Lose yourself in fairy tale like Slovenia: Day trips from Ljubljana

I can hear the water gushing as I walk towards the railing. It’s a chilly October morning and I’m glad to be equipped with a jacket and boots. As I peer down at the Rodovna river , I am in awe of the crystal clear water, reflecting the greenery all around. Walking down to the narrow bridge, I can see a part of the walking trail up ahead, along with some vertical rocks.  I remember reading about the gorge running across rocks of the Hom and Bort hills. My senses are just soaking  in all the stunning natural beauty around. “The trail is about 1.6 kms long”, says our guide. “But people generally take about 45 minutes to walk across if they keep stopping for pictures and admiring the views.See you on the other side.” I see her walk back towards the car and some people setting out on the trail, while two others decide to get coffee first to warm up. I am still at the center of the bridge, feeling the serenity and calmness around while my heart beats faster in excitement.  This place looks enchanted. It looks surreal. I am at Vintgar Gorge and this is just the beginning of exploring fairy-tale like Slovenia.

 

Was just awestruck at Vintgar Gorge while visiting Bled,slovenia. Such clear water and scenic beauty all around! Are you a nature lover too? Share your pictures with #shareTravellersTales ! – – – – – #slovenia #igslovenia #vintgar #bled #beautifulworld #hikingadventures #naturephotography #naturelover #naturegram #river #outdoors #letsgosomewhere #explorer #fairytale #surrealistic #beautifulview #europetrip #europediaries #girlslovetravel #wearetravelgirls #igerseurope #nakedplanet

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Here’s how to take day trips from Ljubljana and the best places to stay in Ljubljana.

 

ALPINE FAIRYTALE AT LAKE BLED AND VINTGAR GORGE: DAY TRIPS FROM LJUBLJANA

How could someone take that long to walk about 1.6 kms uphill? While leaving Vintgar Gorge, located about 60 kms away from the capital city of Ljubljana (pronounced ‘lyoo-BLYAH-nah) , I knew exactly how.  It is one of those places which will mesmerize you at every step,making you wonder how beautiful a place can really be. The gorge terminates in the  Šum Falls ( ‘noisy falls’), which happens to be the largest river waterfall in Slovenia.

 

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Roughly 5 kms away from the Vintgar gorge lies the fairy-tale town of Bled- well known for its picturesque views, ancient legends and the sumptuous Bled cream cake.

As I stood there on the banks of Lake Bled, gazing at the island in the lap of the Julian Alps, a train of thoughts ran across my mind. This is where the ancient Slavs built a temple to worship Ziva, the goddess of love and fertility.  In its place, now stands a Gothic Church, dedicated to Mother Mary. But, the legends don’t end here.The church holds a golden bell, which, if rung thrice, is supposed to grant one his wish. The legend of the wishing bell  says that a young widow, whose husband was killed by robbers and drowned in the lake, decided to cast a chapel bell with all the gold and silver she owned. However, while the bell was being rowed across the lake, a storm caused the boat and the bell to sink. The disappointed widow sold off all her property and spent the rest of her life as a nun in Rome. After her death, when the Pope got to know of her story, he decided to have a bell cast in her memory and sent it to Bled. Apparently, some people claim to hear the sounds of a bell from the bottom of the lake on a dark night….

To get to the island, you need to row across the Lake Bled. It is easy to take a ride on a Pletna , a traditional wooden boat or otherwise, you could also try out stand-up paddling if you like. While climbing up the 99 (or 100) stairs to get to the church, remember that for weddings that take place here, the groom is supposed to carry the bride in his arms all the way up for good luck!

Here is the half-day tour to Lake Bled and Bled Castle.

Or take a full day trip to explore the Bled and Bohinj areas together.

Some alternatives

 

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While in Bled, do not forget to try out the famous Bled cream cake. While only one specific cake is termed ‘original’ , I personally also loved the berry and chocolate flavoured cream cakes on offer.

So, my suggestion would be to try out ALL if possible.

 

Also, if you have time and like scenic views, going uphill to the Bled Castle might be a good idea.

 Bled is about 54 kms away from the Slovenian capital and takes about 45 minutes if you are driving.With Ljubljana, the capital ‘Green City’ as my base, I chose Roundabout Travel to help me explore the Alpine Fairytale town as well as dig deep into the Karst and Coast Mystery. Coming up with a list of places to visit in a short span of time was quite a difficult decision , as there is so much to see and explore in the country. But, this is what I came up with:  Vintgar Gorge, Bled, Skocjan Caves, Predjama Castle and the coastal city of Piran.

 

 

 KARST AND COAST MYSTERY AT SKOCJAN CAVES :DAY TRIPS FROM LJUBLJANA

It was a difficult choice to make. Yet, I had to choose one due to the time constraint and here I was. As we walked deeper underground, I chose to stay close to the railing to avoid slipping on the slightly muddy slope. I knew this wasn’t the best choice for claustrophobic people and made a mental note about being careful if my Mom ever visited Slovenia with me.  I was at the Skocjan caves and was thoroughly impressed by the massive display of stalactites and stalagmites that adorn the several million years old site.They are said to constitute one of the largest  underground river canyons , with the Reka River gushing across and resulting in various rapids and waterfalls. No pictures were allowed while we were in the caves to protect the ecosystem and also to avoid accidents while taking pictures, presumably. So, the views were for the eyes only and are clearly etched in every visitor’s mind. “Karst” refers to the Kras region and comes from the name of the plateau.

Slovenia has about 7000 caves, including one of the world’s biggest underground canyons- Skocjan Caves, which have been categorized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

As we walked further on the 2 km trail open to public (of the 6 km passage) , led by a Skocjan guide, it was impossible to not stop and admire the whole system, especially while looking at the steep passageways that were first discovered by explorers who came in sailing along the Reka river. What an adventure that must have been! The lowest point of the caves lies at about 200 metres below the ground, and opens into the Dead Lake.

 

I had heard that this place was a bit further up and less touristy than the Postojna Caves and am glad to have decided to go ahead with the plan, although I would love to ride along the 5 km Postojna trail in a cave train another time. You see, there’s something mysterious living in the depths of those caves , popularly known as “human fish” by the locals.

The ‘olm’ or ‘proteus’ is a rare kind of salamander that seems to resemble the form of a dragon due to its elongated structure. These amphibians have not been seen in the wild and are said to breed only once in a decade or so. Earlier this year, two of these salamanders (or ‘baby dragons’ as referred to by many) hatched in the Postojna caves.According to researchers, these creatures may take about 15 years to fully grow but will have a life span of about 100 years.

Speaking of dragons, the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana has also been associated with legends of these creatures, and you can spot quite a few dragon statues in the city, especially on the Dragon bridge built across the Ljubljanica River.Here are more things to do in Ljubljana.

 

 

According to the official website, the  dragon is a part of the coat of arms of Ljubljana.  It is supposed to symbolise strength and courage and may have it’s origin in the legend of Jason and the Argonauts.

“Once upon a time, Greek hero Jason and his Argonaut comrades stole a golden fleece, the coat of a golden ram, from the King of Colchis on the Black Sea. On board the Argo they fled their pursuers and found themselves at the mouth of the River Danube instead of going south towards the Aegean Sea and their Greek homeland. There was no way back, so they went on, up the Danube and then along the River Ljubljanica. They had to stop at the source of the Ljubljanica and overwintered here. They then took the Argo apart and in the spring carried it on their shoulders to the Adriatic coast, where they put it back together again and went on their way. According to the legend, on their arrival between what is now Vrhnika and Ljubljana, the Argonauts came across a large lake with a marsh alongside. Here lived a terrible marsh dragon that Jason killed after a heroic struggle. The monster would have been the Ljubljana dragon. It is said that Jason should have been the first real Ljubljana citizen.”

       – source: Ljubljana.si 

 

Along with dragons, Ljubljana also has some interesting dungeons. In fact, Hostel Celica lets you sleep in rooms that were formerly used as prisons. They have been redesigned now by a collective of 80 local and international artists and aim to give you an insight into the city’s history, while welcoming you with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The building was used as a prison by the Austro-Hungarian army for about 100 years and was abandoned after Slovenia gained independence following the fall of Yugoslavia in 1991. The hostel has been running successfully for the last 13 years and is located in the funky Metelkova district, a haven for street art lovers.

 

While on my trip to the Karst region, I went ahead and explored the Lipica Stud Farms and the beautiful Slovenian coastal town of Piran, located very close to the Italian borders – all due to the great trip organized by Roundabout Travel. It’s amazing how just a few hours of driving can bring you from Ljubljana to Italy, Croatia or even Austria. Piran seemed like a charming historical old town, attracting a lot of tourists due to the coastline and the great weather of course. The neighbouring town of Portoroz seemed more of a holiday resort for tourists though. If you, like me, enjoy sitting along the sea and staring into the vastness, you could spend a lot of time enjoying the cool sea breeze, while divulging into some great food and history.

HERE’S the same trip combining Skocjan Caves, Lipica Stud Farms and Piran. 

 

The town square is named after the violinist Giuseppe Tartini, whose large bronze statue has been standing tall since 1896. I couldn’t help buying a small souvenir depicting a lighthouse and a ship captain peering through his binoculars , for my Dad, who sailed across the world for more than 30 years. 

Check out more ideas for day trips from Ljubljana here

 

WHERE TO STAY IN LJUBLJANA : A CONVENIENT BASE IN SLOVENIA FOR DAY TRIPS

As for most of my trips, I try staying in different areas and in different types accommodations to get the feel of the city. If you are looking at a comfortable and environment-friendly option, check out Hotel Park. It is a certified green hotel that takes a lot of initiatives to be eco-friendly.

However, if you are in the mood for luxury / comfort or are travelling for business, the Austria Trend Hotel may be one of the best options for you. Check out the video below.

 

CHECK CURRENT PRICES AND AVAILABILITY HERE

 

 

This modern hotel is located about 2 kms away from the Ljubljana Conference Centre and is well equipped with business meeting rooms, wellness and fitness options, a delightful restaurant, the ‘Champion’s Lounge’ sports bar and provides excellent service! It is also located close to a bus stop which makes it easy to reach the city centre within 10 minutes or so. Also, if you decide to take any day trips with Roundabout Travel, they will pick you up and drop you right infront of the hotel.

I am really thankful to them for inviting me to stay at the luxurious hotel. Little things like a warm welcome can set your mood for the day. Isn’t it?

This is sheer awesomeness! Thanks @ATH_Ljubljana for the great welcome! And greetings from Ljubljana,folks! #travel #athlj #slovenia pic.twitter.com/MiAQHEO4uc

— Europe Diaries (@EuropeDiaries) October 8, 2016

 

And imagine my surprise when I walked into my private jacuzzi and sauna!

How about having a private jacuzzi and sauna in your room? I am STOKED to be @ATH_Ljubljana ! Perfect for #BusinessTrip or #family travel! pic.twitter.com/3WnlkNSLZ5

— Europe Diaries (@EuropeDiaries) October 8, 2016

 

 

Just chilling in my gorgeous room at Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana (Just kidding- I was so excited to stay there!)

More accomodation options here:

Booking.com

 Overall, I can say that visiting Slovenia was truly an enchanting experience.I also wanted to visit Lake Bohinj , Postojna Caves , Marbor and would have loved to travel for a few hours to reach Croatia , but looks like I’ll have to plan a second trip for all of that. 

Here are some more tips and suggestions for where to stay in Slovenia.

So, how do you feel about visiting Slovenia now? Please share this post and leave your comments below ! I hope this gave you some travel inspiration or ideas to plan your perfect getaway to the beautiful Slovenia.Let me know what you would like to see the most while you are there.

Pin me ! Come explore Slovenia with me.

 

Thanks to Roundabout Travel, Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana for hosting me on this trip and to the Ljubljana Tourist Board for helping me with a lot of info about the city. All views expressed are entirely my own.

 

 

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