Slovenia Archives - Routinely Nomadic

15 Best Places to Visit in Slovenia

By Dean Johnston November 27, 2020

Slovenia is a spectacular country with amazing diversity, and narrowing a list down to the best places to visit in Slovenia was never going to be an easy task. With one foot in the Balkan Peninsula, another in the extraordinary Alps, all tucked in among several famous neighbours – Italy, Austria and Croatia – Slovenia can’t be summed up in one easy description. Formerly part of Yugoslavia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire before that, it has a fascinating and occasionally brutal history, with a wide range of museums and architecture telling these stories with visual panache. Meanwhile, the Julian Alps offer pristine wilderness and shocking scenery. Slovenia’s awesome mountain ranges, raging rivers and picturesque lakes provide an outdoor wonderland. Meanwhile, their recently completed long-distance hiking trails are quickly gaining popularity with intrepid international hikers. Of course, you don’t have to be an eager outdoor enthusiast to enjoy Slovenia. There are also…

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Balkan Holiday Planning Guide

By Dean Johnston November 23, 2020

The Balkans are nearly the perfect holiday destination. Wonderfully scenic, with a fascinating (although often brutal) history, this loose collection of countries tucked away in Southeastern Europe are easy to get to, extremely affordable and, for the most part, not nearly as touristy as comparable destinations in Western Europe. They offer extraordinary geographic diversity – from gorgeous Mediterranean beaches to spectacular alpine mountain ranges to lush valleys with crystal clear rivers cascading down the middle. The historical variations are endless, with a rich variety of castles, palaces, forts and bridges to explore. Culturally, this broadly defined region offers a diversity that seems almost implausible at times, with stark societal, political, religious and linguistical differences not only between nations, but often even neighbouring villages. So, the hard part isn’t deciding on a Balkan holiday for your next trip. It is deciding exactly where to go and what to do. Alexander Nevsky…

Slovenia

A Ljubljana Visit FAQ

By Dean Johnston November 18, 2020

We arrived in Slovenia with big expectations for spectacular Lake Bled, some tentative anticipation for coastal Piran and pretty much no thought for their biggest city, Ljubljana. Other than how many tries it was going to take to memorize that spelling, of course. Surprisingly, though, we loved our Ljubljana visit. It truly is one of the nicest capital cities in Europe, and almost certainly the nicest in the Balkans (yes, I know most of Slovenia is not technically part of the Balkan Peninsula but it is generally included due to its historic and political ties). Beautiful, relaxed, walkable and chock-full of classic architecture, it is hard to argue with Ljubljana’s myriad charms. It is certainly deserving of its spot on our list of 15 Best Places to Visit in Slovenia. How many days do you need in Ljubljana? In terms of European capitals, Ljubljana is quite small (less than 300,000…

Slovenia

Lake Bled: A Complete Travel Guide

By Dean Johnston November 18, 2020

First things first – Lake Bled is one of the most beautiful places in Europe. As a gorgeous lake ringed by hills and surrounded by distant snow-capped mountains, its natural allure is incredible. What really sets it apart, though, are the unique additions of Bled Castle and the Bled Island church (officially the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria). This pair of terrifically photogenic buildings push the overall scenery to an entirely new level. Lake Bled is also framed by the Julian Alps in the Triglav National Park while the Zaka Valley lies at the west end of the lake. The wide range of very different, very spectacular Lake Bled viewpoints allow eager photographers endless opportunities to frame that perfect holiday shot. It is an absolute must-see destination on any Balkan holiday. Of course, there is far more to Lake Bled than simply great views. It is one of…

Slovenia

Getting from Ljubljana to Lake Bled

By Laynni Locke November 18, 2020

Most trips to Slovenia include both classic Ljubljana and stunning Lake Bled, both featuring high up on every the list of best places to visit in Slovenia. This guide will go through all the options so that you can pick the best option. Most people start their Slovenia visit in Ljubljana with its nice, compact old town, a photogenic river, pedestrian streets ideal for idle strolling, big churches and colourful old buildings and a long list of things to do. The second most popular stop is Lake Bled in the Triglav National Park, famous for its photogenic church on Bled Island, Bled Castle and cream cake, all surrounded by the Julian Alps. We spent five days at Lake Bled and it is absolutely a must-see. Our guide to visiting Lake Bled will give you all the information you need to plan your visit. How Far is Lake Bled from Ljubljana?…

Slovenia

Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia: A Complete Guide

By Laynni Locke November 13, 2020

The Vintgar Gorge is very close to spectacular Lake Bled, and is something everyone should see when visiting Slovenia. Both are excellent stops on any Balkan holiday. Vintgar has a boardwalk that hugs the side of the narrow gorge as the Radovna River rushes over rocks in mini rapids before changing to calm pools around every corner, continually changing colour as it goes. There is a view from every angle as the boardwalk crisscrosses the gorge and the photo opportunities are endless. Take your time to enjoy each new vista during your visit. Vintgar Gorge is one of the best places to visit in Slovenia and, along with Lake Bohinj, it is one of the most popular day trips from Lake Bled. We researched it extensively to make sure that we had the best experience and put together this complete guide with everything you need to know before your visit.…