Slovenia is small and exceptional. The country has a wide range of varying landforms and types of climate, hence the colorful world of living creatures, human characteristics, and customs, a perfect place for a relaxed vacation, countryside travel, skiing, swimming or mountaineering. This is a region of wind-exposed physical features, the crossroads of Latin, Germanic, Hungarian and Slav cultures and languages.

Slovenia stands at the crossroads of ancient routes. It is squeezed between the snow-covered Alps and the warm Adriatic Sea. At the top edge of the northernmost Mediterranean by and below the southern slopes of the Alps, a narrow pass gives access to all directions in Europe. Furthermore, Slovenia lies at the junction of the Alps, the Dinaric Mountains and the Pannonian basin. In the south-west it reaches the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea and, therefore serves as a natural passageway, with routes leading from the sea and Italian territory, over the Dinaric mountain passes, along the southern Alpine hillsides and the Danube valley.

It depends on the type of vacation, if you visit Slovenia for relaxation (walking, spa health resort, ecotourism, tennis, golf) or adrenaline nolimits experience (mountaineering, rafting, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, free climbing, canyoning) there are many kinds of accommodation in hotels, rental apartments, camping or farms.
Slovenia’s physical features are extremely varied. In the north, there is the Alpine region with rugged mountains and limestone peaks, including Triglav, the highest mountain (2864 m). In this connection mention should be made of the Triglav National Park, which covers most of the Julian Alps (85,000 hectares). Mt. Triglav has had a symbolic meaning in the history of the Slovene people; for the ancestors it was a god, for the Slovenes of today it is a national symbol.
The eastern region, cloaked by extensive, predominantly coniferous forests, has numerous lakes, of which Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj are very famous. This world of mountains also includes large plateaus, delightful for summer holidays and recreation.
The southwestern districts of Slovenia, belonging to the Dinaric mountain range, abound in karst phenomena, disappearing streams, and subterranean caves (Postojna and Skocjan).
The stretch of land along the coast, in which Koper, Piran, Portorose (Portoroz) and Izola (Isola) are the major towns, constitutes the Mediterranean region of Slovenia. Sunny beach holidays with tours around the country or cheap trips to Venice, or a Mediterranean cruise are suitable for a hot summer vacation.

The exceptional natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Triglav National Park make it a very special tourist attraction of Slovenia. The most important natural sights of the Julian Alps are protected within its boundaries. The park lies near the triple borders of Austria, Italy and Slovinia and is the largest national park in Slovinia. This is one of the last oases of peace, isolation, wildness and unspoiled nature in Europe and is a true Eldorado for hikers, mountain walkers, alpinists, pot hollers and canoeists, for cross country skiers, botanists and ethnologists, for photographers and painters.

The central core of the park is composed of high mountain massifs with the high peaks and glacial valleys of the Julian Alps and the forest plateau of Pokljuka and Mezaklja. The rivers Soca and Sava rise in the park, and Triglav Lakes, like a beautiful string of pearls, lie high in the mountains. In addition to Bohinj Lake, mention should also be made the waterfalls of Savica in Bohinj, Pericnik in Vrata, Sum in Vintgar, as well as the water-falls in Martuljk, and Skocniki and Nadisa in Tamar. Some waters have furrowed out deep and picturesque ravines, those on the Soca and Koritnica, Vintgar gorge near Bled, the gorges of Tolminka and Mostnica in Bohinj.

The main tourist centers in Triglav National Park and its immediate environs are Bled, Bohinj, Bovec and Kranjska Gora.

Bled is a world famous tourist center with such natural phenomena as the lake with its island, Vintgar gorge etc. and cultural monuments which include Bled castle (today a museum and restaurant) and the church on the island.

Bohinj, with the largest lake in Slovinia, includes Bohinj Lake and numerous villages in the upper and lower valleys with marvelous waterfalls, gorges, high-mountain lakes etc. Two medieval churches, the Church of Saint John and the Church of the Holy Spirit are situated by the lake. In addition to both summer and winter tourism, the many centuries old cheese-making tradition is also well known.

Bovec lies in the centre of the Bovec basin, at the beginning of the Upper Soca Valley. The River Soca, with its picturesque ravines is one of the most beautiful mountain rivers in Europe. There are a number of monuments of the First World War in the vicinity.

Kranjska Gora is a favourite summer and winter tourist center near the border crossings with Austria (Korensko sedlo) and Italy (Ratece). Nearby is the world famous ski jumping centre of Planica. Kranjska Gora is the starting point for many excursions and hikes in Triglav National Park and its surroundings.

Kranjska Gora is a well-known ski resort in north-west Slovenia in the Julian Alps and touches Triglav National Park to the south, close to the Austrian and Italian borders. Kranjska Gora a ski competition in the Alpine skiing World Cup series, also known as the Vitranc Cup for the slalom and giant slalom events.

Kranjska Gora : skiing and mountaineering

Kranjska Gora attractions: hiking, cross country & night skiing, ice skating, horse sleigh rides, tennis and swimming; restaurants, bars, discos and casino.
First time and recreational skiers will take pleasure in the slopes and trails in Kranjska Gora, Gozd Martuljek, while the Podkoren trail is more demanding. The best skiers in the world compete annually on this run for the Vitranc Trophy in World Cup men’s giant slalom and slalom races.

Slovenia tourism can offer you a remarkable contrasts experience: swimming in the Adriatic, skiing in the Alps, an adventurous discovery of Karst and Caves subterranean phenomena, a refreshing bath in a thermal springs, visits of medieval cities or winegrowing hills. Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, shows its Baroque and Art Nouveau influence, and the work of native born architect Jože Plečnik. Other attractions include the Julian Alps with the picturesque Lake Bled in Bled and Soča Valley, as well as the nation’s highest peak, Mount Triglav. Perhaps even more famous is Slovenia’s karst named after the Karst plateau in southwestern Slovenia. More than 28 million visitors have visited Postojna Cave, while a 15-minute ride from it are Škocjan caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tourism Slovenia: coast and mountains

Further in the same direction is the coast of the Adriatic Sea, with a jewel of Venetian Gothic, Piran. The hills around the nation’s second-largest city, Maribor, are renowned for their wine-making. Even though Slovenes tend to consume most of the wine they produce, some brands like Lutomer have made their appearance abroad. Geology has made the northeastern part of the country rich with spas, with Rogaška Slatina being perhaps its most prominent site.

A traditionally hospitable and very accessible country, Slovenia offers active, relaxing and healthy holidays:

* Coast and Karst
* Mountains and Lakes
* Health Spas and Wellness
* Castles and Churches
* Sport and Recreation
* Casinos

The Adriatic is a great place for swimming and windsurfing and there are also three marinas on the coast. Divers can make for the sea and the lakes, and the Soča, Krka and Kolpa rivers attract many canoeists and rafters. There are several equestrian clubs around Slovenia.

There are approximately 300 castles and manor houses in Slovenia, many containing museums and galleries. Particularly picturesque are Otočec Castle in the middle of the Krka river and Mokrice Castle.

Slovenia has 12 casinos, which makes Slovenia one of the most gaming attractive in Europe. As well as traditional European gaming, they also offer American-style gaming combined with high quality hotel, shopping, recreation and entertainment services.

Slovenia’s health spas have a tradition stretching back centuries. Fifteen very different health spas offering curative, preventive and holiday programmes provide different ways of enjoying an active holiday, including recreation and sport. The spas include:

• Zdravilišce Rogaška Slatina, being over 400 years old and boasting the mineral water Donat Mg which, due to its magnesium content and bacterial purity, is unique in Europe; and Terme Olimia, with its beautiful pool complex.
• The rich tradition of the thermal baths at Terme Dobrna and Zdravilišče Laško;
  Zdravilišče Radenci, whose range of health services is complemented by Radenska’s world-famous “Three Hearts” mineral water;
• Terme Ptuj, Terme Lendava, Terme 3000 Moravske Toplice, Terme Topolšica and Terme Zreče;
• Terme Catež, offering a wide range of services and the largest year-round thermal river in this part of Europe;
• Dolenjske Toplice and Šmarješke Toplice, near the primal forest of Kočevski Rog,
  Zdravilišče Strunjan on the Slovenian Littoral and
• Terme Palace in Portorož, which use salt water, mud and thermo-mineral water.