How to Spend 5 Days in Slovenia: The Best 5-Day Slovenia Itinerary, Hands Down

Even if you’re only able to spend 5 days in Slovenia, you can still see so much of what this beautiful country has to offer. Five days is plenty to experience Slovenia’s charming capital city, stunning Lake Bled, the jaw-dropping scenery of Triglav National Park, the mind-blowing cave networks, and even some exotic coastline. And I’m here to show you how!

This 5-day Slovenia itinerary will cover all of that and more. In the summer of 2023 I spent a couple weeks road-tripping around Slovenia, and I’ve condensed some of the best stuff into five amazing days to help you plan your trip.

I’ve arranged this itinerary starting in the city of Ljubljana, but keep in mind you can also do it in reverse if, say, you’re visiting Slovenia on a road trip from Italy. However you swing it, here’s all you can see and do with 5 days in Slovenia.

And if you’re only able to spend 3 days in Slovenia, check out my 3-day Slovenia itinerary here!

How to get to Ljubljana from the airport

After arriving in Slovenia, you’ll need a reliable way to get from the Ljubljana airport to the city center, about half an hour away. For my trip, I booked the airport shuttle from a company called GoOpti and it was such a pleasant experience.

Rent a car for the rest

For everything outside of Ljubljana, you’ll want to rent your own car. Driving in Slovenia is (for the most part) pretty easy and straightforward. This really is the best way to get around, even for just 5 days in Slovenia.

And for everything else you need to know for road-tripping here, be sure to read my full post on driving in Slovenia (and the important things you need to know).

The only 5-day Slovenia itinerary you need

For when you only have 5 days in Slovenia available, this itinerary covers the most popular sites in the country. Each day you’ll visit a different magical location and each night you’ll stay in another delightful hotel.

Ljubljana is pronounced like Loo-blee-ah-nuh

Slovenia 5-day road trip itinerary

Technically, you can call this a 5-day Slovenia road trip itinerary, since you are, indeed, exploring the country via car (instead of trains or buses). However, the longest you’ll spend on the road at any one point is still less than 2 hours. So, while it definitely is a road trip through Slovenia, don’t expect a significant amount of driving or anything.

Day 1: The capital city of Ljubljana

Because it’s so accessible and close to many other major European cities, every great Slovenia itinerary should begin in Ljubljana—Slovenia’s charming capital city. Ljubljana is pretty small, as far as European capitals go. There’s plenty to do here, but you should still have time to visit the most notable sites in just one full day. (Any longer than that and you’d probably find yourself killing a lot of time.)

So, for the first of your 5 days in Slovenia, spend it enjoying the best of Ljubljana. Pack in as much as you can from the list below or simply take it easy and go with your own flow.

Explore Ljubljana Castle

You can explore many rooms of the hilltop medieval castle including a chapel, some museums, the walls, the ancient vineyard, the jail, and more. You can also get some of the best views of the city from its towers. Tickets include the funicular ride up and back down. More info here.

Check out all the bridges

Cross back and forth over the Ljubljanica River on the Dragon Bridge (dragons are the symbol of Ljubljana and you’ll see them everywhere), the Triple Bridge (the weirdest one and my favorite), the Butchers’ Bridge (covered in locks), and the Cobblers’ Bridge (the oldest one in Ljubljana)

Eat your way through the Central Market

This delicious food market in the center of town incorporates both an open-air outdoor market and a covered market. Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, snacks, or full delicious meals made right here from fresh ingredients. (The thing where they melt the cheese with the hot pasta? Omggg) More info here.

Visit Nebotičnik Skyscraper

One of Ljubljana’s tallest buildings has a rooftop bar where you can grab a drink and see the best views in the city. (It’s only 13 floors, but still.) More info here.

Walk through Saint Nicholas’s Cathedral

This big, beautiful, baroque church was built between 1701-1706. Don’t forget to check out the exterior doors that tell the story of Slovenia’s history.

Visit Slovenia’s largest brewery

Pivovarna Union is just a short walk from the Old Town and you can take tours or simply visit the restaurant/bar and beer garden. Pro tip: When they ask if you want light or dark beer, just say “Yes.”

Where to eat in Ljubljana

I had some really great meals during my time in Ljubljana. I can’t speak to all the restaurants in town, but I can tell you about the amazing places I ate:

Pop’s Place – Riverside burger bar with delicious food and friendly service. I ate here twice during my time in Slovenia. (This place is featured in a recent Jack Ryan novel, so that’s cool!)

Fany & Mary – Great spot along the river for pizzas and casual lunches. Order a Cockta to go with it—Slovenia’s version of Coke.

Figovec – Slovenska Hiša – This restaurant specializes in traditional Slovenian cuisine, which I was excited to try. I actually ate here twice too and both times it was incredible. On my first visit I had the “Bograč goulash” and the Prekmurska Gibanica, a type of Slovenian apple cake.

On my second visit I had the “Kranjska Klobasa”—an order of Slovenia’s beloved “semi-durable” sausage. (Astronaut Sunita Williams took some of this into space with her in honor of her Slovenian heritage!) This stuff is, dare I say it, out of this world.

My friend Amanda ordered the “Ljubljan’c na obroke”—a crispy fried pork tenderloin (schnitzel, basically) with “Prleška tünka” ham and creamy “Bovški” sheep cheese sauce on top. I ate some of hers too and it was amazing.

Day 2: Vintgar Gorge & Lake Bled

After all that on Day 1, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what Ljubljana is all about. Now, time for some nature. Enjoy that amazing rooftop breakfast at Hotel Slamič (where you’re staying, right?), pick up your rental car, and let’s hit the road!

It takes about an hour to walk the full length of the gorge, but slightly longer if you stop for as many photo ops as I did. The turquoise water! The ethereal setting! I can’t get enough.

Because of how popular this place is and the need to control the flow of people, you must reserve a timed entry ticket. And since you only have 5 days in Slovenia and we’re squeezing in a lot, you’ll want to get the earliest time of the day. (This is also when crowds are pretty low too!)

Natour Bar & Slovenian dumplings

After you walk through the gorge, you may have to hike a little to get back to your car. If you choose this route, the hiking trail will take you right past the Natour Bar for a light lunch, snacks and ice cream, and/or locally brewed craft beers.

We went with a couple of traditional Slovenian “dumplings.” Štruklji, as they’re called, aren’t anything like what you’d probably consider a dumpling, but here they are. We opted for one sweet (dark chocolate and raspberry) and one savory (something green I think was spinach).

I also had an amazing local beer here. When I asked the owner for info on the brewery, he pointed across the field, over the grazing cows, and said, “Over there.” So there you go. I eventually found out it was a Vienna lager called “Dobrautz” from what I believe is the Carniola Brewery.

What to see and do in Lake Bled

After you’ve checked into your hotel (or at least parked your car at it), it’s time to get out and spend the day exploring. Here are all the best things to do in Lake Bled:

Ride a pletna boat to Bled Island

Take one of Slovenia’s historic pletna boats over to the small island in the middle of the lake. The ride takes about 45 minutes each way and costs about €20 roundtrip. To get a ride, simply walk up to the boats along the dock and tell the drivers you want to be on the next boat over. You may have to wait until the boat fills up though, so be patient.

Bled Island

Once on the island, you’ll have an hour or so until you need to be back on your boat. In that time, you can get the pass that gets you into the church, up to the top of the church tower, into a small museum, and a couple other places. There’s also a small café and gelateria. More info here.

Ring the Wishing Bell

Inside the church on Bled Island you can actually ring the church bell! Even though this is a totally “touristy” thing to do, you better believe I didn’t pass up the chance to ring a church bell. As many European churches as I’ve visited, this was such a [dorky] treat.

Bled Castle

Back on the mainland, you can take the path up the hill to Bled Castle, a medieval castle dating back over a thousand years. At Bled Castle you can visit a couple museums, a printing house, a honey shop, and a chapel; do a wine tasting in the castle’s wine cellar (which I of course did), sit down at the restaurant/café, walk along the castle walls, and take in the amazing views from the observation areas.

For more on the wine tasting at Bled Castle, see my post on wine tasting in Slovenia. For more on the super cool honey shop, see my post on Apitourism in Slovenia, the world capital of beekeeping!

Walk around the lake

If you’re blessed with nice weather, take the time to stroll along or around the lake. There are paved walking trails everywhere and you can get amazing views from all different angles.

Hike up to the viewpoints

If you’d like to add some moderate hiking to your 5-day Slovenia itinerary, definitely check out the viewpoints above Lake Bled. From up here, you can get jaw-dropping views of the lake and all its surroundings. For real, look at this:

These trails aren’t difficult, but they are challenging. They aren’t technical, but they are very steep and slippery. In one section there are a ton of seriously vertical stairs. But, the payoff is so worth it!

Follow the trails for either Mala Osojnica or Mala Ojstrica (the names of the viewpoints). Google maps can get you most of the way up, but I did have to ask another hiker for confirmation at one point. Again, wear proper hiking shoes or you’ll never make it up.

Ride the toboggan

Head over to Straža Bled (the name of the hill and recreational area), purchase your toboggan ticket, ride the chairlift up the mountain, then ride the super fun (and fast) alpine coaster back down.

At the top, you’ll get great views of the lake and castle. On the way down, your daily dose of adrenaline. You can buy single rides or multi-ride tickets. (I opted for just one ride but really wish I’d bought another!)

Go for a swim

If you’d rather trade in hiking and adrenaline for something a little more chill, there are tons of free swimming (and sunbathing) areas all around the lake.

Eat some famous Bled cream cake

This is a signature dish of the area, and I’ll show you where to get some below…

Restavracija Central Bled – Casual restaurant with a patio serving burgers, pizza, pasta, and other local dishes (in case you want more Slovenian sausage). I had the “Truffalicious Burger” and it was fantastic!

Restaurant Arbor – Weird location and super outdated décor, but the food was great and the service was friendly. What more can you ask for? I had the homemade ravioli and Amanda had the goulash.

The View – Most restaurants near the lake have a view of lake, but this place is called The View. We popped in here specifically to try some Bled cream cake. The cake was great and the service was over-the-top friendly, as you’ll see is so common in Slovenia.

Where to stay in Lake Bled

While in Lake Bled I stayed at Hotel Lovec and loved it. The location is perfect, parking is free, we had a balcony in our room with views of the lake and castle, and the breakfast buffet is great. We also used the hot tub which was nice.

Check out more hotels in Lake Bled here on Booking.com, Hotels.com, and/or Expedia.

Day 3: Triglav National Park & the Julian Alps

On Day 3 of your 5 days in Slovenia, you’ll continue west into Triglav National Park for the gorgeous scenery of Slovenia’s Julian Alps. Kranjska Gora is the perfect little village to base yourself but there’s lots to see on the way here. Such as:

There are viewing platforms on either side of the waterfall, or you can hike the full loop that goes up and under the waterfall. The loop takes about an hour start to finish and going behind the waterfall is totally worth it! Afterwards, rejuvenate your feet in the ice cold glacial river just below the parking area.

It’s free to visit the waterfall but parking at Koča pri Peričniku costs a few euros. There’s also a small café and restrooms here if you need them.

You can’t go inside the chapel, but it and its location in the woods is still pretty neat (super eerie indeed). There’s a small (free) parking area just off the main road near where you enter the woods, just be careful when crossing the road since it’s near some blind curves.

You can spend some time exploring the area, and there’s also a restaurant/café here as well as the Tičarjev Dom lodge with its own terrace and restaurant, and a small souvenir booth. This is also a popular jumping off point for many beautiful hikes. You’ll know you’re here when you get to the parking area that’ll probably be filled with motorcycles.

There are a couple monuments up here to the friendship between these three countries, lots of horses, big views, some seating areas, and some stuff to read. Inside the metal box on the brown barn-looking building there’s a special tri-border ink stamp.

Pro tip: Bring your own miniature flags so you can waste tons of time trying to get a good picture of you holding all three, which is harder than you think, I swear.

Lake Bohinj, which we’ll visit tomorrow, is bigger and more well-known… but, if you ask me, Lake Jasna is the more beautiful spot by far. And, the little village around it is just plain charming. I mean, look at this place:

Where to stay in Triglav National Park

While exploring Triglav National Park I stayed at Garni Hotel Miklič and would totally recommend it. The staff is super friendly; the rooms are big and comfortable; breakfast is great; and they even have their own (free) underground parking garage.

See more Kranjska Gora hotels here on Booking.com, Hotels.com, and/or Expedia.

Day 4: Lakes, Caves, & Piran

On Day 4 of your 5 days in Slovenia you’ll see more of the country’s natural beauty—this time focusing on lakes and caves—before ending the day in one of the country’s few coastal towns.

The Vogel Cable Car takes you up 3,280 feet above Lake Bohinj where you can get amazing views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. The ride is super fun (if you like cable cars and/or aren’t afraid of heights) and there’s lots to do at the top.

You can have a meal at the sky-high restaurant, see some animals and pretty flowers, ride the chairlift up even higher, visit a dairy farm, and do lots of hiking. One of the most popular hikes here is the hike to the summit of Mount Vogel.

This was actually our plan for our visit here, but there was a lot of construction going on with the hiking trails when we visited and there was no clear route to… anywhere. It was a mess. So, we opted out of getting lost on a mountain summit that day.

From the cable car station, hop on the chairlift and ride it to the next station called Orlove Glave. (Your cable car ticket includes the chairlifts too.) Once here, you’ll see a hill with a cross on top–otherwise known as “Razgledna Točka Orlove Glave.” You can easily follow a trail up to the top for great views over the mountains. There, you hiked!

Pro tip: For the best pictures of Lake Bohinj, you have to take them from the landing platform as soon as you arrive at the top. Otherwise, you can’t get those same views from anywhere else. (I have no idea why there isn’t an actual viewing platform?)

When you’re ready to leave, ride the chairlift back to the Vogel station and head back down into the valley.

Pro tip: You’ll see references to Zlatorog all over in Slovenia. Here’s his story so you can be fully informed when you get here.

Slovenia’s Predjama Castle dates back to the 1200s and is unique because it’s a medieval castle built into the mouth of a cave. Once here, there are several viewing platforms from which you can check out this cool cave castle.

If you’d like to explore inside, you can do that also. Personally, I opted out of this since everyone I’d talked to (and Rick Steves) says it’s not worth paying the extra money to go inside. Plus, tickets are relatively expensive and there’s not much to see anyway. So, I’d skip this in favor of other ways to spend your time.

However, seeing the castle from the outside is still worth it. You’ll have to pay a few euros to park nearby but you’re free to walk around the area, visit the shops, have a scenic beer, etc.

The Škocjan Caves complex is absolutely massive. On your tour, you’ll get to explore the “dry” section of caves with its regular ol’ stalactites and stalagmites. And then you’ll move into the “wet” section where the Reka River has carved an unimaginably huge canyon into the earth.

You’ll walk across the canyon-spanning bridge and down down down all along the outer edges of the canyon. You’ll swear you were deep in the Mines of Moria. (YOU SHALL NOT PASS… on the opportunity for a perfect Gandalf impression. Don’t let me down.)

To visit the Škocjan Caves you must take one of the guided tours which lasts about two hours. It seems long, but trust me, it’s worth it! Consider purchasing your ticket ahead of time so you don’t have to wait for the next one or risk them being sold out, which happens. Visitor info here.

Photography is not allowed in the Škocjan Caves for several reasons. The only place you can take photos is at the exit, and they’ll tell you when it’s okay. The photo above was used with permission by the Slovenia Tourist Board.

Arriving in Piran, you’ll swear you just crossed over into Italy. (I mean, technically you did, but then you crossed right back over.) Everything about this town will remind you of Venice: the architecture and scenery, the trees, the food, and the fact that most everything here is in Italian and Slovenian. The people are much nicer though, just saying.

In fact, you can actually see Italy from here. Venice is just a 2-hour walk from Piran straight across the ocean, which apparently Google Maps thinks I’m capable of, or a 2-hour drive.

We’ll have a full day tomorrow to explore Piran, so for now, at the end of Day 4, just take some time to chill out. Take a leisurely stroll through Piran’s alleyways, relax at a local café, or you know, do some necessary sink laundry in your hotel room.

From June to October Hotel Zala’s rooftop becomes a trendy sushi and raw bar. Beautiful views of the surrounding rooftops and a great place to be for sunset. While here, you should…

I tried orange wine here at my hotel’s rooftop bar—the perfect spot to drink orange wine, eat orange sorbet, while surrounded by orange rooftops, under an orange sunset. *chef’s kiss*

Where to stay in Piran

While in Piran I stayed at Hotel Zala. This cute hotel is in a perfect (semi-hidden) location with good breakfast and a super chill rooftop terrace/bar/restaurant. They’re great with helping you figure out the parking situation and the rooms are really nice. Definitely recommend!

Check out other Piran hotels here on Booking.com, Hotels.com, and/or Expedia.

Where to park in Piran

Historic old town that it is, cars aren’t allowed in the city center (which is pretty much the whole city). So, you have to park on the outskirts and take the free shuttle bus in. Garage Fornače is the major parking garage here but there are a few smaller ones around too. Your hotel will (should) help you with instructions. It’s a process, but not a difficult one.

Optional – Lipica Stud Farm

If you’ve had your fill of natural wonders (gasp!) and just so happen to love horses, here’s another activity that might interest you. In place of one of the other Day 4 activities, you can visit the Lipica Stud Farm—the world’s largest Lipizzaner stud farm and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you know horses, then you already know about the famous Lipizzaner stallion. But did you know they’re native to Slovenia? (I didn’t!) Well, they are, and you can visit the farm here. You can meet the (terrifyingly large) horses up close, watch training sessions and riding shows, visit the museum and stables, take a tour, and much more. You can also embarrass your fancy horse-loving friends by doing things like this:

If this doesn’t interest you, pretend I didn’t mention it and continue on with the original plan outlined above. What horse farm? I don’t know anything about a horse farm?

Day 5: Piran

Since you stayed here last night, you’ll have a full day in Piran as the last of your 5 days in Slovenia. This town is super chill so you’ll be able to relax and even sleep in this morning if you want! Otherwise, here’s how you can spend a day in Piran:

Walk around Tartini Square

Piran’s main square is lined with cafés, beautiful Venetian-style architecture, shops, and more. It’s a great spot to hang out with views of the marina.

Visit the Church of St. George

After a moderate uphill walk, you’ll arrive at St. George’s where you can get fabulous overhead views of Tartini Square and Piran’s Old Town. Head up into the church tower for even higher views.

Walk the medieval walls

Many of Piran’s defensive walls (dating back as far as the 7^th century) still stand today and you can walk along the top of them for just a few euros. You‘ll be treated to amazing views of all of Piran and some desperately-needed air. (It gets so hot in Piran!) I’ve marked on the map where you should enter. More info here.

Stroll along the waterfront

This is the most popular spot in Piran during the summer and it’s full of people sunbathing and just generally hanging out. Local artists have even carved into the rocks that line the water; don’t miss the mermaid and a few other hidden carvings.

Go swimming

The fact that there’s no actual “beach” here in Piran doesn’t stop anyone from pretending there is. You’ll see people all along the waterfront in their beach chairs and lying on their towels on the concrete as if it were sand.

There are also several ladders and dock areas along the water to help you go for a swim. It gets so hot here and this might just be the best way to deal with it. Definitely pack a bathing suit.

Pro tip: There might be tons of moon jellies in the water when you’re here but have no fear! Apparently, moon jellies don’t typically sting humans, and if they do the effect is extremely mild. I learned this fun fact after shouting at all the people in the ocean to warn them that they were surrounded by jellyfish. To which they just continued to float there staring at me like I was a lunatic. Now you know.

Take a walking tour of the city

Combine many of the best things to do here on this Piran Walking Tour with Local Wine and Food Tasting. Get your own local guide to show you all the best spots. This tour has hundreds of 5-star reviews and is the most popular walking tour in town!

Where to eat in Piran

Another must-do in Piran is to have dinner on a boat. Unsurprisingly, the big thing in Piran cuisine is fresh seafood. And where fresher to eat it than on the boat itself? For one of the most fun meals you’ll have during your 5 days in Slovenia, make a reservation at Podlanica.

Podlanica’s menu is minimal but super fresh. What fish you’ll have to choose from will depend on the day’s catch. During our visit, Amanda and I shared some razor clams for an appetizer, then I ordered the “small fish” which was sole, with a side of polenta. (The “big fish” that night was sea bass.)

The boat is small so reservations are mandatory. Their website says to call to make a reservation, but since I don’t speak Slovenian (ahem, understatement), I simply Whatsapp’ed their phone number (my standard international Hail Mary), and was able to make a reservation that way, with the assistance of Google Translate of course.

I hope I’ve been able to help you have the most amazing time in this beautiful country! Like this post? Have questions about this 5-day Slovenia itinerary? Leave a comment below and let me know. Have fun in Slovenia!

More resources for your 5 days in Slovenia

• Hotels: Find great places to stay in Slovenia here on Booking.com. (Expedia and Hotels.com usually have some good deals too.)
• Rental car: Check out the best rental car deals in Slovenia here.
• Travel planning: Pick up a Slovenia guidebook for all your sightseeing needs.
• Culture: And this Slovenia Customs and Culture guide for all the other must-know info.
• Tours & Activities: Check out the best local tours and activities here on Viator and Get Your Guide.

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