The Ultimate 2 Week Slovenia Road Trip Itinerary

Slovenia is the most random country I’ve been to. Who would even know that it existed if not for Melania Trump (and now that I’ve actually been there, I can truly say it is a shame that she is their claim to fame and I am sorry for even bringing her up)? It’s just sitting there, nestled smack dab in the middle of the European continent, unassuming and usually ignored by excitable hordes of tourists flocking to Italy or Hungary or Croatia.

Not that there’s anything wrong with those countries. Quite the opposite. In fact, when my college friends and I were first discussing this trip, we were fiending to get ourselves to Croatia. I have heard, on more than one occasion, that Croatia is the most beautiful country in the world, and I was ALL ABOUT IT. Unfortunately, even after hours of research, we were unable to find tickets to Croatia that were within our preferred budget for the spring, so after a bit of grumbling we came up with an alternative.

What was that alternative, you may ask. NONE OTHER THAN CROATIA’S BEAUTIFULLY UNDERRATED NEIGHBOR, SLOVENIA. Which you already know, probably, since you’re reading this post detailing a Slovenia itinerary.

This itinerary hits some of Slovenia’s best gems in the western part of the country, all of which are not, under any circumstances, to be missed. Trust me.

Day 1: Munich to Salzburg to Kranjska Gora

You heard me right. This little escapade begins in Munich, home of Oktoberfest, because guess what? There are no big airports in Slovenia. Munich, on the other hand, is a huge travel hub, with tons of flights in and out every day, meaning that it is cheaper to fly into than anywhere in Slovenia. The very minor inconvenience of having to drive a couple of hours from Munich was well worth the savings.

Something to bear in mind while driving through multiple countries in the EU: yes, there are open borders, and so passing from Germany into Austria is as stress-free as passing from Arizona into California in the States. However, you will get slapped with a hefty fine if you’re caught driving on the Austrian freeway without a vignette sticker in the window of your Germany-registered car. You can buy the stickers from any gas station for less than 10 euro for a 10-day pass, or about 25 euro for a 2-month pass. Easy peasy, as long as you don’t forget.

Car rentals from the Munich airport range from $17 to $20 per day for the cheapest option. Our rental cost us less than $300 total among the three of us!

On the way from Munich, drive 90 minutes and make a stop in Salzburg, Austria, the famed birthplace of Mozart, the filming location of The Sound of Music, and also a really, really pretty city. Here you can hike up to the Hohensalzburg Castle, shop along the quaint streets of Old Town, explore Mirabell Palace and Gardens (pictured above), or visit Mozart’s residence. Or you can just lounge outside along the river with an ice cream and just enjoy not being in the car for a hot second.

Settle down for the night in Kranjska Gora, an alpine resort town directly over the Slovenian border. It is well-known for its winter sports and great skiing, but we were there in the spring and were able to enjoy the mountains and the flock of sheep next door from our balcony.

The owner of the apartment we stayed in, Damjan, immediately welcomed us with homemade Slovenian schnapps. In college we did TOO MANY dirty Girl Scouts, which was basically like a tasty peppermint schnapps liquor combined with chocolate syrup. It tasted like a peppermint and chocolate delight, because it was dumped into your mouth all at once.

Damjan’s schnapps were slightly less delightful. The first one he brought out he called the “girly drink,” and it tasted like rubbing alcohol, and when we moved onto the “tough girl drink,” I was already drunk. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not underestimate the power of schnapps homemade by burly Slovenian men. I stopped doing shots in college for a reason. We love you, though, Damjan.

Day 2: Vršič Pass to Boveč

This looks like a damn green screen. Seriously, I was there in the flesh and this photo still has me shook.

The next morning, hop in your car and head up the Vršič Pass, the highest mountain pass in Slovenia! Is that saying much, considering Slovenia is about a sixth the size of the state of Pennsylvania? Maybe not. I will say this: the views of the Julian Alps from the top of this pass blow any and every view of Pennsylvania out of the water.

The top of the pass is only a 30 minute drive from Kranjska Gora. If you look online, some people will tell you that the pass is treacherous to drive, but we found it to be perfectly safe. There were A TON of people navigating the winding hairpin roads on motorcycles, which has to be far more treacherous than doing the same thing in a practical sedan. Be cautious, don’t fly off the mountain, and you’ll be fine.

Day 3-4: Boveč

The consensus was that Boveč, a small town along the Soča River, was everyone’s favorite spot. I’ve been to plenty of beach towns and lake towns, but river towns are something else entirely. The laid-back atmosphere was like something I’d never experienced, but there was always an adventure to be had, even if it was just lounging in a hammock reading a book.

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What to do in Boveč:

• Go white water rafting: there are plenty of opportunities with plenty of different tour companies. We went through our hostel with Aktivni Planet, whose office is located right in downtown Bovec, and the rafting was actually very easy for beginners (thankfully, because my arms are weak and my disposition is weaker). The guides at Aktivni Planet are extremely experienced, friendly, and conscious of safety. Being on the river, with its freakishly blue waters, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Go kayaking: if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also go white water kayaking, but I wasn’t quite that adventurous.
• Take a hike to the waterfalls: waterfall in Slovenian is “slap,” which we got a kick out of (or a slap out of…? No, I am not witty) as we passed signs pointing us to the next slap. One of our favorites, Slap Virje, was along a secluded trail and just a 30 minute hike from the center of town. The amount of water in the falls fluctuates based on time of year and recent rainfall, and since the water comes from melted snow on the mountains, it can be very cold! 
• Try canyoning: I didn’t even know canyoning existed prior to Boveč, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had in three hours. Be prepared for lots of rappelling, sliding, and jumping off of cliffs.
  
• Grab a flight at Thirsty River Brewery: a brewery well-known in town and founded by an American, with some really, really tasty brews.
  
• Have a traditional Slovenian meal at Gostišče Sovdat: but only if you’re into really good food and fast service.
  

Day 5: Boveč to Bohinj

A 2 hour drive around Triglav National Park brings you to Lake Bohinj (not pronounced Bo-heenj, by the way. It is Bo-heen. Get it right get it tight). The lake is actually located within the national park, which shouldn’t be surprising considering how GAWDDANG naturally beautiful this place is.

Personally, Lake Bohinj is my favorite lake that I’ve ever seen. Being that I am an absolute nutso for lakes, and that I have dreamed of owning my own lake house and boat one day, this is really saying something. The lake is like a painting from all angles, at all times of day. When we were there, in early May, the lake was practically deserted, and it felt like we had almost the entire place to ourselves.

The best thing about this lake, being that it is far less popular than Lake Bled but possibly even more enchanting, is that it is super cheap to stay right on the lake. We stayed at Hostel Pod Voglom, which had a little bit of a summer camp vibe and had a lot of loud, awkward teenagers playing ping pong in the lounge area, but the hostel also charged $20 per night and rented out kayaks for 7 euro an hour and was directly across the street from the lake. Beggers can’t be choosers.

Be sure to grab a glass of wine right on the lake and take in the stunning sunset. Bohinj is often overlooked in favor of Bled, but Bohinj is the crowning jewel of Slovenia’s lakes and it is very important to me that you go, okay?

Day 6: Bohinj to Bled

We got up early on day six and rented out kayaks to take out on the lake. Yes, it actually was that still, I SWEAR. If this trip did anything for me, it has gotten me back in the gym upon my arrival back home. My friends were also in this lake, but you can’t see them because they are 80 miles ahead of me. Turns out my arm muscles are like noodles and my abs are soft like buttah. You can run 26 miles at a time and still not even be able to propel yourself across a completely still lake. Didn’t make things any less enjoyable, except for the realization that I am shockingly frail.

We were able to depart mid-morning and head to Bled, the most famous spot in all of Slovenia, and only a 30 minute drive from Bohinj.

Day 7: Bled

Bled has earned its spot as Slovenia’s number one tourist destination. As much as I could go on and on about Lake Bohinj, Lake Bled is pretty perfect too.

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Things to do in Bled:

• Visit Bled Castle: Bled Castle is imposing, sitting atop a hill and overlooking Lake Bled from above. It is the oldest castle in Slovenia, too (but again, considering Slovenia is smaller than New Jersey, how impressive is this, really?). Entry is 10 euro.
• Rent a boat and go to the island: Also for about 10 euro, you can rent your own rowboat and row out to The Church of the Assumption on Bled Island. You can also hire a boat with a captain to take you out there instead, if you have noodle arms like me.
• Walk, bike, or run around the lake: It’s only 6 kilometers around, and there’s plenty of beautiful views to be viewed.
• Hike up to Osojnica: In about 30 minutes you can climb up to a lookout point over the lake. It can be a steep walk especially in the rain, so strap on something other than Converse (trust me).
  
• Try the famous Bled cream cake: It’s creamy. It’s just a big blob of cream. Whether you’re a custard fanatic or not, you have to try at least one slice of Bled cream cake, which is sold at most cafes and restaurants in town.
• Take a day trip to Vintgar Gorge: It’s super close to Bled and has some really easy hiking trails with some really nice scenery.

Day 8: Bled to Ljubljana

Ah, yes. The capital of Slovenia: Ljubljana. Pronounced lee-yoob-lee-ah-nah, for those baffled by the unbalanced consonant to vowel ratio. For being Slovenia’s largest city, it is actually quite small, with a population of less than 300,000. It also just happens to be cute as HECK!

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Day 9: Ljubljana

What to do in Ljubljana:

• Wine Tasting Ljubljana with Boris: Wine tasting seven different Slovenian wines from all over the country turned out to be the highlight of our stay in Ljubljana, but mostly just because we got to hang out with Boris for an hour. He was clearly passionate about wine, and very knowledgable about each one. He introduced us to “orange wine,” which I have somehow gone 26 years without knowing existed, and refilled our tasting glasses if we asked nice enough.
  
  We also met some local Slovenians who worked in one of the high-end hotels in the center of town. They were both concierges, but one of them was, apparently, THE MOST DISTINGUISHED concierge in Slovenia. Seriously, this guy could not get enough of himself. He handed us his business card, which had his name and “Concierge” printed in golden script on the front. He said he was the youngest concierge in Slovenian history to ever be invited to join an exclusive and elite group of concierges. He told a story about a woman who was literally on her knees, sobbing, because she was so grateful for how helpful he was as a concierge. It was an interesting, albeit unsuccessful, approach to picking up a woman. Turns out, there are douchey men everywhere.  
• Wander Tivoli Park: The largest park in Ljubljana, if you’re interested in a reprieve from the hustle bustle (or, let’s be honest, the lack thereof) of the city.
• Relax by the river and the Triple Bridge: The Triple Bridge is a set of three bridges that connect the older, medieval side of the city on one bank to the more modern side of the city on the other bank. 
• Visit the Ljubljana Castle: Slovenia obviously has a thing with putting their castles high on hills. You can admire it from below, or walk up to the 900 year castle, and entry into the courtyard is free.
• Visit Prešeren Square: It’s hard to miss the central square of the city. It’s worth a visit for the architecture alone, but people also often gather here for city-wide events.
• Explore Metelkova Mesto: These former army barracks are now covered in graffiti and murals, and is a really funky and modern alternative to central Ljubljana. The local boys we met at the wine tasting took us here afterwards, and it turns out that it is also a very popular spot for nightlife, with crowds of hipsters and cheap beer.

Day 10: Ljubljan to Piran

Hop in the car for the 90 minute drive to your final Slovenian destination (sob): Piran, a town located right on the Adriatic Sea. The town is incredibly chill; there are no cars allowed in downtown Piran, so you have no choice but to get lost in the narrow, cobblestoned streets, surrounded by medieval architecture and the salty smell of the sea. We arrived in Piran and knew right away that we never wanted to leave.

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Day 11-12: Piran

What to do in Piran:

• Go swimming: People were stripping down into their skivvies and diving right into the beautiful clear waters of the Adriatic, and NO ONE WAS YELLING AT THEM. This seems like something that would never be allowed in the United States. So by all means, enjoy that goddamn turquoise sea.
  

  

• Wander Tartini Square: Piran’s main square named after an Italian violinist.
  

  

• Climb to St. George’s Parish Church: St. George’s Church is one of the main sites to see in Piran, located above the town on a hill. For 1 euro you can go up in the bell tower for an incredible view over the city.
• Eat GELATO: After all, this town is right across the sea from Italy. You can literally see Italy from the coast. In fact, up until right after World War II, Piran was actually part of Italy and its predominant language was Italian, and it remains bilingual today. So you know that their gelato is above par.
  

  

• Eat fresh seafood: Piran is a fishing village, so there is no way you can pass up a big, hearty bowl of seafood pasta and a glass of white wine at sunset. 

Day 13: Piran to Munich

Time to say “zbogom” to Slovenia and head back north to Munich for your flight out. NOO! I promise you, you will have to be dragged kicking and screaming out of this country. I had no expectations of this tiny, often overlooked central European country, and am absolutely shocked at how much I absolutely adored Slovenia. Who knew such a tiny country could be so diverse? You can have white water river adventures, calm and relaxing lake days, nights out in the city, and watch the sunset over the sea, all within a week or two. This itinerary gives you a taste of all of it.

Of course, there are plenty of other things to see in the country beyond what I’ve included here. I am dying to go back and experience all that Slovenia has to offer, because two weeks is not even close to sufficient. If you’ve been to Slovenia and have recommendations that are not included in this itinerary, I would love to hear all about them!!