Slovenia might be a small country but it offers many beautiful natural sights that will take your breath away. A boutique country between the Alps, Mediterranean Sea and mysterious Karst has a lot of places to enjoy, especially if you are up for some outdoor adventure.
Situated in the heart of Europe, Slovenia is surrounded by greenery wherever you look – the green forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and canyons, the vineyards and the Pannonian plains.
Slovenia is also the world’s first country to be declared a green destination, based on the Green Destinations Criteria.
Discover some of its best green destinations.
LAKE BLED
Lake Bled is a glacial lake, located in the Julian Alps in the northwestern Slovenia. It is surrounded by mountains and forests.
In the middle of the lake lays Bled Island, the only natural island in Slovenia. You can get there in the traditional wooden boats, pletnas, operated by standing rowers. At the arrival, climb 99 steps to reach the Assumption of Mary Church. A legend has it that when you ring the bell of the church you make a wish and it will come true.
You can get the most beautiful view of the lake and its island from the castle towering over the lake on a cliff. The castle is a popular wedding venues and it has been a locatiof of important diplomatic meetings in the past. Inside the castle you can visit its museum collection and lear about the traditional manual printing.
Close to the Lake Bled there is the beautiful Vintgar Gorge, another popular tourist attraction. The wooden bridges will lead you down the gorge among the waterfalls, cascades and amazing nature.
BOHINJ LAKE
Bohinj is another astonishing place which you have to visit when traveling through Slovenia. It is located in the Julian Alps, near Bled Lake. Its lake is surrouned by colorful nature and an extensive forest with hidden waterfalls and gorges. You can enjoy on its peaceful beach and go for a swim in the summertime.
Lake Bohinj is of glacial-tectonic origins and is the largest natural lake in Slovenia. During the summer, when the water warms up, is perfect for bathing, kayaking, fishing, boat riding and even wind surfing. You can also go for a walk around the lake or go for a hike.
In its vicinity you will find the over 700 years church of St John the Baptist. It is one of the most beautiful examples of the Middle Age architecture and fresco painting in Slovenia.
SOČA RIVER
The region of the Soča river is know for its stunning nature. The esmerald green river is considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Its water flows across waterfalls, through narrow rocky gorges, and has carved some canyons and pools. The river and its surroundings are perfect for all the sports lovers and adventure seekers. On the river you can go swimming, kayaking, rafting, canyoning etc. But you can also enjoy in the nature of the Soča valley and go climbing, hiking, biking, paragliding, etc.
You might recognize its scenery from the movie Narnia as some of the scenes were filmed on the Soča river and in its surroundings.
The mountainous landscape above the river was the scene of the largest mountain battles in history during World War I known as battles of the Isonzo.
LOGAR VALLEY
The Logar Valley (Logarska dolina) is one of the most beautiful Alpine glacial valleys in Europe. It is located in the Solčava region in the pristine green nature. Take the trail through the Logar Valley and discover irt unspoilt nature with some extraordinary flowe species and many waterfalls, among which the most famous is Rinka Falls.
The park of Logar Valley is perfect for activities like hiking, cycling or horseback riding. In the winter you can go skiing, sledding, downhill skiing, ski touring o reven climbing the frozen waterfalls.
VELIKA PLANINA
Near Ljubljana, there is a hidden place called Velika Planina, the plateau upon the Kamnik Alps with plenty of greenery. Velika Planina is one of the largest herdsmen’s settlements in Europe and at the end of spring is when you can hear the cowbells out on the Alpine pastures.
Learn about the life on the mountain pasture and sample the traditional dishes they’ll prepare for you. Go for a walk through the meadows or take a hike across the plateau. You can take a cable car and ski lift to the top to enjoy in the astonishing views or go for a hike on one of its footpaths. Velika Planina is definately a perfect place for a family vacation.
BRDA
Brda is the most famous wine-growing areas in Slovenia, spreading on the hills between the Soča river and the Italian border. Its hills are topped with small, charming villages, widing roads and vineyards.
The rich soil, hot summers and mild winters make the natural conditions perfect for wine growing. So visit Brda and relax with a glass of regional wine and get ready for an amazing culinary experience, wander through romantic villages or go for a walk amongst the vineyards.
TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
The park is named after the highest mountain of Slovenia that is located in its heart– Triglav (´three-headed´ in Slovenian). The mountain itself is oftenly visited by tourists.
Triglav National Park is one of the largest national reserves in Europe. It is combined by rocky mountains, river gorges, lakes, canyons, caves, waterfalls, forests and meadows.
The territory of the park is very picturesqu. You can find a variety of flora and fauna with numerous rare plant and animal species. In some places you can also find old farms and characteristic homes. The farms of the area are famous for their cheese production and other dairy products.
