Slovenia – Mountain to City to Sea – a bit of everything in a Week

It does’t have to be a week of course – you’d see a lot over a long weekend – or come and stay forever! You can visit many tourist highlights as daytrips from Ljubliana but it’s always nice to have a sleepover isn’t it. The distances on this itinerary aren’t huge and it’s all on public transport – which is cheap as chips !

I’ve just posted separately about Ljublyana and won’t repeat. The public bus (€3.30) takes about 50 mins from the airport and then its about 10 mins walk to the Old Town. You’d easily manage a walkabout in one day followed by dinner and a pint of Union along the riverbank!

Back to the bus station and off to BLED – a ticket costs €5-6 (based on time) and the journey takes about 90 minutes, depending on traffic heading out of the city.

In a meadow valley there was a small hill and a rock, where mountain fairies danced at night. Shepherds grazing their sheep here were asked by the fairies to put a fence around their dance area, so that the grass would remain soft. The shepherds ignored the request and, one day, the youngest and most beautiful fairy broke her leg while dancing. The angry fairies called upon the springs and brooks to storm the valley and fill it with water. Only the hill with the rock remained as an island in the middle of the lake, where fairies could still dance on starry nights.

Bled shouldn’t be rushed – so I take back what I said about day trips!! If you’re not into extensive hiking in this alpine area then 2 – 3 days will comfortably allow the following……..

Walk around the Lake

The 6km circular path is an easy flat walk but you’d still need to allow maybe 2 hours for regular stops to admire the views and enjoy a beer or coffee along the way.

Pletna Trip out to Bled Island

A PLETNA is a wooden flat-bottom boat, designed according to the concept of the Venetian gondola. The boats are made locally and fit about 18 passengers. The title of PLETNAR – oarsman – was handed down from generation to generation so the profession remained in individual families.

When there are enough people in the boat to warrant the trip, the Pletnar casts off and rows with two oars while standing. The journey to the island takes about 20-25 minutes – allowing 45 minutes on the island before the return journey.

Once on the island (the only natural island in Slovenia), a 99 step staircase leads up to the lovely Gothic Church of the Assumption. However, after paying €20 for the boat trip, many (including ourselves!) forego the €12 entrance to the church and just enjoy the views and an ice cream or coffee.

Future bridegrooms take note! If you carry your bride up all 99 steps and ring the church bell, you are guaranteed a marriage of eternal happiness and good fortune!

You can forgo the Pletna experience in favour of making your own way to the island. Rowboats, kayaks and canoes are all available for rent while stand-up paddleboarding has become hugely popular in recent years.

Follow the trail through Soteska Vintgar

Unless you’re a day tripper, you are going to head out to Vintgar Gorge at some stage for a walk along its wooden walkway. It’s just 4kms from town so very accessible by foot if you want to make a day of it. Most of us though, opt for the shuttle which runs about every 30 minutes (Shuttle + Entrance €15). It will take about 45 minutes to complete the walkway – allowing for photo stops, etc. Then you have several options – you can double back the way you came, head off walking back to town, or follow a circular path which will bring you back through forest to the carpark and shuttle. That option will take you about 90 minutes in total.

Climb up to Blejski Grad

A castle has looked out over the lake since the 11th century. It looks great from below and equally offers wonderful views from its courtyards and parapets. A path and road lead up from the lake. An entrance ticket (rather pricey at €18) includes access to the fortress as well as a good museum, exhibitions, church, cellar, etc. If you time it right, you might manage to grab a table overlooking the lake and enjoy a coffee and slice of Bled Cake while admiring the Pletnars at work, far below.

Go for a swim.

The lake is unusually fed by spring water rather than a river or stream. Some of these springs are geo-thermally heated, resulting in the lake water being relatively warm and suitable for swimming.

There are several designated swimming spots around the lake. If you are planning for a full day’s activity then Grajsko kopališče lies just below the castle and has the best facilities – a large grassy beach and playground, as well as amenities such as changing rooms, showers, and a restaurant. But there are plenty of free options for a quick dip elsewhere on the lake.

Be seduced by Kremsnita!

Cream, vanilla custard, puff pastry – what’s not to love!!!

Imagine 1953 in the Park Hotel where confectioner Istvana Lukacevic is slaving away in the kitchen. And then one day he perfects his cream cake! His wonderful recipe has remained under lock and key ever since so – while Bled Cake can be sampled all over town, it has never been exactly duplicated – you have to go to the Park Hotel to sample the real thing!!

What we did….

Day 1. Arrive lunchtime / afternoon walk around lake.

Day 2. Morning Vintgar Gorge / Afternoon Pletna trip to Bled island

Day 3. Morning Visit castle / Afternoon swim

Day 4. Bye, Bye, Bled

Back at Ljubljana Bus Station, we spend €2.90 each on tickets to Koper (90 mins) and the same again to the coastal town of PIRAN (45mins).

Wedged between Italy and Croatia, Slovenia’s short coastline is of huge strategic and economic importance to the country but the 47km long Slovenian Riviera is also a significant tourist attraction for domestic and international visitors alike.

Piran flourished as a commercial and cultural centre under the Venetians. Today, it is undoubtedly Slovenia’s most beautiful coastal town and what better way is there to finish off a trip than wander a few cobbled streets, swim in the Adriatic and enjoy a seafood feast!

Wandering the streets…..

That’s St. George’s Cathedral above the town – it’s fine in itself but people mostly head up for the views over the rooftops and the remains of the fortifications.

Below us is Tartini Square – named after the violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini.

Back down in the square, you can admire Giuseppe, the Town Hall and Venetian House while relaxing with a coffee – or something a bit stronger!

Beyond the square lies a warren of cobbled alleyways in one direction and the small port and extended promenade in the other…

Swim in the Adriatic

The Pearly Adriatic it might well be but forget about sandy beaches – at best you’re looking at a rocky shoreline with concrete platforms and sea access by ladders. And Boy! Is every patch utilised…

This was in June – pre peak season!!!!

Allow me to digress and fly the Irish flag here!!!!! Just LOOK at what we have (OK – so we don’t have the weather!!!!)

You can follow the promenade to neighbouring Portoroz where a circa 30 minute walk will bring you to a man made beach which might be more to your liking….

Finally! Just imagine the seafood!

Need I say more!!