Top 10 Things To Do In Slovenia
Welcome to Wanderlust Week! While I am physically stuck at my apartment in Chile, my mind travels the world this week and remembers all the fantastic places I have been throughout the years. The idea for this came from an email from Shutterfly. It was an email to remind me of a memory from four years ago this week when I was in Slovenia for one of the best vacations of my life. Reliving those moments via the literal thousand of photos, I picked the top 10 things to do if/when you find yourself in this magical place.
See A Horse Show
Eat, Drink, and Enjoy Slovenia
Explore Ljubljana Castle
Spend The Night In Prison
Go To A Soccer Match
Go Underground
Relax By The Coast
Row Across Lake Bled
See The Soja River & Napolean Bridge
Dine At Hiša Franko
See A Horse Show
One of the most exciting moments for me was seeing a Lipizzaner horse show live. The Lipizzaner is a horse breed that dates back to the 16th century Lipizza Stud of the Habsburg monarchy located in present-day Slovenia. The species is closely associated with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, where the horses are trained in the highly controlled, stylized jumps and other movements known as the "airs above the ground." If you are even remotely interested in horses, this is a must-see. The arena is located next to a museum that details the history of this unique horse. Once the Lipizzaner horse is too old to jump, many are used for trail rides around the Slovenian countryside. Adding a trail ride on one of these beauties is an excellent addition to any trip.
Eat, Drink, and Enjoy Slovenia
Slovenian orange wine is unlike anything you’ll taste. It is made from white grapes but processed like red wines. The juice is left to macerate on the skins for up to a month – causing a unique color, flavor, and tannins – rather than being pressed straight off. The result is an array of orange-colored wines that are both sweet and bitter at the same time. The perfect meal to go with an orange wine is trout. The trout in Slovenia is the freshest I have ever tasted in my life. Most restaurants located near a river will have a basket on the river to literally catch your dinner.
Explore Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle is located above downtown Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is a key landmark of the town. Originally constructed in the 11th century it is now a cultural venue, restaurant, and event space. The castle holds great significance to the Slovenian people and is depicted on the city's coat of arms, along with a dragon on top. Legend has it that a dragon once lived on the land that the castle now stands. Depending on the story you read Jason (from Jason and the Argonauts) or Saint George killed the dragon that now lives on in memory only. If you go to the castle make sure to take the tour. It starts with a video tour from the perspective of the dragon and covers the castle’s changes in use from the 11th century to today. The castle offers fantastic views of the city as well as tasty food.
Spend The Night In Prison
Located in Ljubljana’s art district of Metelkova and only a short walk from the castle is Hostel Celica. This is a unique experience, unlike any other hostel. The entire hostel complex was formerly part of a Yugoslavian Army barracks which housed military and political prison on site. Each room you stay in is decorated by a different local artist and has a plaque by the door with the names of the political prisoners that stayed there. I stayed in Cell 105 that housed Slovenian political prisoners. It’s an eerie experience that brings you face to face with Slovenia’s tumultuous past.
Go To A Soccer Match
I have been to soccer matches in several countries but nothing prepared me for the match-up between Maribor and Lubljana. Maribor is the second-largest city in the country and home to the oldest grapevine. It also happens to be home to some incredibly loyal fans. When I purchased my ticket I purchased it on the Lubljana fan side. When I arrived I was escorted into an area with bars on three sides and armed guards to show me to my seat. When the match started I understood why. The Ljubljana fans had Roman candles that they were aiming at the Maribor players and the Maribor fans were doing the same right back! It was crazy! After the match, the armed guards lined both sides of the walkway to direct Lublajana fans back on a bus to Lubljana. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Go Underground
Postojna Cave Park is a park unlike anything in the US. It is home to a medieval village, castle, and a 24,340 m long cave system. The castle is central to Slovenian folktales. In the 15th century, it was known as the seat of the knight Erasmus of Lueg, lord of the castle, and a renowned robber baron. According to legend, Erasmus came into conflict with the Habsburgs when he killed the commander of the imperial army who had offended the honor of his friend. Fleeing the vengeance of the Holy Roman Emperor, Erasmus reached the family fortress of Predjama. From there, he allied himself with the king and began to attack Habsburg estates and towns close by. The emperor ordered the nearby governor of Trieste to capture or kill Erasmus. Erasmus was killed after a long siege of the castle. The castle is perched in the middle of a 123-meter-high cliff and is more than 800 years. Behind the largest cave castle in the world, there is a network of secret tunnels, from where Erasmus would set out on his expeditions. The caves under the castle house a Concert Hall that has space for 10,000 people. While it is known for its exceptional acoustics it has also been used as a basketball stadium. Next to the Concert Hall is the only underground post office in the world. The entire park is a must-see in Slovenia.
Relax By The Coast
I spent my first night in Izola and it set the tone for the rest of the trip. Izola is an old fishing town in southwestern Slovenia on the Adriatic coast. Originally an outpost of the Roman Empire life has slowed significantly since then. It’s a wonderful place to relax and enjoy some tasty seafood. It’s also a short trip to the Italian city of Trieste if you are looking to add another country to your itinerary.
Row Across Lake Bled
Of all the places in Slovenia, this is probably the most famous. The lake surrounds the famous Bled Island, home to the church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary built, in its current form, near the end of the 17th century. Prior to the church being there, the island was home to a pagan sacrificial site. The church has a bell tower that is supposed to bring good luck when rang and 99 stone steps leading up to the church from the water. Traditionally it is considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride up the steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church. The only way to access the island is by rowboat - no motorboats are allowed on the lake. The traditional transportation to the island is a wooden boat known as a pletna. Similar to Italian gondolas, a pletna seats 20 passengers. Personal rowboats are also for rent. It’s a beautiful place to relax that tends to attract loads of tourists so be aware of the season.
See The Soča River & Napolean Bridge
This freezing river is the clearest you will ever see. While standing next to it you can easily see the fish swimming freely below. It is one of the rare rivers of the world that retains this crystal color throughout the length. It is so beautiful that the river and the region served as a location for the 2008 Disney film Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Nowadays it offers the perfect location for white water kayaking. Both banks of river Soča near Kobarid, where the river is at its narrowest, were connected with a bridge in ancient times. The modern-day bridge got its name after Napoleon marched his troops across it in 1797. It would later be demolished in WWI and rebuilt later with iron. It is a great place to stop for photos while traveling the countryside.
Dine At Hiša Franko
This is what kicked off the whole idea of going to a small country I had never heard. While watching an episode of Chef’s Table I was struck by the beauty of Slovenia and the food at Hiša Franko. Ana and Valter run the restaurant/hotel. It is the perfect pairing with Ana being a self-taught chef named the number one female chef in the world in 2017, and Valter having his own wine and cheese cellar as well as being a forward-thinking restauranteur. I stayed at the hotel above the restaurant and would regularly see Valter and Ana walking the grounds in the morning. They are incredibly personable which only adds to the experience of the food. In June 2020, when the first edition of the Slovenian Michelin guide was revealed, Hiša Franko received two Michelin stars. It is well earned and well worth the trip into the Alps to get there.
Slovenia is an absolute hidden gem in a world with Instagrammers looking for the next new place. Add it to your list and enjoy the calm before this secret gets out.
