31 Oct 3 Nov 2026
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia may be a small country, but it certainly packs a lot into a small space. It also has a somewhat different recent history from its neighbours. When Yugoslavia began to break apart in 1991, Slovenia was the first republic to declare independence. This led to the Ten-Day War between Slovenian forces and the Yugoslav army. Compared with Croatia and especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia escaped relatively lightly. The fighting was brief, casualties and physical damage were limited, and the country avoided the devastating destruction that affected much of the former Yugoslavia during the 1991–95 conflicts. As a result, Slovenia feels quite different from some of the places we have visited on this trip. Unlike many major cities that put military generals or political figures in their central squares, Ljubljana features a poet to highlight the cultural, linguistic, and spiritual identity of the Slovenian people.
We spent our time visiting the Slovenian trifecta: Lake Bled, Postojna Cave, and Ljubljana, the country’s charming capital.
Postojna Cave was spectacular – the best cave systme I’ve seen. This is an enormous underground world of limestone formations, vast chambers and winding passages, created over millions of years. The visit begins with a ride on a little underground electric train that takes you 3.7km into the cave system. From there, we continued on foot for another 1 km, walking past spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. The sheer scale of the caverns is remarkable. The pictures don’t do it justice.
Ljubljana was a pleasant surprise. It’s a relaxed, attractive little capital city of only 300,000 people, with a beautiful old town, a river winding through the centre, outdoor cafés and restaurants, and plenty of pedestrian streets. The castle sits on a hill overlooking the city, and the bridges across the river give the downtown area much of its character. It has a lively atmosphere without the crowds and intensity of some of Europe’s larger capitals.
Lake Bled is probably Slovenia’s most photographed destination, and it’s easy to see why. The lake is surrounded by mountains, with a small island in the middle featuring a picturesque church. A medieval castle perched high on a cliff overlooks the lake. We took the traditional wooden pletna boat out to the island, where the church bell is said to grant wishes if you ring it. Bth Sarah and I rang it – I’ll let you know how it goes. 12 families were given the royal charter by Empress Maria Theresa to operate the boats. That tradition continues and all the boat operators are male heirs of those original 12 families.
Slovenia turned out to be a lovely combination of natural beauty and European charm. Three very different experiences in a country small enough that getting between them was relatively easy. It’s a place that deserves more attention than it sometimes gets.
This post is the end of the main OAT trip. We continue on the extended trip back to Istria on 3 Nov.
