Endowed with a bounty of natural attractions, charming medieval cities, historic sites and a reliably stable and peaceful atmosphere, Slovenia is one of the great success stories from the splintered former Yugoslavia. Although it’s not quite as ‘secret’ as it was a decade ago, Slovenia remains one of Europe’s best bargains with plenty of attractions, few crowds and excellent prices.

Despite being one of Europe’s smallest countries, Slovenia manages to pack in a shocking amount of quality highlights, both natural and cultural. Its geographical location certainly helps. Tucked in between the stunning Julian Alps and the Adriatic coastline, Slovenia’s interior is covered in dense forests, towering mountains and plenty of quaint traditional villages which welcome visitors with open arms.

Everything in Slovenia begins and ends with its extremely pleasant capital, Ljubljana. Located right in the heart of the country, this is the hub of cultural, social and artistic innovation. With its Old Town and medieval castle at the centre, the city drapes itself along the banks of the languid Ljubljanica River. Best of all, you can drive to any neighbouring country within two hours.

With over 200 hotels to choose from, Slovenia offers accommodation ranging from modest to superb. In Ljublajana one can find the Grand Hotel Union Executive and the Grand Hotel Union Business as well-recommended. The capital and popular resort towns have the most upscale hotels, but in most areas moderate lodging prevails. June through August is the peak tourism season, especially on the coast, so make your reservations in advance.

It’s easy to see why many compare Slovenia with Switzerland. Its Julian Alps are simply stunning, highlighted by the wonderful Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. This entire region is buzzing with festivals and hot resorts year round. But don’t overlook the Adriatic coast, with its medieval port towns and trendy seaside party enclaves. Slovenia is still one of the last undiscovered gems of Europe, but with this much to offer it won’t last long.

The Slovenes were an ethnic group that settled parts of the eastern Alps and Danube river valleys in the 6th century. They were conquered by the Frankish empire in 748 AD, beginning six centuries of Germanic rule. This period included a forced mass conversion to Christianity by the Carolingians which in turn merged Slovenia into the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century. Austro-German kings and queens were the last rulers over Slovenia until 1918. Though the peasant class largely retained their Slavic roots, the upper classes were completely Germanised.

Slovenia got its first taste of autonomy in 1809 when Napoleon created the Illyrian Provinces. Though this was short-lived, it created a sense of national identity which endured through WWI, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire finally collapsed. However, WWII soon arrived and Slovenia was again carved up between Germany, Italy and Hungary. This time the nationalists fought back, joining the fledgling Republic of Yugoslavia in 1945.

The 1980s brought another potential threat when Serbia’s leader Milosevic began talk of asserting his control over all the Yugoslav republics. Both the Croats and the Slovenes saw the impending danger and in 1990 Slovenia jumped the gun and held free elections after 45 years of socialist rule. It was an overwhelming mandate of freedom from the public.

This bold move protected Slovenia from the mess in the Balkans that soon followed. In 1992 the nation was officially recognised by the EU and UN. The future looks bright for Slovenia as it has proved to be a model of transition for young democratic countries. In 2004, it was allowed into the European Union and NATO and continues its stable government process.

Slovenia is a nation with two distinctly different climates. Along the Adriatic coast a pleasant Mediterranean-style climate dominates, but inland the harsher eastern European climate takes hold. The result is that visitors will have dramatically different weather depending on where they travel in Slovenia.

The best weather in Slovenia is along its coastline on the Adriatic Sea. Summers in this region are extremely nice, with highs averaging just below 30°C (86°F) and blue skies most days. Unfortunately, this amazing weather doesn’t extend into the winter season. Cold winds from the northeast drop the temperatures and bring a surprising amount of rainfall. The effect is some really challenging weather from November through March.

As you move inland from the sea, the weather takes on a more continental look. In this large region of Slovenia it feels much more like the rest of Eastern Europe. The winters are harsh cold affairs, with temperatures barely breaking zero (32°F) even when the sun is shining. The summer brings much warmer temperatures, typically hovering around the high 20°Cs (low 80°Fs). But central Slovenia sees a lot of heavy thunderstorms during the summer, putting a damper on an otherwise perfect scene.

There are plenty of breaks from the rain, however, and early autumn is often a great time to visit. Low tourist numbers, crisp skies and colourful mountainsides bring out the best in Slovenia. Early summer can also be nice, and if you enjoy skiing, Slovenia’s Alps get plenty of snowfall during the winter months.