fbpx

Top hidden sights in Slovenia

Slovenia is full of hidden gems, unique experiences, and picturesque adventures. No one knows them better than our Visit GoodPlace experts and that’s why they’ve curated a list of activities, trails, sights, and roads that you should visit during your cycling in Slovenia.

You probably already know by now that Slovenia boasts numerous amazing natural and cultural attractions that can be explored during our cycling and hiking in Slovenia tours. While the most popular places such as Lake Bled, Ljubljana Castle and Postojna Cave are well-known to visitors, there are still plenty of hidden gems waiting to impress you. Here are my favourite, off-the-beaten-track sights in Slovenia, which you can admire away from the crowds.” – Teja Korošec

Peričnik Waterfall

Slovenia is rich in water sources, so waterfalls are not an uncommon sight. It is difficult to say which one is the most beautiful, as they are all unique. I simply love to observe the force of nature and feel the water droplets on my skin. Still, my favourite stop during cycling in Slovenia must be the 52-meter high Peričnik Waterfall, which can be found en route to the Vrata Valley, close to the village of Mojstrana. Its particularity lies in the fact that you can walk behind, providing for a truly incredible experience. During winter, the waterfall sometimes freezes into a remarkable ice sculpture.

Tours passing by Peričnik Waterfall: Trans Slovenia 02, Around Triglav National Park, Salzburg to Venice.

Fort Hermann

During cycling in Slovenia, I recommend everybody traveling through the upper Soča Valley to visit the remains of Fort Hermann, a fort built by the Austrians at the end of the 19th Century, which was severely damaged by the Italian artillery during WW1. Except for the locals, few people know about it, so a highly authentic experience is guaranteed. It will take you about half an hour of easy hiking to reach the fort from the valley. On the way, you will pass through a 100-meter-long illuminated stone tunnel. Exploring the fort ruins is a real adventure, but you have to be careful. I advise you to bring a flashlight.

Tours passing by Fort Hermann: Walk of Peace, Trans Slovenia 01, Around Triglav National Park

Walls of Piran

With its narrow cobbled streets, Venetian architecture, and the sunny Adriatic coast, Piran is definitely one of the most photogenic places which you can visit during cycling in Slovenia. In search of the best views, many people walk to the St. George’s Parish Church, which I have to admit is impressive in its own manner. However, what most do not know is that the medieval Walls of Piran offer an even more breath-taking panorama. This is definitely my preferred spot to watch the sunset behind the sea. The walls are open from 8 AM to dusk and the entrance only costs 2,00 EUR.

Tours passing by Walls of Piran: Istria to Adriatic, Trans Slovenia 01, Trans Slovenia 02, Trans Slovenia 04

Planšar Lake

I’m sure you have heard about the picturesque lakes of Bled and Bohinj, and maybe even about the intermittent Cerknica Lake and the magical Triglav lakes. Since it is my favourite, I believe it is time you were also introduced to the Planšar Lake in Jezersko. The little heart-shaped lake, also known as the lake of love, was actually artificially built by locals in memory of a larger glacial lake that had drained away. In my opinion, the lakeside offers one of the most stunning views over the majestic peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. As it is still under the radar for most visitors during cycling in Slovenia, I can assure you to find plenty of peace here.

Tours passing by Planšarsko Lake: Trans Slovenia 03

Škocjan Caves

When cycling in Slovenia, the underworld of Slovenian Karst is surely a must. Most tourists will visit the Postojna Cave, but I invite you to rather discover its less famous, but even more astonishing counterpart, the UNESCO-protected Škocjan Caves. This one-of-a-kind natural phenomenon will amaze you with underground galleries, halls full of giant stalactites and stalagmites, and the largest subterranean canyon in Europe. Every time I gaze into its depths, I feel like I’m in a Lord of the Rings movie.

Tours passing by Škocjan Caves: Bike Slovenia Green, TS04, TS02

Author: Teja Korošec, head of operations

Teja holds a master’s degree in tourism management. She is involved in many projects at both Visit GoodPlace and our NGO, so multitasking is her thing. She is a strong advocate of nature conservation and loves hiking. Travelling has been an important part of her life and she always seeks authentic experiences. Here is a list of her favourite sights which you can visit during cycling in Slovenia. These are for the ones who like to go off the beaten track and leave the crowds behind.

Check out top 5 MTB trails in Slovenia

Slovenia is full of hidden gems, unique experiences, and picturesque adventures. No one knows them better than our Visit GoodPlace experts and that’s why they’ve curated a list of activities, trails, sights, and roads that you should visit during your mountain biking in Slovenia.

Thanks to its dynamic landscape, beautiful Alpine scenery, abundance of superb single trails, and excellent bike park infrastructure, Slovenia continues to build its reputation as one of Europe’s top mountain biking destinations. It is therefore no surprise that many Slovenians are enthusiastic mountain bikers, myself included. I’m very proud of our well-connected and active MTB community.” – Matic Klanjšček

Single Trail Park Jamnica

Jamnica is a somewhat unusual park, as it falls under the category of »trail bike parks«. It includes 9 all-mountain and enduro trails and in total around 25 kilometers of marked, mostly natural trails suitable for all levels. Trails are interconnected with a special path made specifically to ease your return to the top. During the summer months, the forests of Slovenian Carinthia are full of sweet blueberries, which is another reason why this location is amongst our best MTB trails in Slovenia.

Downhill from Matajur

The stunning two-hour downhill ride from Mt. Matajur towards Italy is pure single trail fun and it’s definitely one of the best MTB trails in Slovenia that has a natural flow. The 12-kilometer trail is very clean, so you can ride through the woods fast. During the 1400-meter descent, you can admire some great views over the Friulian plains and the surrounding mountains. This experience has been described in the media as the MTB »ride of a lifetime« and I couldn’t agree more.

The natural oasis of Pohorje

This location offers one of the best MTB trails in Slovenia and even though I oftenly bike around the world, I always keep coming back to the lush spruce forests of Pohorje, a medium-height mountain range situated in north-eastern Slovenia. The main highlight of this place is surely Bike Park Pohorje. It invites three trails intended for different levels – red line, family line, and the legendary world cup black line for the bravest.

Along the ridge of Stol

There are two mountains with this name in Slovenia. While the Stol in Karavanke is really nice for hiking, the one close to Kobarid is especially attractive for mountain bikers. This scenic ridge offers gorgeous views of the Julian Alps and Soča Valley. The 7-kilometer trail demands some technical skills but still flows with no interruptions. It involves biking on different surfaces, from dirt and rocks to roots. One of the reasons why this ride is one of the best MTB trails in Slovenia is the fact, that at the end of the trail, when you reach the valley, you can refresh yourself in Nadiža or Soča river.

Golovec trails

One might think that, by leaving the mountains and approaching the capital city of Ljubljana, the MTB opportunities would be lost. But the truth is quite different. Ljubljana is in fact the only European capital that has direct access to some of the best MTB trails in Slovenia, including Golovec trails. When you try your skills on various trails, exciting turns, and jumps, you will feel like one of the locals.

Author: Matic Klanjšček, head of guides and cartography expert

Being a geodesist by profession, Matic had been active in the field of cartography and marine hydrography for a long time. From his youth, he was active in sports. He started with athletics, later on, he held a strong passion for alpinism which was eventually replaced by cycling.  In recent years, Matic has been focused on mountain biking – in his free time as well as professionally at Visit GoodPlace.  Spending a good portion of his time on bike trails, he knows all the best trails and he had a hard time picking a selection of the 5 best BTM rides in Slovenia. Have a look at his choices.

Would you like to stay updated?

Let's connect.

We will send you a brochure about Slovenia.

BOOK NOW!