SLOVENIA - TRAVEL TIPS

Slovenia is a great weekend trip or outdoor camping holiday for families. Just a two-hour flight away from many main European cities, You can fly in directly to Llubjana,  although there are not many direct flights or  fly via Vienna and take a short 30-minute charter flight. The capital is not only difficult to say but also difficult to spell. It is a small city, with a mainly pedestrian centre with amain square hosting a beautiful pink Baroque church and another small square on the other side of the river Llubjana with a fountain. It is built up along both sides of river with cafes and restaurants and has some lovely little-cobblestoned shopping streets with boutiques. Everything is within walking distance, and up above in view is the city castle. Walk along both sides of the river with its famous bridges, past an outdoor Friday eating market and artisan shops with local produce.

                                                                   LAKE BLED

Slovenia is famous for the tourist destination lake  Bled which I saw in early autumn and although it was bad weather, the forested mountain backdrop, emerald water and perfectly situated church in the middle give a picturesque photo. There are houses for rent around the lake and lovely cafés to just sit and take in the view. It is definitely a highlight and approximately one hour from the airport. Ljubljana is about half an hour from the airport.

 The beauty of Slovenia  is  in its natural landscape where it borders on Austria,  The north west region is mountainous, close to the national park and Bohinj area. You can take a lovely drive after lake Bled through luscious green forested mountains against sky backdrops along characteristic country winding roads and villages and traditional restaurants.

Slovenia is a tiny country with a population of just 2 million. Thus, its capital Llubljana  is not crowded and main tourists sites are close by.  Many hotels offer  bicycles as part of your deal and once you’ve discovered the small center and walked the pretty shopping streets, river sides and bridges, head off out of the centre, past the opera house to the main city park the famous Tivoli Gardens. Here you can walk or cycle, see squirrels and birds and visit the mini museum on site with its lovely tea garden on well landscaped gardens. 

After just a short weekend in Slovenia, I took off  for the airport on again a bit of a rainy afternoon. Yet still the aiport’s surrounding mountains and low hanging clouds made it a scenic afternoon. The airport is tiny with about 4 exit gates in one small lounge. Slovenia is also cheap and coffees cost around 1.50 with all others prices seemingly reasonable.from what I saw.  Any backpackers travelling from USA should definitely include it en route from Vienna and then move south down into gorgeous Croatia or pop across to Venice.

The old Yugoslavia which was split up into Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovian, Kosovo,  Serbia and Montenegro have become popular tourist destinations with good reason. Dutch families also enjoy just camping in Slovenia’s beautiful natural surroundings, with its fresh mountain air, waterfalls, river rafting and kayaking possibilities. The coast is also always near by. Of course if driving to Slovenia one drives through Austria which in itself is a pleasure, and Slovenia countryside is much like Austria, just a smaller version.