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Trip Report

Traveling to Slovenia

Two weeks in Slovenia with my good friend Stella first in Ljubljana and then in Lake Bled.

  • Renting a row boat+ 5
  • The main market
  • Walking through town
  • Traveling to Slovenia
nomade_eleanor
About Me:I love to travel, try new dishes and take good photos read more

EuropeSlovenia11 days / July 2022

Highs & Lows

Getting a personal tour of Ljubljana from Stella: she really brought the city to life.

Maybe spending too much time on Lake Bled and missing out on the surroundings.

Itinerary Overview

Slovenia has been a paradise for people interrailing, cycling or backpacking Europe for many years for many reasons: it's beautiful, it's not as expensive as other countries in Europe and there's plenty to do including hiking, water sports, the city and a beautiful coastline. Certainly, Slovenia has a lot to offer. My trip included a couple of days in the capital city, Ljubljana, and nearby Lake Bled (possibly one of the most famous and recognizable sites in Europe). I will focus on describing those two places. I traveled with my good friend Stella, we focused on making simple plans that would help us get to know the culture of the country since we find it very interesting and entertaining. The weather helped us a lot to do everything we wanted and we did not have many inconveniences that did not allow us to continue with what was agreed. The whole trip was spectacular.

  • 5 Nights: Ljubljana
    Visiting my friend and finally seeing her wonderful country!
  • 6 Nights: Bled
    Gorgeous views and lake time
Ljubljana - Visiting my friend and finally seeing her wonderful country!
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Ljubljana Visiting my friend and finally seeing her wonderful country!

Ljubljana - Visiting my friend and finally seeing her wonderful country! - The main market
The main market
Ljubljana - Visiting my friend and finally seeing her wonderful country! - Walking through town
Walking through town
Ljubljana - Visiting my friend and finally seeing her wonderful country! - Wonderful views1+
Wonderful views

The capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is utterly charming and a great place to start your trip. I spent just under a week in Ljubljana because I was visiting a friend who lived there but I could definitely have squeezed the best bits of the city into a weekend or even a day. Ljubljana is definitely quite a contrasting city with a beautiful pretty old town mixed with some serious brutalist architecture too - my friend gave me a great tour of the city so I would definitely recommend a walking tour to get started. In terms of accommodation Ljubljana is a very popular place for backpackers so there is lots of choice and availability but I would recommend Hostel Zzz which is not only a hostel but after 9pm becomes a nightclub too! For things to see I would recommend the view of the city from the castle (but not the castle itself - there are definitely better ones in Slovenia), the alternative area of Metelkova and a wander along the river passing the dragon bridge, main market and many shops and restaurants.

Bled - Gorgeous views and lake time
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Bled Gorgeous views and lake time

Bled - Gorgeous views and lake time - The postcard view
The postcard view
Bled - Gorgeous views and lake time - Renting a row boat
Renting a row boat
Bled - Gorgeous views and lake time - Gorgeous clear water1+
Gorgeous clear water

The town of Bled is only an hour from Ljubljana so definitely worth visiting and the view of Lake Bled with its clear blue waters and castle on the cliff is enchanting: a real life postcard moment. Accommodation on the edge of the lake is very expensive and popular so I recommend staying in town instead (most places are less than a 10 minute walk from the lake itself) and Hostel Bled Paradise is a great option for backpackers and hikers. While in Bled the best things to do of course involve the lake: cycling or walking around it, renting a row boat to go to the central island (a great place for a swim and an ice cream) but for me the best way to experience the lake was renting a SUP (stand up paddle board) with friends. I also recommend trying the famous Bled cream cake and doing a small hike close to the lake to get that famous post card photo.

Q & A

  • What would you have changed?

    For Lake Bled I would have done most of my swimming during the week rather than at the weekend to avoid the crowds. Many Slovenes come to Bled for the weekend so it gets super busy!
  • Anything go wrong during the trip?

    In Ljubljana I would have not done the interior of the castle because there really was not too much to see - the best part was by far the view from the top. However the castle is used as a cultural centre and has concerts there which I would definitely have gone to.
  • Restaurant recommendations?

    We did mostly home cooking but I would definitely recommend trying the Bled cream cake, Cacao ice cream in Ljubljana and a beer by the river in Ljubljana or overlooking the lake.
  • Tips you would give a friend?

    Check out the activities on offer at the shops close to the lake because there is so much to do in the area beyond Lake Bled. Some friends and I did that and we did water rafting one afternoon which was really good fun.
  • Packing tips?

    Definitely bring a towel for the lake that you don’t mind getting a bit muddy. You will not be lying on sand but grass hence a bit of dirt is unavoidable. A micro fibre towel was great for this.
  • Transportation Tips?

    Rent bikes one day to get around - it is a really good way to get around Lake Bled and its surroundings and the perfect way to take in the views. The bus to and from Ljubljana is not the most reliable (ours did not show up) so give yourself plenty of time to get to your next destination.
  • Any surprises?

    There is so much great street art in Ljubljana (this is something I wish I had paid more attention to).
  • Booking details?

    I stayed with my friend but normally when travelling I use Booking.com or Hostel world.

Lodging