The 10 Best Day trips from Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia’s charming capital, isn’t just a wonderful destination in its own right. Its central location and excellent transport connections make it the perfect base for exploring the rest of this compact and captivating country. From majestic mountain hikes and fairytale castles to mysterious caves and historic coastal towns, the best day trips from Ljubljana let you experience the very best of Slovenia in a single day.
Here are the 10 best day trips from Ljubljana to add to your itinerary.
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I recently spent 2 months travelling across the Balkans by train using an Interrail pass. A significant amount of that time spent in Slovenia and Ljubljana. These are the resources I used to plan my trip
Hotels – Booking.com
Tours and Activities – Get Your Guide
Train Bookings – Rail Europe
Amazon Links
Travel Guide – DK Slovenia (Travel Guide)
Travel Guide – Lonely Planet – Western Balkans
Great Places to Stay in Ljubljana
City Hotel – Highly rated and used as pickup spot for tours
Cha Cha Rooms – Great location and excellent value
Cozy Apartments – Popular apartments (2 night min. stay)
Grand Union Hotel Eurostars – High end hotel in historic building
Lake Bled — Slovenia’s Most Famous Day Trip
Distance: 55 km | Time: 1 hour
If you only do one, the best day trip from Ljubljana, Slovenia is Lake Bled. Stunningly beautiful, it has attracted tourists since the 19th century. Visitors can take in its picture-perfect views and stroll around the lake (a flat 6km). In the centre of the lake is Slovenia’s only natural island. Take one of the traditional “pletna” rowing boats across the lake, and ring the legendary “Bell of Wishes” in the church.
Other things to do in Bled are climb to the fairy tale castle on a cliff top above the lake, check out the church of St Martin in the town, and gorge yourself on the Bled cream cake, Blejska kremšnita.
Postojna Cave — A Subterranean Wonderland
Distance: 53 km | Time: 45 minutes
The Postojna Cave system is one of the world’s most visited, and there’s a good reason for that. Even the electric train ride to the start of the tour is exciting. I’m pretty short and I was ducking as the roof of the tunnel rushed by.
The cave system is vast and beautiful and, if you’re lucky, you may even see a ‘baby dragon’! The Olm, is a blind salamander that lives in the caves, and the nickname is due to the local legend that they were the offspring of dragons!
Combine your visit with nearby Predjama Castle for a perfect half-day adventure.
Predjama Castle — Best Day Trips from Ljubljana
Distance: 60 km | Time: 1 hour
There may be bigger castles, but few are as dramatic as Pedjama Castle, This impregnable castle was built into a cave under a cliff. Its most famous inhabitant, Erazem Lueger, was Slovenia’s Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the poor.
After he killed a powerful nobleman, they sent an army to capture him. The castle was impregnable, so they laid siege, trying to starve the defenders out. Lueger taunted his enemies by sending fresh cherries to them. A secret passage through the caves gave Lueger’s men easy access to fresh food.
Finally, he was betrayed and killed in a very unromantic way. A traitor lit a lamp to indicate Lueger was using the castle toilet, and a canon fusillade brought the outbuilding down!
Pair this with Postojna Cave for one of the best day trip combinations from Ljubljana.
Vingtgar Gorge – Best Day Trips from Ljubljana
Distance: 62 Km | Time: 1 Hour
For an accessible Slovenian hiking experience which all the family can do, try Vingtgar Gorge. Firstly, your route will take you from the entrance point, through a gorge so narrow and deep, that the sun barely penetrates some sections. Compulsory helmets keep you safe from banging your head on the rock as you cross the fast-flowing river below on wooden bridges, and along precarious feeling boardwalks, until you come to the Sum waterfall.
From there, you can choose between two routes back to the gorge entrance. Either take the River of Trees trail for a forest experience (total distance 4.3km) or the King of Triglav trail (5.7km) which covers a much more open alpine route.
There is no parking at the Gorge entrance, but free shuttle buses run regularly from the Bled Bus station and the Central Car Park.
Tip – Bled Bus Station is also the destination for the public buses from Ljubljana to Bled, making the day trip seamless.
Lipica Stud Farm – Home of the Famous Lipizzana Horses
Distance: 82 km | Time: 1 Hour 5 minutes
The original, and still the largest stud farm for the famous Lipizzana Horses used in the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The Lipica stud farm is one of the oldest in the world.
Tickets include meeting some of the 300 horses, talks on the history of the breed, tours of the stables and museum, and guided visits to the stud farm. Additional activities are also available (with purchase of the stud farm ticket). Visitors can also attend training sessions, and a show by the horses.
Tip: Lipika isn’t easy by public transport, so I recommend visitors either drive, or book a tour
Vipava Valley – Wine Connoisseur’s Heaven
Distance: 85km | 1 hour 30 minutes
Slovenia has been making wine for thousands of years and is very good at it. The Vipava valley is the perfect storm for wine making. Warm Adriatic air meets the colder Alpine air and creates ideal conditions for growing grapes.
You could drive yourself to this area, but the reason for visiting is to drink wine, so the best idea is to join an organised tour with a driver!
Soča River Valley – Best Day Trips from Ljubljana
Distance 100km | 2 hours
The Soča River Valley is Slovenia at its most beautiful. The soaring Julian Alps frame rushing emerald rivers and cascading waterfalls. The Soča Valley is famed for its adventure sports, so if you want to experience hiking, kayaking, rafting or even paragliding and parachuting, this is the place for you.
The distance and time quoted are flexible, because it’s a large area, and there are many sites you’ll want to visit.
Piran — Slovenia’s Seaside Jewel
Distance: 120 km | Travel time: 1.5 hours
Slovenia’s coastline is tiny, barely 29 miles long. Tucked between Italy and Croatia, is a Venetian gem, Piran. Ruled by Venice for over 500 years, you would think you were in Italy as you wander the maze of streets barely wide enough for two people side by side.
Climb the bell tower for stunning views, dine on fresh seafood while gazing across the Adriatic to snow capped Italian alpine peaks.
Tip – Piran is easier to get to by bus than train from Ljubljana. The train line only goes as far as Koper and then requires a 40 minute bus journey.
Kranj — Best Day Trips from Ljubljana
Distance: 30 km | Time: 30 minutes
Kranj blends culture and nature beautifully. Stroll through the old town perched above two rivers, visit Prešeren House, and explore the tunnels beneath the city. Descend to the city’s ossuary (you can get the key from the Town Hall), and climb the church’s bell tower.
The town’s laid-back vibe and proximity make it a great off-the-beaten-path day trip.
Celje — Best Day Trips from Ljubljana
Distance: 80 km | Time: 1.5 hours
Home to the powerful Counts of Celje, the town offers deep history with a castle overlooking the old town and the remains of a Roman town underneath it. It also has a modern slant with Slovenia’s largest science based theme park. Hell, it even has a beer fountain in the park!
It’s one of the most underrated day trips from Ljubljana.
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