Slovenia Winter Wonderland: 7 Days of Snowy Adventure

Be sure to check out this beautiful church and spend some time in the surrounding square.

You are sure to see lots of churches on any trip to Europe, but the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity is certainly not like most other Baroque churches from the 1700's. With its irregular roof line, six columns surrounding the entrance, and many windows, the facade looks more like that of a palace than a typical Baroque church. The beautiful white interior is also unusual in that it is not painted, although there are several ornate altars and paintings to provide some color. The church is located on Congres Square, i.e. Kongresni trg. It is a popular, grassy park shaded by leafy trees and fringed by more architectural gems. It's also a good spot to come to in the evenings for quieter repast if you wish to avoid the crowds thronging both sides of the riverbank. On one corner of the square is Kazina (Casino), a smart Classicist mansion built in 1837 for entertaining the Ljubljana elite. Cafe Zvezda housed inside Kazina is said to serve up some of the best cakes and desserts in town. The Slovene Philharmonic Hall hosts one of the oldest musical institutions in Europe, which was one of the foremost in the Hapsburg Empire. Its honorary members included Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart, and Gustav Mahler was the in-house conductor in 1881-82. Next door is the huge neo-Renaissance university building.

Discover Slovenia's art and culture at the National Gallery and other nearby institutions.

The National Gallery is the art gallery of Slovenia, with a permanent collection of art dating from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. For the artistically minded, there's a cluster of institutions nearby that you should definitely check out, including the horse-shoe shaped Opera House, and the Museum of Modern Art, which picks up where the National Gallery leaves off, including exhibits from the influential Neue Slowenische Kunst (New Slovene Art) movement of the mid-1980s. Very close by on Prešernova cesta is the building that houses both the National Museum and the Natural History Museum; it's at the latter that you'll find an almost complete 20,000-year-old skeleton of a mammoth found near Kamnik in 1938. The city's main public park, Tivoli Park, opens up just across the road from the Museum of Modern Art.

Take a picture with the iconic dragon statues on this pedestrian bridge.

The bridge is a beautiful piece of Secessionist architecture with four carved, spitting, feisty-tailed dragons (the city symbol) sitting atop chunky pylons at each corner of the bridge. Just next to the bridge you'll discover the Market Colonnade, an elongated, gently curving pavilion sheltering a veritable smorgasbord of lovely food shops and a downstairs fish market. The colonnade runs along the length of the riverbank all the way to the Triple Bridge.

Old Town

Ljubljana may be one of the smallest and newest European capitals without world-famous monuments, but what it lacks in renown it more than compensates for in spark and self-confidence in comparison to the introspection of Europe's larger cities. Having suffered little trauma from the breakup of Yugoslavia other than the 'Ten-Day War' in 1991, the Slovenian capital is now an obviously prosperous and self-assured place that has successfully absorbed and integrated a whole variety of external influences from Austria, the Mediterranean and the Balkans over the centuries, and then adapted and tailored them to produce a unique distillation that's remarkable in such a small country. It's one of the continent's greenest and most liveable capitals, having been awarded by the EU with the coveted Green Capital of Europe title for 2016. Car traffic is restricted in the center as one street per year is pedestrianized, leaving the leafy banks of the emerald-green Ljubljanica River, which flows through the city's heart, free for pedestrians and cyclists. There's even a free taxi service in the car-free city center, which is a golfcart-like electric vehicle called Kavalir. It travels slowly around the pedestrianized streets and you can jump on and off anytime you like (it holds up to 5 people at a time). In summer, cafes and restaurants set up shaded seating along the river, making it one of the liveliest (and busiest) open-air dining areas around.

Take a walk across the most famous sight in Ljubljana - the enchanting Triple Bridge.

The bridge is a brilliant piece of architecture and the city's most photographed landmark. To get an idea of how 'green' and sustainable the city has become the Triple Bridge very recently still had vehicular traffic coursing over its beautifully balustraded concourse. The 'triple' in the bridge is the result of national architect Jože Plečnik's decision in 1929 to broaden the existing central bridge dating from 1842 with two lateral footbridges, in order to make access to the oldest part of town on the right bank of the river safer and more convenient for pedestrians; to top it off, he added the Renaissance balustrades, based on the rising bridges of Venice's waterways, and rows of lamps, all of which gives the bridge a magical appearance at night. Geographically and socially, the pulsing heart of the city is Prešernov trg, a small and animated square on the left bank of the river next to the Triple Bridge. It is named after France Prešeren, the national poet, whose statue also adorns the square. The square is Ljubljana's main point of reference where open-air cafes do a brisk trade, and street performers and musicians keep the tourist crowds entertained during the summer months.

Be sure to check out this beautiful church and spend some time in the surrounding square.

You are sure to see lots of churches on any trip to Europe, but the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity is certainly not like most other Baroque churches from the 1700's. With its irregular roof line, six columns surrounding the entrance, and many windows, the facade looks more like that of a palace than a typical Baroque church. The beautiful white interior is also unusual in that it is not painted, although there are several ornate altars and paintings to provide some color. The church is located on Congres Square, i.e. Kongresni trg. It is a popular, grassy park shaded by leafy trees and fringed by more architectural gems. It's also a good spot to come to in the evenings for quieter repast if you wish to avoid the crowds thronging both sides of the riverbank. On one corner of the square is Kazina (Casino), a smart Classicist mansion built in 1837 for entertaining the Ljubljana elite. Cafe Zvezda housed inside Kazina is said to serve up some of the best cakes and desserts in town. The Slovene Philharmonic Hall hosts one of the oldest musical institutions in Europe, which was one of the foremost in the Hapsburg Empire. Its honorary members included Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart, and Gustav Mahler was the in-house conductor in 1881-82. Next door is the huge neo-Renaissance university building.

Take a walk across the most famous sight in Ljubljana - the enchanting Triple Bridge.

The bridge is a brilliant piece of architecture and the city's most photographed landmark. To get an idea of how 'green' and sustainable the city has become the Triple Bridge very recently still had vehicular traffic coursing over its beautifully balustraded concourse. The 'triple' in the bridge is the result of national architect Jože Plečnik's decision in 1929 to broaden the existing central bridge dating from 1842 with two lateral footbridges, in order to make access to the oldest part of town on the right bank of the river safer and more convenient for pedestrians; to top it off, he added the Renaissance balustrades, based on the rising bridges of Venice's waterways, and rows of lamps, all of which gives the bridge a magical appearance at night. Geographically and socially, the pulsing heart of the city is Prešernov trg, a small and animated square on the left bank of the river next to the Triple Bridge. It is named after France Prešeren, the national poet, whose statue also adorns the square. The square is Ljubljana's main point of reference where open-air cafes do a brisk trade, and street performers and musicians keep the tourist crowds entertained during the summer months.

Take a picture with the iconic dragon statues on this pedestrian bridge.

The bridge is a beautiful piece of Secessionist architecture with four carved, spitting, feisty-tailed dragons (the city symbol) sitting atop chunky pylons at each corner of the bridge. Just next to the bridge you'll discover the Market Colonnade, an elongated, gently curving pavilion sheltering a veritable smorgasbord of lovely food shops and a downstairs fish market. The colonnade runs along the length of the riverbank all the way to the Triple Bridge.

Guided Walking Tour of Ljubljana

On this private walking tour, you get to know the unique character of Ljubljana Old Town, where distinct Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture combines with masterly creations by the 20th-century architect Jože Plečnik. See the city's best-known sights, like the Triple Bridge, the four squares of the Old Town, the areas dedicated to the city's famous outdoor market, and the beautiful Secessionist architecture around Miklošičeva cesta.

Take a walk across the most famous sight in Ljubljana - the enchanting Triple Bridge.

The bridge is a brilliant piece of architecture and the city's most photographed landmark. To get an idea of how 'green' and sustainable the city has become the Triple Bridge very recently still had vehicular traffic coursing over its beautifully balustraded concourse. The 'triple' in the bridge is the result of national architect Jože Plečnik's decision in 1929 to broaden the existing central bridge dating from 1842 with two lateral footbridges, in order to make access to the oldest part of town on the right bank of the river safer and more convenient for pedestrians; to top it off, he added the Renaissance balustrades, based on the rising bridges of Venice's waterways, and rows of lamps, all of which gives the bridge a magical appearance at night. Geographically and socially, the pulsing heart of the city is Prešernov trg, a small and animated square on the left bank of the river next to the Triple Bridge. It is named after France Prešeren, the national poet, whose statue also adorns the square. The square is Ljubljana's main point of reference where open-air cafes do a brisk trade, and street performers and musicians keep the tourist crowds entertained during the summer months.

Excursion to Skofja Loka

Škofja Loka has a helpfully compact and very pretty old town that can plausibly lay claim to being one of the oldest settlements in Slovenia. The historic core is the best preserved in the country with compulsory cobbled alleyways, tightly packed houses barely at arm's length from one another, theatrically dramatic Gothic churches, and sleepy open squares where the locals quietly contemplate proceedings over a pastry or two. The town castle (Loški Grad), first mentioned in 1215, is the location of the excellent Town Museum, which contains an impressive exhibition on the rise of the town craftsmen and their guilds set up the protect the interests of blacksmiths, tanners, tailors and other trades from both local and foreign competition. Upstairs there's an even more impressive ethnographic collection.

Excursion to Skofja Loka

Škofja Loka has a helpfully compact and very pretty old town that can plausibly lay claim to being one of the oldest settlements in Slovenia. The historic core is the best preserved in the country with compulsory cobbled alleyways, tightly packed houses barely at arm's length from one another, theatrically dramatic Gothic churches, and sleepy open squares where the locals quietly contemplate proceedings over a pastry or two. The town castle (Loški Grad), first mentioned in 1215, is the location of the excellent Town Museum, which contains an impressive exhibition on the rise of the town craftsmen and their guilds set up the protect the interests of blacksmiths, tanners, tailors and other trades from both local and foreign competition. Upstairs there's an even more impressive ethnographic collection.

Excursion to Skofja Loka

Škofja Loka has a helpfully compact and very pretty old town that can plausibly lay claim to being one of the oldest settlements in Slovenia. The historic core is the best preserved in the country with compulsory cobbled alleyways, tightly packed houses barely at arm's length from one another, theatrically dramatic Gothic churches, and sleepy open squares where the locals quietly contemplate proceedings over a pastry or two. The town castle (Loški Grad), first mentioned in 1215, is the location of the excellent Town Museum, which contains an impressive exhibition on the rise of the town craftsmen and their guilds set up the protect the interests of blacksmiths, tanners, tailors and other trades from both local and foreign competition. Upstairs there's an even more impressive ethnographic collection.

Excursion to Skofja Loka

Škofja Loka has a helpfully compact and very pretty old town that can plausibly lay claim to being one of the oldest settlements in Slovenia. The historic core is the best preserved in the country with compulsory cobbled alleyways, tightly packed houses barely at arm's length from one another, theatrically dramatic Gothic churches, and sleepy open squares where the locals quietly contemplate proceedings over a pastry or two. The town castle (Loški Grad), first mentioned in 1215, is the location of the excellent Town Museum, which contains an impressive exhibition on the rise of the town craftsmen and their guilds set up the protect the interests of blacksmiths, tanners, tailors and other trades from both local and foreign competition. Upstairs there's an even more impressive ethnographic collection.

Postojna Caves & Predjama Castle

Two of Slovenia's most famous and impressive attractions are located about 6 miles (10km) from each other, meaning that it's a no-brainer to see both of them on the same excursion. The other-worldly Postojna Caves are some of Europe's most impressive, while the wonderfully dramatic Predjama Castle, 9km north of the cave, is built into a setting as unforgettable as it is improbable.

Take a train deep inside a mountain to explore these wondrously beautiful caverns.

Postojna's wondrously vast complex of naturally formed underground chambers and an astonishing array of stalactite and stalagmite formations has been attracting open-mouthed visitors for two centuries already, thanks in no small way to the open-topped electric train that shuttles punters 1.2 mile (2km) inside the cave system before the guided tours begin.  As fascinating and multifarious as they are, the tour isn't all stalactites and stalagmites and how they've formed over the millennia. You also get a commentary on the alterations humans have made to the cave over the 200 years since it's discovery and you'll be shown how incipient stalactites have even started to form on concrete arches built over 90 years ago. Near the end of the tour, you will be introduced to the cave's 'baby dragons', or which people once believed were dragons - olms or 'Proteus anguinus'. With a length of 25 to 30 centimeters, the olm is the largest cave-dwelling animal and the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively in subterranean areas. It is extremely well-adapted to life in darkness; its skin lacks any protective pigmentation, and the blood that shows through it makes it very pale and slightly pink in colour. The resemblance in colour to that of white-skinned humans is the reason why the olm is in some languages referred to as the human fish. It has a life expectancy of up to 100 years and can survive without food for several years.

Postojna Caves & Predjama Castle

Two of Slovenia's most famous and impressive attractions are located about 6 miles (10km) from each other, meaning that it's a no-brainer to see both of them on the same excursion. The other-worldly Postojna Caves are some of Europe's most impressive, while the wonderfully dramatic Predjama Castle, 9km north of the cave, is built into a setting as unforgettable as it is improbable.

Take a train deep inside a mountain to explore these wondrously beautiful caverns.

Postojna's wondrously vast complex of naturally formed underground chambers and an astonishing array of stalactite and stalagmite formations has been attracting open-mouthed visitors for two centuries already, thanks in no small way to the open-topped electric train that shuttles punters 1.2 mile (2km) inside the cave system before the guided tours begin.  As fascinating and multifarious as they are, the tour isn't all stalactites and stalagmites and how they've formed over the millennia. You also get a commentary on the alterations humans have made to the cave over the 200 years since it's discovery and you'll be shown how incipient stalactites have even started to form on concrete arches built over 90 years ago. Near the end of the tour, you will be introduced to the cave's 'baby dragons', or which people once believed were dragons - olms or 'Proteus anguinus'. With a length of 25 to 30 centimeters, the olm is the largest cave-dwelling animal and the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively in subterranean areas. It is extremely well-adapted to life in darkness; its skin lacks any protective pigmentation, and the blood that shows through it makes it very pale and slightly pink in colour. The resemblance in colour to that of white-skinned humans is the reason why the olm is in some languages referred to as the human fish. It has a life expectancy of up to 100 years and can survive without food for several years.

Stare down at the lake from this dramatic castle precariously perched on a cliff.

Perched up high on a precipitous craggy bluff near the town center is Bled Castle, enclosed by a Romanesque wall and studded with stout parapets, towers and ramparts, just as any medieval castle should be. Originally constructed in the 11th century, the castle's present appearance dates from the 17th century, and is characterized by a lower and upper courtyard. Probably its best feature is the beautiful chapel. There are outstanding views from the castle terrace of the lake and island below, while the castle restaurant has a reputation as one of the best in Lake Bled. Close by at the start of one of the tracks leading up to the castle you'll also find the photogenic Parish Church of St Martin.

Follow along the cliffsides deep into this incredibly scenic gorge.

Another outstanding sight near Lake Bled is Vintgar Gorge, an impressively deep one mile (1.6km) ravine about 2.5 miles (4km) north of town. It was not officially discovered until 1891, but now it's easily accessible via a continuous chain of wooden gantries and bridges, suspended from the precipitous rock face, and running the entire length of the gorge. There are a number of ways to get there, including on foot, by bike, train (take one from Jezero Bled station one stop to Podhom and follow the signs to the gorge), bus (they run frequently during the summer months from Bled bus station), or taxi. Also, ask for a map from the information center so you don't get lost. You should take into consideration, however, that the gorge is rather wet and a little bit slippery, and bottlenecks form on the narrow gantries during the height of the tourist season as people stop to take photos.

If you like honey, chocolate, and gingerbread, make time for the small but exquisitely preserved medieval town of Radovljica, just 4 miles (6km) south-east of Bled.

Built on an outcrop above the River Sava and the beautiful Sava Valley, everything of interest in the town is centered around the wonderfully quiet Linhartov trg (Linhart Square), which is framed by Gothic and Renaissance buildings. The highlight is Thurn Mansion, clearly recognizable by its thickly stuccoed facade and vast spread of coats of arms. Inside, a magnificent double stairway leads up to the truly splendid Beekeeping Museum. Don't be fooled into thinking that it must invariably be a dull topic, as beekeeping is one of Slovenia's oldest and most celebrated traditions. After going over the history of beekeeping and examples of pioneering apiculture the undoubted high point of the museum is its collection of over 200 beehive panels - wooden end panels painted with religious, satirical or humorous motifs and scenes.  Otherwise check out the Parish Church of St Peter just to the east of the museum, and the best-preserved houses on the square: no.3 Vidic House and no.22, the muralled Šiveč House. Radovljica also has a long chocolate and gingerbread-making tradition, so don't miss the live gingerbread workshop and museum at no.2 Pension Lectar.

Excursion to Lake Bled

With its mountain setting, dark turquoise waters, boats rowing passengers out to the island church, and dramatic cliff-top castle, Lake Bled is picture-postcard perfect, making it the most popular destination in Slovenia for both international and domestic tourists alike. You can take a walk or ride a tourist train around the lake, row out to the island, and dine alongside the enchanting shoreline. With enough time to spare, you can also take in the dramatic Vintgar Gorge and the beautiful medieval village of Radovljica. Lake Bled is about an hour-and-a-half trip from Ljubljana. You have two options for getting to there by public transport - bus or train. Buses depart Ljubljana more frequently and arrive at a very convenient location near the lakeshore in Bled, but they can get very crowded during the summer, especially at the weekends when seemingly every young backpacker in the country wants to get there, while the train departs more infrequently and doesn't arrive directly in Bled, but it isn't as crowded. Of course you can also just take a guided excursion if you want to keep it simple.

Row (or be rowed) to this beautiful island in the center of Lake Bled.

The most recognizable symbol of Bled Island  is the Church of the Assumption, although there are a handful of other buildings on the islet. The church dates from 1689 and its most outstanding features are the well-preserved frescoes. A wishing bell, which keeps many visitors amused, was installed in 1534, though a larger bell hangs in the enormous free-standing belfry. Weddings are held regularly in the church and traditionally it is considered good luck for a groom to carry his bride up the 99 stone steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.  Numerous pletna boats take passengers to the island. A pletna looks sort of like a Venetian gondola, but wider. You'll pay about 15 EUR for a return journey, which includes 25min there, 40min on the island itself, and another 25min back, i.e. an hour-and-a-half altogether. The pletna oarsmen will be happy to answer your questions as you make your way across the lake. Only locals are permitted to operate a pletna. The tradition has been passed from generation to generation for the past few centuries. The pletna operate all year round depending on the weather. If you want to expend your own energy to get across the lake, then there a number of places around the lakeshore where you can rent a rowboat and get to the island under your own steam. There's also a motorized ferry that runs regularly from the main tourist information office for around 12 EUR.

Stare down at the lake from this dramatic castle precariously perched on a cliff.

Perched up high on a precipitous craggy bluff near the town center is Bled Castle, enclosed by a Romanesque wall and studded with stout parapets, towers and ramparts, just as any medieval castle should be. Originally constructed in the 11th century, the castle's present appearance dates from the 17th century, and is characterized by a lower and upper courtyard. Probably its best feature is the beautiful chapel. There are outstanding views from the castle terrace of the lake and island below, while the castle restaurant has a reputation as one of the best in Lake Bled. Close by at the start of one of the tracks leading up to the castle you'll also find the photogenic Parish Church of St Martin.

Ride the exhilarating rapids of the Sava Bohinjka River

Experience the thrill of rafting on the Sava Bohinjka River, where the rushing waters have carved a path through stunning Alpine scenery, offering an exciting ride full of natural beauty. But not too exciting - even complete beginners can enjoy this voyage.

Take an easy hike to see the amazing natural sculptures of Mostnica Gorge.

Mostnica Gorge offers a relaxed hiking experience through a stunning landscape carved by the Mostnica River, featuring unique rock formations and lush greenery. It's only about 2 miles (3km) roundtrip, but if you've got the energy and time, you can hike another 2.5 miles (4km) through a gorgeous Alpine valley to the Mostnica Waterfall.

Hike to the majestic Savica Waterfall, a jewel of the Julian Alps.

Savica Waterfall, easily accessible by a short but steep hike, is a magnificent sight. The water dramatically bursts out from an underground karst cave within the mountainside and cascades dramatically into a clear pool, set against a backdrop of dense forests.

Excursion to Lake Bohinj

Escape to the serene and majestic Lake Bohinj, a gem in the heart of Slovenia's Julian Alps, on a self-guided excursion from Ljubljana. This excursion offers more than just a visual spectacle; it's also an opportunity to choose from a number of different outdoor activities. to Hike to a waterfall or Alpine peaks, feel the adrenaline rush of rafting down a pristine river, or explore the picturesque landscape by cycling through the valley leading to the lake. Lake Bohinj is a perfect trip for those with adventurous soul, as well as for those seeking extraordinary beauty and tranquility.

Stroll, sail, or soak in the beauty of Lake Bohinj's enchanting waters.

Lake Bohinj, is overlooked by towering mountains and its shore is hugged by deep green forests. The atmosphere is especially serene near the visitor center, where a stone bridge leads to the white church of St. John the Baptist. From the bridge you'll enjoy a stunning view of the lake. You can walk further along the shores, take a quick dip, rent a boat, or enjoy a scenic cruise on an electronic boat tour.

Pedal through breathtaking valleys and over Alpine foothills.

Cycle through the Bohinj Valley, where a well-maintained cycling path takes you along the shore of the lake, through charming villages, over Alpine foothills and pastures, and alongside the clear emerald waters of the Sava Bohinjka River. With much of the path relatively flat and paved, you do not need to be in peak condition to enjoy this trip, although at some points you may need to dismount and walk.

Transfer to Airport

Ljubljana has one main airport, Ljubljana Airport, also known as Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where almost all visitors depart. You can also arrange a private transfer for added convenience. If you are picked up about two hours and forty-five minutes before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. The cost should be about 35 EUR. It is a very small airport so you should have little trouble finding your way upon arrival at the airport.

Transfer to Airport

Ljubljana has one main airport, Ljubljana Airport, also known as Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where almost all visitors depart. You can also arrange a private transfer for added convenience. If you are picked up about two hours and forty-five minutes before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. The cost should be about 35 EUR. It is a very small airport so you should have little trouble finding your way upon arrival at the airport.

Transfer to Airport

Ljubljana has one main airport, Ljubljana Airport, also known as Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where almost all visitors depart. You can also arrange a private transfer for added convenience. If you are picked up about two hours and forty-five minutes before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. The cost should be about 35 EUR. It is a very small airport so you should have little trouble finding your way upon arrival at the airport.

Transfer to Airport

Ljubljana has one main airport, Ljubljana Airport, also known as Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where almost all visitors depart. You can also arrange a private transfer for added convenience. If you are picked up about two hours and forty-five minutes before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. The cost should be about 35 EUR. It is a very small airport so you should have little trouble finding your way upon arrival at the airport.