5 Reasons why Slovenia Should be your Next Travel Destination

Do you love travelling to Europe but are done with all the mainstream places? Have you checked off the Greek amphitheatres, the Roman cathedrals, Gaudi’s Barcelona and those Parisian patisseries off your to-experience list? If yes, then Slovenia should definitely be your pick for your next vacay. It is an earthly paradise with turquoise lakes, mysterious medieval towns, snow-capped mountains and a marvelous coastline. The best way to travel through this tiny, but beyond gorgeous land tucked between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, would be to rent a car and get going. Distances are short and navigation easy with GPS.

When I picked Slovenia as one of the countries to visit during my last trip to Europe with my husband, it did raise quite a few eyebrows. People said who goes to Slovenia? Why Slovenia? Here are some of the answers, based on the 4 days that I spent there.

Request: Please don’t judge my fashion sense by those ugly black Nike shoes but that’s all that I can survive in given the amount of walking one needs to do in Europe.

1.      Cycling around Ljubljana is an amazing experience.

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is tiny and one of the most cyclist-friendly cities in Europe. I firmly believe that the best way to explore a city is on a bicycle – it is faster than walking, easier on the feet and a great way to keep burning those calories! Being on a bicycle in this picturesque city was one of the most rewarding cycling experiences of my life. My husband and I rented bikes from the Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre for as cheap as 5 Euros for the entire day. We cycled through the city, over the Dragon and Triple bridges, discovering mysterious alleys, beautiful little homes and cozy cafes – where we stopped for dessert multiple times during the day (so much for the cycling). 

While sight-seeing,  be sure to cycle along the beautiful Ljubljanica River. The area by the river is so quaint and so green. All you will hear is birds chirping and fish making litle ripples in the water. By the way, our one day in Ljubljana was a Sunday and the city almost empty so cycling at a relaxed pace without swarms of tourists was beyond awesome. You don’t really get that in Europe, do you?

  

2.      The breathtaking view of the Adriatic Sea from The Piran Castle is not to be missed

The most beautiful coastal city in Slovenia is Piran, an artistic monument in itself. The Venetian architecture and Italian inspired cooking surely make it the town of your dreams. It is the perfect setting for a season of Game of Thrones with its tightly packed red-roof houses, bell spires and the charming Tartini Square. Climbing up to the ancient Roman walls, you can see Croatia on one side and Italy on the other. There, you need to pause and absorb the blue calmness of the Adriatic Sea and it is my guarantee you will remember this sight forever. The best deal is getting to enjoy the Istrian coast without packs of tourists, who end up picking Croatia and Italy to enjoy the fantastic Adriatic Sea waters. It is the perfect town to visit for a day trip from Ljubljana (about an hour’s drive). Don’t forget your swim suit – after all, when in Piran, you gotta swim in the Adriatic Sea! (Pssstt! if you’re having a little fight with the hubby - we all have those when travelling - the cool water will act like cupid in your life.)

3.       The sunset in Piran is as spectacular as it gets

When the sun sets in Piran, it seems as if a great painter is let loose on the Slovene sky, who throws colors relentlessly over the clouds and the sea. The harbor is lined with boats, adding to the charm of the town and helping create an incredible scene as the sun says good bye for the day. Until that evening in Piran, I thought my favorite sun set was the one I saw at Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

4.       Lake Bled is your gateway to Narnia

And once you enter, you will be left enchanted for life. It becomes difficult to decide whether you should take pictures to make memories for later or throw the camera in your bag and let your eyes enjoy the green. The car ride from Ljubljana to Bled is about an hour long. There are some tourists but you won’t find the area to be as commercial as a lake town in Switzerland. You can walk around the lake, go boating, climb up to the bled castle or take a chairlift up to a hill and come down on a sledge! Since I was making a day trip there, I had to choose and I chose to go up the chairlift. The bird’s-eye view of the lake was like a scene from a fairy tale. The ride down on the sledge added just the right amount of adventure to my life. The place is extremely photogenic so carrying a tripod with you will be worth it – we did our own mini photo shoot there! Be sure to sit at one of the cafes by the lake when you’re tired and enjoy a slice of the famous Bled cake. Caution: The coffee you get served will be lukewarm so be ready for a mean stare from the waiter if you ask him to warm it up! Pakistanis like their caffeine hot – what to do.

5.       Lake Bohinj is where all you hear is silence

I don’t know what it was about this place but I had never been as spellbound by nature as I was that night when I saw Lake Bohinj – the sun had almost set and we reached the lake (about 30 minutes from Bled) after a frantic drive and being majorly misguided by Google maps. The sheer beauty of this lake is just crazy and seldom in life do you find yourself to be in such a peaceful, romantic setting. I forced my husband to drive back to the lake the next morning from Ljubljana before exiting Slovenia because I was dying to see it in day light too. And the trip back was totally worth it. Lake Bohinj is mostly untouched and you are likely to find yourself to be the only one there! Get loads of pictures and be sure to do some Bollywood posing while you’re at it!

*This story was published in TGIF Magazine, The Daily Times