My homeland, Slovenia. I’ve always known I live in a beautiful and safe country. In a country where the landscape is always green, the land fertile and the water from the tap drinkable. I’ve always admired Slovenia’s small size and accessibility. I could go out for a hike to Kredarica in the Julian Alps on Saturday and then go swimming in the Adriatic Sea in Piran on Sunday. I always told foreigners about my country with a twinkle in my eye and with a proud voice. It really is beautiful. And yet, do I... Do we know it well enough? Now that all international travelling is called into question, a great opportunity has arisen for us and all the other Slovenes to explore our own country. Not just the popular spots like Piran, Bled, Kranjska Gora... We now have the time and opportunity to explore and discover other more hidden places of Slovenia. Here are our 5 ideas for a day trip in Slovenia where you’ll learn about some of the less visited but still incredibly beautiful places. We’ve tried out all our ideas and we’ve written about them here and on our blog, Lahkih nog naokrog (in Slovenian).
Kraški rob is the part of Slovenia where the karst landscape changes into Istria and can be observed as rocky walls. It stretches from the Italian border at the Socerb Castle all the way to Sočerga on the Croatian border. The most beautiful part of Kraški rob that’s worth a hike, is the area between Črni kal and Podpeč village. An approximately two-hour walk in one direction offers gorgeous views of the Adriatic Sea on one side and the littoral hills on the other. Of course, the best thing is that the path follows Kraški rob directly and goes just above the cliff.
Carinthia (Koroška) is a region in northern Slovenia that is a bit cut off from major tourist trails due to poor road connections. The region’s main attraction is undoubtedly the Mežica mine. Lead used to be mined there once, but now the empty mine tunnels are dedicated to visitors. You can visit the mine on foot as part of a tour where you can learn about mine work. Or you can choose the more adventurous option and cycle the mine or traverse the flooded tunnels in a kayak. Nearby, there’s also the wonderful Topla Regional Park where you can see the outline of King Matjaž. And, of course, there is no lack of options when it comes to hiking and climbing.
Slovenes tend to associate Kočevje with bears. That’s because vast forests (Kočevski rog) stretch near Kočevje and they’re home not just to bears, but also to wolves, wild boars, deer and lynx. Anyone who wants to see these animals should follow the Rog Hiking Trail (Roška pešpot). The trails winds through the incredibly thick growth of the Kočevski rog forest. You need to walk silently, though, and pay attention to the surroundings, that way you should spot at least some deer and, with little luck, you might spot a bear as well. Those who are afraid of bears, though, should talk loudly and sing while walking, and the bear will avoid you. Kočevski rog is also home to the Željne Caves. These caves don’t boast dripstones as beautiful as those in the more popular Postojna Cave, but they do offer a real adventure, as you can explore them on your own. This means each visitor has to bring their own torchlight, and I also recommend some warm clothes, and they’re all set to explore the caves all by themselves. A guaranteed experience.
The Lovrenc Lakes are black lakes found at the top of Planina Ridge near Rogla. The trail from Rogla to the Lovrenc Lakes is an easy one and mostly flat, and the hike lasts for about an hour in one direction. The trail leads through thick spruce forest where you can listen to the forest wildlife (bird singing), but if you’re lucky, you can also spot some large animals. The goal is to reach the Planika Ridge where pine heath spreads out in all directions (pine shrubs) with a wooden pathway leading all the way to the Lovrenc Lakes. The black lakes offer wonderful reflections and countless opportunities for photography, and the wooden pathway among the pine heath is incredibly photogenic.
Kostanjevica na Krki is a beautiful town in Slovenia and is one of the oldest in the country. I recommend walking through the old town that is located on an island in Krka river. After that you can rent a boat and follow the river’s current to explore that beauty of this gorgeous Slovenian river. Near Kostanjevica is the Božidar Jakac Art Museum. Not only does it store numerous works of art from Slovenian and foreign artists, the museums very location is quite inspiring. The museum is housed in a former Cistercian monastery that is full of wonderful architectural elements. Those who are interested in the still active Cistercian monastery can go on a tour of the Pleterje Charterhouse (only men can enter, though!), and a trip to the Krakov forest is a must for all nature enthusiasts. It’s a wetland primeval forest – something quite unusual when it comes to Slovenian landscape. There’s a small hot spring on the outskirts of the forest where you can take a swim in naturally heated water.
Slovenia truly has many hidden and undiscovered places to offer. And in all of them you can enjoy fresh air and natural beauty. We’re probably going to spend this summer in Slovenia. Where are you travelling to?
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