Curator’s statement
If you asked me a year ago if I wanted to go to Slovenia, I would have said no because I didn’t know anything about it. Thankfully, my friend is from there and convinced me to come visit, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Walking around Slovenia is like stepping into a medieval fantasy world. The castles and rich history alone are worth the visit, and I can’t wait to go back a dozen more times.
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Things to do in Slovenia
The beautiful white horses that are native to Slovenia
Predjama Castle
This was hands down one of my favorite parts of the trip. It’s so easy to let your imagination run wild while you’re here and imagine this was a castle once inhabited by dragon tamers. There are explanation cards in English, Slovene, Italian, and German, but I highly recommend also adding the audio tour. We didn’t do this but overheard some other visitors’. There’s way more information in the audio tour!
Lipica Stud Farm
If you love horses, add this to your trip. These famous white horses are native to Slovenia and are as stubborn as they are gorgeous. The foals are born shades of black and gray, and their coats turn white as they mature. Go between May and June to see the youngest foals, as their breeding program is strictly controlled. And if you can arrive at the farm early enough in the day, you may get to see the "running of the horses," when all the mares are released to go roam free in the pastures.
Ljubljana Zoo
This zoo is huge and so thoughtfully designed. The habitats are truly some of the most authentic and natural ones I’ve ever seen. If you can time your trip so that you’re there when the noon bell tower rings, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear the wolves singing along. The zoo also has several vending machines and cafés to stop for refreshments if needed.
Piran
This is the perfect coastal town for those of you who want some beach time on your vacation. Keep in mind, the beaches here are not traditional sandy beaches. Instead, there’s a natural rock coastline. You’ll still be able to find a flat rock or two to lounge on, and the water is crystal clear. When you get hungry, you have dozens and dozens of cafés and restaurants to choose from, all with amazing views of the open water.
Ljubljana Castle
The locals will tell you that if you go to Predjama, you don’t need to go to the Ljubljana Castle. I disagree. This castle has its own charm and a unique courtyard setup. There’s a ton of history here too, so you can learn about the several periods of occupation before Slovenia saw liberation. The castle itself is free to tour, but I’d highly recommend a ticket to see the city from the top of the tower. The view is absolutely stunning, even if it’s a little bit of a workout to climb up there.
Places to eat & drink in Slovenia
The Tacen burger from Dvor Tacen
Dvor Tacen
This is a little bit outside of the city center, but it’s a great spot for coffee or their signature Tacen burger. I visited this café several times during my two-week stay. My go-to drink was a latte—try ordering in Slovenian: bela kava! The menus on the table are in Slovenian, but if you scan the QR code, you can pull up the English menu. I loved the Tacen burger and the mozzarella focaccia.
Lipica Stud Farm
While you’re there to see the horses, stop by the attached café. They have this amazing lavender lemonade, brewed with locally grown lavender. It sounds like an odd combination, but as someone who doesn’t like lemonade, I loved this and wish I could have gotten a bottle or two to go.
Mio Nonno Trattoria
This is a restaurant with a B&B attached. This one is a little outside of Ljubljana proper, but worth the €14 taxi. Please note, this restaurant is a little bit of an upscale place, so dress accordingly. It can also be fully booked, especially on the weekends, so I highly recommend calling ahead for reservations.
Seafood Restaurant Polpo
What’s a trip to the coast without some seafood? I recommend checking out this restaurant. They have vegetarian options too for those who need them. Your table is almost guaranteed to have a great view of the water unless it’s too crowded, but when I was there in May, the crowds were thin.
Mersii Gelato
After dinner, don’t forget to stop for a little dessert. This can be an easy spot to miss as it’s off of a narrow alleyway, so make sure you plug it into your navigation app. They have authentic, handmade Italian gelato, with several flavors you can’t get anywhere else. They do offer a selection of vegan flavors as well. I got the tiramisu, and it was delicious!
Need to know
Most places in the touristy areas will have English speakers around, but be prepared to be patient if you’re speaking with taxi drivers, Wolt delivery drivers (like Uber Eats!), or other service employees.
The Predjama Castle to Postonja Caves shuttle only operates during peak season. I was there at the beginning of May, and it wasn’t operating yet. They do have a taxi partner who provides transportation during off-peak season, but you’ll pay $5 per seat, even if the car isn’t full, and it’s cash only. Go with a party of four or try to find a solo traveler or two to join you on your ride.
There’s a bus that will take you to Postonja Caves, but it’s cash only! The Postonja Day Trip was the only point of my trip when I needed cash.
Taxis are super accessible and easy to use. I downloaded the Taxi Metro app, which allowed me to pay ahead by card and see the estimated cost per trip. It works similarly to Uber, which Slovenia does now have! I just found taxis to be cheaper during my visit.
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Shae Beaudoin
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Slovenia page.