Best Itinerary for a Week in Slovenia

You’ll likely arrive in Lake Bled midday. Spend the afternoon walking around the lake, taking in views of the surrounding mountains and serene glacier water.

Hop on Lake Bled’s tourist train to have dinner in the main square. Checkout local shops and souvenirs before dining al fresco with a view of the Bled Castle.

Make sure to have one of the famous Lake Bled Cream Cakes. This dreamy cream cake is every custard lover's dream. Slovenia prides itself on serving regional food and wine, so it will be difficult to find this cream cake at other points of your trip.

After a lowkey arrival day, it’s time to hit the trails. Spend your day hiking and exploring hidden waterfalls throughout Triglav National Park. There is a plethora of different trails of all moderations of difficulty in and around the park.

Take the rest of the afternoon and early evening to enjoy the lake. Swim or rest with other tourists and residents alike; rent a sup (paddleboard) or a canoe and relax on the water; or take a Pletna boat as part of a guided tour to The Church of the Mother on the Lake.

Hit some more trails in the morning or take a nice long stroll around the parts of the lake you missed yesterday.

A short train or cab ride and you’ll arrive in Ljubljana's Old Town. Walk through the daily open-air market. Discover which regional wine is your favorite with a tasting overlooking the Triple Bridge. Tour Ljubljana Castle and get a 360-degree view of the city’s capital from the castle's watchtower. Take a food and walking tour, tasting local delicacies, ranging from fresh cheeses and meats, locally sourced sausages and homemade schnapps. Simply take in the capital's colorful buildings, beautiful architecture, and impeccably clean, winding cobblestone streets.

Take in the scenic countryside as you pass through villages, mountain ranges and sprawling vineyards on your way to Maribor. Get a tour of the second-largest city in Slovenia and catch a glimpse of the oldest vine recorded in the world. The famous Old Vine is more than 400 years old and was part of the defensive wall for the town.

Make your way to your first wine tasting at an almost 200-year-old wine cellar, shared in the same square as Maribor Castle, followed by a tour of the Ptuj Castle in Slovenia’s oldest recorded city. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon tasting wines at local wineries and tourist farms throughout the countryside of the Maribor wine regions. End your trip with a local lunch on one of the vineyard farms before being dropped off at your hotel in Ljubljana.

Spend the first half of your day exploring the Škocjanjan caves. The Škocjanjan caves is the only Slovenian monument listed on UNESCO's list of natural world heritage sites. The park classifies their guided tours by the number of steps taken and length of time on your tour, ranging from only 15 minutes/100 steps, up to 2.5 hours/1,000 steps.

At the start of your drive to the coast, you’ll pass through mountain tunnels and alpine forests and in just 30 minutes you’ll be surrounded by palms and Mediterranean cover. Arrive at Kempinski Palace and take in your coastal views overlooking the Gulf of Piran and Croatian countryside in the distance.

Spend the rest of the afternoon settling in at the palace, exploring the hotel grounds, spa and beachfront. Enjoy a cocktail and some fresh pastries on the front lawn or treat yourself to a luxury spa treatment, or even better, do both.

With a rich history dating to the Republic of Venice, Piran deserves a day of exploring its squares, hidden alleyways and wandering through its old town.

You’ll be welcomed by Tartini Square; your first glimpse of the town will be the colorful buildings, venetian architecture, gorgeous views and iconic bell tower. Visit the Church of St. George, designed after St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice and boasts views of both the Croatian and Italian coastlines. Walk along the still-standing Medieval town walls.

Spend the rest of your time in Piran wandering through hidden alleyways on cobblestone streets and enjoying a traditional seafood lunch overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

Before heading back home, or onto your next adventure, relax at Kempinski Palace’s pool or private beach, get that last well-deserved spa treatment or shop along the Portoroz promenade for your final farewell to Slovenia.