Day 1: Arrival in Ljubljana
Welcome to Slovenia! Upon arrival at Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport, you will be warmly greeted by your guide and transferred to your centrally located hotel in Ljubljana, the charming capital city. After settling in, embark on an introductory walking tour through Ljubljana’s enchanting Old Town. Stroll along the Ljubljanica River, admire the iconic Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge — guarded by four fierce dragon statues, the symbol of the city. Visit Preseren Square, the bustling heart of Ljubljana named after Slovenia’s greatest poet. Your guide will lead you through the atmospheric Central Market, where locals gather daily for fresh produce and artisanal goods. The evening is yours to explore the riverside cafes and restaurants lining the Ljubljanica, offering everything from traditional Slovenian cuisine to international fusion dishes.
Overnight: Ljubljana
Meals: Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Ljubljana Castle, Maribor & The Oldest Vine
After breakfast, take the funicular railway up to Ljubljana Castle, perched on a hill overlooking the city for over 900 years. Explore the castle ramparts, the Viewing Tower with panoramic vistas of the Julian Alps, and the fascinating Museum of Slovenian History housed within. Then depart eastward through rolling green countryside to Maribor, Slovenia’s second-largest city on the banks of the Drava River. Your walking tour includes the Lent district — the oldest part of town — and the highlight: the world’s oldest productive grapevine, certified by Guinness World Records at over 450 years old, still producing 35-55 kg of grapes annually. Visit the Old Vine House for a tasting of regional wines. Continue to the marvellous Renaissance-style Town Hall and the towering Maribor Cathedral. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional gostilna (inn) featuring Styrian specialties.
Overnight: Maribor
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Ptuj — Slovenia’s Oldest Town
This morning, journey to Ptuj, the oldest continuously inhabited town in Slovenia with a history spanning over 2,000 years. Perched above the Drava River, Ptuj Castle dominates the skyline — explore its impressive collections of regional art, historical weapons, musical instruments, and traditional carnival masks from the famous Kurentovanje festival. Stroll the cobbled streets of the medieval town center, passing the stunning Orpheus Monument, a Roman tombstone from the 2nd century AD, and the elegant Town Tower. Visit the Dominican Monastery with its beautiful cloister. After lunch featuring local Ptuj onion soup, return to Maribor for an afternoon at leisure. You may wish to climb Pyramid Hill for sweeping views over the city and surrounding wine hills, or sample more local wines at one of the many wine bars in the Old Town.
Overnight: Maribor
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Predjama Castle to Postojna Cave & the Adriatic Coast
Depart early for one of Slovenia’s most dramatic sights — Predjama Castle. This incredible Renaissance fortress is built directly into the mouth of a towering limestone cliff face, 123 metres above the valley floor. Learn the legend of the rebellious knight Erasmus Lueger, who defied the Habsburg emperor for a year and a day, using the cave’s secret passages to resupply his garrison. Continue to Postojna Cave, Slovenia’s most visited natural attraction and a UNESCO-listed karst wonder. Board the electric cave train for a 3.7-km journey through a subterranean wonderland of stalactites, stalagmites, and massive chambers like the Concert Hall, which can hold 10,000 people. Marvel at the “Brilliant” — a 5-metre pure white stalagmite, the symbol of the cave. In the afternoon, drive through the scenic Karst region to the Adriatic Coast, arriving in the beautiful Venetian-style town of Piran for check-in.
Overnight: Piran
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Piran & Koper — Venice on the Adriatic
Spend the morning exploring Piran, one of the best-preserved Venetian harbour towns on the Adriatic. Climb the bell tower of St. George’s Cathedral for panoramic views across terracotta rooftops toward Italy and Croatia. Walk along the ancient town walls, wander through narrow medieval alleyways, and visit Tartini Square, named after the famous violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini. After a seafood lunch overlooking the harbour, drive a short distance to Koper, Slovenia’s largest coastal city. Visit the impressive Praetorian Palace with its stunning Venetian Gothic facade and the Cathedral of the Assumption. Explore Tito Square and the lively port area. Return to Piran for a sunset dinner featuring freshly caught Adriatic fish and local Malvazija wine.
Overnight: Piran
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Lipica Stud Farm & Karst Region
After breakfast, visit the world-famous Lipica Stud Farm, established in 1580 by Archduke Charles of Austria. This is the original home of the noble Lipizzaner horses, bred for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Enjoy a guided tour of the stables and watch a mesmerizing performance of classical dressage featuring these stunning white stallions. Continue into the Karst region, known for its unique limestone landscape, underground rivers, and traditional stone architecture. Visit the medieval fortified village of Stanjel, a monument of national importance featuring stone houses clinging to a terraced hillside. Enjoy a tasting of prosciutto (prsut) and teran wine — the signature products of the Karst. In the afternoon, travel north to the Soca River Valley and check into your hotel in Kobarid.
Overnight: Kobarid
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Kobarid WWI History & Bled
Begin the day at the award-winning Kobarid Museum, which documents the brutal Isonzo Front of World War I, where over one million soldiers perished across twelve battles. Walk the Kobarid Historical Trail to the Kozjak Waterfall — a stunning 15-metre cascade hidden within a dark stone amphitheatre. Ernest Hemingway immortalized this landscape in his novel “A Farewell to Arms,” written while he served as an ambulance driver here. After lunch, drive through the breathtaking Vrsic Pass (1,611m), Slovenia’s highest mountain road, winding through 50 hairpin turns with spectacular views of the Julian Alps. Descend into the Sava Valley and arrive at the jewel of Slovenia — Lake Bled. Check into your lakeside hotel with postcard-perfect views of Bled Island and its fairy-tale church.
Overnight: Lake Bled
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Lake Bled & Departure
Your final day is devoted to the iconic Lake Bled. Take a traditional Pletna boat across the emerald lake to the tiny island, where you ring the Wishing Bell at the Church of the Assumption to make a wish. Visit the medieval Bled Castle, dramatically perched on a 130-metre cliff above the lake — the oldest castle in Slovenia, dating to 1011. The castle terrace offers unforgettable views of the lake, island, and surrounding Alps. Enjoy a slice of the famous Bled cream cake (kremna rezina), a local specialty since 1953. After lunch, transfer to Ljubljana Airport for your departure flight. Leave with memories of dragon bridges, underground caves, Venetian coastlines, and alpine lakes — a Slovenia that will call you back again and again.
Meals: Breakfast
