Hi all,
We are a family of five (young adults included) visiting Slovenia (Lake Bled) and Croatia (Istrian peninsula) in late August. We have two more nights after the Istrian peninsula before flying out of Ljubljana.
Would you recommend visiting Trieste or Ljubljana for those two nights? In that regard, which Rick Steves book covers Trieste? (We already have the one on Croatia.)
Thanks!
Jim
I recommend Ljubljana—-it is a delightful small city with a castle, compact oldtown area, and a Riverside promenade lined with cafes and restaurants.
Trieste is in Italy, and I believe Rick’s Italy book does not cover it. It is well-regarded as a tourist destination, but I feel Ljubljana is a better fit with your trip.
I agree that Ljubljana is a better fit for your trip. And it is a beautiful small city with a river running through it and pretty bridges. Great restaurants and shops and pretty architecture. We took a "free" walking tour of the city where you pay the guide in tips at the end. It was well worth it.
Lake Bled is tiny. You can walk around the entire lake in about 2 hours. I didn't find the town of Bled particularly special. Ljubljana is charming. Ljubljana deserves more time than Bled, though you may be using Bled as a jumping-off point for the Lake Bohinj, the Julian Alps, etc.
For me, I would spend as much time as possible in Ljubljana. I fell in love with the city the first time I visited and have been back several times. I’ll be there again next month. It’s a lovely and charming smaller town set in a beautiful area. Lots to see and do with many welcoming riverside cafes and restaurants. Or just sit and enjoy the ambiance. It’s just a short drive from Lake Bled. I think you and your family would enjoy it there.
I will also add my vote for Ljubljana! If you are able to be there on a Friday you should visit the Open Kitchen. Each Friday many of the best restaurants in Slovenia and Ljubljana set up food stalls along the river (near the market). Many different ethnic foods are available and both lunch and dinner are served.
There is also a special area in town called the Metelkova autonomous area that I think your young adults would really enjoy. When the Yugoslavian Army left Ljubljana they abandoned their base in the city. It was quickly occupied by a group of artists and musicians. They were originally considered squatters but when the government started to assess the area for redevelopment, the locals protested and eventually won the right for the group to remain. The buildings are covered with graffiti and art installations. It is really quite unique.
We were there for several nights, and on one them our traveling companions (my sister and her husband) enjoyed a great dinner in the castle restaurant Strelec.
https://www.ljubljanskigrad.si/en/why-to-the-castle/castle-cuisine/
They enjoy Michelin-listed restaurants and seek them out. My husband does not care to pay that much for his food (he likes my cooking best of all) so we dined at a simpler place, but we did enjoy visiting the castle.
There is a more casual restaurant in the castle as well. Make reservations well in advance if you are interested.
We stayed in two studio apartment at Meščanka, which I highly recommend. The location is great—- b you will want to turn in your rental car before staying in the old town.
