Slovenia
Alpine lakes, high peaks, underground caves and a short Adriatic coast, all within one small country with a dense motorway network.
Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe, with Ljubljana, its capital and largest city, near the middle of the country. It borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, and its 20,271 square kilometers are mostly mountains and forest. Triglav, at 2,864 m in the Julian Alps, is the highest peak. Lake Bled, with a small island at its center, and Lake Bohinj, at the foot of Triglav, are the best-known lakes. The coast is short, about 46.6 km, and mostly rocky.
The name karst comes from the Karst Plateau in the southwest, where limestone hides underground rivers and caves. Postojna Cave and the UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves are the best known, with Predjama Castle a popular stop nearby. For a summer trip, the lakes and the coast suit you best, since July and August are usually dry on the coast. In winter, snow is common, and ski areas include Kranjska Gora, Rogla and Krvavec.
Five things to know before Slovenia
- Buy an e-vignette before you use motorways
Motorways need an electronic vignette, sold weekly, monthly or yearly and available online from DARS. It also applies on blue-signed trunk roads. Keep the confirmation and avoid unlicensed resellers. DARS
- Reach Bled early, or stay at Bohinj
The Vintgar Gorge site puts its busiest hours at 10:00 to 13:00, and the lakefront fills on the same logic. Bohinj is larger, quieter and closer to the trailheads of Triglav National Park. Bled or Bohinj?
- Choose one cave: Postojna or Škocjan
Postojna is under an hour from Ljubljana by car and has an underground train; Škocjan is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a canyon and river landscape. Both sell timed tours, so buy online from the official sites. Day trips from Ljubljana
- Plan the Vršič Pass around snow and parking
The high road between Kranjska Gora and the Soča Valley can be shut by snow or an avalanche. Barriers now control parking at the top, and The Julian Alps guide has the details. The Julian Alps
- Check the rules for your passport
US, UK, Canadian and Australian visitors need no visa for up to 90 days in any 180 across Schengen, and register in the EES at the first crossing. ETIAS is not yet in operation. Visa checker
Slovenia travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Car-free old town, castle funicular and a two-day plan.
Read the guideLake BledIsland, castle and Vintgar Gorge, with bases and prices.
Read the guideLake BohinjThe larger, quieter lake with Savica waterfall and a boat.
Read the guideThe Julian AlpsHow many bases, the car train and the Vršič Pass.
Read the guideSoča ValleyBovec or Kobarid, rafting, gorges and the Isonzo Front museum.
Read the guideSlovenian CoastPiran, Izola or Koper as a base, and Venice by boat.
Read the guideMariborThe oldest vine, the Pohorje hills and Štajerska wine.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €35
- Food
- €25
- Transport
- €4
- Sights
- €10
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €75
- Food
- €55
- Transport
- €12
- Sights
- €20
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €120
- Food
- €100
- Transport
- €35
- Sights
- €60
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Cold, foggyJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°CoolMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°SpringAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayRain17 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 166 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°WarmJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Busy, warmJulyRain
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- AugustClear11 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Busy, warmAugustClear
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°MildSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°WetNovemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°MarketsDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Markets
Average daily high and low in Ljubljana, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Slovenia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 28%
Slovenia
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°5°28%Monday: Rain. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Tue8°4°5%Tuesday: Rain. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed8°2°16%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Thu9°0°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°-2°2%Friday: Fog. High 8°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat7°-2°10%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun8°-1°10%Sunday: Fog. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 06:05 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
NovemberSalzburg Christkindlmarkt
NovemberNuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
NovemberStrasbourg Christmas marketFestivals by month
- Jan
- FebKurentovanjeMaribor
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- JunLent FestivalMariborLjubljana Summer FestivalLjubljana
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Before you go to Slovenia
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Slovenia FAQ
How many days do I need in Slovenia?
Five days covers Ljubljana, Bled or Bohinj, one cave and the coast at Piran. A week lets you add the Soča Valley.
Do I need a car in Slovenia?
Buses link Ljubljana with Bled, Bohinj and the coast, and trains run to Koper. A car helps for the Soča Valley and the Vršič Pass, and then the e-vignette applies.
Is Slovenia in Schengen?
Yes. Non-EU visitors register under the EES at their first Schengen border, and days count toward the shared 90 days in 180. ETIAS is not yet in operation.
When is the best time to visit Slovenia?
May, June, September and early October balance mild weather with lighter crowds. July and August are the busiest months at Bled and on the coast.
Can I swim in Lake Bled?
Yes, at the designated bathing areas in the warmest months. Bohinj has marked areas too and is quieter.