How Many Days to Spend in Slovenia

Planning Your Trip to Slovenia

From turquoise lakes to brightly-painted towns and snow-topped mountains (the Alps, anyone?), you could stay endlessly immersed in the fairy tale that is Slovenia. 

If you're crunched for time, it's possible to fit the two most famous spots, Ljubljana and Lake Bled, into a one-weekend break. However, it's best to consider at least four days in Slovenia for a well-rounded trip that includes Slovenian classics like Triglav National Park and Predjama Castle. Here are a few inspirational itinerary ideas ranging from two to eight days—and beyond!

Slovenia in 2 Days

If you're short on time, there are still tons of attractions you can pack into your holiday. You'll need a full day to explore all Ljubljana has to offer. This charming city is incredibly walkable with a pedestrian-only zone in the city center. Take a tour of Old Town and admire the ornate Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture Ljubljana is famous for. Then head over to the Central Market, where you will find the Open Kitchen food market on display from early spring through autumn. Hang out by the Ljubjanica River and take the funicular up to the medieval Ljubljana Castle for beautiful views of the city.

Spend the next day at Lake Bled, just an hour and a half away by public transport. If you only make one day trip from the capital, let it be here. Set in the foothills of the Julian Alps, this stunning emerald-green lake looks like something out of a fairy tale, and there is plenty to do. Walk the trail around the lake, climb up to Bled Castle high up on a cliff, or simply get in the water. Pay a visit to the lake's island—you can swim there or take a pletna (traditional boat)—and make a wish at the bell. And don't forget to treat yourself to a slice of kremnitsa, Bled's famous cream cake!

Slovenia in 3-5 Days

If you have more than just a couple of days, your next stop after Bled should be the neighboring Triglav National Park. Start with Lake Bohinj. It's just half an hour from Bled, and many people consider it to be even more beautiful. You could spend a half or a whole day at Bohinj and in the surrounding villages. Then make your way west, where there are tons of emerald-green gorges, rivers, and waterfalls to discover as you hike around the pristine terrain. From there, continue to the Soča Valley, where the adventurer in you can go white water rafting on the Soča River, ziplining through the canyons, paragliding, and more.

If you aren't the outdoorsy type, an alternative would be to skip most of Triglav and Soča and head southwest of Ljubljana to Predjama Castle. From there, continue to the western wine region by the Italian border or the sunny Adriatic coast.

Check out these four-day and five-day itineraries to make the most of a short visit to Slovenia. 

Slovenia in 6-7 Days

With a full week on your hands, you have plenty of time to explore Slovenia's beautiful countryside. This scenic seven-day itinerary covers Slovenia's best views, including Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, and the Goriška Brda wine region, as well as castles, caves, and the Adriatic coast. If you have a bit less time, this six-day tour might be your perfect trip. 

For outdoor enthusiasts, this active adventure includes hiking, biking, and rafting in the Julian Alps and Soča Valley (with that bright blue-green river), culminating with two nights in the vineyards of western Slovenia. Along the Italian border, this wine region produces distinctive, world-class wine and overlaps with the Karst region, filled with spectacular caves. Don't miss the enormous UNESCO-listed Skocjan Caves or the medieval Predjama Castle, set in the middle of a cliff above the Postojna Cave. If there's time, spend a day exploring Slovenia's 26 miles (42 km) of coastline, packed with colorful towns and villages and lovely pebbled beaches.  

You can also take a hut-to-hut hike toward the iconic peaks of Mount Triglav, starting and ending in the town of Bohinj, with a crystal clear lake that gives Bled some friendly competition for the best lake in Slovenia, with all of the scenery and none of the crowds. 

Check out these six-day and seven-day articles for more itinerary options.

Slovenia in 8 Days or More

If you're lucky enough to spend over a week in Slovenia, personalize your trip with a tailor-made tour based on your interests. This eight-day trip provides a good starting point. Try taking part in the popular tradition of farm stays to better understand the local life and culture of a country still highly reliant on agriculture. There are hundreds of farms across the country open to tourists. Learn about and participate in life on the farm, and enjoy delicious farm-to-table meals prepared by your hosts.

Interested in a longer outdoor adventure? There are plenty of options for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor thrills. Check out this eight-day itinerary that will have you biking around the Julian Alps on an intermediate tour. You'll swim in Slovenia's famous lakes, hike through Triglav National Park and the Soča Valley, and jump into waterfalls.

For something a bit more leisurely that still lets you savor the great outdoors, try this hiking, wining, and dining adventure, where you'll spend more than a week strolling past waterfalls, vast meadows, and extraordinary views of the Slovenian Alps and the Bohinj Valley—while sampling local cuisine along the way.

With eight days or more, you can extend your Slovenia trip into the Istria region of northern Croatia. On this 11-day road trip, you'll start in Slovenia's capital, drive through its lakes and rivers, continue toward the cypress hills of its wine country, and then approach the Istrian peninsula for one of the best-known culinary scenes on the Adriatic Sea. 

More Great Slovenia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Slovenia? Check out these other Slovenia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.