Where We Stayed:

Four Points by Sheraton in Ljubljana

We only stayed here because I had free points.

It was fine, but it is not near much, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a car or are using points like we were. If I were planning this again, I would probably stay closer to Old Town so we could walk to dinner and the river area more easily.

Also, we took a taxi from the airport and later realized we probably should have used Uber because it would have been cheaper.

Rikli Balance Hotel in Lake Bled

This was a great hotel for Lake Bled.

It had good parking, a nice spa, and a really good breakfast. But the best part was the view.

If you book this hotel, ask for a room with a lake view.
Ours was amazing. Honestly, it may have been the best hotel view I’ve ever had.

Day 1: Amsterdam to Ljubljana

We flew from Amsterdam (check out the Amsterdam Itinerary) to Ljubljana and got settled into our hotel before heading into downtown Ljubljana.

The old town is really pretty and easy to wander. There are shops, restaurants, bridges, and cafes all along the river. It has that charming European city feel, but it didn’t feel overwhelming.

We decided to do a canal cruise, which ended up being a nice way to get an overview of the city. They seemed to leave about every 30 minutes and the ride was around 45 minutes. It cost 15 euros per person.

It was relaxing, pretty, and a good first-day activity when you’re a little tired from traveling but still want to see something.

That night we ate at Julija, and it was delicious.

We had Štruklji, which are cheese-filled dumplings in mushroom sauce, and they were so good. We also had octopus salad, veal with potatoes, and apple strudel with ice cream for dessert.

A very strong first dinner.

Afterward we walked around the shops, crossed the Triple Bridge, and saw the Dragon Bridge.

The Triple Bridge is one of the most recognizable spots in Ljubljana. The original bridge dates back to 1842, and as the city grew, they added two pedestrian bridges on the sides, which made it into the triple bridge you see today.

Day 2: Ljubljana Castle, Gelato, & Lake Bled

The next morning we drove back into Ljubljana.

Parking was a little tricky. We basically just drove around the streets until we found something, which is not my favorite travel strategy, but sometimes that’s what happens.

We took the funicular up the hill to Ljubljana Castle and bought tickets right there in line.

The castle grounds are pretty and there are nice views over the city. There are towers, a small museum, and places to walk around, but honestly there isn’t a ton to see. I’m glad we did it, but I don’t think you need a huge amount of time there.

After the castle, we walked through the open market and bought some fruit, then had lunch at the covered market at Norma’s.

It was okay.

Not terrible. Not amazing. Just okay.

Then we wandered back over the Triple Bridge and made our way to Gelateria Romantika.

This was worth the walk.

Travel tip: the good gelato is usually in metal tins under the counter, not piled up in bright colorful mountains where it looks like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book.

This gelato was delicious.

My honest opinion on Ljubljana is that one day is probably enough. It’s very pretty and I’m glad we went, but I wouldn’t personally plan several days there unless you really love slow city exploring.

That afternoon we drove to Lake Bled and checked into the Rikli Balance Hotel.

And this is where Slovenia really started showing off.

We walked around the lake a little bit, saw the little church, and then went to dinner at Rustika Pizza. It had lots of great reviews, and the peach pizza was definitely unique.

On the walk back to the hotel, we stopped for Lake Bled’s famous cream cake at the Park Hotel.

It is super fluffy and very famous for a reason.

Was I hungry? Not really.
Did I still eat it? Obviously.

Day 3: Lake Bled Castle, Pletna Boats, & the Ojstrica Hike

We started the morning with breakfast at the hotel around 9:30.

There happened to be a Banksy art exhibition nearby, so we went to that before heading toward Bled Castle.

We hiked up to the castle, but you can drive up and park near the entrance if you don’t want to hike. We bought tickets at the entrance, and they were 19 euros per adult.

The castle took us about two hours.

There is a museum, towers, souvenir shops, a chapel, a print shop, and lots of places for pictures with the view. The view over Lake Bled is really the reason to go.

It is beautiful.

After the castle, we went to Mega Burger for lunch. The burgers really were mega and delicious.

The ketchup, however, was terrible.

Maybe the worst ketchup I have ever had.

Get the house sauce instead.

Later we walked down and got on one of the traditional Pletna boats to go to Bled Island. You just walk up and get on. It was cash only and cost 20 euros per person.

They row you over to the island, give you about an hour to explore, and then row you back.

Our boat was named Larissa, after our rower’s mother, which I thought was so sweet. There are 38 boats and 38 families, and the boats are handed down generationally.

Once on the island, it was 12 euros for entrance to the church, bell tower, museum, and toilet.

The museum was not great.

The church was fun because you can ring the bell, and I really liked climbing the clock tower. Also, the fish around the dock were very entertaining. Sometimes it’s the random little things that make a stop memorable.

After that we walked over to the alpine coaster.

It was 15 euros per person for one ride up the chairlift and one ride down the coaster. It was fun, but it did feel a little expensive for how quick it was.

We drove to the trailhead for the Ojstrica hike.

This hike is uphill the entire way to the lookout.

There is some erosion on the trail, and one section where you hold onto a thick wire to help you get across. I would not do this hike in the rain.

But the view at the top is pretty great.

If you’ve seen pictures of Lake Bled from above, this is one of those classic lookout spots. It’s a bit of a workout, but I’m glad we did it.

That night we ate at Centralna Postaja Bled. They had covered outdoor seating and friendly staff, which was perfect after a full day of walking, climbing, rowing, coaster-riding, and hiking.

Day 4: Lake Bled Beach Time & Vintgar Gorge

This was supposed to be our Vintgar Gorge day, but we learned a lesson right away.

Buy your tickets online ahead of time.

We showed up and didn’t have tickets, so they had us scan a QR code to buy timed tickets for later. We ended up booking for 3:40 pm.

Honestly, it worked out.

We walked down to the lake and went to a beach club area. It had chairs, pads, towels, umbrellas, showers, and a swimming area. It was 35 euros each.

You could also rent row boats or paddle boards by the hour, and they let us use the paddle boards for free.

The boys paddled to the island and checked out the fish. Jana and I took a turn and did a shorter paddle.

The water was amazing and so blue.

Later that afternoon, we drove back to Vintgar Gorge. Parking was easy, and then we boarded the shuttle from the parking lot. It was a short ride up to the entrance.

Bring water and wear good shoes.

They gave us helmets to wear in case anything fell from above, which felt slightly dramatic, but also made sense once we were walking through the gorge.

The first part of the walk is beautiful and easy. You follow wooden walkways and little bridges along the gorge with blue-green water rushing below you.

It is gorgeous.

But here is the important part: when you get to the end of the gorge, that is not the end of the hike.

I would recommend following the signs down below the bridge to see the waterfall because it is really pretty. But then you have to go back up and head behind the bathrooms to continue the trail out.

Go to the bathroom.
Refill your water.
Grab a snack if you need one.
Because after that, you still have about an hour of hiking.

The trail goes through forest and then through animal pastures. The fences are electric, so keep track of kids. We saw cows, sheep, horses, and a random blue-faced lizard.

The valley views were really pretty, and there were benches along the way where we paused to rest and enjoy it.

At the end, look for the yellow shuttle 1P signs. That shuttle takes you back to the parking lot.

Plan on about 2.5 hours total.

There is a point mid-hike where you can choose to get a taxi back, and there is also a cafe in the middle. The signage was a little interesting in places. At one point there was a sign that said 30 minutes, but it was basically the end.

I actually recommend doing this later in the afternoon like we did. We started around 4 p.m., and there were fewer people and the weather was great.

Tickets were 15 euros per person.

That night we went to Old Cellar Bled for dinner.

It’s a nice restaurant right by the water, and they had good Slovenian food like veal shank, pork cheeks, seafood risotto, and pasta dishes if you don’t feel adventurous.

The food was good.

But then they brought us the nastiest smelling drinks after dinner. They smelled like cough medicine and immediately cleared our sinuses. We said no thank you, and they still charged us for them, so check your bill.

A beautiful dinner with a slightly medicinal ending.

Day 5: Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle

We packed up early and checked out by 9:30 to drive to Postojna Cave.

We had tickets for noon and arrived around 11:20. It takes about 15 minutes to get from the parking lot to the cave entrance, and you need to be in line with your tickets scanned 15 minutes before your entry time.

The cave is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit inside all year, so dress warmly.

You start the tour by getting on a giant open-air train, which is fun but chilly. Wear a hat or a hood because water drips on you during the ride. Light gloves would have been nice too.

The train ride takes about 10 minutes, and then you walk through different parts of the cave.

The cave system is huge, around 24 kilometers, and the parts you see are really impressive.

There is a spaghetti chamber where the formations look like straws or spaghetti hanging from the ceiling. There is a white chamber, a red chamber, and they even do a live nativity inside the cave in December.

One of the most famous parts is the Brilliant, a white stalagmite next to a red one. They are said to be more than 100,000 years old and are a symbol of the cave.

Also, there is a cave post office.

A post office inside a cave!

Bring addresses if you want to mail a postcard from inside. They have a little table with pens you can use, and I thought it was such a fun little detail.

After the walking portion, the train takes you back to the beginning. The entire cave visit took about 1.5 hours.

There are restaurants and souvenir shops near the entrance, so it’s easy to eat before or after your tour.

After the cave, we drove up to Predjama Castle. It is about a 10 to 15-minute drive from the cave, and we had bought a combo ticket.

Do not skip the castle if you go to the cave.

It is built right into the rock, and it is so impressive to see in person. The water collection systems inside the castle were really interesting, and it was amazing to see how they used the natural rock and cave structure as part of the fortress.

It was raining when we went, but this actually made it a great rainy-day activity.

Just know that the walk up from the parking lot can be a little muddy. There are stairs and some slick areas, so wear shoes that can handle it.

After the castle, we had a long four-hour drive to our next stop near the national park and didn’t get to our Airbnb until 10 p.m.

It was a long day, but Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle were absolutely worth it.

Things I‘d Do Differently

• Use Uber instead of a taxi from the Ljubljana airport.
• Only spend one full day in Ljubljana.
• Stay closer to Old Town if staying in Ljubljana without a car.
• Buy Vintgar Gorge tickets online ahead of time.
• Bring cash for the Pletna boats.
• Wear good shoes for Vintgar Gorge and Ojstrica.
• Don’t hike Ojstrica in the rain.
• Make sure you have a VISA or Mastercard because we found that many places didn’t take Amex.
• Bring a warm jacket, hood, and maybe light gloves for Postojna Cave.
• And I would check the bill at Old Cellar Bled before paying… because apparently sinus-clearing cough medicine shots are not free.

Final Thoughts

Slovenia really surprised me.

Ljubljana was charming, but Lake Bled was the place that made me understand why people love Slovenia so much. The lake, the castle, the island, the blue water, the mountain views… it all feels like a postcard.

Vintgar Gorge was one of the prettiest walks of the trip, and Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle were completely different from anything else we did.

If I were planning this again, I would spend less time in Ljubljana and more time around Lake Bled.

Slovenia is easy to drive but hard to park, easy to enjoy, and full of places that feel a little magical without being too difficult to get to.

And yes, the cream cake is worth trying.
Even if you already had pizza.

Next stop… Croatia!