Slovenia is an underrated treasure when it comes to travel, although the secret is starting to finally get out! Slovenia is the perfect place for a road trip because they have a couple main regions which each provide a unique experience and the country is rather small which makes getting around fairly simple! If you only have 3 nights you will want to see the very best in your own Slovenia Road Trip!
Faris and I did our research and came up with the best places to travel to during this Slovenia Road Trip. We chose Lake Bled for it’s famous beauty, Bovec for it’s rustic mountain side, and Ljubljana for the booming capital.
This Slovenia Road Trip blog includes:
- Best Time to Travel
- Transportation
- Night 1, Days 1-2 Lake Bled
- Accommodations
- Day 1 – Lake Bled
- Things to Do
- Day 2 – Lake Bled to Bovec
- Morning in Lake Bled – Things to Do
- Afternoon Road Trip – Lake Bled to Lake Bohinj to Bovec
- Things to do, places to stop
- Night 2, Days 2-3 Bovec
- Accommodations
- Day 2 – Arrive in Bovec late afternoon
- Things to do
- Day 3 – Bovec to Ljubljana
- Morning in Bovec – Things to do
- Afternoon Road Trip – Bovec to Ljubljana
- Things to do, places to stop
- Night 3, Days 3-4 Ljubljana
- Accommodations
- Day 3 – Arrive in Ljubljana mid afternoon
- Things to do
- Day 4 – Ljubljana, last day of road trip
- Things to do
Best Time to Travel
The best time to plan your Slovenia Road Trip is during shoulder season. Slovenia has not always been a huge tourist destination but it has definitely risen in the last couple years. We did a Balkans tour in September 2018, which included this Slovenia road trip, and we found it to be the perfect time. We chose to go in September because the tourist season slows, prices drop, and the weather is still nice.
Check out our other stops for more Balkan Travel:
3 Nights Croatia – Dubrovnik, Hvar
Transportation
Rent a car: Sixt Car Rental
Slovenia is not the biggest country but it is very spread out. The best way to get around is to rent a car and make it a Slovenia road trip! We flew into the Ljubljana Airport and rented a car right at the airport from Sixt Car Rental. I linked their website above if you wanted to rent your own car!
Slovenia is a great place for a road trip because there are many places to stop along the way. The drive to each city is not very long but make sure to add in some fun stops! I’ve listed the drive times below:
- Ljubljana Airport to Lake Bled – 30 minutes
- Lake Bled to Bovec – 1 hour, 40 minutes
- Bovec to Ljubljana – 2 hours
Night 1, Day 1-2 Lake Bled
We landed at the Ljubljana Airport mid afternoon and rented our car. We began our 30 minute drive through the beautiful terrain to Lake Bled.
Lake Bled is situated in the Julian Alps in the Northwestern Region of Slovenia. It is the most popular destination in Slovenia and it is due to the beauty. Lake bled is a bluish, green lake with a church sitting in the middle of it.
You can find all types of tourists here from Lovers to backpackers. Lake Bled is a very romantic place but it’s also ideal for adventures who like to hike the mountains so make sure to include it in your own Slovenia road trip.
Accommodations
Stay at the same accommodations: Apartment Muznik
We stayed at Apartment Muznik which is located in the heart of the town. We had 3 friends with us so Apartment Muznik was the perfect option because they had an apartment for 5. They have many apartments for all different sized groups.
The charming complex was beautiful and situated right on the river. It was very clean and perfect for what we needed. I definitely recommend staying here! I linked them above if you’d like to stay at the same accommodations during your own Slovenia road trip.
Day 1 Lake Bled Things to Do
Once we checked in with our accommodation we grabbed some snacks at the grocery store in town and enjoyed the lake. I listed all of our activities in Lake Bled on Day 1:
- Go for a swim in the lake
- Take a stroll around the Lake Bled Pathway
- Grab some wine and cheese and enjoy the sunset on the lawn
- Have dinner at Sova & some drinks at Pub Bled Janez
- Buy some traditional Slovenian cakes from Slascicarna Zima
Make sure to get to bed at a decent hour because day 2 is packed and starts early!
Day 2 Lake Bled to Bovec
We spent all morning in Lake Bled and then we drove to Lake Bohinj which is about 30 minutes West of Lake Bled and then we made our way back East passing back through Lake Bled and around the Triglav National Park on our way to Bovec.
Morning in Lake Bled
- Hike to the viewpoint overlooking Lake Bled for sunrise – Make sure to bring snacks
- Grab some breakfast at one of the local cafes
- Rent a row boat on Lake Bled and take it to the Church of the Assumption
- Straza toboggan ride
- Take a walk down town
- Have a picnic on the grass surrounding the lake
Afternoon Road Trip to Lake Bohinj and Bovec
The best part about road trips are the stops along the way! The drive from Lake Bled to Bovec is only 1 hour 40 minutes without any stops. We weaved our way in and around towns to find some of the best stops! Slovenia is full of beautiful rivers, lakes and mountains. We listed our favorites below:
- Lake Bohinj
- Lake Jazna
- Hike in the Vrsic Pass
- Hike along the Soca River Valley
You will arrive just for sunset in Bovec!
Night 2, Day 2-3 – Bovec
Bovec is small mountain town in Northwestern Slovenia and is located on the West Side of Triglav National Park. It’s surrounded by the Julian Alps and the clear, blue, Soca River. Bovec is a simple town but it is surrounded by natural beauty. Bovec is known for it’s hiking trails and water sports so you can’t miss it on your own Slovenia road trip!
Accommodations
Book the same Accommodations: Apartment Wallas
We stayed at Apartment Wallas during our stay in Bovec. The apartment had the most beautiful location. The landscape looked similar to Austria with beautiful views of mountains, farm animals, and gardens.
The apartment itself is large with a full kitchen, living room, and upstairs! The decor is modern and very clean. We really enjoyed our stay here and wish it could have lasted longer! I highly recommend Apartment Wallas! I linked Apartment Wallas above so you can book your stay with them during your own Slovenia road trip.
Day 2 Bovec Things to Do
Website: Gostisce Hedvika Hedvika Mlekuz s.p.
You will arrive in Bovec for sunset on Day 2 and you will be pretty exhausted! Once we checked in we relaxed and got our best dinner of our whole trip at Gostisce Hedvika Hedvika Mlekuz s.p.
Bovec is a very small town, so most people do not speak English and this was the case at Gostisce Hedvika Hedvika Mlekuz s.p. The waiter was the nicest man and did his very best to communicate with us. We ordered 2 Seafood platters which came with grilled trout, fried and grilled calamari and some tasty veggies. I highly recommend going here!
Day 3 Bovec to Ljubljana
We spent about a half day in Bovec and did some water activities! In the afternoon we started our road trip to Ljubljana but made some stops on the way.
Morning in Bovec
Bovec is all about nature and some physical activities. Bovec is the outdoorsy type’s dream! If you aren’t into the whole physical activities thing, don’t worry there’s plenty of sight seeing to do.
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- River Rafting and Tubing
- Biking
- Canyoning/Repelling
- Parasailing/Paragliding
- Hike along or just hang out in the Soca Valley
- Check out the Virje Waterfall & Kozjak Waterfall
- Fort Kluze Museum or Ravelnik Open Air Museum
Afternoon Road Trip to Ljubljana
Bovec to Ljubljana is only 2 hours. We didn’t make too many stops but one you need to do is Napolean’s Bridge and wander around the trails along the Sova river. The river is just such an attraction because of the crystal clear water and the nature that surrounds it.
We also made a stop at Jezero pizza along the way for lunch. If you’re looking for a good meal definitely stop here. It’s like a little hidden gem and the pizza is so fricken good! We actually all ordered our own personalized pizzas. They are also know for their ice cream too so lunch and dessert in one stop!
Night 3, Day 3-4 – Ljubljana
Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital and largest city. The city is most known for it’s University, Tivoli Park, and the Ljubljana River which runs through the middle of the city.
The city is full of activity with outdoor cafes, shops, and bars! Ljubljana is also famous for it’s historical and art museums. I highly recommend making a stop here when on your own Slovenia road trip. I could easily see myself living in Ljubljana it’s such a fun city!
Accommodations
We stayed at the Castleview Air B&B which is an apartment walking distance from downtown. The apartment was very clean and had a homey feel! There were two bedrooms which slept 5 people total. It’s a great location and space especially for the nightlife because it is so close to downtown.
Book the same Accommodations: Castleview
Day 3 Things to Do in Ljubljana
You will arrive in Ljubljana late afternoon after your adventurous trails through Bovec. We checked in to our apartment and walked down town. Ljubljana is especially known for their coffee scene, so we grabbed a cup at the colombian cafe, Crno Zrno.
Just a side note, we specifically planned our road trip so that we would be in Ljubljana on a Saturday for a few reasons. They have a food market every Saturday filled with delicious eats and they have some great night life! I highly recommend doing the same.
- Food Market every Saturday during the summer months
- Grab some beers and hang out by the river
- Taste the best ice cream at Vigo
- Bars/Clubs
Day 4 Things to Do in Ljubljana
You will get to experience a full day in Lubljana before you end your road trip. Lubljana is especially know for their food scene and arts so make sure to get some good eats and check out the museums.
- Food Tour
- Rent a bike and ride around the city
- Preseren Square – main square where all events go on
- Ljubljana Castle
- Tivoli Park
- National Gallery of Slovenia – Art Musuem
Conclusion
Slovenia is one of my favorite countries I have ever traveled to. I was absolutely amazed by it’s beautiful nature but also it’s modern capital. You get the best of both worlds in one small area. I hope you enjoyed this 3 Night Slovenia Road Trip and it helps you plan your own!
Make sure to check out our other Balkan Itineraries so that you can tack it onto your Slovenia Road Trip:
3 Nights Croatia – Dubrovnik, Hvar
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