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Slovenia & Northern Italy

Central Europe

Slovenia & Northern Italy

NATUREWEEKEND GETAWAYHIDDEN GEMS4 days

Trieste to Lake Bled via turquoise gorges and alpine views

Dosage

4 days

Indication

Nature, city & short road trip

Contra-indication

Nervous drivers on winding roads

Side effects

Wondering why Slovenia was not on your list sooner

Central Europe  why go

This Slovenia and Northern Italy road trip gives you a quick introduction to both sides of the border: Trieste and Verona in Italy, with Tolmin, Ljubljana and Lake Bled in between. It is a compact route, but the scenery changes quickly — from Adriatic streets to turquoise gorges, a small capital and alpine lake views within a few days.

✦  Based on expert opinion: We did the trial and error, so you get the optimized route.

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At a glance

Dosage4 days
IndicationNature, city & short road trip
Contra-indicationNervous drivers on winding roads
Side effectsWondering why Slovenia was not on your list sooner

The itinerary  what to do, where

4 places

The route

Trieste & the Soča Valley - Day 1

Start in Italy and cross into Slovenia the scenic way. The day quickly shifts from Trieste's city streets to the greener, quieter landscape around Tolmin. You trade Adriatic architecture for narrow gorges and turquoise water within a few hours.

Stay: Pr' Petrču, a small apartment near Tolmin
Getting there: Fly to Venice Treviso or Marco Polo, collect a rental car and drive towards Slovenia via Trieste

Highlights

  1. Trieste
  2. Tolmin Gorges — turquoise water, narrow rock walls and an easy introduction to the Soča Valley.

Getting aroundRental car

EatPizzeria Da Michele - Trieste

TipIt can be busy during peak-season. We went early in the morning in June and there were no crowds at all. You can book online tickets in advance.
Trieste & the Soča Valley - Day 1
Tolmin Gorges

Ljubljana & Lake Bled - Day 2

A first taste of Slovenia in one day: a compact capital followed by alpine scenery and one of the country's classic sunset views. You get Ljubljana's walkable centre in the morning and Bled's elevated lake panorama by late afternoon.

Highlights

  1. Ljubljana center (1.45 hours from Tolmin)
  2. Lake Bled (40 minutes from Ljubljana)
  3. Mala Osojnica viewpoint — worth the steep climb for the elevated view over Lake Bled.

Getting aroundRental car; explore central Ljubljana on foot

EatRaw Pasta - Ljubljana

CoffeeSTOW 2 GO. If you are a at home barista look out for Coronini Coffee Roasters beans in Tolmin.

TipWe stayed in Tolmin, but would consider sleeping closer to Ljubljana or Bled on the second night. The drive back towards Tolmin after sunset is dark, narrow and winding in places and is not especially enjoyable if you dislike mountain driving.
Ljubljana & Lake Bled - Day 2
Lake Bled

Verona - Day 3

Back in Italy, trade alpine scenery for churches, old streets and one very walkable historic centre.

Stay: Juliet Suite Kalima Home, a characterful apartment in the city with a parking garage around two minutes away
Getting there: Around 3 hours by car from the Slovenia section of the trip, depending on where you sleep the night before

Highlights

  1. Basilica di San Zeno
  2. Verona Cathedral
  3. Sant'Anastasia Church
  4. San Fermo Church
  5. The historic centre (including Juliet’s House)

Getting aroundOn foot.

EatIl Mannarino Verona — choose your cut at the butcher counter, then have it cooked for you

TipBuy the combined ticket for Verona's four main churches rather than separate entries. You can spread the visits across the day rather than rushing them all at once.
Verona - Day 3
Santuario della Madonna di Lourdes

Departure - Day 4

Keep the final morning light, then drive back towards Venice for your flight home. Leave enough buffer for the drive, fuel stop and rental-car return rather than treating departure day as another sightseeing day.

Getting there: Drive back towards Venice airport for departure (1,5 hour)
    Departure - Day 4
    Verona

    From the road  5 photographs

    Before you go  take it with you

    Make Slovenia & Northern Italy your next story

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