Slovenia is a wonderful country to visit. So many visitors end their visits wishing that they had more time and I was no exception. That said, I realize that many visitors don’t have enough time to see everything, so I put together this itinerary for a long weekend in Slovenia. You can base yourself in Ljubljana and spend a little time exploring the capital city. Then, day trip to some incredible scenery that will make you fall in love with Slovenia.
Given that Ljubljana can be a bit more out of the way that other, more popular destinations, it’s important to make sure you give yourself enough time. Unfortunately a long weekend in Slovenia won’t be enough, but it will give you a great taste of what this country has to offer.
A Long Weekend in Slovenia
This itinerary is loosely based on my own trip to Slovenia which I did as part of a larger trip through Europe. I took what I did in my own itinerary and added a little extra time to make what I think would be a fantastic long weekend in Slovenia.
Day 1 – Arrival into Slovenia
Rather than moving around each night, base yourself in one place for the entirety of your long weekend in Slovenia. It saves the time of packing and unpacking and will allow to see more. For this itinerary, we’ll base ourselves in the capital city of Ljubljana and take some incredible day trips from here.
First, though, you need to get to Ljubljana, Slovenia. You can arrive by bus or train which will take you close to the Old Town (which is where you’ll really want to base yourself). For those flying, know that there’s only one airport in Slovenia and it is small. There aren’t a lot of connections so keep that in mind as you’re planning your trip.
From the airport, you’ll need to reach the city center. Buses run frequently and connect the airport with the main train/bus station in the Ljubljana city center and cost just four euros per person (as of fall 2025). Note that the fare must be paid in cash, so stop by an ATM before trying to board the bus.
In all of my itineraries, I take it very easy on the first day because you never know if you’ll run into travel delays. So, if you arrive early and have some time, go out and start exploring. Tomorrow we’ll explore Ljubljana properly but for today, start with a stroll through the Old Town and start to get familiar with the city. Ljubljana is light on sights so don’t worry about cramming in everything. You’ll have plenty of time tomorrow to cover the highlights.
Day 2 – Exploring Ljubljana
While there is a lot to see outside of Ljubljana, I think it makes sense to give one day of your itinerary to the capital of Slovenia. The Old Town is picturesque, the castle offers fantastic views, and there are plenty of great restaurants to relax and grab a delicious meal in. It’s your choice for how exactly to spend your day, but here’s what I recommend.
Start the day in Ljubljana’s Old Town and check out the top sights. Prešen Square (Prešernov Trg) is a lively square that just seems to become more lively as the day goes on. Dragon Bridge is a favorite and though I found it a bit underwhelming, it’s a quick visit so you should stop. It’s not a city in Europe without a church or cathedral, so swing by the Ljubljana Cathedral. Along the river, you’ll find the Riverside Market (Tržnice) and some squares that may also be full of markets.
Take a break from the Old Town and head up to the Ljubljana Castle for views over the city. You can pay to enter the castle and learn more about its history, but I found that I was content just to take I the castle from the exterior (which is free). You can ride a funicular to the top or save your money and walk up one of two routes. Reber is longer, but less steep whereas Za ograjami is shorter, but felt steep the entire way.
Head back to the Old Town after Ljubljana’s Castle and find somewhere to eat. There are loads of restaurants and cafes lining the river, so it won’t be hard to find something delicious for lunch. While I’m not a foodie traveler by any stretch, I have no qualms about recommending Droga Violina which had delicious, cheap, and filing lunches.
Next, head toward Tivoli Park. Skip the pedestrian street Čopova Ulica (we’ll cover it later) and head there via Congress Square and Republic Square. You’ll eventually reach the Orthodox Church, which is worthy of a quick stop. Then head to Tivoli Park with its seemingly endless walking trails. It feels a world away from the city and is great to stroll or relax with a good book.
In the evening, head back to the Old Town along the pedestrianized Čopova Ulica and enjoy the rest of your evening. Find a restaurant and have a drink, get some ice cream and people watch, or do some shopping. The choice is yours.
The next two days, we’ll be venturing outside of Ljubljana, so try to get your fix of the city today.
Day 3 – Bled (+ Optional Bohinj and Triglav National Park)
Ljubljana is nice but so much of the beauty of Slovenia lays outside of the capital. One of the most popular places to visit Lake Bled. This can be visited on your own or with a guided tour.
If you’re not interested in traveling by yourself, you can book a tour. Some tours go straight to Bled and only focus on Bled, but others take you to more destinations. I normally don’t book tours, but I did for this trip and I’m so glad I did. My tour not only took us to Bled, but also to Triglav National Park and Bohinj. At Triglav National Park, we hiked to the Savica Waterfall and at Bohinj, we stopped to take in the lake (which was stunning). After lunch, we had enough time in Bled to walk the entire lake.
If you’re not interested in a tour, just focus on Bled. Look for the Arriva buses from Ljubljana to Bled (these buses will likely be going all the way to Bohinj, but will stop in Bled on the way). In Bled, you can walk the three mile loop around the lake, hike to a viewpoint or two, or take a boat out to the island in the middle of Lake Bled. The highlight of the day is the views along the lake. It’s just beautiful.
It’s your choice whether you choose to take a tour or visit Bled on your own. Just don’t skip the visit to Bled!
Day 4 – Postonja Caves and Predjama Castle
Today we’ll do another day trip from Ljubljana. I ran out of time on my own trip to Slovenia, but if I were to do it again (or take a long weekend in Slovenia), I absolutely would have added more time so I could do just one more day trip from Ljubljana. For that day trip, visiting the Postonja Caves and Predjama Castle. For those traveling solo, it’s easiest to do this with a guided tour, but it may still be possible with public transportation (depending on the season). Be sure to check schedules for the season you are traveling.
The Postonja Caves is the biggest cave system in Slovenia. You’ll have to take a tour to go inside the caves, but on this tour, you’ll get to visit three of the caves.
Nearby the Postonja Caves, you’ll find the Predjama Castle, which is built into the side of a mountain. The scenery is great and the castle exterior is stunning because of it. It’s debatable if the interior of the castle is actually worth it, so you’ll have to decide if you want to spend the extra money, but even stopping for the exterior can be worth it for some visitors.
Return to Ljubljana and enjoy one final meal along the river in the Old Town.
Day 5 – Depart Slovenia
Your long weekend in Slovenia is over. It’s time to head home or to your next destination.
Where to Stay in Ljubljana
For your long weekend in Slovenia, you only need to book one hotel in Ljubljana. While there’s plenty of places to stay, I recommend looking for a place in Ljubljana’s Old Town. This puts you in the best location for all of the things you’ll want to see in Ljubljana. In addition, you’re only a 15 minute walk to the Ljubljana train/bus station.
I stayed in a hostel in central Ljubljana that was just steps away from the river. The location was absolutely fantastic. I was close to all of the top sights and when I returned from my day trip in the evening, I was right along the river if I wanted to go to a restaurant.
When to Visit Slovenia
Summer is high season. Expect high temperatures and the most crowds. While Slovenia isn’t as busy as some of its European neighbors, it can still get busy. Bled especially can feel very busy during peak tourist season. The good news is that shuttles and buses should be running and will hopefully allow you to do this entire itinerary independently (if that’s your preference).
Winter is low season with the lowest prices, coldest temperatures, and fewest visitors. You can absolutely still visit Ljubljana during the winter months but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
Spring and fall are shoulder season which offer a balance between price, weather, and tourist crowds.
I visited in the second week of October and had a fantastic time. There were plenty of other travelers but it never felt overwhelming. Mornings were cool and often had a layer of fog that cleared up as the morning wore on. In addition, leaves were changing making some of the drives outside the city (particularly near Triglav National Park and Bled) extra beautiful.
Final Thoughts
Slovenia is an amazing country and so many travelers fall in love with its beautiful nature, lively capital, and friendly people. Even with a long weekend in Slovenia, you’re likely to end your trip and immediately want to return.
Continue Your Adventure
Slovenia: Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and is a great place to spend one day. Budget travelers can check out my Slovenia travel budget.
Nearby: To the north is Austria, with its capital city of Vienna. To the east, you’ll reach Budapest which has so many incredible sights.
More Itineraries: For more short itineraries, try my long weekend in Zurich or my car free Iceland itinerary. In Scandinavia, try my long weekend in Sweden. With more time, try my two week Central Europe itinerary which takes you from Slovenia to Hungary.