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If you are going to Europe this summer, chances are that countries such as France, Italy and Spain are at the top of your bucket list and are tried as they can be, we get it.
Nothing shouts ‘idyllic’ all the way as a good old village that eats the French Riviera hopping, soft lemon gelato in a stone city in Tuscany, or cherish in the Mallorcan sun, but That’s not all there is.
In fact, this year’s most trigger summer outing is none of Europe’s Big 3: it is a much smaller nation, one that you might be surprised to learn, has deep ties with the United States … or will we say, the current first lady:
So Melania Trump saw this and decided To leave?
Sandwiched between the Midden -European Alps and the Mediterranean, Slovenia is more than just the home country of Melania TrumpOr a name on a map that most travelers have difficult to distinguish from his Slavic brother or sister, Slovakia.
According to VirtuosoA travel company that follows global trends, Slovenia is the top destination ‘On the Rise’ in Europe for the summer of 2025, with a year after year bookings with no less than 473%, higher than any other country on the continent.
If you have never thought of Slovenia in advance, you might wonder why travelers suddenly flowed there to spend their hard -earned holiday pay, given that there are many more established, traditional ‘summer escapades.
Well, allow us to get acquainted with one of Europe’s most underestimated (and shockingly diverse) precious stones:
A fairytale capital frozen on time
Every trip to Slovenia probably starts in its small, compact capital: under a name that sounds just as mysterious as it is beautiful, Ljubljana is A medieval settlement On the banks of a winding, narrow river, at the foot of an impressive 11th-century fort.
Despite the relative anonymity, this is perhaps one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe, and between exploring the old city dotted by the church and the paved Castle Hill (and every Dragon Furlombridge and street market in between, it falls in love with it in no time.
If you love nature, view Tivoli Park, you don’t want to miss a vast green space in the heart of Ljubljana, and for the gourmets among us Hood Burgeror the no-frills, sit-in Druga Violinapopular because of its local delicacies, such as Slovenian rods and stewAnd cheap prices.
Speaking of this, Ljubljana is a cheap city break according to European standards: main courses in local frequent restaurants Will restart with $ 9-10While overnight stays in an old city pension or guesthouse start from as cheap as $ 35 a night for 2 adults, as seen on Booking.com.
The most photogenic Alpine -Lake in Europe is here
This is the postcard view for the whole of Slovenia, and probably the classic shot that the small country is known for the whole world: a small island in the middle of an Alpine Lake, the home of a lonely church, and supported by lush forest and snow covered with snow.
That’s blood for you:
A relaxed resort city in the Julian Alps, which offers a wide range of cultural and nature-based activities, from kayaking to that small island and visiting the church, to walking to Bled Castle, settled on a hill with a view of the dreamy landscape.
Another popular attraction is the 3.7 mile out-and-back trail that runs around the lake, perfect for a center summer wall pure mountain air.
Nature is free to enjoy, after all, this is a leisure destination and no trip to Bled is complete without pampering:
If you don’t mind splashing a little, there is an abundance of spa hotels on the lake, especially the iconic hotel triglav, equipped with a modern wellness center, an indoor swimming pool and a wine cellar and with chef-accurate menus, of a still realized $ 221-per night (for 2 adults).
A mini Switzerland waiting to be discovered
Bled is the best known lake in Slovenia, but the country itself is full of breathtaking alpine landscapes, so much that it has recently won grip as an alternative to Switzerland (not that we have played a role in it ourselves).
You can travel around Triglav National Park, dominated by the highest peak in Slovenia, Mount Triglav (rising 9,396 feet above sea level), Live your best picturesque life The pursuit of the view of the mountains, turquoise watering and green meadows in Soča valley, or relaxing in the wellness port of Kranjska Gora.
Our absolute favorite, it is the equivalent of the bad Ischl of Austria or Valz in Switzerland:
A charming village in the Alps where Slovenian come for its crystal clear sources, spa hotels in dramatic mountain passes and lakes so beautiful that they limit ethereal.
To wait… Slovenia is also on the Mediterranean Sea?
There is still another side of Slovenia that you never knew existed, and trust us, this will feel best as the best for the last:
Without the knowledge of most, Slovenia has a coastline in the Mediterranean Sea. Although short, just 29 miles, it is Packed with old port cities Located in the Roman and Venetian times And photo-perfect pebble beaches bathed by the warm Adriatic Sea.
The buyer is exactly how you imagine that Mediterranean hotspots such as Dubrovnik or Amalfi are, prior to the arrival of tourism: quiet, peaceful and simply stumbling, rising Romanesque belfrys, narrow alleys flanked by pastel -colored houses and everything.
About in Izola you will find a picturesque fishing town with a Well -preserved historic center and a port surrounded by yachtsAnd let’s not forget Portorož, the Slovenian Saint-Tropez, with its wide beach, alternating between sand and grassy and buzzing nightlife.
However, the star of the show is piran, A distant cousin of Venicenot necessarily for the channels, but for the typical Venetian, colorful facades and the towering bell tower, which is strongly similar to the floating city Campanile di San Marco.
Whether you are looking for Charme from Old World, an Alpine Retreat or an unusual Mediterranean outing, rest assured that Slovenia will deliver and without the hectic summer scenes of the European counterparts or stunning prices.
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This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
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