Destination Slovenia: Eastern Europe's best-kept secret

Lake Bled, Slovenia. Photo by David Browne.

Never mind that you’ll repeatedly bungle the pronunciation of the capital city, lovely Ljubljana. (Try this: lou-blee-ahn-uh.) In 1991 Slovenia gained its independence, and Yugoslavia’s loss became the rest of the world’s gain.

Tucked between Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, this little gem of a republic has emerged as a popular European tourist spot. With its modern roads, stunning scenery, friendly people, interesting culture, and varied landscapes, Slovenia is a soft adventure traveler’s playground.

The country boasts a wide variety of changing landscapes that make for never a dull moment. There are national parks rivaling Yosemite, villages offering medieval castles, beautiful valleys cut by turquoise rivers, carved mountains resembling Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, a scenic seaboard town that screams Italy (it‘s right next door), and the Karst wine region that gives Napa Valley a run for its money. Add to that a decent offering of schnitzel and fries at every turn, coupled by the locally brewed Lasko Zlatorog beer (look for the goat label) and an obscure, dirt cheap (despite the Euro) dark red wine called Teran, and you’ve got the makings of a great vacation.

Winter and early spring offer good skiing throughout the region. We arrived at the beginning of May and enjoyed fewer crowds and wonderful weather (despite a few splashings of rain). You can easily visit the following western locations in a week with a rental car from Ljubljana; as always, we took our time and lingered for a while in a few places.

Lake Bled is probably Slovenia's most well-known scenic spot (see photo above). Its picturesque church on an island in the middle of the lake features prominently in many guidebooks, but don’t let that deter you. Stay in a charming chalet-style inn in the town of Bled (we loved the family-run Pension Berc), and give yourself a few days. Bled is a great place to relax - as well as explore by bicycle - and offers some wonderful day trips.

A pleasant half-hour drive from Bled puts you in Triglav National Park, home to serene Lake Bohinj (bo-hene). Here you can do an easy walk around the lake in several hours, stopping to soak in the scenery or picnic at one of the benches or tables along the way. The perimeter hike is flat and easy - perfect for all ages.

Heading north just a few miles from Bled on another day trip, visit Vintgar Gorge, with its amazing boardwalk trails built into the sides of the rock. You’ll literally walk above the rushing Radovna River on a spectacularly scenic hike into the canyon and back.

Leaving Bled behind, cross over the imposing Julian Alps via the Vrsic Pass, Slovenia's highest mountain road. (If multiple hairpin turns aren’t your thing, this isn’t the route for you.) Once on the other side, alpine terrain gives way to lush green valleys as you enter the Karst region, renowned for its dark red Teran wine and endless rolling vineyards. We spent the night at the secluded Gostilna Sajna in the tiny town of Sepulje, touring Medieval towns and ruins the following day. The area truly resembles Tuscany but sees far fewer tourists, which makes visiting here a delight.

Head next to Slovenia’s tiny slice of seaside via a quick stop in Lipica to view the world-famous Lipizzaner stallions. Take the shortcut through Italy and wave to Trieste as you make your way to the charming coastal town of Piran. For a fraction of the price of the Piran hotels, a number of locals rent out rooms (look for the "zimmer" signs) in their homes in the village of Postoroz, just south of Piran. Park the car at the house, and walk or bus down to the village: Most of the tiny lanes are pedestrian only, which only adds to the charm. Dine on fresh seafood and catch a stunning sunset as you stroll along the Adriatic near the Croatian border.

If time allows on your return to Ljubljana, stop at Skocjan Caves Regional Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. Guided tours and accommodations are available.