How to Spend 10 Days in Slovenia Without a Car: Europe's Most Underrated Country
You know those places that you dream about visiting for years and then start to worry that they won’t live up to the expectations you set in your head?
Yeah well… Slovenia is fortunately not one of them. In fact, the more I think back on my trip, the more I realize it might have been the best solo trip I’ve ever planned. And since that is the case, I want to share my itinerary with you so you can experience it too!
Especially because before my trip, everyone told me that I would need to rent a car to see Slovenia. But as someone who will always avoid driving (particularly in foreign countries), I spent 10 days exploring the country solo using public transport - and it turned out to be one of the easiest trips I've ever taken.
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Slovenia truly is the perfect travel destination: it's affordable, incredibly walkable, and so compact that the city and the mountains and the sea are all less than 2 hours from each other!
Over 10 days, I explored the charming capital of Ljubljana, the beautiful scenery of Lake Bled, and the coastal town of Piran. But planning a multi-stop trip like this can feel overwhelming, especially if you're going car-free or by yourself, so I've put together this complete guide covering exactly where to go, what to do, where to stay, and how to get around - no rental car required.
💡 Smart Travel Tip: Getting Around Slovenia
Slovenia is actually one of the few European countries where the main mode of public transportation is actually the bus, and not the train!
🚌 The bus system is affordable, reliable, and incredible wide spread. I used this website to check schedules, prices, and routes for the entire trip (including to and from the airport!)
🎟️ You can buy your tickets with cash ahead of time at the Ljubljana central bus station or directly from the bus driver when boarding.
🚶 Once you arrive, everything is walkable - Ljubljana's old town is pedestrian-only, and Piran is a tiny coastal town you can walk across in less than 15 minutes!
🚕 For day trips to harder-to-reach spots (like Triglav National Park or Postojna Caves), I booked guided tours that handled transportation for me - so even the more remote sights were completely doable without a car.
DAYS 1-3: LJUBLJANA
After flying into the Ljubljana airport, I took the short 25 minute bus to Slovenia’s capital city of Ljubljana, where I based myself for the first 3 days of my trip. I have to say - Ljubljana might be the most underrated capital in Europe. It's affordable, incredibly walkable, has great food, and, because the country is so small, also offers endless options for easy day trips.
🏠 Where to stay in Ljubljana:
Budget: City Hotel Ljubljana
Mid-range: Hotel Heritage
Luxury: InterContinental Ljubljana (this is where I stayed!)
💡 Pro Tip for Amex Platinum holders
The InterContinental is part of the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, so you can use your $300 hotel credit here and unlock extra perks like a room upgrade, late checkout, and a $100 property credit. I also use this website to find the best nightly rates for FHR hotels!
Ljubljana is small enough that you really don't need more than 3 days to see it all, so here's what I'd recommend fitting in while you're there:
Familiarize yourself with Slovenian culture on a local food tour
One of the first things I did in Ljubljana was a food tour with LjubljanaYum, and it turned out to be the perfect way to start the trip. We spent over four hours walking through the Old Town, sampling traditional Slovenian dishes while learning about the city's history and culture. If you want to get your bearings, meet other travelers, and eat some of the best food in Ljubljana, this is the best way to spend your first morning in this city.
Tour highlights: bear salami, pumpkin seed oil, and local Slovenian wine!
✅ Looking for free things to do in Ljubljana?
Take a free walking tour on your first day to learn about Slovenia’s history and better orient yourself in the new city.
👉 Don’t forget to ask your guide for local restaurant recommendations - you'll eat better than anyone else on your trip!
Climb up the hill to Ljubljana castle for an unbeatable view of the city! There's a funicular that takes you up to the top, but honestly I'd save yourself the cost and opt for the 15-20 minute walk instead.
👉 Definitely go in the late afternoon if you can - golden hour makes the city glow and it's less crowded than midday.
📲 Click here to watch the full recap of my time in Ljubljana!
Take a half day trip to explore Predjama Castle & the Postojna Cave system
Slovenia is home to over 16,000 caves, and the largest one happens to be less than an hour from Ljubljana! After entering, you board a little train to take you further underground, before walking with a guide for about an hour through the massive underground chambers.
I’m not lying when I say that my jaw was dragging across the floor the whole time - I mean, some of the formations in here are over 150,000 years old!
Just a 15 minute drive away is Predjama Castle, the largest cave castle in the world. It's over 800 years old, and built directly into the cliffside. I would definitely recommend paying a little extra for the audio guide, because the context behind this castle and its history was so fascinating.
You can reach both the caves and the castle by public bus from Ljubljana, and there is a free shuttle between the two sites included when you buy the bundled entry ticket.
However, the buses don't run on weekends. So if you're visiting on a weekend like I was (or you just want your transportation and entry tickets sorted in one go) I'd book a half-day tour instead.
📲 Click here to watch the full recap of my tour experience!
✅ Where to eat in Ljubljana:
For such a small city, Ljubljana has a great food scene - here are a few of my favorite spots I tried on my own trip that are absolutely worth a spot on your itinerary:
Klobasarna: For a perfect quick, affordable, and authentic bite.
Slovenska hiša Ljubljančanka: For a cozy local restaurant with incredible traditional Slovenian dishes.
Gelataria Romantika: For the best gelato in the city - the pistachio is a must!
Cafe Capri: For a breakfast spot perched right on the river.
💡 Smart Travel Tip: Download my Food Map to Slovenia
I saved all my favorite restaurants, cafes, and hidden gems across Slovenia to one easy-to-use Google Maps list - so you can spend less time Googling and more time eating!
👉 Click here to download my Google Maps list with 35+ saved places and start adding your own recommendations!
DAYS 4-8: LAKE BLED
While many people stop in Lake Bled as a day trip from Ljubljana, I'd actually argue that this area deserves the biggest chunk of time during your trip. Bled was the heart of my itinerary, and I spent 4 full days here without ever running out of things to do.
Lake Bled genuinely looks even more beautiful in person than in photos. It’s also the gateway to the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park, which has some of the most stunning alpine scenery in all of Europe!
🏠 Where to stay in Lake Bled:
Budget: Penzion Berc
Mid-range: Hotel Park
Luxury: Grand Hotel Toplice
Where I stayed: Bled Vista Apartments
About a 15-minute walk from the lake, these apartments are a bit quieter and give you way more space (and better bang for your buck) than a hotel room. If you're planning to use Bled as a base to explore the surrounding area, this is a perfect home base for a longer stay!
There's truly so much to do in and around Bled, but here are the experiences I'd build your time around:
Walk Through Vintgar Gorge
The gateway to Triglav National Park, visiting Vintgar Gorge is an absolute must if you're coming to Bled. It's about a 10-minute drive from the lake, and you can take a free shuttle from Bled bus station that's included with your entrance ticket (€15 for adults).
The gorge itself is a roughly hour-long walk along wooden boardwalks suspended right over a turquoise river, with waterfalls and cliffs rising on both sides. It's some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen, and easily one of my favorite things I did in the whole area.
🏰 More Ways to Experience Lake Bled
Beyond the big day trips, some of the best things to do in Bled are right on the lake!
🥾 Hike to Mala Osojnica viewpoint
This is where you’ll find the classic postcard view of the both Bled island and Bled castle. I did it at sunrise, and watching the early morning light bathe the mountains in a glow was absolutely spectacular.
👉 It’s a short but steep hike - so if you don't want to climb all the way to the top, the halfway point also has an incredible view!
⛰️ Summer Toboggan down Straža Hill
Hands down the most fun I've had in ages. The views of Bled Castle on the chairlift ride up are worth it on its own, but do your future self a favor and buy more than one ride - you won’t regret it!
🚣🏼♀️ Explore the 6km loop around the lake
Whether you choose to walk it or rent a bike and cycle around, the views of the lake are unbeatable, and you can even squeeze in a swim during the warm summer months.
📲 Click here to watch the full recap of my time in Lake Bled!
Take a Day Trip to Triglav National Park
If you're visiting Lake Bled without spending at least one day exploring the nearby Julian Alps, you're missing out on what I think is the best part of Slovenia. Triglav is Slovenia’s only national park, and since I wasn’t renting a car, I booked a small group day tour to explore it instead, which turned out to be the best decision I made on the entire trip!
We spent almost 9 hours stopping at over 7 of the most beautiful places in Triglav. Plus, the day I went it was just me and one other couple, so it basically felt like a private tour! Having a guide also meant learning about Triglav's unexpectedly rich WWI history, which made the whole experience so much more interesting. Without a doubt, this is the one experience I'd tell you not to skip.
Lake Bled is the most popular destination in Slovenia, which also makes it the most expensive, but these two food spots are worth every penny:
The best cafe to try Bled's famous cream cake. This is where the locals go, and it definitely did not disappoint!
Recommended to me by a local, this restaurant sits right on the lake with perfect views of Bled Island. It's also rowing-themed, with medals and memorabilia all over the inside - in case you didn’t know, Lake Bled is actually one of the world's best rowing destinations!
DAYS 9-10: PIRAN
Slovenia's coastline is small but stunning, and because it borders Italy, the architecture and food carry a heavy Venetian influence. It honestly feels like a completely different country from the rest of Slovenia, which is exactly why I loved ending my trip here.
After the packed itinerary in Ljubljana and Bled, my two days in Piran were all about slowing down and enjoying the Mediterranean pace of life.
🏠 Where to stay in Piran:
Budget: Art Hotel Tartini
Mid-range: MEMENTO B&B Piran
Luxury: Hotel Piran
Where I stayed: Old Starfish Piran
Less than a minute walk from the main swimming platform, this small and affordable apartment has a stunning view of the Adriatic. It’s perfect for solo travelers or a couple who also prefer having access to a kitchen.
Piran is tiny. You can walk from the main bus stop all the way to the tip in less than 20 minutes, so it's the kind of place best experienced slowly. Here's how I spent my days on the coast:
Spend most of your time swimming in the crystal clear Adriatic Sea
Basically the entire coastline of Piran is one big swim spot - there are ladders into the sea everywhere you look, but this one was my favorite.
🌅 The Best Viewpoints in Piran:
Climb the Walls of Piran for the best aerial views over the town's red rooftops and out to the sea - entry is just €3 and worth every cent!
Or head to the tip of Piran for golden hour and perch on the rocks to watch the sun set right into the Adriatic.
Get Lost in the Old Town
Piran's old town is full of narrow cobblestone streets and Venetian architecture. It's small enough to explore in one afternoon, but if you want better views of the Adriatic, this footpath runs right along the water with stunning sea views the entire way. It's perfect for a long stroll, and if you're a runner, an even better morning run!
☕ Make sure to grab an Italian coffee from Caffe Angelca - my cappuccino was only €1.40!
🐠 And don’t forget to enjoy the freshest (and very affordable) seafood for lunch right in the center of town at Fritolin Pri Cantini.
Ten days, three completely different destinations, and all without a rental car! Slovenia truly is one of the easiest and most rewarding trips I've taken.
👉 Want this itinerary in video form? Click here to watch my full trip recap.
And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email or DM me on Instagram @pointstopointtravel!
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Welcome to Points to Point Travel, your go-to guide for unlocking the world of international travel. I'm Stacy, and my mission is to empower you with destination guides, insider travel tips, and travel credit card strategies to help you travel smarter - so you can see more and spend even less!
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