Discover the History of Slovenia

You’ll start your trip off by arriving in Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city. After getting settled into your hotel, you’ll meet with your group and your guide for a simple walk around the city. Not only will you get your first look at its stunning architecture, but you’ll also have a chance to explore the main square and do a bit of shopping if you choose. You’ll also be taken to a local restaurant for a traditional Slovenian meal, which you’ll definitely need for the busy week ahead.

Now that you’ve rested, it’s time for a more in-depth look into this remarkable city. You and your group will head out for a proper tour of the Maribor Castle, which also houses a museum, as well as the Renaissance-style Town Hall. You’ll also pay visits to the city’s synagogue, one of the oldest in Europe, as well as its 13th-century Gothic style cathedral. Along the way, you’ll also make stops at the remnants of the city’s old walls, which include the Judgement Tower, Water Tower, and Jewish Tower.

In the afternoon, you’ll further explore the main park and drop inside both the City Aquarium and City Terrarium. With over 100 native and non-native species of trees, this park is known to be quite stunning all year round.

It’s now time to move on to your next big destination. This time it’s the country’s capital and largest city, Ljubljana. You’ll spend your first full day exploring the pedestrian-only streets of the city center and the areas in and around Preseren Square. These incredibly vibrant settings not only feature plenty of shops and restaurants, some of which would be perfect for breakfast, but you can also pay a visit to the bright pink Franciscan Church on the central square. The city’s famous bridges are also incredibly popular, especially the dragon bridge north of the Central Market.

Go further into Ljubljana’s history with a full tour of Ljubljana Castle. THe castle is believed to have been built during the 11th century, starting out as a medieval fortress and going through numerous rebuilds and overhauls during several centuries that followed. It was later used as an arsenal and then a prison between the 16th and 19th centuries, though it’s now become a popular spot for weddings and cultural events. You’ll not only delve deep into this castle’s long and expansive story but also marvel at its extensive courtyard and incredible plant life.

After your big tour, you’ll pay a visit to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and admire all of its stunning artwork. While frescoes cover the walls and ceiling, and its bronze doors feature reliefs of the country’s religious history. Finally, you’ll wind down in Tivoli Park, having a chance to escape the busy city by walking along its tree-lined paths and taking in its fish pond and botanical gardens.

It’s now time for an incredible day trip up north to Lake Bled, one of the most peaceful and picturesque spots in the country. Once you’ve reached the lake, you’ll start by getting an incredible view as you tour the Lake Bled Castle, the oldest castle in Slovenia. Not only will you enjoy cliffside views of both the lake and surrounding cities, but it also offers wine tasting and has its own restaurant where you’ll enjoy lunch. After this, you’ll spend some time strolling around the lake for even more incredible views at different angles.

You and your group will then board a pletna, or large rowboat, and be taken over to Bled Island in the center of the lake. While here, you’ll visit the Assumption of Mary Church, the town’s most distinguished building. You can join all the other tourists in ringing the church bell, which was installed over 500 years ago. It’s said that anyone who rings the bell will have their greatest wish come true. Needless to say, this has become incredibly popular with tourists.  After returning back to the mainland, and having dinner at a local restaurant, it’s time to head back to Ljubljana to rest up for tomorrow’s adventures.

You’re in for another long day trip on your sixth day in Slovenia. This time, you and your group are heading off to the Postojna Caves for a look at some natural wonders. Created by the Pivka River, this expansive cavern has been a tourist attraction since the 19th century and was event utilized during both World Wars for storage and construction. It’s also home to a large species of amphibian known as the endemic olm, which are completely blind and can go without food for up to ten years.

This deep cave feature 24 km of underground passages and halls, each one featuring an incredible array of stalagmite formations. Among the most notable is a five-meter tall white one that’s known as Brilliant, created by the slow dripping of water over time. You’ll even get to board the cave’s underground electric train for a 3.7 km ride that makes you feel like you’re in a movie.

After packing up, you and your group will now travel Southwest to Koper, your last big destination on this trip. While in this stunning port city, you’ll note that much of its architecture is influenced by Venetian designs. Examples include the Praetorian Palace and the Cathedral of the Assumption, each of which you will tour. After taking some time to relax in Tito Square, you’ll also pay a visit to the Koper Regional Museum for further insight into the area’s art and cultural history.

Later on, you’ll stop to admire the Da Ponte fountain and do a bit of shopping before having dinner that evening at a seaside restaurant while overlooking the Adriatic.

After your last breakfast in Slovenia, you and your group will visit the resort town of Piran for one last outing before you leave. Do some more sightseeing and shopping if you wish, and admire the shapes and colors of Tartini Square. Wander through the cobblestone lanes of the old town, and make time for one last walk along the crystal blue water.

Finally, time to head off to the airport and fly back home. No doubt you’ll now have a newfound appreciation and love for this small but wonderful country.