LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
July, 2024
If you're looking for a European country that has more of that outdoor campfire crunchy granola vibe, this is the place for you. Located in the Balkans, Slovenia is filled with the clearest lakes and rivers, and hiking trails, and is the perfect spot for a rejuvenating, outdoorsy vacation. Ljubljana, the capital, has that small, medieval charm - filled with cobblestone streets, markets, and cafes along the Ljubljanica River.
In my opinion, Slovenia is one of the most underrated European countries that I've been to, and it was the perfect breath of fresh air that we needed on our European tour! We only spent three days here, and that was only enough for a taste. I would highly recommend renting a car (something we didn't do), and spending at least a week exploring the entire country and indulging in its nature and beauty!
Things to Do
Lake Bled
Lake Bled is one of the most renowned spots in Slovenia and a place you don't want to miss. It's the clearest lake I've ever seen, with crystal-clear turquoise waters. Motorized vehicles are not allowed (just rowboats, canoes, kayaks, etc.) which makes it the perfect spot to swim and have fun in the water! There is a church in the middle of the lake which adds to it's unique landscape (the boys actually swam to it!) and you can also hike up a trail to see the view from above.
There is a train that goes from Ljubljana to Bled which takes about an hour each way, so a day trip is easily manageable (which is what we did). We used this website to book our tickets - make sure you're choosing "Bled Jezero" as your destination, and not "Lesce-Bled" as that will take you to the town and not the lake. And also - don't make the same mistake we did and take the wrong train on the way back and get stranded in the middle of nowhere for 30 minutes!
Walking around Ljubjlana
Like most places, you learn a lot just by walking around the city and observing - the people, the energy, the shops, the cafes, etc. Ljubljana has a very special charm and because of it's small size, felt comfortable and inviting. There are a lot of cute boutiques and small shops which offer more of a view into the culture. And of course, if you need a bite to eat, scroll down to my Dining recommendations!
Ljubljana Central Market
This farmer's market, in the heart of Ljubljana is open every day except Sunday and you'll find all your typical market goodies like fresh fruit, baked goods, flowers, and even clothes! Check out Tri Marije for a good cup of coffee!
Ljbljana Castle
Yep, another European castle! Are you surprised? This one is in the heart of Ljubljana and is a great thing to check out if you're just strolling around for the day. It is a pretty steep hike up, so wear your walking shoes (not like me - wore my cute sandals and regretted it) but the panoramic view of Ljubljana and it's neighboring towns is beautiful.
Dining
Supernatural Naked Food and Wine, Pogačarjev trg 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
In every place I visit, there is always just this one restaurant that stands out to me so much that I end up eating there multiple times - this was that place for me in Ljubljana. Supernatural is a wine bar that is known for its selection of natural wine but has cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic choices as well. They serve everything from breakfast to little bar bites, pasta, meat, salads, and sweets. The quality of the food is incredible everyone's meal was 10/10 (both times we went). So whether you're looking for breakfast, happy hour, or dinner, this is the spot!
Abi Falafel, Trubarjeva cesta 40, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Picture this: four travelers wake up in Budapest, spend 6 hours on the train, check into their Airbnb, and have yet to eat a meal that day - that is until we find this Falafel restaurant that we scarfed down to cure our raging hunger. It's the perfect lunch spot for when you want an inexpensive, good comfort meal.
Another easy lunch spot if you like seafood and wine! Slovenia has really good seafood because of their fresh waters and vicinity to the Adriatic Sea. This restaurant is a chain, so there are multiple locations around Ljubljana.
Most, Petkovškovo nabrežje 21, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
If you prefer a more elevated dining experience, Most is a great choice! They have more specialty dishes like octopus, beef carpaccio, and charcuterie boards with Slovenian meats and cheeses, but also have pasta and a variety of meat and seafood entrees. The ambience is nice and on a warm evening you can sit outside and enjoy the view of the river. We got a table out of luck, but it was packed so I recommend making a reservation ahead of time!
Yauya Patisserie, Breg 12, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
You can't go to Europe and skip out on the midday pick-me-up which consists of coffee and a sweet treat. This patisserie had such beautiful and delicious sweets, great coffee, and also sits along the river.
