Introducing Slovenia
It's a tiny country, about half the size of Switzerland, and counts just over two million people. But the only way to describe pint-sized Slovenia (Slovenija), an independent republic bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, is that it's 'a mouse that roars'.
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Slovenia has been dubbed a lot of things since independence in 1991 - 'Europe in Miniature', 'The Sunny Side of the Alps', 'The Green Piece of Europe' - and, though they may sound like tourist-brochure blurbs, they're all true. From beaches, snow-capped mountains, hills awash in grapevines and wide plains blanketed in sunflowers, to Gothic churches, baroque palaces, historic castles and art nouveau civic buildings, Slovenia offers more diversity than countries many times its size. Its incredible mixture of climates brings warm Mediterranean breezes up to the foothills of the Alps, where it can even snow in summer. With more than half of its total area covered in forest, Slovenia truly is one of the greenest countries in the world - and in recent years it has also become Europe's activities playground.
Among Slovenia's greatest assets, though, are the Slovenes themselves - welcoming, generous, multilingual, broad-minded. As far as they are concerned, they do not live emotionally, spiritually or even geographically in 'Eastern' Europe - their home is the very heart of the continent.
Last updated: Jul 16, 2010
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Monster hunting in Europe
25 October 2011
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Forget Western Europe: try these great Eastern alternatives
20 October 2010
To say that the tourist trail through Western Europe is well-travelled is an understatement. In fact it’s so well-travelled...
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Central Europe: travel books to read before you go
1 October 2010
This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Central Europe guide provides a selection of literature to get you in the mood for...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: General Itinerary help
by brambora 14 September 2011
Hi there, I hope you will make it over to the Czech Republic, since it is in the heart of Europe, and if you do, maybe consider (in addition…
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RE: Working this part of the world..!
by everbrite 14 September 2011
Since UK and Irish passport holders can work throughout the EU without special work permits, as an Australian you won't find it easy to…
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Re: Anyone at Oktoberfest - last weekend?
by Snelly35 13 September 2011
Sorry, I didn't mention, but I am also in my 20s and its my first time in Europe. Although I do have a friend in Slovenia that I am going…
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Slovenia
Things to do
- All things to do (544)
- Activities (80)
- Entertainment (86)
- Restaurants (120)
- Shopping (55)
- Sights (195)
- Tours (8)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Slovenia
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1 Lake Bohinj
An idyllic unspoiled Alpine lake beneath Mt Triglav
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2 Logarska Dolina
The most beautiful Alpine valley, with flat meadows ringed by rocky peaks
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3 Šempeter
An almost complete Roman-era necropolis with 1st century tombs
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4 Bogojina
A flower-bedecked village with a wonderful church designed by Jože Plečnik
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5 Ptuj
A gem of a town, steeped in medieval history
Fast Facts about Slovenia
- Capital
- Famous for
hiking and skiing, Lake Bled, Lipizzaner horses, pršut (air-dried ham)
- Official language
Slovene
- Phrases
dober dan (hello); živijo (hi); prosim (please); hvala (thank you); oprostite (excuse me); nasvidenje (goodbye)
- Population
2.018 million
- Telephone code
386
- Slovenia’s national anthem
Zdravljica (A Toast to Freedom), written by poet France Prešeren in 1844
- Size
20, 273 sq km (0.2% of Europe’s total land mass)
Our favourite Slovenia Blogs (beta)
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The Triple Bridge Across the Ljubljanica river in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Blog: Everything Everywhere - 28 January 2012
Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Discover great travel quotes.
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The Cold War, the Iron Curtain & Somewhere In Between
Blog: Inside the Travel Lab - 10 January 2012
Cold War. Iron Curtain. Four words, two phrases, several meanings. When I went to school, a third of the world lived under “communist” rule. Travel was restricted...The Cold War, the Iron Curtain & Somewhere In Between first appeared on Inside the Travel Lab. Head over there for more juicy fresh travel goodness. Or, you know, something you might like to read...
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Ten Things You Never Knew About Ljubljana, Slovenia
Blog: Inside the Travel Lab - 6 January 2012
I hope to bring Ljubljana to life for you here on Inside the Travel Lab, piece by piece, over the course of 2012 as part of my #IronRoute Project. Yet to spare you the overload experienced by my hard drive, oh long-suffering reader, I’ll start with this bite-sized list and fill in the gaps later.
