Slovenia has many interesting places – towns, mountains, lakes, natural parks and hiking trials. There is a list of the most important places for tourists visiting Slovenia for the first time. If you want to explore Slovenia by train, it is a perfect way to travel around the country.
Below you will find places that should be included in your travel itinerary if you are visiting Slovenia for the first time. Visiting all the places will take several days. People who want to explore Slovenia by train and have limited time should prioritize visiting the following places: Ljubljana, Lake Bled, railway line Jesenice – Nova Gorica, Koper by train + Piran by bus, Postojna and Predjama Castle.
Slovenia by train – a sample itinerary:
Day 1: Ljubljana
Day 2: Bled Lake and Jesenice – Nova Gorica railway
Day 3: Postojna and Predjama Castle
Day 4: Koper by train, Piran and Izola by bus.
Slovenia by train – a basic itinerary
Ljubljana – the capital of Slovenia. A medium-sized city with a beautiful center, it is one of my favorite European cities. The railway station is located in the city center — a walk to the Prešeren Square takes 10-15 minutes. The well-maintained center of Ljubljana, full of renovated tenement houses and beautiful buildings, can be explored on foot, or you can purchase a tourist card that allows travel on public buses.
Ljubljana has a very well-developed accommodation and dining infrastructure, although prices are high, especially in the summer season.
Main tourist attractions in the city centre: Ljubljana Castle, Slovenian skyscraper Nebotičnik, Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica river, promenade along Ljubljanica, Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, Ljubljana Cathedral and Town Square.
Ljubljana is also a perfect starting point for one-day train trips around Slovenia, to Trieste, Villach and Klagenfurt or Zagreb.
Koper – a nice, developing city near the Italian border and the only Slovenian port. It has a nice city center – an hour is enough to see the main attractions. It is also worth climbing the observation tower in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Personally, I recommend at least a one-day visit, although in July and August it gets very crowded, and the heat can be unbearable. There are direct trains from Ljubljana to Koper – the railway line is scenic. From Koper you can continue your journey to beautiful towns of Izola and Piran by bus (journey time to Piran is about 50-60 minutes).
Postojna – a small town world-famous for beautiful caves carved by the Pivka River. The tourist route was created in the old riverbed – only 5 km from 24 km of the cave system is open to the public. On part of the route, visitors are transported by an underground train. Ten kilometers from Postojna station is the beautiful Predjama Castle, perched on a cliff. Postojna is located on the Ljubljana – Koper railway line.
Bled – a town with the famous Lake Bled, featured in brochures promoting Slovenia worldwide. There are many hiking trails and walking paths around the lake. In summer, it is crowded, but outside the peak season and weekends, it is peaceful and quiet. A few kilometers from the train station, there is a castle. To get from the train station to the town of Bled, you have to walk a few kilometers, as the town is located on the opposite side of the lake from the train station. Bled station is situated on the Jesenic – Nova Gorica railway line.
Ptuj – one of the oldest Slovenian towns and one of the most beautiful. It is picturesquely situated on the Drava River, with a intimate, tranquil center, a palace overlooking the city, and several historic religious landmarks. It resembles small Czech and Hungarian towns. There are regional trains from Maribor to Ptuj, international train from Budapest to Ljubljana stops here.
Nova Gorica is an average city with many casinos but you can walk to the historic city center of Italian city of Gorizia, situated 10 minutes by foot from Nova Gorica railway station. The railway line from Jesenice to Nova Gorica is one of the most beautiful railway lines in Europe.
I don’t like Maribor – the second-largest city in Slovenia and I can’t recommend visiting this city.
Slovenia by train – useful websites:
Train travel in Slovenia – a comprehensive guide
