Children’s Activities
It may lack some of the modern entertainments of more developed countries, but Slovenia has plenty to offer if the past and the great outdoors is your thing. From the Julian Alps to the beaches of the Adriatic Sea, there are a variety of outdoor scenes depending on what your kids enjoy. Fantasy medieval castles can be found in all regions, adding a romantic element that rarely fails to please children and adults alike.
 Castles
Slovenia is blessed with some really enchanting castles that seem as if they belong in a classic fairy tale. Dating from the medieval era, sites such as the hilltop Ljubljana Castle provide a taste of the days of knights and princesses complemented by modern attractions like a funicular ride up and back. Predjama Castle is another charmer, tucked right into a huge cavern on a cliff face. The views from its balconies are stunning, but kids will probably enjoy the torture chamber and underground tunnels more.
 Caving
Thanks to the vast area of limestone formations in the karst region of Slovenia, there are several cave networks that have been developed for tourism. Two of the country’s caves, Skocjan and Postojna, are well worth visiting as they provide a safe but impressive environment for kids to explore. Skocjan is incredibly huge, with vaulted chambers and deep chasms. Postojna is more commercially developed but still a wonderland of gigantic stalagmites, secret lakes, alien creatures and caverns that can hold as many as 10,000 people.
 Slovenia’s Lakes
There are a number of lakes in Slovenia, but the two most popular are Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. Lake Bled is much more developed, offering a ride range of water sports and other entertaining distractions along its banks.
The swimming and boating on both lakes is excellent, but if you want a quieter and more natural experience, head to Lake Bohinj. It’s the country’s largest lake, but it’s protected by the surrounding Triglav National Park which keeps the gaudy commercial side of things out.
Cultural Activities
For a country of its humble size and relative obscurity, Slovenia offers some real cultural gems. At the heart of everything lies the charming medieval city of Ljubljana with its fascinating Old Town, excellent museums and striking buildings. A number of fairytale castles dot the countryside, and the island in the middle of Lake Bled has a lovely little church dating back centuries. Slovenia’s blend of cultural attractions within its stunning natural surroundings makes it a real pleasure to explore.
 Bled Island (Blejski Otok)
Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist sites, but make sure you take a boat out to the picturesque little island in the middle. Here you can explore the Church of the Assumption, a charming place dedicated to the Virgin Mary. If you visit on a Saturday, you’ll likely be treated to a fun tradition where young couples get married after carrying the bride (hopefully) up the 99 steps to the church.
 Kobarid
Military enthusiasts and history buffs won’t want to miss this key site along the Italian border where the famous Battle of Kobarid occurred in 1917. Regarded as a pivotal moment in WWI, the Kobarid Historical Walk offers 3 to 5 hours of walking past the important sites of this battle. The walk also passes through some of the region’s finest scenery, including a suspension bridge crossing the Soca River and a stop at the Kozjak Brook waterfalls. The onsite Kobarid Museum will fill you in on all the details before you start off on the walk.
Kobarid Museum (Kobariski Muzej)
This is considered one of Europe’s premier museums dedicated to the pain and suffering associated with war, and visitors will hopefully leave with a strong impression. Its three floors are filled with a wide range of wartime memorabilia and paraphernalia. Graphic photos and excerpts from soldiers’ journals and letters add a personal element to the exhibits. The Black Room, covered in photos of survivors of the weaponry of war, is particularly moving. The overall theme is on the role Kobarid played in WWI. Phone: +386 5 389 0000; website: www.kobariski-muzej.si.
 Ljubljana’s Old Town
The cultural highlight of Slovenia is undoubtedly the charming and wonderfully preserved Old Town in the capital Ljubljana. Clustered around a bend in the Ljubljanica River, this medieval district is a mix of baroque, neoclassic and Secessionist architecture. From the centre at Preserniv Square to the essential Mestni trg and Stari trg sections, the Old Town’s lively pedestrian streets packed with bars, cafés, and boutiques are ideal for hours of wandering. The Triple Bridge links the two banks of the river, offering countless options for eating and drinking with the locals.
National Gallery (Narodna Galerija)
Slovenia’s best art museum can be found in the heart of Ljubljana, providing visitors with a holistic perspective on this nation’s heritage of Slovene art. The architecture alone alerts visitors that something special lies inside. Two 19th-century buildings connected by a striking glass and steel structure that holds Slovenia’s largest collection of paintings. All the great names are here such as Mihael Stoj, Ferdo Vesel, Anton Azbe and Ivana Kobilca. Phone: +386 1 241 5434; website: www.ng-slo.si/en.
 Predjama Castle (Predjamski grad)
Carved right into the sheer face of a 123-metre rock cliff is the dramatic Predjama Castle. There are some great stories associated with this spectacular medieval castle and the history of the Slovenes, making the ticket price well worth it. As you poke your head out of the stone windows and peer over the edge of the many balconies, you can get a tangible sense of a classic medieval fantasy. Its interior has been nicely preserved, complete with torture chambers and a stalagtite-dripping 7km cavern underneath. If you visit in August you can catch the amazing Erazem’s Medieval Tournament, featuring jousting and costumes right out of a fairytale.
Dining & Shopping
 Befitting its cultural heritage, Slovenia’s cuisine has a distinctly German and Austrian influence. Classics such as grilled sausages, sauerkraut and strudel appear on nearly every menu. As you move from region to region, however, subtle differences emerge. In the far eastern area of Prekmurje you can find Hungarian dishes like goulash, while the coastal Primorska area is known for its fresh seafood.
Slovenia also creates a number of special dishes for special occasions. The best-known of these are the myriad breads which often come as wreaths or braided loaves known as strukliji. Stuffed with meat, vegetables or something sweet, they can be found in the bakeries of every town in the country. To wash it all down there are some surprisingly good wines in Slovenia. Whites like Renski Rizling and Laski are very popular, while the red teran wine from the karst region and along the Adriatic Sea and the rosy cvicek wine from the southeast are interesting takes on standard reds. Slovenian beer is also quite tasty. Check out Lasko or Union beer if you get the chance.
 Ljubljana may be a rather small city, but it is absolutely loaded with great places to eat. Most of them are clustered along the pleasant Ljubljanica River and tend to fill up every night as Slovenes love to dine out. Bled and Piran also have some good choices mixed in with a montage of tourist traps, so ask around for a local’s opinion. Tips of 10 per cent are the norm in restaurants though it’s not obligatory.
Shopping in Slovenia is a bit of a mixed bag. Local specialties are few and very specific in nature, centered mainly on crystal glass, bobbin lace and the unusual selection of specialty wines. Antiques are perhaps the most interesting thing to shop for in Slovenia, especially in Ljubljana’s shops and its wonderful Sunday flea market.
While in Ljubljana, check out the daily crafts market near the Tourist Information Centre under a huge covered promenade. Adjacent to St Nicolas Cathedral is another interesting market worth poking around, but it’s the Sunday antiques market, running the length of the river from the Triple Bridge southwards, that has the most to offer. Best of all, you will get to meet lots of locals while you search for that personal treasure.
Slovenia is one of Europe’s most beautiful and uncrowded outdoor recreation areas. The Julian Alps provide all the mountain fun you can ask for, winter and summer, while the Soca Valley is another hot spot for rafting, canyoning, mountain biking and hiking. Bled and Bohinj Lakes are ideal for summer water sports, and the country’s world-famous cave systems like ·kocjan are a reliable thrill for kids and adults alike.
Outdoor Activities
 Golf
Boasting 10 golf clubs set in various stunning locations, Slovenia is slowly beginning to attract more enthusiasts of the sport. Some of the clubs require membership. Visitors should contact the Golf Association of Slovenia at Dunajska 51, 51-1000, Ljubljana, in advance. Phone: +386 1 585 4801.
 Julian Alps
Slovenia’s nicest mountain range is the Julian Alps. In and around this region are some of the country’s most spectacular natural highlights, making it an ideal place to hike, mountain climb, or just enjoy the majestic scenery. Triglav National Park is here, providing trekkers with some excellent trails up towering Mount Triglav. Popular sites like Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, and the UNESCO World Heritage ·kocjan Caves are also nearby.
 River Sports
With some of the prettiest and cleanest rivers in Europe flowing out of its mountains, Slovenia is a great place to indulge in a variety of river sports. Whether you prefer a mellow canoe trip or an action-packed whitewater rafting adventure, every kind of river environment can be found here. Kayaking, rafting and canoeing are the most common sports on Slovenia’s main rivers such as the Soca, Savinja, Sava, Kolpa and Idrija. Many towns along these rivers and at the lakes have outfitters who can provide the gear, training and guidance needed.
 Skiing and Snowboarding
Although not as popular as the classic Alps resorts, Slovenia’s mountains offer excellent skiing and snowboarding with far fewer crowds and at a much lower price. There are a dozen or so ski resorts scattered around the country including Bovec Pohorje, Cerkno, Bohinj, Krankska Gora, the Rogal and Vogel. Perhaps the most popular area is outside Bovec in the Kanin Mountains, where most of the annual competitions are held.
 Soca River Valley
This beautiful valley with the Soca River running through it is one of Slovenia’s main sites for outdoor recreation. In the summer, kayaking, rafting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and canyoning are popular activities. The winter opens up the surrounding mountains to some of the best skiing in the region. Extreme adventurers can even try paragliding and hydrospeeding for a bigger rush. Most of the towns in the valley like Kobarid have outfitters than can arrange anything and everything for you.
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