Upon arrival at Ljubljana you will be met and taken by private transfer directly to your city centre hotel. Balance of the day to explore Ljubaljana on foot.
* we are also happy to provide a transfer from railway and bus stations if required.
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Discover the charm and diversity of Slovenia on this one-week self-drive. From the vibrant capital of Ljubljana to the alpine beauty of Lake Bled and Triglav National Park, the karst caves of Postojna, and the historic coastal towns of Piran or Isola, this route combines culture, nature, and unforgettable scenery. The itinerary is flexible, allowing extra nights or optional side trips to hidden gems like the Logar Valley, Soča River region, or Goriška Brda wine country.
Activity code: SLFD01
Duration: 8 Days
Discover Slovenia’s “best bits” on this one-week self-drive holiday, perfectly balanced for a first-time visit. Begin in the charming capital, Ljubljana, a compact and friendly city ideal for wandering its historic streets, enjoying riverside cafés, and soaking in the viewpoints. From here, travel north to the alpine splendour of Lake Bled and Triglav National Park, where fresh air, mountain scenery, and outdoor activities await. Depending on your preferences, stay in Bled, Bohinj, or Kranjska Gora to make the most of this stunning area.
Continue through the karst region to Postojna with its famous caves, winding mountain villages, and scenic minor roads, perfect for leisurely drives or a packed picnic along the way. Your journey concludes on Slovenia’s picturesque Adriatic coast in Piran or Isola, offering historic towns, sea views, and the option for a short trip into Italy or Croatia before returning to Ljubljana for your departure.
The route is flexible, allowing extra nights in any location or detours to hidden gems such as the Logar Valley, Bovec on the Soča River, or the Goriška Brda wine region. Excellent roads, scenic drives, and a thoughtfully curated route make this holiday an ideal introduction to Slovenia, blending culture, nature, and unforgettable landscapes at every turn.
Important Information
Flights available to book with us through a range of airlines, from various UK airports to Ljubljana. If we book your flights this means that your holiday will also be fully ATOL protected.
Our hire cars include Slovenia's Vignette (or highway tax disc).
Prices shown are a guideline "from" (in UK Pounds) and are based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. Single supplements may need to be applied to the twin/double price and discounts for children (under 12yrs) and/or a 3rd adult sharing a room are available upon request. Quoted prices for individual enquiries will depend upon your chosen accommodation, room availability and dates of travel. We always aim to match a high quality experience with exceptional value for money. Discounts will apply if there are 3 or more people in your travelling party as fixed costs such as transportation and guides will be shared equally between the group.
Based upon 2 persons travelling.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Ljubljana you will be met and taken by private transfer directly to your city centre hotel. Balance of the day to explore Ljubaljana on foot.
* we are also happy to provide a transfer from railway and bus stations if required.
Today will be your sightseeing and exploration day!
Visit the castle using one of the many footpaths up the hill or by taking a ride in the funicular. You may like to consider a boat trip on the river or hiring a bicycle to explore this compact city, including the huge Tivoli Park not far from the centre. Ljubljana has some great food and wine to sample, a fabulous market, a zoo, a museum of illusions and many different types of tour, e.g. Segway, Moustache Tour.
Your hire car will be delivered in the morning to your hotel (or to the nearest safe parking place). Drive north to Lake Bled and the Julian Alps. Possible detours en route include the small town of Kranj, the historic village of Radovljica and maybe even Kamnik and the Velika Planina.
A full day to explore the lake, including the island by Pletna Boat, and the castle; you can walk or cycle around the full shoreline of the lake and explore further on trails in and around the Triglav National Park. On the shore of the lake there is a summer toboggan run, a zip line and mini-golf; nearby is Lake Bohinj and the Vogel cable car to the west and to the north is the Vintgar Gorge.
At this point on your holiday you could choose to extend your stay in Lake Bled to explore the area more fully or even to take a day trip into the mountains by train. The possible alternatives would be to consider a couple of nights in Kranjska Gora or Bovec via the incredible Vrsic Pass or even the equally stunning Logar Valley thereby extending your holiday to around 10 days or more (hotel suggestions below).
Today we suggest taking a scenic route through the mountains via Bohinj, Most na Soci and Idrija to Postojna; a picnic may be a great idea to enjoy along the way. A possible detour would be to Lake Bohinj and/or the Vogel mountain cable car.
If you stay an extra night in Postojna you will have time to visit Predjama Castle and maybe also the Skocjan Caves and the home of the Lipizzaner Horses - all within a very easy drive of Postojna.
Day 6 - visit the Postojna show caves first thing in the morning (they are just a short walk from both hotels and tickets can be pre-booked online), you then have time to enjoy the general surroundings away from the main crowds. Afterwards, head south to the Adriatic coast and the charming resort of Isola (or a little further to the historic town of Piran).
Day 7 - enjoy some relaxation time on the Slovenian coast at your choice of resort. Natural beauty abounds in this region, such as the 80m Strunjan Cliff and the historic Secovlje salt-pans (on the border with Croatia) which are a sanctuary for over 100 bird species. The Parenzana - a route of the former railway has been cleared and is suitable for hikers and cyclists, along the trails there are numerous resting places and sightseeing spots.
Your final day in Slovenia; take the highway back to Ljubljana for your flight home and drop off the car at the airport.
If you have an early flight departure then we can arrange a hotel in Kranj which is near to the airport, e.g. Hotel Actum - OR you may wish to consider reversing your itinerary and stay in Ljubljana at the end instead of at the beginning.
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