Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is often called the greenest capital in the world. While I can’t vouch for the city alone, I can definitely say the entire country is incredibly green. Tucked away in the heart of Europe, Slovenia is best known for the scenic Lake Bled, which tops most “places to visit” lists. But for me, the real highlight (and a spot that’s not as well known) was Logarska Dolina.
Logarska Dolina is a magical valley in the northwestern part of Slovenia, bordering the Julian Alps. The best way to experience it is to drive from Ljubljana. The 90-minute journey through lush valleys and past pretty little cottages is where the true beauty of Slovenia reveals itself. The scenery is so breathtaking that you’ll want to stop for photos every few minutes. Due to time constraints, we only spent about 30 minutes in this picturesque spot. And hats off to Ami Gandhi, who drove seven hours straight after landing in Ljubljana just a few hours earlier—what an adventurous day that was!
After reading so much about the blue waters of the Soča Valley, I was eager to visit. With limited time, I debated whether to spend a full day at Lake Bled or explore the Soča Valley. Since I planned to visit Lake Bled later, I chose to visit Tolmin Gorge in the Soča Valley—and it did not disappoint. The two-kilometer walk through the lush gorge, with the brilliant blue Soča River flowing through Triglav National Park, was nature at its best. When I got off at Most na Soči railway station to catch a bus to Tolmin, I knew I’d made the right choice. With only about ten visitors at Tolmin Gorge, I had the national park almost entirely to myself (the perks of traveling in the off-season!).
Piran, located in the far western corner of the country near Italy and Croatia, is a tiny coastal town that blends three cultures. After exploring the mountains, cycling through Koper, Izola, and Portorož—with vineyards, olive trees, salt pans, old railway tunnels, and the coast for company—the contrast in scenery, food, language, and culture was striking.
Ljubljana, Most na Soči, Tolmin Gorge, Piran, Logarska Dolina, Lake Bled… Slovenia has been nothing short of magical. I’d even go out on a limb and say: skip Switzerland—visit Slovenia instead!