7 best day trips from Ljubljana

Day trips compared

The day trips

55 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus

1.Lake Bled

Slovenia's best-known view: a church on a tiny island in an Alpine lake, below a medieval castle on a cliff. Walk the 6 km lakeside path, take a traditional pletna boat to the island and try the cream cake in a lakeside café.

Getting there

Bus from Ljubljana bus station to Bled

Best for

First-timers, Couples, Families

80 km · About 2 hours by bus

2.Lake Bohinj

Larger and wilder than Bled, Bohinj sits inside Triglav National Park with clear water for swimming in summer, the Savica waterfall and the Vogel cable car to mountain viewpoints.

Getting there

Bus via Bled to Ribčev Laz and Ukanc

Best for

Quiet stays, Couples, Families

53 km · About 1 hour by bus or train

3.Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

An electric train carries visitors deep into Postojna's huge karst cave system before a guided walk past stalactite halls. Nearby Predjama Castle is built into the mouth of a cave halfway up a cliff.

Getting there

Bus or train to Postojna, then shuttle in summer

Best for

Families, First-timers

80 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by train and walk

4.Škocjan Caves

A UNESCO-listed cave system where the Reka river roars through an underground canyon crossed by a narrow bridge high above the water. It feels wilder and less commercial than Postojna.

Getting there

Train to Divača, then a short shuttle or walk

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

125 km · About 2 hours 30 minutes by bus

5.Piran

Slovenia's Venetian-era port town sits on a narrow peninsula, with Tartini Square, a hilltop church with a bell tower and town walls looking over the Adriatic. Swim from the rocks along the promenade and eat fresh fish by the harbour.

Getting there

Bus from Ljubljana bus station

Best for

Couples, Beach, Food lovers

35 km · About 1 hour by bus and cable car

6.Velika Planina

A high Alpine pasture above Kamnik dotted with traditional herdsmen's huts with shingled roofs. In summer, herders still bring cattle up and sell sour milk and cheese.

Getting there

Bus towards Kamnik, then cable car and chairlift

Best for

Families, Quiet stays

25 km · About 25 minutes by train

7.Škofja Loka

One of Slovenia's best-preserved medieval towns, with a castle museum, a stone bridge over the Selca Sora and painted houses on its old squares. It is an easy half-day trip.

Getting there

Train from Ljubljana station

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• One fare allows transfers between buses within 90 minutes.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask