I first visited Slovenia back in 2022 for a summer hiking weekend with Ela, a friend I'd met a few years earlier down in New Zealand while working at a hostel together. I fell in love with the gorgeous scenery of that hike, a wonderful trek past the lakes of the Seven Lakes Valley in Triglav National Park, the country's only national park.
→ Check out my complete guide to hiking the Seven Lakes Valley in Triglav National Park!
Then, while on a wintery roadtrip through Austria, my partner and I popped across the border near Graz to visit Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city and see their little Christmas Market.
So, when we had a long weekend open for an adventure, my partner and I decided that, with Slovenia being just a few hours' drive from where I currently live in neighbouring Austria, that it was high time we explore the rest of the country. And thus my next visit to Slovenia was born.
We did our western Slovenia roadtrip from 3-4 May 2025; I have updated the original post to add in a few more things we did in Slovenia on a drive back home from Croatia a few weeks later. This post was first published 4 May 2025 and last updated 31 May 2025.
We undertook a massive roadtrip starting in the far west of the country, crossing from Italy and ending in Ljubljana. You can absolutely spend more time in each place; we had just a weekend to explore as much as possible.
We loved our time in Slovenia so much - and you'll see why as you scroll through this guide - that we came back just a few weeks later at the end of the month. I've added these items on to make an even bigger, better roadtrip itinerary.
You can also base yourself in Ljubljana and visit these spots as day trips. If you do it that way, I suggest the Soča Valley as one day, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj as a second, and then Predjama Castle and Grad Haasberg as a third.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Ljubljana
We started in Salzburg, where I live, then drove down through Austria, crossing into Italy and then into Slovenia. Here is our route:
- Pontebba and Lago del Predil, Italy
- Italy-Slovenia border crossing
- Mangartski slap
- Soča Valley
- Trenta
- Lake Jasna
- Kranjska Gora
- Zelenci
- Dovje
- Lake Bled
- Lake Bohinj
- Ljubljana
- Predjama Castle (added 31 May)
- Grad Haasberg (added 31 May)
We left Salzburg and headed south all the way through Austria to kick off our trip. Of course this bit is optional for this specific roadtrip, but I can HIGHLY recommend exploring Austria!
→ Check out my reel from our drive through Austria!
Visiting Italy was actually a total accident; we missed a turn on the highway headed for Slovenia and found ourselves in northern Italy instead. So, we made the most of it and spent an hour or so enjoying the landscapes, stopping in Pontebba for espresso and gelato at Nuovo Caffè Stelutis, hanging out lakeside at Lago del Predil and then exploring the ruins of Batteria di Sella Predil. Then, we finally caught up with the right road again and crossed into Slovenia. Only in Europe!
Driving to Pontebba
Lago del Predil
Batteria di Sella Predil
After our detour to Italy, we crossed the border into Slovenia at Predel and were immediately greeted with surreal mountain views that would be a common theme of our entire roadtrip through the valley. I couldn't stop taking photos!
We stopped at a small viewpoint to see the Trdnjava Predel, a ruined fort you can also explore for free.
Italian-Slovenian border crossing
View of Trdnjava Predel
We were a bit too early in the season to complete the hair-raising drive up to Mangartsko Sedlo, a famous saddle drive with dramatic views; we'll just have to come back for that!
Instead, we stopped at the small parking lot at the entrance to the saddle from where we could walk across the Mangartski Slap bridge for beautiful waterfall, valley and mountain views, instead.
From the bridge, we began what was to be one of my favourite parts of the entire roadtrip route. The Soča Valley stretches from Bovec to Trenta and is characterized by the stunningly blue Soča River that winds along the road.
I don't have specific stops to recommend to you here; you'll find that you can pull over nearly anywhere - and I especially recommend stopping at the suspension bridges - to take countless photos and videos and to enjoy the pristine scenery.
First glimpse of the Soča River
Leaving behind the gorgeous Soča Valley, the road climbed up high into the mountain pass through Trenta. Sweeping views of snow-capped mountains kept us company as we drove the winding roads.
Before long, our stomachs told it was time for lunch and a quick bit of research on Google Maps led us to Koča na Gozdu where we had a mouthwatering Slovenian traditional lunch. Think homemade bread, Slovenian bean stew, pancakes and dumplings. YUM. Highly recommend stopping here for a bite!
Lunch at Koča na Gozdu
We descended back down the mountain pass on the opposite side towards Lake Jasna. I have to say that we both agreed this was our least favourite stop on the roadtrip; it was simply too touristy with overcrowded parking lots, hundreds of people and too much infrastructure that took away from the natural beauty of the lake, especially in comparison to the other untouched areas we had just seen.
It was nice to see it and snap a few photos but then we carried on.
This stop was actually one we visited later in the trip, on the way back home to Austria after leaving Ljubljana, however I have included it here as geographically it comes next.
We stopped at Športni park Pišnica in Kranjska Gora for an icy dip in the rushing blue river and it was simply delightful.
After Kransjka Gora, we turned northward to reach Zelenci, but would then double back to carry on the roadtrip. But trust me, this detour is totally worth it.
Zelenci is a nature preserve just a five-minute walk from the side of the road. You can park next to the Gostilna Zelenci restaurant and then walk along the Podkoren to reach Zelenci.
I have no words to describe what Zelenci looks like other than a surreal aquamarine portal to some mystical other world, like straight out of a C. S. Lewis book. The wetlands of this area created the spring-fed lake of Zelenci which has a boardwalk along one side and a small viewing platform you can climb up to to take in the beautiful views. All for free!
From Zelenci we turned around and headed back down along the Sava River; the road has many names along the way here.
Along the drive, we spotted highland cows, movie-like mountain backdrops and fields of wildflowers just begging to be photographed.
We then arrived at the jewel of Slovenia and perhaps the most iconic spot in the whole country. In the centre of Lake Bled lies an idyllic church offering views abound from whichever angle you choose to photograph it. It’s turned this little lake into a bustling haven, attracting eager tourists from around the world all for a glimpse of the mysterious building that symbolizes Slovenia all in one shot.
I visited Lake Bled briefly before hiking in Triglav National Park back in 2022 and was eager to stop by again.
It's still on my list to hike up to the famous viewpoint at Mala Osojnica.
From Lake Bled, we carried on inland heading towards Lake Bohinj which we managed to time our arrival at with a perfect golden hour. The light shone softly across the abundant greenery surrounding the lake and the idyllic bridge and church at the southern side just begged to be photographed.
If you have time, I highly recommend carrying on from Lake Bohinj into Triglav National Park to do some world-class hiking. It's Slovenia's only national park and has some outstanding trails.
→ Check out my complete guide to hiking Seven Lakes Valley in Triglav National Park!
Then, it was on to Ljubljana, Slovenia's colourful capital city. It was the first visit for both of us and neither of us knew what to expect - but I suppose with Jana in the name it was sure to be good? It truly was; we fell in love with the airy, bright streets, the colourful facades, the green river winding through it all, the secondhand shops and designer boutiques intermingled…
A few weeks later, we were spending a long weekend in Croatia. On our way back home to Austria, we had to drive through Slovenia and so we made the most of it by squeezing in a few more stops in this gorgeous country.
We didn't even know Grad Haasberg existed but spotted it from the road and knew we had to make a stop. It was truly magical.
Built by the Eggenberg princes at the start of the 17th century and considered the most beautiful in the country at its time, an earthquake destroyed much of the castle. It was partially restored and reused during the Second World War by both the Italian and German armies, but was burned down and destroyed in 1944.
Now, you can wander around the perimeter of the ruins for free; it is not allowed to enter the property. Instead, a family of goats and a donkey have moved in and are the present royalty of this castle! I shared an incredibly special moment with the donkey who, of his own free will, stepped up onto the door frame and posed for me.
A few weeks later, we were spending a long weekend in Croatia. On our way back home to Austria, we had to drive through Slovenia and so we made the most of it by squeezing in a few more stops in this gorgeous country.
Predjama Castle is a perfect stop to add to your trip, either on the roadtrip or as a day trip from Ljubljana. Built over 800 years ago into a cliffside, you can view it from the outside for free or you can go underground and explore the mysteries within.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
