Nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, Slovenia is a little paradise waiting to be discovered. One of Europe's most underrated gems, Slovenia has captured my heart with its hospitable locals, dog-friendly places, and breathtaking natural landscapes. To make your trip through Slovenia just as unique, I've put together my top recommendations that will best prepare you to discover Slovenia and enjoy its riches to the fullest.

Glamping in Gozdna Pr' Bizjak: A Peaceful Paradise

Glamping in Gozdna Pr' Bizjak was our destination in Slovenia and offered a unique glamping experience. Our hosts, Veronika and Rudi, own a beautiful campsite with lots of nature and a small lake. They have built simple but cozy wooden cabins around the lake that you can rent for the night. The highlight of our stay was the hot tub, a huge wooden barrel filled with water and heated with wood. We spent all four nights in the hot tub, watching the stars and discussing the day's activities over wine, cheese, and strawberries. If you want to try the hot tub, I recommend visiting during the colder months, or it can get uncomfortable quickly.

Every morning we woke up to a delicious breakfast with local specialties. I can also highly recommend dinner at the in-house restaurant. I recommend the Filete Belca for the main course and the dark chocolate brownie with caramel mouse and berries for dessert. You can read my full Google review here.

The glamping paradise is also the perfect place for your four-legged friend. Our princess Hanna was able to run free day and night. She was also constantly greeted with fresh meat from Veronika and Rudi, so make sure your dog is on a diet the days before visiting Gozdna Pr' Bizjak. I am sure this was one of the best places Hanna has ever been!

Before I get to recommendations for things to do, I want to highlight more restaurants in the area:

—  ‍pr’Pepet in the small but quaint town of Škofja Loka offers traditional Slovenian cuisine - delicious and at fair prices. My girlfriend especially enjoyed her beef steak, while I decided on a green bean stew and apple strudel for dessert. We even got a big bone for our dog Hanna to chew on. She liked it so much that she took it home with her.

‍—  Restavracija STARA PRAVDA is a steakhouse about a 15-minute drive from the glamping resort in Gozdna Pr' Bizjak. Andy and I had fresh salmon, which was delicious!

Mostnica Gorge: Immerse Yourself in Nature

Just a stone's throw from Lake Bohinj lies the charming town of Stara Fužina, the gateway to the enchanting Mostnica Gorge. To get to the Mostnica Gorge, you can leave your car in the paid parking lot or park for free in the center of the village. Instead of entering the Mostnica Gorge through the main entrance, I recommend walking here and heading north directly along the river. It is beautiful, and you will hardly meet anyone on your way. Follow the path until you see the first signs saying Mostnica Gorge.

There is a small wooden shed at the entrance to the gorge where you have to pay the entrance fee if you follow the path to the right. We followed the path to the left, just past the wooden shed, to avoid the fee. We discovered that both trails join later, so you can avoid payment if you choose the left path. After about an hour of walking through the dense forest next to the water, we reached the Mostnica Gorge. A great experience! Especially the crystal clear water and the exciting heights are impressive. From there, you can continue on the trail, but we decided to turn around and visit Lake Bohinj.

Bled vs. Bohinj: A Tale of Two Lakes

When looking for places to visit in Slovenia, one inevitably comes across the famous Lake Bled and its lesser-known neighbor, Lake Bohinj. Bled is visited by thousands of people annually and is usually one of the top recommendations in almost every blog post. That’s also why we went there. I'm being completely honest when saying that the reality is the opposite! I'm sorry to disappoint you. I will try to give you an honest overview of the activities at the two lakes so that you can decide for yourself.

Lake Bled: The Famous Picture-Postcard Lake

Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most famous tourist attractions and is visited by thousands yearly. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Lake Bled is usually one of the top recommendations when looking for what to visit in Slovenia. What makes Lake Bled special is the island in the middle of the lake. There is a church on the island. People go to the island by boat only to ring the church bell and make a wish. Dogs are not allowed on the island.

Probably the second most popular activity is a visit to Bled Castle, a historic fortress that overlooks the lake and offers a great view of the surrounding area. However, the entrance fee is way too expensive (15 €) for what you can see and experience inside a small museum about the castle's history, a chapel, a papermaking museum, a wine bar, and a restaurant. That's it!

You can also walk around the lake, go stand-up paddle boarding, or rent a boat to go out on the lake. Since we visited Slovenia in the off-season, we were lucky there weren't many people. However, the locals told us that Bled becomes a tourist hotspot in the summer and when the temperatures rise.

My highlight of a visit to Lake Bled is the hike to Mala Osojnica, a 20-minute hike through the woods to one of the best views in the area. The hike starts on the west side of the lake, where a small bench and a sign mark the starting point. Don't worry if it's hot; you'll be in the shade most of the way. You'll know you're getting close to the top when you see a long metal staircase. You can't miss it! At the top of the stairs is a wooden bench with a great view of Lake Bled. Continue walking for about 5 minutes, and you will reach Mala Osojnica, the main viewpoint.

Lake Bohinj: The Undiscovered Beauty

Lake Bohinj is Lake Bled’s counterpart that won me over with its untouched beauty and serene environment. We had been parking at this particular parking lot to picnic at an incredible lake view. Later we rented a canoe for all three of us (Andy, Hanna, and me) at the entry of the lake and went to discover Lake Bohinj from the water. A great experience! It’s worth noting that we paid 17€ to rent the canoe for 2 hours. At Lake Bled, this would have cost 50€!

In summary, I prefer Lake Bohinj as there were fewer people than at Lake Bled. This implies two things: the activities are much cheaper at Lake Bohinj, and the surroundings are still untouched, whereas Lake Bled is home to some famous hotel chains and resorts. Nevertheless, it is up to you to decide what you prefer!

Venturing to Waterfall Pericnik

Waterfall Pericnik is a majestic waterfall in the Triglav National Park, the only National Park in Slovenia. You can access Waterfall Pericnik from the car park directly at the bottom of the waterfall. Alternatively, you can leave your car in Mojstrana, a small village about an hour’s walking distance from the waterfall. We paid 1,20€/h for our parking; however, if you continue driving further towards the waterfall, you will find cheaper parking spaces of 80ct/h or even free.

From there, you can continue following the road toward Waterfall Pericnik, always following uphill the gorgeous river with crystal clear water. This was one of Hanna’s favorite experiences as she could always go in the water.

You will have a short and steep climb from the waterfall to the first viewpoint. If you continue your way up, you will have an even better view and can go behind the gigantic waterfall. An incredible experience where you will surely get wet. Continuing our way upwards, you will reach the top of the waterfall and have a nice view of its source of water: another waterfall.

Ljubljana: A Quick Peek at Slovenia’s Capital

Lastly, we visited Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, and Lake Bled, one of the most popular tourist attractions. Ironically, same as Lake Bled, we got disappointed. Ljubljana has an incredibly small and unspectacular city center. You only need 1 hour to see everything! In my opinion, Ljubljana is not worth the time or money to visit.

Slovenia: My New Favorite Place for Coming Back

Slovenia had never been on my radar before our trip. Now, I must admit that I am already planning on going back. I fell in love with Slovenian nature and its outstanding hospitality. Especially Triglav National Park is on my bucket list to explore further. Being an underrated hidden gem in Europe also has the great advantage that the prices are still reasonable and nature untouched.

Slovenia is also a great place to travel with your dog as the people love them, and there are few restrictions for taking your dog with you. I will come back soon!