Slovenia: easy to reach, safe to explore & perfect for cycling and hiking
Slovenia is a small but incredibly diverse country in Central Europe—easy to reach and consistently ranked among the world’s safest for overall stability and low crime (9th in the Global Peace Index 2025). This makes it ideal for travelers looking for a stress-free trip. Here’s what you need to know before your trip: from how to get here and why it’s safe to what’s included in our tours.
Where is Slovenia?
Slovenia sits in Central Europe, nestled between Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. What makes it special is its vast variety of landscapes—the Alps, Mediterranean coast, Pannonian Plain, Dinaric mountains, forests, and Karst. And thanks to its size, you can travel from mountains to the coast in under two hours by car—ideal for active holidays in Europe. We’re lucky to call it home.
What makes it one of the world’s safest countries?
“A legend says that when God distributed the land to all the nations, Slovenians were overlooked because there were so few of them. To apologize, he gave them a little piece of paradise he had saved for himself.” – Global Finance Magazine
Our homeland consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world (9th in the Global Peace Index 2025), with low crime, strong public services, and a relaxed pace of life. Here, English is widely spoken, and locals are generally friendly and happy to help.
For cyclists, it’s a comfortable place to ride—mostly calm traffic, considerate drivers, plus plenty of stunning routes. Add a strong cycling culture (home to champions like Pogačar and Roglič) and bike-friendly infrastructure, and it’s even easier to see why Slovenia is a top destination for cycling holidays. We say that from experience, though better options for taking bikes on public transport would make it even smoother.
Some safety and practical tips
Since Slovenia is generally very safe, staying safe mostly comes down to being prepared in nature and using a bit of common sense—especially on a hiking or cycling holiday.
Here are some general tips and useful links:
- Use registered taxis or apps to avoid overpriced rides (here’s a list for Ljubljana). Uber operates in the capital, while elsewhere it’s best to ask your accommodation to arrange a reliable taxi.
- Keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas.
- Check a reliable weather forecast (e.g. ARSO) and the updates from the Slovenian Alpine Association before heading to the mountains.
- Follow local rules in nature to avoid fines, especially in Triglav National Park. Wild camping can cost you up to €500.
- When hiking, be well prepared and check safety advice here.
- Use tick protection when spending time outdoors.
- In rural areas, English might be less common, but people are always helpful.
Getting to Slovenia (and your tour start)
The main airport is Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU), just 30 minutes from the capital. It offers connections to major European hubs via airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Air Serbia, and LOT.
In addition, several low-cost and seasonal airlines such as easyJet, Wizz Air, Transavia, and Vueling operate flights to Ljubljana, with newer connections including destinations like Edinburgh, Manchester (both via easyJet), and Barcelona (Vueling).
You can also fly into nearby international airports within a 2–3 hour drive, including:
- Venice (VCE)
- Treviso (TSF)
- Trieste (TRS)
- Klagenfurt (KLU)
- Graz (GRZ)
- Zagreb (ZAG)
Airport or other transfers to your tour starting point can be arranged on request, subject to availability. Let us know your preferences, and we’ll provide you with the available options.
Alternatively, you can get to the tour starting point via GoOpti transfers, bus, taxi, or train connections through nearby cities.
Some guests choose this option—especially those coming from nearby European countries or wanting to avoid flying.
Ljubljana is connected by international train lines from cities like Vienna, Munich, Zagreb, and Trieste. However, reaching your tour starting point usually requires a train plus a short transfer (bus, GoOpti, or taxi). If you prefer a smoother option, we can arrange a transfer from the airport to your starting point—just let us know.
Driving is often the most flexible option, as Slovenia is small and distances are short. If arriving by car, parking is usually available at the tour starting point.
What a care-free local tour looks like
On our guided and self-guided cycling and hiking tours in Slovenia, we take care of almost everything, so you don’t have to.
From accommodation and meals to routes, transfers, and luggage, all the details are planned in advance, so you can simply show up and enjoy the ride.
About three weeks before your trip, we’ll send you all the final details and set up a short online briefing so you know exactly what to expect.
Please note: this overview is for general guidance only. Inclusions may vary between tours, so be sure to check the details for each specific itinerary.
Baggage transfer on cycling and hiking tours
We offer baggage transfer between stages, so you can travel light, enjoy the tour, and carry only daily essentials. Each participant can bring:
- One large suitcase (up to 20 kg), or
- One small suitcase (up to 10 kg) + hand luggage
Baggage transfer can be excluded from self-guided tours—just let us know in advance and we’ll adjust the plan and pricing.
Now comes the fun part—choosing your tour
That’s everything you need to get started, from getting here and staying safe to what to expect on tour. Slovenia is easy to explore and even better experienced on two feet or two wheels.
If you’re exploring cycling or hiking adventures in Slovenia, here are some of the most popular tour options:
- Bike Slovenia Green: Alps to Adriatic (touring)
- Trans Slovenia 01 (MTB)
- Best of Slovenia Gravel Tour (gravel)
- Walk of Peace Tour (hiking)
Whenever you’re ready, take a look, or get in touch.
