The EPIC Slovenia Road Trip
Solkan Bridge, Slovenia
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I have become a big fan of road trips. If I am spending a solid week in a destination, and it has a lot of natural sights to see that are remotely located, I will usually buy a car. If it’s a campervan, even better.
Slovenia is one of those places where the public transport is pretty decent, but nothing offers you the best flexibility (not to mention comfort and freedom) than having a car. I took this road trip in October 2021, perfectly timed with the changing autumn colors. I made my home base to be the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, and from there I rented a car to take me around the country (even side trips to Graz, Austria and Trieste, Italy to boot).
What I always do in this case is to make a Google Map of all sights of interest in Slovenia and based on how many are in one spot, I delegate a specific amount of time to. Have no fear though! I have posted my own google map at the end of this post that you can use yourselves!
From here, I then determined the most efficient journey around the country to see these places (to maximize sights seen and less kilometers traveled). This led me to some amazing places in Slovenia like (in this EXACT order):
Ljubljana - The capital of the country. (I didn’t actually drive here obviously but picked up the car from here and seeing as how this is where you would most likely fly into, is where you would start the road trip).
Sveti Tomaz - An amazing church located in an elevated meadow about an hour outside of Ljubljana.
Celje - a small town situated east of Ljubljana, most noted for its castle.
Ptuj - a small town further to the East of Celje
Maribor - the 2nd largest city in Slovenia, situated in the wine region.
Bled - centered around Lake Bled and most well known by the church in the middle of the lake.
Triglav National Park - the country’s only National Park, named after the tallest peak in the Julian Alps/country.
Koper - A small town located on the West coast of Slovenia., near the Italian border.
Piran - A resort town situated on the Adriatic coast known for its medieval history.
There are also a number of small stops on the way to these main destinations that I will talk about as well; think remote castles and gorgeous gorges and waterfalls. Check out my drone video of Slovenia below!
The rest of this blog post will discuss specific cities and attractions that I saw in the exact order as you will read them. To summarize, my journey took me through this route:
Ljubljana → Sveti Tomaz → Celje → Ptuj → Maribor → Bled → Triglav National Park → Most na Soci → Koper → Piran → Ljubljana
Due to their close proximities, I also went to see the cities of:
Graz, Austria in between Maribor and Bled
Trieste, Italy in between Most na Soci and Piran
Click on the links for the cities above to learn more about my journeys there!
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Slovenia, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Ljubljana
See Blog Post - Why Ljubljana, Slovenia is such a wonderful country capital
The capital of Slovenia conveniently lies right in the center of the country. It is the most obvious place to fly into at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) and is a great place to start your exploration of Slovenia.
The city itself is quite compact with plenty of green spaces, cultural and historical landmarks, restaurants, bars, and quaint city squares. I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed walking through this city!
Some of my favorite places were obviously Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad), Tivoli Park, Prešeren Square, and the Triple Bridge, just to name a few.
Since I was traveling solo, I decided to stay at a hostel right in the city center. My stay at AdHoc hostel could not have been better. I thought it was clean, modern, and an overall comfortable and safe space to keep my belongings and to relax at the end of long walking days. The staff were exceptional and I really cannot recommend it more.
After 2 days in Ljubljana, I picked up my rental car early in the morning and headed Northwest, towards the small village of Sveti Tomaz for sunrise.
Sveti Tomaz
Sveti Tomaz is a small village less than an hour outside of Ljubljana and is a must see. Despite its small size, the centerpiece of the village happens to be the Saint Thomas church, built sometime between 1715 and 1727. This was my first stop after leaving Ljubljana and I reached the village right before sunrise. What I found was a sea of clouds below me, making it seem like the church was perched on an island high in the sky. It was glorious! I spend about 2 hours here, marveling at the sunrise unfolding in front of me, and then headed EAST.
On my way to the city of Celje, I stopped by to see Zovnek Castle (Grad Zovnek) while driving on the E57. It was just a few minutes off the main road and I was hoping that the cloud cover didn’t hinder my view of the castle…I was wrong. There was no one else here when I visited and the castle was in a state of being repaired, but I was still able to roam around. I can only imagine what it looks like in the sunshine but still so nice to see regardless!
Celje
The city of Celje is the fourth largest in Slovenia. It is situated at the meeting point of Slovenian rivers Savinja, Hudinja, Loznica, and Voglajna. While the settlement was incorporated into the Roman Empire in 15 BC, its origins go back centuries before. The city was known as ‘Kelea’ to Ancient Greek historians. Slavic Tribes conquered the land after the Romans and Celje changed hands many times thereafter. The city is most well known for its castle, aptly named Celje Castle or Celje Grad.
Celje Castle (Celje Grad) is Slovenia’s largest, and was first constructed as a Romanesque Palace in the 13th century. Its importance was palpable, not just for Slovenia but over the entire Eastern Alps. Interestingly enough, given the castle’s position, it was described as being impenetrable and that the only way to take it over was to lay siege to it and starve out its inhabitants. Fortunately, a hidden passageway in the castle led to a granary. The castle is open everyday of the year and features a number of towers, a courtyard, and cafe to enjoy.
Ptuj
See Blog Post - Check out the small Slovenia town of Ptuj
Ptuj is situated in the Northeast of Slovenia and a short distance away from the larger city of Maribor.
I actually only spent an afternoon in this town given how small it was but if I could do it again, I would have stayed overnight.
This area is a rich wine region with a few cellars scattered throughout the town to enjoy (hence why I wish I stayed a little longer).
The two main landmarks have to be Ptuj Castle, perched atop a hill, overlooking the town, and St. George’s Church, most recognizable by its plum-colored belltower.
From here, take a drive to the Northwest and within half an hour, you’ll reach the city of Maribor.
This is Slovenia’s 2nd largest city and chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2012.
Maribor
See Blog Post - Take a trip to the wine region of Maribor, Slovenia
Though it has a smaller population than Ljubljana, Maribor feels a little bigger. I can’t exactly explain why but I felt that two days here would be most appropriate to really enjoy it.
The best area to be at would have to be Glavni Trg Square and along the waterfront near the Vodni Stolp (Maribor Water Tower). The weather in late October when I visited was just perfect, sunny and near room temperature.
What surprised me a little was Maribor Castle, which really looked more like a small palace, without any of the typical defensive fortifications nor building materials you would come to expect with a castle.
Nonetheless, the city has a great balance of city life, with old town squares and churches, with a massive expanse of green space, specifically just to the north of the city center, which are perfect for short hikes and sunset views.
From here, I decided to take a trip over the border to Slovenia’s northern neighbor of Austria and specifically set my eyes on Graz. This is a GREAT detour if you have the time. However if you are on a time crunch, you can head due west towards probably the most beautiful place in Slovenia: the city of Bled.
Bled
See Blog Post - Why Bled is the best city in Slovenia to visit
If you were to see ANY city in Slovenia, Bled would be right up there on the list. It is most well known for its church that sits in the middle of Lake Bled, formally called the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary.
Even better is that you can see this church from every viewpoint imaginable, starting with the walking path that completely circumnavigates the entire perimeter of Lake Bled.
Furthermore, if you prefer an aerial-like view, and for those who don’t have a drone, you can take hikes to Mala Osojnica, Velika Osojnica, and Ojstrica viewpoints. These hikes are quite popular for sunrise and sunset so best to be prepared for a few people going up and down the same time as you.
The city was easy to navigate by car and most accommodations will have parking spaces for their guests, though it is best to confirm this beforehand. Bled itself is not a part of Triglav National Park but sits right on the border. So naturally, Triglav would be your NEXT logical stop on your Slovenian road trip (head West/Northwest).
Slovenia’s only National park is named after its highest mountain peak in the Julian Alps. You can take public transport across Slovenia, however I firmly believe that to truly enjoy this part of the country (Triglav National Park), having a car would be best.
This is because the drive ITSELF is what makes the experience so memorable. I remember driving through the park with tree leaves of red, orange, and yellow peppering my car as the wind blew, driving on the cobblestoned road that makes up the Vršič Pass (coming from Kanjska Gora). The emerald colored lake of Jezero Jasna (Jasna Lake) was also splendid to see at the foot of the pass.
I wish I had even MORE time to see all the waterfalls that can be found in this park but I had to ‘settle’ for Boka Waterfall (Slap Boka - the tallest in Slovenia), Kozjak Waterfall (Slap Kozjak), Peričnik Waterfall (Slap Peričnik), and Virje Waterfall (Slap Virje).
The photos I was able to get of the Soca River Valley and its brilliant blue color, contrasted with the earthy and fiery colors of the fall foliage were out of a dream.
There are many more attractions within the park, and so if you did not intend to do any heavy hiking, and you had a car, I would say 3-4 days is a solid amount of time for Triglav National Park. Give yourself a week at least if you want to see even more of it (with some rest days built in as well).
From here, I drove South to see the small village of Most na Soci, en route to Tolmin Gorges and Trieste, Italy.
While seeing Tolmin Gorges, I managed to see the small town of Most na Soci. What I REALLY liked about this town was how gorgeous it was, specifically its orange rooftops, juxtaposed to the brilliant teal colored water of Soca and Idrijca rivers.
The town was originally called ‘Sveta Lucija ob Soci’ before 1955. The entire area is the location of a massive prehistoric settlement, with over 7,000 graves found dating back to the Late Bronze Age and the Roman Empire Period.
From here, I went to Trieste, Italy…once again, due to its close proximity to the Slovenia-Italy border, however you can stay in Slovenia and press on South to the coastal seaside city of Piran.
Piran
See Blog Post - Why Piran is a hidden gem in Slovenia
I saved this coastal town for last on my road trip, before returning back to Ljubljana. This wasn’t by accident, the city of Piran is small, cozy, and easily reachable by car (though parking here was a bit of a process so best to clear it with your accommodation first!).
You can easily tour the city within a day but you will want to stay for longer due to its very relaxed vibe.
I specifically liked the area around Tartini Square and the view of all the orange-colored rooftops from St. George’s Parish church. You can also see old remnants of the city walls that used to exist during war time centuries ago.
As a bonus, you can also explore the city of Koper, just down the road from Piran. Specifically, the waterfront area of Koper was bustling during the spell of amazing weather in Late October during my trip.
I am talking about a myriad of outdoor cafes, with ice cream, and other sweet treats among a sea of boats and a ton of sunshine. Highly recommend!
From Piran, I wanted to take a drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, however by this time in my trip, I simply did not have the energy to drive four hours there, just to see for a few hours, and have to drive back to Ljubljana to drop off the car. I surely hope that someday I can see them during this time of year.
One thing I absolutely LOVE about Europe is the amount of castles you come across. They are all so different and each one is worth seeing. I only scratched the surface with the castles I saw here [Rihemberk/Branik Castle (Grad Rihemberk), Celje Castle (Celje Grad), Bled Castle (Blejski Grad), Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad), Zovnek Castle, Ptuj Castle (Ptujski Grad), and Maribor Castle (Mariborski Grad)]. I put together a short Youtube video of these castles below!
And there you have it, a nice little road trip tour of Slovenia! Because my time was limited, I had to leave out quite a few worthwhile destinations that I hope to come back to see.
Renting a car was a very easy experience and I did not need an International Driver’s Permit, my US Driver’s License worked just fine.
When going into another country, but sure you rental car operator knows of your intention to do this and do not forget to pick up a Vignette Sticker when entering a new country (which is the equivalent of a toll system) (More info here about the Vignette Sticker system in Europe).
As I mentioned in my post, I did some side trips to some cities over the Slovenian border. You can get more info about my time in them with the blog posts below (except Plitvice Lakes National Park):
Extra Excursions:
Graz, Austria (The top things to do and see in Graz, Austria)
Trieste, Italy (Why Trieste, Italy is worth a visit)
Plitvice Lakes National Park
With that said, if there is a place I missed that you highly recommend OR if you have ANY questions about my road trip, feel free to drop me a comment or email and I will give you as much detail as I can about my experience so you can have the best time!
