20 Photos That Will Inspire You To Visit Slovenia ASAP

These 20 photos will inspire you to visit Slovenia, Europe’s most underrated destination for summer travels.

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I spent 11 days solo-traveling Slovenia during the Summer, and it quickly jumped up into my top 3 favorite countries in Europe. That’s quite an award to bestow upon a small Balkan country that you probably haven’t even heard of. But, I’m going to show you just why this little country packs a big punch for anyone traveling to Europe.

If you’re planning to visit Slovenia, read these also:
How To Take The Best Day Trip To Lake Bled From Ljubljana
Best Way to Spend One Day in Ljubljana, Slovenia

I planned my itinerary in Slovenia around it’s natural beauty and landscape. In Slovenia, you can find the Alps, a gorgeous Mediterranean coastline, rolling green hills, and emerald green lakes. Out of the 19 European countries I have traveled to, Slovenia is easily one of the most naturally beautiful.

I wasn’t able to make it to the coast, so I focused my trip on the mountains near Triglav National Park and the city of Ljubljana. I had been to Ljubljana once before a few years earlier with my husband. The city left such a great first impression on me that it was the first place that popped into my mind when considering a solo trip.

Ljubljana is clean, friendly, manageable, and relaxed. It doesn’t feel overwhelming, but rather feels very welcoming to all. When you visit Slovenia, be sure to spend some quality time getting to know the charming capital of Ljubljana.

I spent a few days in the modern capital of Ljubljana enjoying the quaint walking streets, Ljubljanica River, and the many food and event activities the city puts on in the summer months. My favorite of these events is one Ljubljana is famous for: river volleyball.

In the summer months, Ljubljana is lively! There are food markets where local restaurants provide small bites. People are shopping in the cute boutique shops downtown. The Old Town area is walking only and has great outdoor dining. It’s heavenly!

Once I left the city, I made a beeline for the mountains. Slovenia’s mountains are fantastic, and include the Julian Alps. Triglav National Park is a highlight of any Slovenia trip for hiking, swimming, adventurous activities, and gorgeous rivers.

I made my way to Lake Bohinj where I stayed up on top of a ski mountain in a chalet. The chalet was only accessible by cable car or a very long hike, which I was not going to do with my suitcase. The views from Vogel Mountain took my breath away! It’s a popular activity to take the cable car up to Vogel while visiting Lake Bohinj, and it’s clear why.

While in Bohinj, I spent time down by the lake and exploring the surrounding area. One of my favorite places I went in Slovenia was Savica Waterfall. It’s located upstream from the lake, and the water from the falls feeds into Lake Bohinj. I’m not sure how the water here in Slovenia is quite so vibrant, but it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever seen.

After my time at Lake Bohinj, I headed towards Lake Bled. If I had rented a car, I would have gone even further into Triglav National Park to explore the mountains. But, I mostly got around by bus on this trip, and it wasn’t the easiest way to get around in the mountains. So, I decided to head towards Bled and base myself there for the next few days.

I stayed at the lovely Hotel Triglav and adored it. With a sauna, indoor pool, all you can eat seated breakfast, and cozy rooms, it’s the best place to stay in Bled. It’s also a short walk to the lake from the hotel. On top of that, it’s on the more secluded side of the lake which makes it feel that much more special.

Lake Bled is probably the most recognizable landscape in all of Slovenia. If you’ve heard about Slovenia at all before this, it’s probably because of Lake Bled and it’s fairytale island.

The island in the middle of Lake Bled is home to a church, and is accessible either by swimming, renting a rowboat, or taking a traditional pletna boat with a guide. Once on the island you can enjoy some refreshing gelato, ring the bell inside the church for good luck, and admire the views of Lake Bled and Bled Castle.

Just outside of Bled, I visited Vintgar Gorge. Slovenia’s emerald green rivers are one of the most captivating aspects of the natural, geographical beauty here! The gorge only takes 30-45 minutes to walk through, depending on the foot traffic. A wooden path built into the rock leads you down the gorge and past beautiful waterfalls and pools of crystal waters.

I walked through picturesque fields to get to the gorge, and even made friends with a few happy Slovenian cows. It’s a short walk on some well worn paths with good signage, so I recommend visiting Vintgar Gorge this way for a budget friendly option.

green river in slovenia flowing through gorge with wooden bridge

Slovenia is quite literally one of the most special places to me out of all of my travels. I hope you’ll visit Slovenia in the future and love it as much as I do!