Day trips from Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a small city, and very soon you might feel like to explore on its surroundings. Of course, first you can taste the woods the Tivoli hill, but this would likely not take you more than a lazy afternoon. Being in the heart of the country, Ljubljana is an ideal spot to take day trips (or longer) to explore from the medieval castles and splendid caves, up to the Adriatic sea. Unless you are coming with own car, for most of the castles and caves, it's perhaps the best to join an organized day tour. When considering a coastline you may plan to stay overnight.

Tips for day trips

City of Kranj
A charming old town just half an hour drive from Ljubljana. Built on the shores of two Alpine rivers, Sava and Kokra, today it is known as the city of France Preseren, the poet, and is a capital of Gorenjska region. With attractive old part of town, canyons of Kokra river and nearby hills, lakes and mountains with ski resorts, Kranj is a perfect spot to start your nature adventure. It is a regional university centre and located only 7 km from the Ljubljana Airport.

Slovenia beaches

Slovenia has some 30 km of the Adriatic coastline. Among the towns of Koper, Izola and Portoroz, Piran is a real gem of Slovenian Adriatic. Being a part of Italy for many centuries, Adriatic coast still has a large Italian population and is truly biligual.

Piran (Pirano)
A cozy, charming town in Italian style with a plethora of restaurants, hotels and casinos right on the seaside-walk. Parking in the town is a headache so be sure you follow the parking guidelines in the first place. The fortifications around the town remind a castle, and offer a spectacular view of the town and it's bay.
For online hotel reservation visit Hotels in Piran.

Portoroz (Porto Rosso)
High-end summer resort, Portoroz is the most vivid beach resort on the Slovenian Adriatic coast. Loaded with modern hotels and giant casinos right next to its sandy beaches, the town just lacks the Venetian atmosphere of Piran or Izola. There is a small international airport offering charter flights.
For online hotel reservation visit Hotels in Portoroz.

Izola (Isola)
Small but cosy and quiet sea town, has a pleasant coastline walk. Izola has an extensive marina and is preferred by mature vacation makers.
For online hotel reservation visit Hotels in Izola.

Bled lake

The mountain Lake Bled is the most known Slovenian lake and also a top tourist destination in the country. Fresh alpine air and clean waters of Bled attracts not only day-trip travellers from Ljubljana, but also crowds of holiday makers in summer. In the winter the resort offers skiing possibilities. Above the lake, the Bled castle stands proudly on the steep rock. Visiting the Bled Lake from Ljubljana is easy by a comfortable train, which runs via Jesenice several times a day, and takes 1:30 - 2h. If you buy a return ticket, keep in mind that the last train back to Ljubljana runs at about 17h.

Caves of the Kras region

• Postojna cave
  Situated in the Karst region, Postojna cave (Postojnska jama) is the most visited Slovenian cave, with appropriately expensive entrace fee of 18 Euros (in 2007). Entrance is possible only in company of a tour guide. Tours run several times a day, in the summer every hour from 9 till 18h. The visit takes one and half hour. For exact entrance hours and price packages please consult the homepage:
  www.postojnska-jama.si
  
• Skocjan cave
  This is a huge amazing cave, enlisted on the UNESCO list, is much better than the one in Postojna, yet less popular with tourists, maybe because the directions are not well marked. The part accessible to the public is about 6 km long - first half is cold with constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, so in the summer do not forget to take a sweather. The other part is humid with seasonal temperature thanks to the river flowing through. The guided tour takes one hour and half, photography is not allowed. For some beautiful pictures check the homepage:
  www.park-skocjanske-jame.si

Castles of Slovenia

• Bled castle
• Predjama castle
• Turjak castle
• Skofja Loka castle