Travel, Life & More
Slovenia is a destination that had been on my bucket list for some time. We don’t usually visit such mountainous places for our travels, but once you’ve seen photos of Lake Bled, it’s really hard to get that view out of your mind!
So last year I surprised Darryl with flights for his birthday, and we finally got to take the trip – thankfully just before Coronavirus put a halt on travel – earlier this month.
If you’re thinking of visiting, here’s everything you need to know about planning your dream trip to Slovenia.
Where: Formerly a part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia is a European country that shares a border with Italy, Croatia, Austria and Hungary.
Currency: Euros.
Tipping: As with everywhere in Europe, tipping 10-20% is expected in restaurants, cafes and bars.
What you’ll spend: Some things you’ll find expensive, and other things you won’t. For example, I was shocked that coffee is often less than 2 euros out there, whereas some fairly basic meals in restaurants were not far off 25 euros.
Getting there: It’s very easy to fly from around the world! We flew from London Stansted.
Weather: Picture chilly winters (often with snow) and hot, balmy summers.
Food: We didn’t come across tons of local food during our trip, mainly Italian dishes, however the famous Bled Cream Cake is an absolute must try!
Ljubljana: This is the capital of Slovenia. It is a fairly small city with a tiny Old Town! You will only need one day at most to explore here.
Slovenia really is blessed with some amazing weather in every season. From snowfall in winter to heatwaves in summer, and gorgeous temperatures in-between, this country is a great place to visit all year round.
We visited in March and had sun, rain and snow in the space of three days. But one thing I would say is that it was bitterly cold!
Several locals said to us we have to return in summer, which is when tons of locals and travellers head into the lakes of Slovenia for a swim. So guess what – we’ll be back!
Many stay in the capital, Ljubljana, but instead I would one hundred percent recommend that you stay at one of the many lakes – specifically Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj.
There is so much natural beauty to this country, it would be a shame to not have it on your doorstep every morning of your trip!
Here are some of the top things to do in Slovenia:
Depending on where your accommodation is, it may be easy to get a bus from the airport. We didn’t find a straightforward bus route from Ljubljana Airport to Lake Bled, so we hopped in a shuttle for 13 euros each as we exited the arrivals terminal. You can also arrange for them to pick you up for your return flight.
Public transport is so punctual, clean and easy! We got buses on several occasions, and I’m sure it’s easy to take trains around too.
Just be aware that whilst some buses look like they take card, they don’t. And return tickets don’t seem to be a thing – unless two bus drivers just didn’t understand us!
This really depends on when you visit, but here’s a rough packing list for Slovenia:
Here’s what the trip cost for the two of us:
£155 return Easyjet flights from London Stansted Airport
£160 3-night stay at Vila Alpina at Lake Bled
£50 airport parking
£300 spending money
Total trip cost: £665 / £332.50 per person (£221.60 per day for 3 days)
As you can see, this was a pretty cheap but adventure-packed European weekend break! We loved every minute of our time in this beautiful country and will absolutely be back one summer in the future.
Next time I want to stay at a chalet beside Lake Bohinj and visit the places that were closed for winter during our visit, such as Vintgar Gorge!
Have you been to Slovenia before? Is it on your bucket list now?
