The Perfect 8 Day Slovenia Fall Road Trip Itinerary

Are you trying to plan an epic road trip through Slovenia but you pretty much have no idea where to start? No need to worry cause I’ve got you completely covered!

I was in the exact same pickle that you were in not too long ago, trying to come up with an amazing itinerary so I decided to visit the country for myself and explore as many cool places as possible!

In this guide you’ll find all of my own personal experiences combined to create an epic Slovenia road trip itinerary for you!

While I drove my car from Belgium to Slovenia I know that a lot of you aren’t in the mood for driving over 13 hours so I tweaked my own itinerary a little bit so it would be perfect if you’re flying into Ljubljiana.

Nevertheless, you can always start your own Slovenia road trip itinerary in every single destination if you would drive into Slovenia like I did.

The Perfect 8 Day Slovenia Fall Road Trip Itinerary

🍁 Why you should visit Slovenia during Fall

Fall season is one of my absolute favorites and Slovenia is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe to visit during Fall!

To me this is the time when nature is at its most beautiful. You might encounter a rain shower from time to time but all of these stunning red and golden autumn leaves surely make up for it.

Another advantage of traveling during Fall season is that you’re actually traveling in off-season. A lot of hotel prices go down compared to the busy Summer months and this is the ideal time to splurge a little cause who knows maybe now you can afford to stay at that luxury hotel.

You also don’t need to plan months in advance compared to the summer months.

🇸🇮 Prepare your road trip in Slovenia

🏨 Find the best accommodations on Booking.com
💰 Get reliable travel insurance from World Nomads
🚗 Rent a car to drive to the most beautiful places in Slovenia with SunnyCars.com
👩 Find a reliable tour guide, such as this Private Lake Bled Trip
🎒 Pack a power bank, hiking shoes and a universal adaptor
📚 Read Lonely Planet Slovenia or this stunning Slovenia Photography Coffee Table Book

Some strange and interesting facts about Slovenia

• Slovenia is home to over 8000 caves but unfortunately only 20 of them are open to visitors.
• The only living baby dragon is in Slovenia and lives in the end 2 million years old cave Postojna Cave. Some people believe this ancient creature is proof that dragons existed.
• Slovenia is only 30 years old, it became an independent republic in 1991. Before it was part of the former Yugoslavia
• Slovenia is home to one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe.
• Slovenia is known as the “heart and soul of beekeeping” in Europe.

🛣Getting into Slovenia

The easiest way to travel to Slovenia is by plane. The only Slovenian airport that is used for commercial flights is Ljubljana Airport which is located just north of the capital.

You can fly directly to Ljubljana from Brussels, Paris, London, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Moscow, Vienna, Zurich, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Belgrade, Pristina, Skopje. Unfortunately, there are only two low cost companies flying to Ljubljana airport, Wizzair (from Brussels and London Luton) and easyJet (from London).
So, if you come from other destinations and want to save some money on the flight, you have to look for the airports near Slovenia.

Other airports that are pretty close are Venice in Italy where a ton of international flights land every single day or Zagreb in Croatia.

From either of these airports you can pick up your rental car straight at the airport!

When it comes to choosing a rental car company things can get a little confusing cause there’s a lot of companies out there ready to rip you off.

Horror Story: In South Africa the rental car company that I booked with actually copied my credit card details and 1 day later my card was blocked. So there I was, in the middle of South Africa and without a credit card. Luckily we would switch to a different company the next day for the further duration of our trip but you really don’t want this to happen on your holiday.

You also don’t want any hidden costs added to your bill.

A good rental car company should include the following in your rental price: unlimited mileage and a fair fuel arrangement, third-party insurance of at least €7.5 million, damage insurance, theft insurance, towing cost if your car breaks down and cancel or change your reservation without any hassle.

For my road trips I always prefer booking with SunnyCars. Here you can already rent a car for as little as €27 per day and every single cost is included upon check out. Oh, and all of the things that I mentioned above that should be included are also included with them!

💡 TIP – Sometimes the local rental company will try to make you pay for additional insurance. This is in no way necessary cause SunnyCars offers you full coverage.

CHECK OUT THE RATES AT SUNNY CARS

💸Slovenia Travel Insurance

I highly recommend you to get a travel insurance before your trip cause the risks are never worth the costs. If you’re going on a more adventurous trip you can always get yourself injured! So far I have sprained my ankle in Jordan, got food poisoning in India, turned snow blind in the Dolomites and have fallen multiple times during many hikes. It’s always best to be safe than sorry in such cases and with a good travel insurance you don’t have to worry about medical bills piling up.

I personally love World Nomads, their prices are affordable, their coverage is great, and they also offer 24/7 on-call customer service! When I got super sick in India they even covered an extra night for me at the hotel that I was staying it and rearranged my flight home at no extra cost!

GET A QUOTE FROM WORLD NOMADS

🚘 How to get around Slovenia

Slovenia is a rather small country which makes it ideal for a road trip! On the other hand, public transportation is also pretty good in Slovenia. most cities are well interconnected by either train or bus but for this itinerary it’s best that you rent a car. Otherwise you’ll miss out on some of the most beautiful places or you end up paying a lot of money for a taxi.

If you fly into Slovenia the easiest and fastest way is to pick up your car from the airport in Ljubljiana. With SunnyCars you can already grab your rental car for as little as €35 per day.

For driving on the highway in Slovenia you’ll also need a vignette. You can buy one at every local gas station for €7.5 for an entire week.

The roads in Slovenia are well maintained and just like in most parts of Europe they drive on the right side of the road.

Slovenia is surrounded by mountain ranges so from time to time you’ll have to drive on small mountain roads with hairpin turns. There are a couple of stunning mountain passes in this itinerary but I only recommend you to add them if you’re an experienced driver. They come with a ton of serpentines and at times there’s only room for 1 car.

The Ultimate 8 Day Slovenia Fall Road Trip Itinerary

This Slovenia road trip itinerary will lead you along some of the most beautiful places in the entire country. You’ll come across hidden gems, crystal clear lakes and insane mountain views. This itinerary focusses on being outdoors and doesn’t include a lot of city vibes. But like I said before you can play around with this itinerary as much as you like and even make it a little longer to include a visit to Piran or another town in Slovenia.

A lot of research went into this itinerary and I simply know that you’ll have an amazing time discovering Slovenia if you already follow half of it!

DAY 1 – Arrive in Ljubljiana and pick up your rental car

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 30 MINUTES

Today is all about picking up your rental car and settling down in the beautiful capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.

If you fly into Slovenia the easiest and fastest way is to pick up your car from the airport in Ljubljiana. With SunnyCars you can already grab your rental car for as little as €35 per day.

For driving on the highway in Slovenia you’ll also need a vignette. You can buy one at every local gas station for €7.5 for an entire week.

We’ll only spend one night in Ljubljana before making our way to the Logar Valley so it’s best to make it count!

The absolute best and most beautiful hotel in Ljubljiana is Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel. This 500 year old historical building has been completely renovated and not a single cost was spared in doing so.

It’s the perfect place to unwind after a busy flight or to explore the most beautiful places in Ljubljiana from!

If you don’t like dining inside of the hotel here are some excellent restaurant options for you:

• Strelec – Perched up on the ramparts of Ljubljana Castle they serve a wonderful mix of traditional cuisine with modern elements.
• Na Gradu – One of the most authentic restaurants in entire Slovenia that serves dishes from the country’s myriad culinary regions. 
• EK Bistro – The young team keep things the right side of hipster with exposed stone walls and hanging lightbulbs backed up by fresh and crisp cooking. 
• B Restaurant – This restaurant at the top of the InterContinental Ljubljana hotel trumps even Strelec for views: from here you can see the city’s castle, as well as the skyline and surrounding mountains.

DAY 2 – Explore Ljubljiana and drive to the Logar Valley

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES

Ljubljiana is a very hip city and in 2016 it was voted as the European Green Capital. The city centre is now mostly car-free, public transport is low-emissions and there’s a new cycling network.

The first place you need to visit is Prešeren Square. This is where the city meets up and if there’s an event going on it’s highly likely that it will be held in this place. Make a quick stop at the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation before continuing your journey.

Walk over the Triple Bridge, which dates back to 1842 and make your way to. thenext stop: the Ljubljiana Castle.

When you look up from Ljubljiana’s square the castle will seem dauntingly high perched on top of its hill. But no need to worry, if you don’t feel like walking up you can also take the tourist train or the funicular.

The main courtyard is free to enter, and has a cafe, nightclub, galleries and a restaurant.

You have to pay to ascend the watchtower to look over Ljubljana, and included in this is a “Time Machine” tour.

Suggested tour – Ljubljana and Ljubljana Castle Sightseeing Tour

Another must see place is the Dragon Bridge and the Central market.

After exploring the capital it’s now time to make your way to one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Slovenia – The Logar Valley.

The Logar Valley, also known as Logarska dolina, is one of the most stunning alpine glacial valleys in Europe. After a busy day of already exploring Ljubljiana I suggest that you take it easy this evening and simply relax. there will be enough time tomorrow to explore the valley and go on one of the many beautiful hikes.

On your way to the Logar Valley you’ll actually drive on one of the most famous mountain passes in Slovenia – The Solčava Panoramic Road

WHERE TO STAY – Hotel Plesnik

Hotel Plesnik is one of the best boutique hotels in entire Slovenia. You’ll feel immediately welcome thanks to the rustic charm of the lobby but the rooms are actually pretty modern with an incredible eye for detail.

Tonight simply enjoy a quiet evening and make sure to check out their fabulous SPA and their outdoor summer swimming pool. No need to worry about dinner either cause Hotel Plesnik offers a fantastic 4-course meal for only €30.

Another big plus of this hotel is that it’s already inside of the Logar Valley and you can simply start walking the Logar trail from the parking lot of the hotel.

I highly recommend booking this hotel well in advance if you’re planning on traveling during peak season.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK FOR RATES AND AVAILABILITY

DAY 3 – EXPLORE THE LOGAR VALLEY

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES

After a good night’s sleep atHotel Plesnik it’s now time to discover the beautiful Logar Valley!

TOP THINGS TO DO IN THE LOGAR VALLEY

• HIKE TO SLAP RINKA (RINKA WATERFALL) – You can either start your hike from Hotel Plesnik or drive further into the valley. By doing so the hike will only be around 20 minutes long. It’s a very scenic waterfall but if you’re used to the waterfalls in Iceland like me you might find it a bit dissapointing.

• DRIVE THE SOLVAÇA PANORAMIC ROAD – This is the road from where you arrived yesterday so this part you could easily also do on the day before. But there are a lot of different look out points (all with signage) from where you’ll have spectacular views over the mountains.

• HIKE UP TO KLEMENCI JAMI – This is another popular hike to do in the Logar valley. This hike will take you up into the mountains and ends at the Klemenci Jami mountain hut. They serve lunch seasonally here so make sure to check ahead if they’re open if you’re visiting in shoulder season.

After exploring the beautiful Logar valley it’s time to drive to one of the most famous destinations in entire Slovenia – lake Bled!

You can either take the Solvaça Panoramic Road or take a left and drive along another mountain pass. This one will take you through a very short part in Austria but is also a very scenic, yet windy drive.

DAY 4 – Lake Bled

Today is all about exploring the gorgeous lake Bled and its surroundings! We’ll stay here for a 2 nights and today there’s no driving involved!

WHERE TO STAY – Vila Bled

This former summer residence of president Tito, has been rearranged into a charming historic hotel, infused with artwork of famous Slovenian painters.

It’s located on the Western bank of lake Bled and as you can see below has the most iconic view over Bled island.

And on top of that it’s only 10 minutes walking from the hotel to the best viewpoint along the lake and to the start of several hiking trails. All you have to do is walk down the stairs behind the terrace and you’ll already find yourself at the lake!

Vila Bled is the synonym for top cuisine, its restaurant has been ranked in top culinary guidebooks such as Gault & Millau.

The hotel has a wide variety of rooms and suites, furnished in the original style of the 1950s.

It also comes with a free parking lot which is very convenient cause a lot of hotels in Bled don’t have this!

Click here to check current rates

TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAKE BLED

• Take a stroll around lake Bled – The total distance is 6km and it will take you around 1,5 hour to complete the entire loop.
• Hike to Mala Osojnica – It’s one of the most beautiful views over lake Bled and the total hiking time is about 50 minutes
• Hike to Ojstrica – Another beautiful view over lake Bled and my personal favorite. This hike only takes 20 minutes
• Go for a boat ride on lake Bled – It’s €20/hour to rent a row boat
• Visit Bled Castle – You can go on a tour of the castle, go wine testing or simply have lunch or dinner at the Bled Castle restaurant.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAKE BLED CHECK THIS ARTICLE INCLUDING A TONE OF DETAILED INFORMATION

DAY 5 – Lake Bohinj

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES

Lake Bohinj is another beautiful stop on this road trip through Slovenia and it’s definitely worth it to spend a day here.

Lake Bohinj is only 20 minutes driving from lake Bled and there are a couple of paid parking lots around the lake.

You can take a walk around the lake and along the way relax on one of the small beaches. The entire trail around the lake is 12km long and will take you around 4 hours to complete.

Another fun but very easy thing to do is to go for a ride on the Vogel cable car. However, there are a lot of beautiful hiking trails that start at the top of the cable car station.

A round trip tickets for the cable car costs €24 and it operates from 7.30am until 7pm and leaves every 30 minutes.

💡 TIP – If you go up with the cable car make sure to bring a jacket with you to keep warm! It’s a lot cooler up in the mountains!

After visiting lake Bohinj and its surroundings it’s time to drive to the next destination – the small town of Kranjska Gora!

WHERE TO STAY – Jasna Chalet Resort

This beautiful chalet can host up to 6 people and is located right next to the beautiful lake Jasna. You get to wake up with a view over the mountains from the comfort of a stylish and modern decorated chalet.

DAY 6 – KRANJSKA GORA

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 2 HOURS

The small town of Kranjska Gora is the perfect base from where to discover some of the most stunning places in Slovenia and it’s a necessary stop in this Slovenia road trip itinerary.

Today we’ll visit a couple of different places and drive up two dazzling mountain passes!

Our first stop is the crystal clear lake Jasna. All you have to do is walk out of theJasna Chalet Resort and you’re there! Especially in the morning you’ll be able to see a perfect reflection of the impressive mountains in the background.

Afterwards we’ll make a quick visit to the Zelenci Nature Reserve. Entrance to the reserve is free but you also won’t need longe than 30 minutes to visit this peculiar swamp.

Now, if you’re not an experienced driver or you don’t feel at ease driving mountain passes full of serpentines then I highly recommend you to visit Lago Predil and Lago Fusine Superior, right across the borer in Italy. Both lakes are absolutely stunning and there’s no need to make yourself uncomfortable or getting into an accident if you’re not that sure on the road.

If you do have enough confidence in yourself I highly recommend you to drive both the Vrsic Pass and up to the Mangart Saddle.

That last one will require you to pay a toll fee of €10 and the last part of the drive is blocked due to rockfall. But the view from both places is pretty mind blowing!

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE READ MY ARTICLE ON ALL OF THE TOP THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND KRANJSKA GORA!

After these spectacular drives it’s time to drive to the small town of Kobarid where you’ll spend two nights in one of the most spectacular accommodations in entire Slovenia!

WHERE TO STAY – Nebesa Chalets

The Nebesa Chalets are beautifully located in the mountains and offer a spectacular view over the Soça valley.

Nebesa is run by a local family and they’ll make sure you’ll have the best stay possible!

Make sure to book your stay well in advance, especially if you’re visiting during high season. There are only 4 chalets for 2 people on the premises.

DAY 7 – Bovec and Soça

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – is 3 HOURS 17 MINUTES

Today is our final day of exploring before heading back to Ljubljiana and it’s completely up to you if you wish to spend another night at Nebesa Chalets or rather already stay in the capital. If you decide on returning to the capital this evening I highly recommend you to also visit Predmeja Castle.

Our first stop of today is a short but beautiful hike to Slap Kozjak. It’s only a 30 minute hike to this stunning waterfall but make sure to wear proper hiking shoes cause it can get pretty slippery, especially towards the end of the hike.

Afterwards it’s time to drive down to the adventurous Tolmin Gorges. They are located at the lowest entry point of the Triglav National Park. The circular path leads us through the wild gorges of Tolminka and Zadlascica, which merge into the only confluence in the gorges on the territory of Slovenia.

The Great Soča Gorge is another stunning place where you can explore the wild pools, which are intertwined into a 750-metre-long gorge that is only a few metres wide and opens onto deep emerald pools at the end.

The Boka Waterfall is another photo worthy stop and is the mightiest waterfall in all of Slovenia.

Now it’s time to relax in the picturesque town of Kanal before either heading back to the Nebesa Chalets or going back to Ljubljiana.

DAY 8 – Drop off your rental car and fly home

Our road trip through Slovenia has come to an end and I hope you’ve had a spectacular time! Now all that’s left to do is drop your car back off at the airport and safely fly back home.

📸 My Slovenia Camera Gear

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II – My go to camera body for the past 3 years
• Main Lens – Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II
• Zoom Lens – Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6
• Wide Angle Lens – Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III
• Tripod – Manfrotto Tripod
• Drone – DJI Mavic Mini 2 Fly More Combo

You can find my complete list of photography gear here

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