Family Vacations to Slovenia

Slovenia – Family holiday guide

At the start of 2016 Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana, was declared Green Capital of Europe. By the end of the year, Slovenia itself had become the first country in the world to be designated a Green Destination.

If that alone doesn’t make you want to book your next family holiday here, you may be tempted by Mediterranean cities that easily rival the neighbors in Croatia, a magnificent Alpine landscape, spa towns in the north and a single ski-pass that covers upwards of 12 ski resorts.

But don’t leave it too long to decide: affordable, uncrowded and lovely Slovenia is now on the map.

Why Go

Home to the 'Green Capital of Europe'

In 2016, Ljubljana was Green Capital of Europe and Slovenia became the world’s first country to be designated a Green Destination.

Great for Ski Holidays

One single ski-pass accesses Slovenia’s ski-areas, which are all within 30 minutes or less, from Ljubljana airport.

Lipizzaner Horses

Lipica in western Slovenia is the birthplace of Vienna’s legendary Lipizzaner horses and home to the world’s oldest stud farm.

Small Country with Many Different Regions

Slovenia is small enough to base a holiday in the capital Ljubljana and still spend time in each of the country’s other regions, from the Mediterranean coast to the Alps. Slovenia has a Mediterranean coastline and shares borders with Italy, Croatia, Austria and Hungary.

Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is one of the oldest in Europe, covers an area of 500 square miles and is home to the impressive Julian Alps.

Ljubljana

Ljubljana’s one of the European cities people are always torn about: on the one hand they want to rave about how lovely it is and, on the other, are tempted to just keep quiet. The second option’s becoming increasingly difficult because it has it all, from graceful Ljubljana Castle and the red roofed medieval quarter to Baroque architecture that rivals Salzburg.

Ljubljana is less than an hour drive from Slovenia’s ski resorts; just over an hour from Alpine Bled or Piran on the Mediterranean coast and less than two hours from the spas, vineyards, ancient towns and unspoiled countryside of the Pannonian region.
Every year the city hosts dozens of international festivals and thousands of cultural events. It’s filled with exceptional museums, galleries and historic sights.
The average age in Ljubljana is around about 30, so it’s a youthful and energetic city with excellent shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and interesting places to stay.
Bike-friendly and easy to walk about, don’t miss: Ljubljana Castle; Tivoli Park; summer-long Open Kitchen; BTC City; Križanke Monastery; National Gallery and Museum of Slovenia; Jože Plečnik’s Art Nouveau architecture and design; Tromostovje; Levstik Square and Rožnik Hill.
Affordable Ljubljana has hundreds of free family and kids’ events all year, WiFi for all in the city centre and even spring and summer outdoor libraries in its parks.

Kranjska Gora

One of Slovenia’s best family ski resorts, just over an hour from Ljubljana on the Austrian border. Several major international downhill and slalom events are held here every year and advanced skiers have altitudes of over 1200m and spectacular Alpine scenery. Good for beginners and intermediate too, with a wide range of kids’ activities, several ski schools and excellent childcare and kindergarten.

Like most Slovenian ski-resorts, Kranjska Gora has held on to its traditional Alpine charm while extensively upgrading facilities over the past decade.
18 slopes ranging from black to beginner across a compact ski-area with a network of 20 lifts.
One hour and 10 minutes by road from the Ljubljana Airport.

Cerkno

Cerkno’s the most advanced and award-winning resort in Slovenia. The ski-area’s on Mount Srni Vrh with altitudes of 4,200 ft, 12 slopes and 10 lifts – it’s the only resort in the country with covered lifts and 100 percent snow-making.

Excellent family-friendly reputation with good childcare, ski schools and a range of beginners’ slopes close to the resort center.
Cerkno also has a terrain park, bike park, swimming pools, leisure centre, kindergarten and winter event program.
One hour and 20 minutes by road from Ljubljana Airport.

Mediterranean Coast

Slovenia on the Med isn’t enormous but manages to pack an astonishing number of breathtaking seaside resorts, natural phenomena and pretty beaches into a small space. The coast is less than a two-hour drive from Ljubljana but, with temperatures of 80˚F and plenty of sunshine, it’s a summer holiday in its own right and far less busy than nearby Croatia.

Choose to stay in Piran: heartland of Slovenia’s ancient salt-making industry and the loveliest town on the country’s Mediterranean coast.
Visit Izola for its historic centre, waterfront restaurants, Venetian architecture, ancient traditions and lovely harbour.
Visit Postojna for the legendary caves and Predjama Castle.
Take horse-mad kids to lovely Lipica, homeland of the Lipizzaner Horses and where they’re still bred today at the world’s oldest stud farm.

Bled

Bled Lake is the largest in Slovenia and has the country’s only island, it’s also the most famous area in the Alpine region and a fantastic base for outdoor adventure holidays in spring and summer.

Bled’s only an hour by road from Ljubljana and on the edge of Triglav National Park – fantastic for a day out but worth considering a few days for walking, climbing and exploring.

Pannonian Slovenia

The east of Slovenia is where to find terraced vineyards, gorgeously pretty villages, traditional country festivals, amazing rivers and some of Europe’s finest spa towns. Again, it’s an area close enough to the capital for days out and good for touring around with older kids.

Don’t miss: wine country round Maribor on the River Drava; Ptuj, Slovenia’s oldest city; walking in the Slovenske Gorice hills; the nesting storks of Prekmurje; Bela Krajina on the River Kolpa; Prlekija for thermal springs.

Educational Value for Kids

Visit the town of Velenje, an hour’s drive east of Ljubljana, in mid September for the annual Pippi Longstocking Festival.

The Kranjska Gora region in eastern Slovenia’s ideal for kids first attempts at hillwalking and easy hiking.

Spend a day on the coast at Sečovlje Salt Pans, the museum and displays are fascinating but the wonderful, time-stood-still atmosphere is best of all.

Visit the Ljubljana Marshes to see the Unesco World Heritage prehistoric pile dwellings – there are examples in France, Germany and Austria too but Slovenia’s are remarkably well preserved.

Getting Around

Rent a car in Slovenia and take advantage of the country’s small size to explore almost every region. The roads are excellent even in rural areas and you won’t drive far without coming across a town or village. Ljubljana is just over an hour from the coast and even the furthest reaches of Pannonian on the Hungarian border are less than a couple of hours drive away.

Family Vacations to Slovenia

Slovenia – Family holiday guide

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