Why I Think Slovenia is the Perfect Winter Wonderland Escape

Most people hear Slovenia and have one (if any) image pop into their brain. Yes, you know the one I’m talking about. Lake Bled, in the heat of summer, with clear blue skies and luscious greenery surrounding its adorable island church.

It’s a beautiful image, don’t get me wrong, and more than tantalising enough to get you browsing flights this July. Hold that thought, though. My experience last December has totally transformed my image of Slovenia – in my view, it’s a perfect winter wonderland destination in Europe.

My trip to Slovenia was the ultimate case study for the joys of slow travel. I didn’t hike or ski. I didn’t have to barge past eager tourists to get that perfect Insta shot. Instead I simply wondered, breathing in the crisp winter air and bathing in the beauty of Mother Nature, which is a pretty dreamy way to cut through the mid-winter blues.

I’m not usually a bus traveller but on this trip public transport was perfect for getting me from A to B. In the end some of my most cherished memories from this trip trace back to the gentle countryside journeys, ranging from 40 minutes to a couple of hours, headphones in, eyes firmly fixed on the pleasant views. Mind very much at ease.

Oh, and I never thought a bus station could capture my heart, but some of the tiny stops I encountered during my travels were the absolute cutest. Adorable!

Anyway, my time in Slovenia was ultra relaxing and filled with wonder. I also felt super safe – which is always important as a solo female traveller – even at night. Plus, in Slovenia, you’re never solo for too long thanks to the friendliness of the locals. I certainly made some friends along the way.

With the reduced daylight hours of winter, and the slow-pace that I found so pleasurable during my visit to Slovenia, I recommend sticking to one place per day, so you can savour every moment. Here’s my take on which places should take priority.

Let’s start with Slovenia’s most famous attraction, the sleepy town of Bled and its namesake lake. This is a fairytale setting at the worst of times, but visiting in winter means that the serenity isn’t broken by coachloads of tourists. Meanwhile a frosty covering or, if you’re lucky, a full dusting of snow on that iconic island, its medieval church and the lake’s surrounding forestry, is pure magic.

Head up to 11th-century Bled Castle for the best views and stick around for the museum and wine cellar. Tastings are available and they are well worth it. Visit during Christmas time and the castle also holds a series of festive events. Perfect to get you in the season’s mood.

Oh, and don’t worry, winter may be off-peak for tourism in Bled, but plenty of the best cafes, bars and restaurants around the lake remain open all-year round.

There’s more than one lake in Slovenia, you know, and Bohinj is actually the country’s largest. It may not have the quaint charm and Instagram clout that Bled boasts, but the scale of Bohinj is far more epic.

Combine that with the lack of tourists in winter and you get a truly awe-inspiring spot to spend the day. Tranquil but spectacular in equal measure, this place makes you feel small in the most relaxing kind of way.

Nobody associates Slovenia with going to the beach, but its Adriatic coastline is actually one of the most underrated in Europe. That’s largely because it’s so tiny. So much so that it’s very easy to explore the entire Slovenian coast in a day.

I was totally struck by how much it felt like I was in Italy. All three of the main towns – Piran, Izola and Koper – have a real Italian coastal feel to them, and can all be visited in one day. This makes sense when you look at the map and realise Slovenia’s coastline is like a small bridge connecting Italy to Croatia, but it’s a surprising quirk nonetheless.

Winter may be a little chilly for days on the beach, but that doesn’t stop you from embracing the Italian vibes by having a pizza in one of the main squares in Piran.

This is the kind of adorable little city that transports you back in time, with its picture-perfect medieval architecture and wondrous mountain backdrop. It’s the urban gateway to the Slovenian Alps, so a great hub for some outdoor adventure, but if you’re keeping it slow like me then all you need to do is stroll around town, have a coffee and visit highlights like St Kancijan Church, the Church of St. Sebastian and the Plecnik staircase and arcades.

This alpine resort town is most notable for its proximity to the mountains and glacial lakes of Triglav National Park. The highlight of my visit was without a shadow of a doubt Lake Jasna which, in the heart of winter, freezes over completely. Swimming costume in summer, ice skates in December – how cool is that!?

There are plenty of caves you can visit, but how many have a train riding through them? That speaks to the sheer scale of the Postojna complex, a 24km cave system that is as fascinating as it is visually striking. It’s also open every single day of the year, regardless of weather or national holidays.

A visit to the cave is naturally paired with a trip to the adjacent Predjama Castle, a truly awesome fortification built into the cliff-face over 800 years ago, and still looking as sturdy as ever. It really is like something out of a fantasy novel.

This is the only place mentioned in this article that can be a little tricky to get to, so I do recommend booking a day tour, most commonly departing from Ljubljana, and usually combining both the cave and castle. I can highly recommend booking this tour and my brilliant guide, ​​Branko.

The obvious start and end point to any trip to Slovenia is its pretty capital, Ljubljana, which takes on a new level of beauty in winter when the multi-coloured streets are sprinkled with some ice white snow.

The city centre is very charming, with plenty of cute cafes to hop between. Heading up to Ljubljana Castle is a must – there’s a funicular if the walk looks a little icy and treacherous. Looking down over downtown Ljubljana, the castle offers stunning views and a decent dose of history, with a few nice restaurants at the top of the hill, too.

During Christmas time there are even a few festive market stalls, which leads me onto the real reason to visit Ljubljana in December – Christmas!

The main Christmas market in the Slovenian capital is sure to get you into the festive spirit, with hearty food and drink and a slew of adorable stalls selling beautiful handmade ornaments – the perfect souvenir for your slow-Slovenia adventure.

Since festive spirit is at its peak, don’t forget to embrace this city’s excellent nightlife, with a range of cool bars to choose from, whether you’re after a casual drink, live music or a DJ set and dancefloor. The vibes here were amazing – super safe and friendly – and everyone clearly loves a good boogie. The beauty of being here in winter also means that tourists don’t flood the bars, which means you get to properly party with the locals!

If you party a little too hard in Ljubljana, consider a mini day trip to Lake Zbilje as the perfect antidote. It’s only 20 minutes away by car, and is home to loads of beautiful ducks and swans, with a lovely, peaceful vibe to help you regain your sense of tranquility, with the help of some coffee and lots of carbs. It’s the slow travel way!