Born out of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia is one of Europe's hidden gems. Most visitors are drawn either to the capital city or the mountains in the north and west. A particular gem, and possibly the best-known single tourist attraction is Lake Bled with its picturesque little island crowned by a white church spire and the cliff-top castle on the northern shores.

 

Bled

A cute little town, Bled is Slovenia's most famous tourist destination, especially for water and mountain sports enthusiasts.

 

Ljubljana

Ljubljana has a quaint medieval town feel. It has a castle on the hill, a fascination with dragons, a nice square, and is snaked by a little river with ornate bridges. In the summer evenings, everyone spills out to the outdoor cafes and restaurants. You can try staying at Celica art hostel, it was once a prison and is now a hostel.

 

Triglav National Park

Situated in the Julian Alps, the park is huge with something for everyone. The mountains views are stunning, and the colour and clarity of the Soca river is the equivalent to a tropical island paradise. The train ride to get there from Ljublana is very scenic passing through lush mountains, tunnels, perched villages, and the occasional fresh smell of cow dung in the air.