iconic attraction, Lake Bled and its famous island (complete with 17th century church) is without a doubt one of the most magical places I’ve been (and I don’t use the word ‘magical’ lightly). Head to the lake shore and you’ll easily find plenty of traditional Pletna boats to take you over to Bled Island and visit the Church of Assumption, alternatively you can rent your own boat and row yourself over. If you don’t want to pay the admission to enter the church and ring the wishing bell, the island itself is worth a visit for the views alone. Another must for anyone visiting Bled is to try Kremšnita, Bled’s traditional cream cake, which is pretty much a fancy (and tastier) vanilla slice. Just over the lake, you’ll find Bled Castle, which is also worth a visit while you’re in Bled.
2) Ljubljana
Ljubljana was awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2016, and is one of the world’s most sustainable tourist destinations, with a city centre that is mostly dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. Ljubljana also boasts an impressive 80 hectares of green spaces, including the popular Tivoli Park. Drinking water is safe to drink in Ljubljana and doesn’t require treatment beforehand, eliminating the need for travellers to buy bottled drinking water!
Compact as capital cities go, Ljubjana is easy to get around on foot and doesn’t really require more than a day to explore. One of the main things to see in Ljubljana is Ljubljana Castle, which sits on a hill above the city centre. You can take a 10 minute walk up one of the paths from the old town or central market to reach the castle. If you don’t fancy the walk, then there’s also a funicular railway located near the central market. As well as several exhibitions the castle is also home to Ljubljana’s Museum of Puppetry, where you can view traditional Slovenian puppets and learn more about the history behind them.
Another unique attraction in Ljubljana is Metelkova. Located on the site of former military barracks, Metelkova is a culture community consisting of seven buildings, including bars, clubs, art galleries, live music spaces and a hostel (formerly a prison). The nightlife in Metelkova is hailed by many as the liveliest in Ljubljana, and there’s definitely plenty to keep you entertained. If you fancy staying in Celica Hostel, make sure you book way in advance, as it is often (understandably) fully booked.
Other things to check out in Ljubljana include the Central Market, Old Town, Dragon bridge and the iconic Triple bridge, as well as the many bars and restaurants that line the Ljubljanica river.
3) Predjama Castle
700 year old Predjama Castle is one of the biggest attractions in the Slovenian Karst region, along with Postojna Cave which is just 9km away. You can easily visit both attractions in the same day by bus or you can go on an organised tour to make life easier. The dramatic and breath-taking Predjama Castle is the largest cave castle in the world, built into the mouth of a cave and perched high up on a 123m cliff. Another unique experience you don’t want to miss when travelling in Slovenia.
4) Postojna Cave
World re-knowned Postojna Cave is the most visited tourist cave in Europe and can easily be tagged onto a visit to nearby Predjama Castle. The cave features its own railway to transport visitors around some of its 21km of passages and halls. Here you’ll also come across the world famous, cave-dwelling ‘Human Fish’ (Olm or Proteus Anguinus), an aquatic salamander that can only be found underground. The temperature in Postojna cave is a constant 9°C, so make sure you bring a jumper and wear comfortable shoes…If you’re travelling in the warmer summer months, you’ll certainly be hit hard by the cold temperatures inside the cave after being in 25-30°C heat outside!
5) Piran
For stunning venetian-style architecture and fresh seafood, look no further than the beautiful coastal town of Piran. Piran is located on the Adriatic sea and is approximately 2-2.5 hours away from Ljubljana by bus. Like Ljubljana, Piran is fairly compact and it is easy to navigate its narrow streets, city walls, charming old town and main square by foot. Then there’s the great selection of seafood restaurants when you need to re-fuel.
*travel times are approximate, always check train times before travelling.