This road trip of one week is through the most beautiful part of Slovenia and Northern Croatia. With a rental car it’s possible to see the best sights in only 7 days.
// DAY 1 //
From Ljubljana airport it is only a 30 minute drive to Bled. As we arrived with an early morning flight we had a full day of exploration.
Vintgar Gorge
Just outside of Bled is Vintgar Gorge. A beautiful national phenomenon where the crystal blue river makes it course through the canyon. The boardwalks allow visitors to walk through the gorge along the cliffs. The hike is a one-way trail, at the end you can either walk back through the forest or take the shuttle back to the parking lot.
Lake Bled
The most famous and visited lake of Slovenia is Lake Bled. It’s set in the spectacular mountains with a small island in the middle. In October it’s especially gorgeous with the autumn foliage, giving the surrounding trees its beautiful colors.
Make sure to hop on one of the boats to visit the small island. The captain will bring you there by peddling the vessel himself.
// DAY 2 //
Lake Bohinj
Not far from Lake Bled is the picturesque Lake Bohinj. We made a small stop in the town for a picture perfect view of the bridge across the lake.
Savica Fall
Drive past Lake Bohinj towards the Vogel cable car and Savica Fall. As it was extremely foggy during our visit, we skipped the cable car.
To reach Savica Fall it’s a 20-30 minute hike uphill through the forest. You will be rewarded at the end of all the steps with a glorious view of the Savica Fall.
Zelenci Nature Reserve
At the end of the day we reached Zelenci Nature Reserve, situated in the far NorthEast of Slovenia, close to the Italian border.
The reserve is quite small, from the parking lot it’s only a 5 minute walk before you reach the lake. We were lucky to have the place all to ourselves.
Kranjska Gora
A popular skiing destination in Slovenia is Kranjska Gora. We spent the night in this lovely resort town. The original idea was to drive the Vršič Pass the next morning, but unfortunately the mountain pass was closed due to road works.
// DAY 3 //
Skocjan caves
Slovenia has two popular caves in close vicinity of each other. The popular Postojna caves and the less visited Skocjan caves.
What I absolutely loved about Skocjan caves was the underground river and the massive chambers we walked through. It’s about a 3-4 km walk through the caves and finishes among the limestone cliffs. The only downside is that it is prohibited to take any photos inside the cave.
Trieste
Crossing the border into Italy brought us to the coastal city Trieste. A change of scenery mixed with Italian vibes. The higher temperature made it pleasant to roam the streets in the evening.
// DAY 4 //
Split
During the trip we decided last minute to drive 500 km South towards Split. It’s also the reason why I love traveling without fixed plans, giving us the flexibility to make sudden changes.
Split has a small but charming old center. It feels unreal to stroll through the narrow alleys of the Diocletian palace.
On the boulevard we’ve seen many ferries come and go to the neighboring islands.
// DAY 5 //
Krka National Park
If you love nature I definitely recommend visiting Krka National Park. The most striking waterfall in the park is Skradinski Buk. To visit the fall, park your car at the Lozovac entrance. From here a shuttle bus takes you to the entrance. The boardwalks cross the water and various falls in a loop, finishing (or starting) at Skradinski Buk. You get the best view from the bridge. Of course I was going all out with my tripod and long exposure photography.
In October the admission fee was only €20, which seemed fair compared to the outrageous €40 in the high season.
Zadar
On our way back North we made a quick two hour stop at Zadar. Just enough to get a vibe of the Old Town and its ruins.
// DAY 6 //
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Visiting the Plitvice Lakes has been a personal bucket list item for years. When I was planning this trip I noticed that the Plitvice Lakes was only a 3 hour drive from Slovenia and I had to include it in the itinerary.
To get the most of the visit, we stayed in a hotel nearby the night before. This way we could make an early start and get there before the crowds.
Plitvice Lakes has multiple entrances. I advise you to start at entrance 1 at the lower lakes. This is the most beautiful and famous part of the national park. We chose to walk trail C, a 6 kilometer hike through the entire park. Starting at the lower lakes, take the tranquil boat ride towards the upper lakes and continue walking from there. At the end taking the train cart back to entrance 1.
In October the admission fee is €23, also considerably cheaper than the €40 in the high season. What I loved about visiting in October is that it’s less crowded, especially in the morning. I was surprised we already finished our full hike in 3 hours.
Zagreb
After spending the full morning at the Plitvice Lakes we drove a two hour ride to Zagreb. The capital of Croatia isn’t a popular tourist destination, unlike the many coastal cities. Zagreb didn’t have those small quaint streets but consisted of larger avenues and grand buildings.
// DAY 7 //
Ljubljana
The last full day of the trip was spend in Ljubljana. Although the city isn’t large, I wasn’t disappointed. We could easily kill time strolling along the river, have a drink at the many terraces and visit the castle on top of the hill.
Where to stay
All of the accommodations I booked on the same day through Booking.com. These are all quality mid range hotels in the city center.
Bled: Garni Hotel Berc
Granjska Gora: Hotel Kompas
Trieste: 9 Stanze Boutique Rooms
Split: Riva Luxury Rooms
Plitvice NP: 16 Lakes Hotel
Zagreb: Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria
Ljubljana: Best Western Premier Hotel Slon
Map
The full map to drive this route through Slovenia, Italy and Croatia.
Wat een mooie trip en prachtige foto’s