Slovenia Itinerary advice, 15 night in May 2025

Flixbus, Budapest to Ljubljana.
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Flixbus, Budapest to Maripor (4+ hours). 2 nights in Maripor.
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Flixbus, Budapest to Zagreb (4+ hours). 2 nights in Zagreb.

Which is why in over twenty years of visiting or living in Budapest, I have yet to visit Slovenia or northern Croatia from Budapest. I have made it to Zagreb but on the way into Europe from the states, then connecting to Budapest from the airport in Titograd (Wizz Air non-stop; $40 +/-) at the southern end of Croatia.

Zagreb isn’t “exciting”, but it still has a very unspoiled feeling about it. Relaxed, pretty, authentic, natural. Very much a place that fits RS old definition of a backdoor.

This year I had been looking at a trip to Slovenia in the Spring and decided if I did it I would just bite the bullet and hire DayTrip.com. I have used them before on shorter trips and they always did well.

The price from Budapest to Zagreb was about 325 euro or to Ljubljana was about 400 euro; and each trip has optional stops in some interesting places for 25 to 75 euro each. When you throw in the stops then the cost is a little less transportation and a little more tourism and that helps to justify the total cost. Still if two are traveling then the cost is 200 euro a person. That sounds better than 400 euro.

What I finally came up with was a train to Pecs or Tihany. Both great places for one or two nights. Then DayTrip.com to Zagreb for a night or and the bus up to Ljub. This brought the price for DayTrip down to about 250 euro. The train ticket to Tihany or Pécs is free for me because I am an old-fart, but otherwise less than $15.

Tihany: https://youtu.be/Jwhd8vO0ZO4?si=7eC4yWozco7xBMUF Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bought a home here about 15 years ago. No idea who got it but she was spotted in Budapest last year. This is one of my favorite places in Hungary.
Pécs: https://youtu.be/dx2pl1Zj_bw?si=lViNHSt28joqwwvL Home of a few surviving Ottoman mosques and home of Zsolnay Porcelain

What I finally-finally-finally came up with was going to Montenegro instead. Just so much easier and faster to hop a Wizz Air flight. The country is less expensive than either Slovenia or Croatia, at least as beautiful as Slovenia and Croatia and the fly fishing is very enjoyable (main purpose for the trip).

Maribor is a great city for a couple nights. I would recommend it before moving on to Ljubljana. Together, the two cities will give you a nice perspective of Slovenia and Maribor will break up the journeys from Budapest nicely before you move on to Ljubljana.

Ljubljana’s Saturday market—while fun—is not something I would alter my plans for.

Because you’re cyclists, I would encourage you to spend 2-3 nights at Lake Bohinj, which is inside Triglav National Park and only 1:15 from Ljubljana. I spent a few days there and cycling on the flat, easy pathways around the lake and its turquoise tributaries was one of the most beautiful and memorable parts of Slovenia. The village of Ribcev Laz is near the lake and makes a good base. . If you take the bus to Bohinj, you’ll see Lake Bled on the way, and likely be relieved that you’re staying at bucolic Lake Bohinj rather than mobbed and overtouristed Lake Bled. It’s always intrigued me that the two lakes are only 30 minutes apart but world’s apart in the experience they offer.

Another top attraction I would highly recommend is the Škocjan Caves. It is a massive cave system with flat trails high above a river where you see people river-rafting hundreds of feet below during the cave tour. The Skocjan Caves are about a 50-minute drive from Ljubljana.

Just a 30-minute drive beyond Skocjan Cave is Piran— the town of Venetian heritage that is one of just a handful of coastal towns in Slovenia. Piran is one of Slovenia’s rare gems—one that I’m returning to in September.

Kobarid is well worth 2-3 nights with the turquoise Soca River and waterfalls nearby. Kobarid only has a few thousand residents, yet now has a restaurant that was awarded 3 stars by Michelin. “Hisa Franko” restaurant is a bargain, with a 5-course dinner priced at $70.

You might check Auto Europe
(www.AutoEurope.com) for car rentals. There is an up-charge to pick up a car in one location and drop it off in another, but it’s not usually not more than $75 and Auto Europe discounts rates offered by the big auto rental agencies to the point that the final cost often is much less than the big car rental agencies themselves offer.

Slovenia is a. beautiful and relaxing country with great hospitality offered by its gracious people.
Have a great trip!

I know you’re going to.

I thought Maribor sounded like an interesting stop, not to die for, but interesting. The trouble is that there is one direct train and after 6.5 hours it arrives at 10:40pm. The other trains take longer and have 2 or 3 changes. Now you are 2 hours from Ljubljana so why not go all of the way?

Then Maribor to Ljubljana there is a direct train at about 6am that gets there in 2 hours. Now your 6.5 hour trip to Ljubljana on a bus just took you 8.5 hours and you didn’t get any sleep because you had a 6 am train the next day.

Now you can change the train to the bus. I believe that’s your second option. And that’s great, but I avoid busses when I can. That’s just me. The two nights in Maribor you show makes sense with all the effort to get that far. I understand there are some vineyards in the area …. That could be interesting.

But again, you see this isn’t a “clean” journey, but if seeing Bled is something you dream of … I think you should bite the bullet get there one way or another in just one day, so you have as much time there as possible. If Bled is all you hope it will be then that one rough day will either become a fun adventure in your mind or you will forget it all together.

Hi bethech1
My suggestion for your 15 days stay in Slovenia would be as follows.

Slovenia is a stunning country with a diverse range of attractions, from alpine mountains and crystal-clear lakes to charming medieval towns and coastal areas. Here's a 15-day itinerary to help you explore the best of Slovenia:

Day 1: Arrival in Ljubljana
Arrive in Ljubljana, the capital city. Check into your accommodation.
Afternoon: Explore the city center, including Prešeren Square, Triple Bridge, and Ljubljana Castle. Can take a city guided tour.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant along the Ljubljanica River.

Day 2: Ljubljana
Morning: Visit Tivoli Park and the National Museum of Slovenia where one can see 50.000 years old neanderthals flute, the oldest instrument in the world or the City museum with 5.200 years old, the oldest in the world, wheel with an axes.
Afternoon: Stroll through the old town and visit the Dragon Bridge and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.
Evening: Take a leisurely boat ride on the Ljubljanica River and enjoy in one of excellent and diverse restaurants in the city. Restaurants range from Michelin star, RJE, Gault & Millau to simple traditional ones.

Day 3: Lake Bled
Morning: Travel to Lake Bled (about 1 hour by car). Visit Bled Castle and enjoy the panoramic views.
Afternoon: Take a traditional pletna boat to Bled Island and ring the wishing bell. If the weather is fine, one can plunge in clear refreshing water.
Evening: Relax by the lake and try the famous Bled cream cake.

Day 4: Lake Bohinj and Triglav National Park
Morning: Head to Lake Bohinj, a quieter and more serene alternative to Lake Bled. Visit the Church of St. John the Baptist.
Afternoon: Explore Triglav National Park. Take a hike or a cable car ride to Vogel for stunning views.
Evening: Return to Bled for the night.

Day 5: Vintgar Gorge and Radovljica
Morning: Visit Vintgar Gorge, a beautiful natural attraction near Bled.
Afternoon: Travel to Radovljica, a charming medieval town. Visit the Beekeeping Museum and enjoy some local honey products. Radovljica is famous for it's chocolate festival and excellent hand made pralines.
Evening: Return to Bled for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Julian Alps and Kranjska Gora
Morning: Drive through the Julian Alps to Kranjska Gora. Visit the Planica Nordic Center and the Zelenci Nature Reserve.
Afternoon: Explore the town and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking or cycling.
Evening: Stay overnight in Kranjska Gora.

Day 7: Soča Valley
Morning: Travel to the Soča Valley. Visit the Soča River and enjoy activities like rafting or kayaking, ziplining, paragliding . . . One can hike through trenches and caverns of WW1 frontlines.
Afternoon: Explore the town of Kobarid and visit the Kobarid WW1 museum.
Evening: Stay overnight in the Soča Valley.

Day 8: Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle
Morning: Drive to Postojna Cave, one of the most famous karst caves in the world. Take a guided tour.
Afternoon: Visit Predjama Castle, a stunning castle built into a cliff.
Evening: Stay overnight near Postojna or drive to Piran.

Day 9: Piran and the Slovenian Coast
Morning: Piran is a picturesque Venetian coastal town. Explore the old town and visit Tartini Square.
Afternoon: Relax at the beach or take a swim in the Adriatic Sea.
Evening: Enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant.

Day 10: Portorož and Sečovlje Salina Nature Park on bike. Cycle through the back country of Slovenian seaside.
Morning: Visit Portorož, a popular seaside resort. Enjoy the spa facilities or take a walk along the coast.
Afternoon: Explore the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, known for its salt pans and diverse wildlife.
Evening: Return to Piran for the night.

Continues in next post.

Day 11: Škocjan Caves and Lipica Stud Farm
Morning: Visit the Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Afternoon: Travel to Lipica and visit the Lipica Stud Farm established in 1580, home to the famous Lipizzaner horses.
Evening: Stay overnight in the Karst region.

Day 12: Maribor and Ptuj
Morning: Travel to Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city. Visit Maribor Castle and the Old Vine House.
Afternoon: Head to Ptuj, one of the oldest towns in Slovenia. Explore Ptuj Castle and the old town.
Evening: Stay overnight in Maribor or Ptuj.

Day 13: Celje and Logar Valley
Morning: Visit Celje and explore Celje Castle and the old town.
Afternoon: Travel to Logar Valley, a beautiful alpine valley. Enjoy hiking or simply take in the stunning scenery.
Evening: Stay overnight in Logar Valley.

Day 14: Kamnik and Velika Planina
Morning: Travel to Kamnik, a charming medieval town. Explore the old town and visit Kamnik Castle.
Afternoon: Take a cable car to Velika Planina, a picturesque alpine plateau. Enjoy hiking or visit the traditional shepherd's huts.
Evening: Return to Kamnik for the night.

Day 15: Return to Ljubljana
Morning: Travel back to Ljubljana. Do some last-minute shopping or visit any missed attractions.
Afternoon: Relax in a café or park before heading to the airport.
Evening: Depart from Ljubljana.

If you love wine, Slovenia is because of it's diversities, excellent place to go for winetasting.

This itinerary offers a balanced mix of natural beauty, cultural and gastronomical experiences, outdoor activities, ensuring you get the most out of your 15-day trip to Slovenia.

I prepared this itinerary for a couple of friends visiting Slovenia two years back. They were astonished by all natural and historical sites. Of cours, this is just a proposal, one can adjust it at one's own will.

Hi Zavrit, This is the best itinerary I’ve seen for two weeks in Slovenia! Thank you for taking the time to write it and share it with us.
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Kenko,

Thanks for the input. I always assumed we would want to stay at Lake Bled, after much reading we did decide that we’d prefer to stay Lake Bohinj – hopefully we can get some cycling in there! Although we do plan to visit Lake Bled for a day during our travels. We definitely plan a visit to Škocjan Caves as well as staying in Piran and somewhere in the Soca Valley. I’ve read about “Hisa Franko” in several posts and once I settle on our itinerary I’ll check and see if they have any open reservations (I see they are closed Mo/Tu)

Mr E,
I’m not sure I followed all your bus / train concerns for Maribor. For what it is worth, I found Flixbus from Budapest arrives at Maribor at 2:05pm (about 4.5 hrs). Many trains from Maribor to Ljubljana, some with 1 stop, others direct. For example, one direct train leaves at 11:45am and arrives at 2:02pm.

Enjoy your fly fishing in Montenegro.

zavrit,
Wow, what a complete itinerary to see so much of the country, very much appreciated. You’ve definitely given me some things to think about. For us, we like to “linger” in towns and not move around too much, it looks like your itinerary has overnight stays in 9 different locations over 15 nights. I know Slovenia isn’t terribly big though, I’ll read through in some more detail and see if it makes sense to combine some stays to match our interests.

Naaaa, you did good. I meant i can't sit on a bus that long. My problem. Gotta do a train or a plane.