Why Slovenia
Two million inhabitants, and four European landscapes in a country smaller than Brittany. The Julian Alps in the north-west, with Triglav and the lakes of Bled and Bohinj. The Karst in the south-west, riddled with caves — Postojna, and Škocjan, World Heritage listed. Forty-six kilometres of Adriatic coast around Piran. And the Pannonian plain in the east, given over to wine and spas.
Ljubljana is a capital of three hundred thousand, with a pedestrian centre lined by the Ljubljanica.
May–June and September for hiking and the lakes. July and August are hot and the coast is saturated. December to March for skiing, modest but cheap.
Entry and stay
An EU and Schengen country. An identity card is enough for nationals of the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
For other nationalities, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in service since 10 April 2026 and digitally records every crossing of a Schengen external border. ETIAS, at twenty euros, is expected in the final quarter of 2026.
Source: France Diplomatie and the European Commission, checked on 22 September 2026.
Getting around
Trains link Ljubljana to Bled, Maribor and Koper, slowly but very cheaply. Coaches cover the country better, particularly towards Bohinj and the Soča valley.
A car is necessary for the Julian Alps. The Vršič pass, fifty hairpins, closes in winter. An electronic motorway vignette is compulsory and is bought online or at petrol stations before joining the motorway.
Money
Euro, adopted in 2007. Cards work everywhere.
The country is noticeably cheaper than neighbouring Austria and Italy, for accommodation as for eating out.
Before you go
Lake Bled bans motorboats: you cross it in a pletna, a traditional rowed barge, or under your own arm power. The island and its church cannot be reached any other way.
The Postojna and Škocjan caves are two different experiences: Postojna is travelled by little train and must be booked, Škocjan is done on foot and its underground gorges are more impressive.
The Soča valley has water of a very particular turquoise, from limestone sediment. It is freezing all year.