10 Day Trips from Ljubljana

Slovenia, although small by size, has always been very proud of its huge, unique heritage. The capital city of Ljubljana is a perfect blend of German, Slovenian and Mediterranean culture and customs. By simply walking through its Old Town you can enjoy Baroque, Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture. But, if you feel like you have seen most of Ljubljana, we recommend you a few short daily trips you can go to from this beautiful historic city.

NOTE: For those of you who prefer travelling by car, in case you don’t have your own, you can always rent one online at affordable prices and save some time.

1) Bled Lake

This lake is probably Slovenia’s most known place among tourists and a must-see site when one considers daily trips from Slovenia’s capital, and if you’ve seen the photos of Bled, you’ll understand why. This tourist destination has many reasons to be visited for, but what else is necessary other than being amazed while walking around the lake, staring into the crystal-blue water among the snow-capped Julien Alps?

You can reach the Bled Lake from Ljubljana:

• By bus: Buses leave Ljubljana hourly (on the hour) for a 75-minute ride. From Bled to Ljubljana, buses depart hourly on the half-hour. Tickets cost €6.30 each away.
• By train: The Lesce-Bled international railway station lies on the Villach – Jesenice – Ljubljana – Belgrade – Istanbul – Athens railway line. The distance between the railway station and the lake is 4km, so you can use bus to get there (bus station is across the street of the railway station). The Bled Jezero railway station lies on the Villach – Jesenice – Nova Gorica – Koper or Gorizia (Italy) railway line. The distance between the station and the centre of Bled is 1,5 km, which you can beat by foot, taxi or by a tourist train.
• By car: The distance between Ljubljana and Bled Lake is 77km and you can reach it under and hour. This will cost you approximately 23€.

2) Škofja Loka

Škofja Loka is one of the oldest and the best preserved medieval Slovenian towns centered around its two squares, Mestni Trg or Plac and Spodnji Trg or Lontrg, both of which are dominated by the Škofja Loka Castle. There are many natural attractions, not far from the city centre, that are worth paying a visit to, like the Lubniška Jama cave system and Mary’s Chasm.

Škofja Loka is accessible from Ljubljana:

• By bus: To get to Škofja Loka from Ljubljana only takes about 37 minutes for the price of €3.10. Buses depart over 30 times a day on weekdays and 12 times a day on the weekend.
• By train: There are 6 trains a day on weekends, however during the week there are up to 15 trains a day. A one-way ticket costs €1.75 and the train takes around 30 minutes. For the timetable check www.slo-zeleznice.si.
• By car: In case you prefer to go on your own, your journey of 23km will take approximately 20min and cost less than 5€.

3) Maribor

Slovenia’s second biggest city is a perfect little getaway if you want to see the other side of Slovenia. The most popular part of the town is, of course, the Old Town, where you can feel the classic Austrian influence which is ‘justified’ since Maribor is closer to Graz than Ljubljana. If you happen to be there at the end of September, take part in the annual Old Vine Festival, the highlight of Maribor tourist season.

Visit Maribor from Ljubljana:

• By bus: Buses from Ljubljana to Maribor depart several times a day and the journey takes from 1.5h to 5h, depending on the bus company. One way ticket goes from 20€ up.
• By train: The regular journey time in train is 2 – 2.5h for the price of 10€ per direction, which makes it the cheapest option to reach Maribor. For the timetable check www.slo-zeleznice.si.
• By car: The distance between Ljubljana and Maribor is 130km. To cross this distance you’ll need to drive for 1h 40min and it will cost you 30€.

4) Trieste (Italy)

If you feel like you need something Italian, then go straight to Trieste. Although it’s not the most popular Italian destination, Trieste is a beautiful city on Istrian coast with rich Latin, Germanic and Slavic heritage. Go there and see on your own the beauty of Canal Grande, Trieste’s Old Town, Austrian Quarter and much more.

You can reach Trieste from Ljubljana:

• By bus: The Ljubljana – Trieste route is very popular among travellers. The journey takes only 1h 35min and it’s ideal for daytrippers. The price of this trip varies from 5 to 18€.
• By car: The distance between these two cities is 93 km and you can cross it 1h 25min for 25€.

5) Zagreb (Croatia)

Croatian capital is the top destination for daytrippers coming from Ljubljana. Start your tour in Gornji Grad, the medieval centre of the city. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary and St Mark’s Church are great attractions to visit if you’re an architecture enthusiast, as well as the Mimara Museum and Archaeological Museum for art lovers.

There are a few options to reach Zagreb from Ljubljana:

• By bus: The journey from Ljubljana to Zagreb takes approximately 2.5 h and costs 7 – 10€ per direction, depending on the company. There are several departures per day, but if you want to make a whole day out of your trip, take the one early in the morning since there might be border delays.
• By train: The train journey also lasts 2.5h and it is recommended to take either the one at 06:20 a.m. or at 08:25 a.m. Do not take the train at 09:30 a.m. because you won’t make it in time to check out the city and go back to Ljubljana unless you spend the night.
• By car: The driving distance between Zagreb and Ljubljana is 140km, which you can cross in about 2h for 40€.

6) Postojna Cave

The amazing Postojna Cave system, a series of halls, passages and caverns 24km long and over two million years old, was hollowed out by the Pivka River nearby. Postojna Cave has a low temperature, from 8°C to 10°C with a humidity of 95%, so we recommend you to bring a warm jacket and adequate shoes.

Visit Postojna Cave from Ljubljana:

• By bus: There are several buses a day from Ljubljana to Postojna. The journey times range between 45 minutes to 1 hour and 12 minutes, depending on the company. For launching a day trip, the 7:40 or 8:15 departures are the best options.
• By train: There are more or less hourly trains from early morning till late in the evening between Ljubljana and the Postojna train station, the travel time is about 1 hour.
• By car: Travelling to Postojna caves by car is the easiest way of getting there. The nearest highway exit A1 / E61 (from Ljubljana to Trieste) is located about 3 km from the cave. Driving time from Ljubljana to Postojna Is about 40 minutes.

7) Bohinj Lake

Only 26km away from the Bled Lake, there is Bohinj. Although it lacks Bled’s glamour, it is less crowded and more authentic, in many ways. It’s a perfect getaway for families and groups of friends, and even for those who travel alone. People usually come to chill out or to swim in the crystal-clear water, with cycling and walking trails to occupy them.

Go to Bohinj Lake from Ljubljana:

• By bus: Buses depart regularly from Ljubljana Avtobusna Postaja, every hour, on the hour, from 6am until 8pm. The bus ride should take a little less than two hours. One way ticket is approximately 20€.
• By train: The closest train station is the one is Bohinjska Bistrica which is 11.5 km from Bohinj Zlatorog / Ukanc at the far end of the lake. Bohinjska Bistrica train station is connected to Jesenice and from there on to Ljubljana which makes travelling to Lake Bohinj by train a less optimal solution. From the train station in Bohinjska Bistrica you will have to either walk or take a bus or taxi to get to the lake.
• By car: Driving by car to Lake Bohinj is possible from Bled which means from Ljubljana you have to take exit nr. 3 towards Lesce / Bled. From the highway exit there is about 30 km to Lake Bohinj. The journey takes about 1h (80km).

8) Koper

Koper, Slovenian largest coastal town, seems as a port-orientated place which gives less attention to tourism, however, but Koper’s central core is delightfully medieval and it’s a pleasure to spend a day gazing through those streets. Don’t end your trip to Koper without having a bite of some yummy Istrian food in a traditional tavern.

You can go to Koper from Ljubljana:

• By bus: Buses are generally the quickest way to travel between Ljubljana and Koper. The travel time for most routes is about 2 hours. One way ticket costs 13€.
• By train: The journey by train is 2.5h long as well. A single ticket is 10 – 13€, depending on the time of the journey.
• By car: To cross the distance between Koper and Ljubljana, you need to drive for 1 hour. It will cost you 15 – 20€.

9) Škocjan Caves

A visit to the huge, breathtaking subterranean chambers of the 6-km long, UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves is something you must undertake. This splendid cave system was hollowed out by the Reka River which flows into the Dead Lake, a sump at the end of the cave where it disappears. Dress in warm clothes and wear comfortable walking shoes.

You can reach Škocjan Caves from Ljubljana:

• By train: It’s not the most convenient route because you’ll need to get a train from Ljubljana to Divača and from Divača Station it’s a 3-kilometre walk on a well-marked walking path to the caves. Check train schedules from Ljubljana to Divača on Slovenske železnice. The price is 7.27€.
• By car: It is a 45-min drive (75km) from Slovenia’s capital to the Škocjan Caves.

10) Triglav National Park

The Triglav National Park is the only Slovenian national park. It was named after Triglav, the highest mountain in the heart of the park, which is also the highest peak in the country (2864 m). While there, make sure not to miss one of the most popular natural features in Triglav National park, so make sure not to miss out on this magnificent tourist attraction.

You can visit the Triglav National Park from Ljubljana:

• By bus: From Ljubljana to TNP and the ticket costs around 6€.
• By train: Go from Ljubljana to the Railway station Lesce-Bled, and from there with a local bus to Triglav. Total price is approximately 7€.
• By car: The distance between Ljubljana and Triglav is 120km, you need to drive about 2 hours to cross it. It will cost you 20€.