Slovenia is a great destination for those who love nature, especially the mountains, challenging hikes and various adventurous activities. We set out on a two-week road trip, trying to include as many of these activities as possible. Based on our own experiences, we optimized this route and… TA-DA! That’s how we came up with an itinerary for the ultimate road trip through Slovenia for adventurous travelers. Get inspired and enjoy!
Highlights of Slovenia
How many days do you need for a road trip in Slovenia?
The ideal travel duration for Slovenia depends on your plans. If you only want to see the highlights, then 7 to 10 days is fine. With 10 to 14 days, you have a bit more time for some adventurous activities in Bovec or a two-day hike to the top of mount Triglav. Do you have more than 14 days? Then you can combine your road trip through Slovenia with a vacation in Croatia or Italy. We ended our vacation with a week of adrenaline-filled adventures by booking the Packraft Trail with Travelbase.
How to get to Slovenia?
By car
Slovenia is easily accessible by car via the highways in Germany and Austria. It takes about 12 hours from Brussels or Amsterdam. You need a vignette for both Austria and Slovenia. An Austrian vignette costs €8.60 for one day and can be easily purchased online or at a German gas station near the border. A Slovenian vignette costs €32.00 for one month and can be bought online here.
By plane
Prefer not to drive your own car to Slovenia? You can fly to the capital, Ljubljana. A round trip from Schiphol or Zaventem costs around €200. Check out our tips for finding cheap flights here.
A car is essential if you want to do a road trip through Slovenia. We always rent through Rentalcars.com. For a well-insured rental car for 2 weeks during the summer months, you’ll pay about €500.
Our travel itinerary for Slovenia
In the summer of 2023, we did a two-week road trip through Slovenia with our own car. Get inspired by our travel route and plan your own Slovenian adventure!
Day 1-2: Bovec, on the Soča River
We stayed at Camp Vodenca, a cozy campsite in Bovec.
Would you rather sleep in a hotel? Then you’ll find a wide range on booking.com.
Day 1: The first two days of this road trip through Slovenia are all about the wild Soča River. As it should be for a true mountain stream, the water of the Soča is icy cold and bright blue. The source is just north of Bovec and is the starting point of the Soča Trail, a beautiful walk along the river and the perfect start to an active holiday in Slovenia. Read our tips and download the route here.
Day 2: Ready for real adventure?! Bovec is the perfect base for outdoor activities on and around the Soča river. Various organizations offer a wide range of sports: how about rafting and canyoning in the river or ziplining high above the water?
Day 3: Waterfalls on the way to Bled
Day 3: Slovenia is not a very large country, so you never have to spend long in the car. Today you drive from Bovec to Bled, a trip of about an hour and a half, but you can make a stop at two amazing waterfalls along the way.
- The first is Martuljek Slap, where you can climb all the way up, making it almost a ten-kilometer hike. It’s quite a challenging walk, but you’re walking along the water the whole time and see different levels of the waterfall. You hardly encounter any other hikers. A hidden gem! You can download our GPX here.
- Peričnik Slap is not far from there and can be visited on the same day. You only have to walk one kilometer, and it’s much busier, but because you can walk under the waterfall, we still found it a great experience.
Day 4-5: The popular, fairytale-like Bled
We stayed at Villa Vive, an apartment in the center of Bled. The lake, restaurants, and a supermarket are within walking distance. Free parking and a very helpful hostess!
Day 4: Experience Bled to the fullest: walk around the lake, climb to various viewpoints, visit the castle, relax by the lakeshore, take a boat ride, or rent a SUP. These are all possibilities in this tourist hotspot. We created a list of 11 must-do activities in Bled.
Day 5: Not far from the center of Bled is the popular Vintgar Gorge. Some say it’s a must-see, but we found it a bit too crowded. We preferred the more authentic Pokljuka Gorge. We wrote tips for visiting both gorges in this blog post.
Day 6-8: Triglav National Park and Bohinj
Day 6: Time for the biggest challenge of your road trip through Slovenia! Climbing the highest point of a country… It gets us every time. At 2864 meters, Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia, and once we knew that, we only wanted one thing: to go up! We can recommend it to every adrenaline seeker. Today you’ll drive half an hour from Bled to Bohinj. There, a two-day adventure to the top begins. Read our detailed report here.
Day 7: Rise early because in the morning you hike the last stretch to the top of Triglav. Then you descend along the beautiful Seven Lakes Trail. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Day 8: After the exertion comes well-deserved relaxation! Spend a day by Lake Bohinj. It’s much quieter and more surrounded by mountains than Bled. Relax by the water! Still not had enough of the mountains? Take the cable car to Mount Vogel, and within minutes you’re at 1500 meters.
Staying overnight in Bohinj and Triglav National Park
We spent our nights in Triglav National Park in mountain huts. Dom Planika pod Triglavom is the second-highest hut in Slovenia and has a large capacity. On our way back down, we slept in a double room in the Kosijev dom na Vogarju hut. After a few days of strenuous hiking, a stay at the luxurious Bohinj Eco Hotel is the perfect place to relax.
Day 9-12: Slovenia’s wine region around Vipava
We spent several days among the vineyards at Camping Saksida. This campsite has a lovely pool, and in the restaurant, you can taste some wines from their own vineyard. Prefer not to camp? Then definitely check out the small and charming country house Pri Bregarju.
Day 9: While the mountains are the country’s showpiece, Slovenia has more to offer! A bit further south lies an extensive wine region. The warmer temperatures and vast vineyards on rolling hills give this region a Tuscan touch. From Bohinj, you drive to your new destination in two hours. With a small detour, you can also visit the Tolmin Gorge today.
Day 10: The beautiful surroundings are perfect for a long bike ride. We rented two very decent electric mountain bikes at the campsite and cycled more than fifty kilometers along the smallest villages and largest vineyards. We had lunch in the picturesque town of Vipava, which gives its name to the valley. Along the way, we encountered various opportunities for wine tasting, and we could also sample the local wine at the campsite.
We cycled about 55km with 500 meters of elevation gain in a good 5 hours. You can download our route here as a GPX file.
Day 11: Slovenia has more than ten thousand caves, not all equally spectacular, but you shouldn’t miss the Skocjan Caves! These dripstone caves are rightfully featured on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Inside, a river flows that has carved the rocks so deeply that you sometimes walk along bridges almost fifty meters above the water. Note: Buy your tickets for the caves at least one day in advance, as they are popular!
Day 12: Slovenia has only 47 kilometers of coastline, but it’s definitely worth a visit. The towns of Koper and Piran are very beautiful and have many bars and restaurants. In between is the very small but colorful village of Izola. We had a lovely day strolling through narrow streets, stopping at terraces (or climbing a church tower), and ending with people-watching at the large Tartini Plaza in Piran. We drove about an hour from the campsite.
Day 13-14: The capital Ljubljana
Parking your car in a capital city is a challenge! Ljubljana is no different. That’s why we chose Guest House pri Vodniku, a bed & breakfast just outside the center with free parking.
Day 13: On to the last stop of this road trip, the capital Ljubljana. The drive takes about an hour, but you can also visit the Postojna Caves along the way. We missed them because we didn’t book tickets in time, so be sure to act quickly! Postojna is the longest cave in the country and the second-largest dripstone cave in the world. You can even ride a train inside!
Day 14: We conclude this road trip with a visit to the small but very pleasant capital. We wrote a city guide with all the sights and activities you shouldn’t miss in Ljubljana. Immerse yourself in the Slovenian atmosphere one last time—you’ll miss it!
Tips for a vacation in Slovenia
What is the best time to travel to Slovenia?
Slovenia has a temperate climate. The summer months (June-August) are warm and pleasant, perfect for nature lovers and hikers. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer milder temperatures and less crowding. In winter, it can snow in the mountains, which is ideal for winter sports. More details can be found on klimaatinfo.nl.
How much does a road trip through Slovenia cost?
Slovenia is relatively cheap compared to Western Europe. Prices are lower than in, for example, the Netherlands or Belgium. Here’s a rundown of what we roughly spent on this road trip:
- Accommodation: We took our tent on this road trip and alternated between camping and hotel/apartment stays. We spent about €425 per person.
- Food and Drink: By occasionally cooking our own meals at the campsite, we saved on restaurant costs. We spent about €250 per person on food and drink over two weeks.
- Transport: We drove our own car to Slovenia, so we only paid for fuel and tolls. In total, about €400.
- Activities: This includes entrance fees to attractions like the caves and rental of electric mountain bikes and via ferrata gear. In total, about €125 per person.
So, for a two-week road trip through Slovenia with your own car and a mix of camping and hotel stays, budget about €1,000 per person.
What is the currency in Slovenia?
You pay with euros in Slovenia. Most hotels and restaurants accept bank cards. Check before you leave if your bank card works in Europe. Sometimes your payment settings are set to Belgium/Netherlands by default. Temporarily change this to Europe to avoid any issues.
Do I need vaccinations for Slovenia?
There are no mandatory vaccinations for Slovenia. However, some recommended vaccinations include DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and polio), hepatitis A, and tick-borne encephalitis. More information can be found on the website of the Institute of Tropical Medicine.
What is typical Slovenian food?
Slovenian cuisine is a delicious mix of Mediterranean, Austrian, and Balkan influences. Expect flavorful meat and fish dishes, fragrant stews, and sweet treats. Some typical Slovenian dishes are:
- Žlikrofi: Filled pasta with fillings like potato, ricotta, or nuts
- Bograč: A traditional goulash
- Pršut: Dried ham from the Karst region
- Kranjska klobasa: A spicy sausage enjoyed throughout Slovenia