15 Day trip ideas from Ljubljana
One of the best things about Ljubljana is how centrally located it is within Slovenia. You can get almost anywhere in the country within 2 hours, which makes room for incredible day trip options.
Ljubljana is the best place to use as a base and explore the rest of the country with day trips. We have lived here for years and we explore most of Slovenia exactly this way.
In this article, we have put together a list of our favorite day trips from Ljubljana. We have listed 15 top-day trip destinations with one bonus surprise at the end.
1. Day trip from Ljubljana to Lake Bled
Bled is the number one destination for a day trip from Ljubljana.
The picture-perfect lake with the church island in the middle looks like it came out of a fairy tale. Most tourists come to Slovenia after seeing a picture of Bled โ and I canโt really blame them. This place really lives up to its fame.
Bled is located only a short 40-minute drive from Ljubljana, making it a perfect day trip destination. I would say that even half a day is more than enough to see all the top places in Bled, including doing the short hike to Ojstrica for the best views over the lake.
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2. Day trip to Bohinj from Ljubljana
Lake Bohinj is often overlooked next to its neighbor, Lake Bled. But this is such a pity because Lake Bohinj is just as beautiful and brings a more unique landscapeโฆ more raw.
Located 1h 15m from Ljubljana, Lake Bohinj is a place that Slovenians often go to enjoy the sunny summer days. Besides water activities on the lake itself, the area has a lot of hiking trails and exciting outdoor activities to do.
Read our guide on what to do in Lake Bohinj for more details.
Pro tip: The perfect day trip from Ljubljana is to combine and visit Lake Bled in the morning and Lake Bohinj in the afternoon. Since they are located only 30m from each other, they make the ideal combo.
3. Visit Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is one of the most beautiful spots in Slovenia โ and one of the most famous too.
It is located very close to Lake Bled, so you can combine a day trip to Ljubljana to Bled and Vintgar Gorge on the same day.
The gorge consists of a one-way walking path following an emerald-green river that is simply mesmerizing. The Vintgar Gorge pathway ends at a beautiful waterfall with an open view of the valley.
Check out our guide about visiting Vintgar Gorge to know more.
4. Day trip to Postojna Caves and Predjama Castle
Another classic day trip itinerary from Ljubljana is to visit the Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.
The Postojna Cave is a must-see attraction in Slovenia. It is a place that can be visited all year round and provides impressive views. The Postojna Cave system is the largest one in the country and I promise it will leave you speechless.
Predjama Castle is located right next to Postojna, so they make a great day trip combo. What makes Predjama Castle special is that it is located inside a cave, almost carved in stone.
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5. Day trip to Velika Planina
One of the most unique day trip destinations in this list, Velika Planina is a place for outdoor lovers.
Velika Planina is one of the largest herdsmenโs settlements in Europe. Up there, you can see the typical mountain cottages with their pointed roof. During the summer, the cattle roam free in the plateau and you can try their specialty dairy products like cheese.
Velika Planina can be visited all year round. In the summer, it is an amazing hiking destination. In the winter, the cozy winter cabins make for a perfect weekend getaway.
Read also: Full guide for exploring Velika Planina
6. Day trip from Ljubljana to Piran
Piran is one of the most interesting cities in the Slovenian seaside. If there is only one place to visit on the coast, let this be the one.
The best time of the year to visit Piran is during the summer (for obvious reasons) but it is also a very pleasant destination during the shoulder seasons.
If you go on a day trip to Piran, I highly recommend staying until the end of the day and catching the sunset from the city. Sunsets in Piran are magical, you can see the sun setting in the Adriatic Sea as the water turns golden with the light.
7. Day trip to the Slovenian seaside
If visiting only one city of the seaside does not seem enough for you, you can go on a day trip from Ljubljana to the entire Slovenian seaside and visit multiple cities on the same day.
The Slovenian seaside consists of a little more than 30 km, so you can easily go city hopping throughout one day and explore all the most important towns.
The best coastal towns to visit are:
- Koper
- Izola
- Portoroz
- Piran
8. Day trip from Ljubljana to the Soca Valley
The Soca Valley is by far the most beautiful and unique region of Slovenia and one you should not miss.
Exploring the Soca Valley on a day trip from Ljubljana will take you a full day. The best way to do this is to drive from one end of the valley to the other, making stops at the most interesting spots along the way. Read our guide for the best things to see in the Soca Valley.
Just the drive itself already makes up for the long ride, as it is incredibly scenic. To explore the Soca Valley to its full potential, I recommend renting a car in Slovenia and driving up there. This way you can make your own itinerary and stops.
However, if you donโt want to be driving, you can also book a tour.
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9. Visit the incredible Skocjan Cave
Skocjan Caves are another incredible set of underground caves that will leave you just as impressed as Postojna โ or more.
The Postojna Cave system is the most famous one, but I think Skocjan is more impressive because of the crystal clear river you can see flowing through it.
You can only visit the cave with an organized tour, and you will walk through passageways that go deep into the cave system. This is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is definitely worth a visit.
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10. Day trip to go hiking in Logar Valley
One of the most scenic hiking destinations in Slovenia, Logar Valley can be reached in just 1h 30m from Ljubljana.
The valley is located in the heart of the Kamnik Alps and is known as one of the best hiking spots in the country. This region can be very interesting for outdoor lovers, especially if you are interested in hut-to-hut hikes.
For people who are not so active, the Logar Valley also has a lot to offer. In the heart of the valley, you will find the Rinka Waterfall, a beautiful waterfall reachable by car. You can also drive on the scenic route over Logar Valley to see the best views over the valley, like in the picture above.
Read more: All you need to know before visiting Logar Valley
11. Day trip from Ljubljana to Kranjska Gora
Kransjka Gora is known as the largest ski resort in Slovenia, but it can also be visited during the summer for outdoor activities.
The region around Kranjska Gora offers a lot of options for things to do, from hiking to cycling, swimming, and much more.
Make sure you visit Jasna Lake and Zelenci Nature Reserve, which are two very special spots in this area.
12. Day trip from Ljubljana to Maribor
Maribor is Sloveniaโs second-largest city, located in the Northeast of the country. It is a very lively city with a young population due to the university that attracts a lot of students.
Maribor is also known as one of the most famous wine regions in Slovenia, so you can easily organize a day trip from Ljubljana to Maribor and include a visit to a winery on the schedule.
People often combine the day trip to Maribor with a visit to Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia. Ptuj has a small but very well-preserved old town, which is definitely worth a visit.
Read also: Best things to see in Maribor
13. Day trip to the wine regions of Brda or Vipava Valley
Slovenia is famous for its wines. You may not have heard about them because 80% of the wine produced in Slovenia is consumed here, and never gets exported.
The two most famous wine regions are Brda and the Vipava Valley. If you want to go on a day trip from Ljubljana to do a wine tasting and get to know more about the wine culture in Slovenia, I recommend starting with the Vipava Valley since it is incredibly scenic as well.
During the summer, you can also go bike riding in the valley among the wine estates. It is an experience I highly recommend.
14. Day trip from Ljubljana to Trieste
I started this post by saying that one of the best things about Ljubljana was its central location. Well, this means that the border with Italy is also just a short drive away.
Going on a day trip from Ljubljana to Trieste is one of my favorite things to do on a sunny day. Trieste brings not only the seaside energy but also the incredible Italian cuisine.
Go for a walk in the Miramare Castle and explore the city center of Trieste for food. Finish the day with a delicious meal at Eataly overlooking the sea.
This day trip is best done with your own car as you can make your own schedule. However, if you donโt want to drive, you can also book a private day trip.
15. Day trip from Ljubljana to Laghi di Fusine
This is a day trip idea you will not find available on most tour companies.
Laghi di Fusine are two twin lakes located in Italy, just across the border from Slovenia. The best time to visit the lakes is during the summer when nature is in its full gloom, but they can be visited all year round.
The best way to get to Laghi di Fusine from Ljubljana is by car. For this day trip, we recommend renting a car and making the drive yourself. Get a car rental quote here.
Visiting Laghi di Fusine will take you half of the day, and you can spend the other half in the Kranjska Gora region, which is on the way.
Bonus tip: Day trip to Zagreb from Ljubljana
Last but not least, you can also visit Zagreb (the capital of Croatia) as a day trip from Ljubljana.
The drive will take you less than 2 hours with a car, but you also have the option of going by bus or train.
The reason why I am adding this as a bonus tip suggestion is that I think Zagreb is worth more than a day of exploring. The capital of Croatia is a beautiful city and I would recommend sleeping there so you can fully experience it.
However, if you want to make it a short day trip from Ljubljana, this is also an option!
With that, we conclude our list of the best day trips from Ljubljana. We hope this list has helped you with some ideas of places you can visit during your trip. For more help organizing your trip, check the resources below.
Other Ljubljana travel guides
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Slovenia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Slovenia on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip withย Airalo.
- Slovenia Map: Check out our custom-made Map with 290+ must-see spots!
- Recommended hiking gear: Check our recommendations on Amazon if you will be hiking in Slovenia!
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