We are delighted to let you know that Lake Bled has landed in the top 10 of Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List. LONELY Planet has named the top 500 travel destinations to visit in their 2020 Ultimate Travel List. Lake Bled came in at number 6.

Slovenia’s most picturesque lake was named the number six place to visit in Lonely Planet’s latest Ultimate Travel List, a book ranking 500 travel experiences all around the world. (photo: Jure Korber and Tjasa Borsnak)

The longlist of destinations was compiled from Lonely Planet guidebook highlights, before being whittled down to a shortlist. Readers and experts were then asked to vote on their top 20 travel experiences to create a definitive ranking. Entries were also given extra points if their sustainability credentials stacked up, while points were deducted for destinations known to suffer from overtourism.

“We changed the way we calculated the list,” said Lonely Planet’s VP of publishing, Piers Pickard. “For this edition we rewarded extra points to sights that are managing tourism sustainably.” He added: “After seven months of staying at home, now’s the perfect time to start thinking about where and how to travel once normality returns. In putting together this book, we were excited by changes in both the ‘where’ and the ‘how’. We added 200 new entries into our list of the world’s Top 500. And we were both surprised and reassured by just how many of the Top 500 are working hard to create more sustainable visitor experiences.”

The Ultimate Travel List
1. Petra, Jordan
2. The Galápagos Islands
3. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
4. Okavango Delta, Botswana
5. Yellowstone National Park, USA
6. Lake Bled, Slovenia
7. Iguazú Falls, Argentina-Brazil
8. Temples of Angkor, Cambodia
9. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
10. Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Bled is possibly the most popular tourist destination in Slovenia. (photo: Jure Korber and Tjasa Borsnak)

Perched atop a steep cliff more than 130 meters above the lake, Bled Castle is one of the most-visited historic attractions in Slovenia. (photo: Jure Korber and Tjasa Borsnak)

All You Need To Know To Visit Bled
BLED – possibly the most beautiful and remarkable Alpine resort in Europe With an incredibly beautiful glacial lake surrounded by the peaks of the Slovenian Alps, an iconic church nestled in a tiny island in the middle of the lake and a medieval Gothic castle built on a 100-meter cliff overlooking the lake, Bled is possibly the most beautiful and remarkable Alpine resort in Europe.

Kanin-Sella Nevea Ski Resort has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the best up-and-coming European ski resorts that you may not have heard of.

Kanin Sella Nevea always has enough snow for great skiing from late November until May or even early June. (photo: Marjan Strmljan)

Perched high above the town of Bovec and the picturesque Soca valley, Kanin is the highest ski resort in Slovenia offering skiing at an elevation between 1,140 and 2,300 meters. It can be accessed by a cable car, which runs from Bovec’s southern outskirts. In 2009 it was connected to the Sella Nevea ski centre on the Italian side by a modern cable-car lift, making it Slovenia’s only cross-border resort. The resort has a total of 30 kilometres of ski slopes for all levels, from complete beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders. It’s known for having the longest ski season in Slovenia, which can last from late November until early May.

Also included on the list are the following European ski resorts: Riksgränsen (Sweden), Romsdalen (Norway), Le Mont-Dore (France), Vals (Switzerland), Val di Solda, (Italy), Jasná (Slovakia).

Lonely Planet’s article is available here: 7 far-flung European ski resorts!

KANIN SELLA NEVEA SKI RESORT – the highest ski resort in Slovenia with the longest ski season Overall Rating:     08/10   (Fabulous)

The largest travel agency in Japan, JTB, has chosen a small hilltop Slovenian village of Jeruzalem for the cover of its 2021 calendar entitled ‘Beautiful Places To Visit At Least Once In Your Lifetime’.

The delightful hilltop village of Jeruzalem on the cover of the calendar of Japan’s largest travel agency.

The delightful hilltop village of Jeruzalem is located in the northeastern part of Slovenia and is known for its picturesque vineyards, high quality wines with a long tradition and lush hills. If you are a wine-lover, a fan of vineyards, a gem-seeker or a cyclist, then this might be the perfect destination for you!

In addition to the amazing natural surroundings, the Jeruzalem area is famous for its picturesque vineyards and high quality wines with a long tradition. (photo: Tomo Jesenicnik / Slovenia.info)

Treat yourself to a trip to the wine region of Jeruzalem and enjoy the experience of tasting exquisite local wines and culinary delights. (photo: Tomo Jesenicnik / Slovenia.info)

The Jeruzalem – Ljutomer wine road lies in the undulating hills northeast of the town of Ptuj, running 18 kilometres from Ljutomer to Ormoz, passing through the hilltop village of Jeruzalem. The rural vistas of rolling, vineyard striped hills, speckled with winerie, makes for a lovely cycle tour. (photo: Tomo Jesenicnik / Slovenia.info)

Jeruzalem blanketed with snow in winter. (photo: Jost Gantar / Slovenia.info)

Slovenia is fast establishing itself as the green gem of Europe and wild swimming is increasing in popularity all across the country. It is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Slovenia in the summer, between June and September. With numerous beautiful lakes, rivers and the Adriatic Sea, Slovenia has plenty of great options for wild swimming. Both locals and foreign tourists alike like to enjoy reconnecting with nature and taking a dive into pristine waters.

Slovenia’s stunning summer weather and picture-perfect rivers and lakes make one of the best places in Europe to go wild swimming. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)

For all of those who are asking themselves what wild swimming actually is? Essentially, it is nothing more than swimming in naturally occurring bodies of water. Taking a dip in the river, swimming across a lake or bathing in an ocean – if you do any of these activities then you’re a wild swimmer. While wild swimming has recently picked up considerable popularity it is nothing new. However, as simple and fun as it sounds, there are a few factors you should consider before you go wild swimming in order to stay safe and ensure you have a fun, lasting experience.

For many people, wild swimming goes beyond just recreation or exercise. It represents re-connection with nature and adventure. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)

Lake Jasna with a 3 level diving platform and central platform to swim to. (photo: Tomo Jesenicnik, Slovenia.info)

Natural swimming has, over the last few years, attracted massive media attention. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)

Swimming in the pool at the base of the Krampez Waterfall is in general possible, but the water is very cold! (photo: Boris Pretnar, Slovenia.info)

Swimming is the number one activity in Lake Bohinj! At least in summer. A lot of people walk around the lake for a bit and locate a nice secluded bit of pebbles to relax in peace. Sunbathing by the lake is also a totally free activity. (photo: Daniel Taipale, Slovenia.info)

The temperature of Lake Bohinj is constant and around 20°C and you can swim anywhere in lake. Though the water is colder, much more so than its cousin Lake Bled, it is crystal clear. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)

One of the most remarkable spots of the Soca river is the Great Gorge. In summer, the locals and visitors go straight to the end of the gorge to swim, sunbathe and relax. It is quite a unique sight. (photo: Bojan Kolman)

Slovenia is a predominantly landlocked country, mostly known for its lakes and rivers. However, southwestern Slovenia does have short coastline and some beautiful beaches dot that 46-kilometer stretch of coastline. (photo: Matic Klanšek Velej, arhiv Sportida d.o.o., Slovenia.info)

The famous British wine magazine Decanter rated Dolium Muscat Ottonel, made by Slovenian wine maker Bozidar Zorjan, as the best orange wine in the world.

Bozidar Zorjan in his vineyard in Tinjska Gora. (photo: Kaja Sajovic, MMC RTV SLO)

Decanter has compiled a list of the thirty best orange wines that you can buy in wine shops worldwide. Zorjan’s Dolium Muscat Ottonel 2017 was put on top of this prestigious list.

Orange wine, also known as skin-contact wine and skin-macerated wine, is the biggest thing in wine these days, replacing rosé in the hearts of hipsters and wine aficionados. It’s made from white-wine grapes where the skins have been kept on for weeks or even months, as opposed to being quickly removed. This contact gives adds flavor, pigment and tannins and gives orange wine its distinct color.

Decanter described Zorjan’s Dolium Muscat Ottonel 2017 with the following words: ‘Fermented and aged more than two years in Georgian qvevri, the aromatics of this quirky bottle are subtle and elderflower-like.’

Zorjan is a small biodynamic estate in the Stajerska region of Slovenia, near the city of Maribor. Bozidar and his wife Marija have been farming their small estate since inheriting it in 1980, but grew increasingly unhappy with conventional agriculture. Conversion to organic and then biodynamic farming followed in the 1990s. In 1995 Bozidar and Marija decided to go one step further. They felt that amphorae would be the ideal choice for fermenting the wines. Bozidar and Marija initially sourced amphorae from a Croatian producer, but following his death decided to switch to Georgian qvevri, which are buried under the stars outside their winery.

Zorjan’s Dolium Muscat Ottonel 2017. (photo: Kaja Sajovic, MMC RTV SLO)

Slovenian restaurants received the country’s first ever Michelin stars yesterday with Hisa Franko getting two out of the maximum possible three stars and five other restaurants one each.

Hisa Franko with its chef Ana Ros received two out of the maximum possible three Michelin stars. (photo: Dean Dubokovic, Slovenia.info)

Michelin launched Slovenia’s first Michelin Guide and announced the winners of the country’s first Michelin stars. This Guide highlights the best restaurants in Slovenia and the variety of cooking styles. Founded at the end of the 19th century, Michelin has remained an international reference for over 120 years, identifying some of the best restaurants in the world.

Located in the heart of Europe, Slovenia increasingly stands out as a gastronomic destination. Over the centuries, culinary influences from the neighbouring countries of Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia have merged with local tastes and formed a very unique, diverse, and distinct Slovenian cuisine. ‘Finally we have confirmation that Slovenia is a good gastronomic destination … It comes at the right time because times are not easy for tourism and restaurants,’ Ana Ros, the chef at Hisa Franko said after being awarded two Michelin stars.

The restaurants in Slovenia were badly hit by the Covid-19 crisis as the country went into lockdown in March and started to gradually lift it over in mid-April. Restaurants were able to reopen with new Covid-19 measures in the beginning of May.

Awarded with two Michelin stars:
– Hisa Franko with Ana Ros.

Awarded with one Michelin star:
– Hisa Denk with Gregor Vracko,
– Gostilna pri Lojzetu – Dvorec Zemono with Tomaz Kavcic,
– Vila Podvin with Uros Stefelin,
– Restavracija Dam with Uros Fakuc,
– Restavracija Atelje with Jorg Zupan.

Swimming season has officially kicked off today on the Slovenian coast with measures in place to reduce the risk of the spread of the Coronavirus.

Swimming season officially kicks off on the Slovenian Coast. (photo: Michael Matti / Slovenia.info)

Slovenia is applying strict rules to beach use despite having escaped relatively lightly during the COVID-19 pandemic with 109 deaths to date and 1,496 cases. Visitors are required to practice social distancing of at least 1,5 meter from others on the beach and 2 metres in the sea. Signs are put in place at the beaches, encouraging visitors to follow the best practices to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Loungers will be sprayed with disinfectant after each customer will finish using them. The beaches will remain open until October.

Slovenian Coast is 46.6 km long and is situated at the far northern end of the Mediterranean, along the Gulf of Trieste. On the north, it shares the border with the Italian coastline, whereas on the south, it borders with Croatia along the Dragonja river. The most prominent towns are certainly Koper, Piran, Portoroz and Izola.

After more than three months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, Vogel Cable Car above Lake Bohinj has started operating again from this weekend. The cable care closed along with all the other tourist attractions in Slovenia at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in mid-March. Passengers are now encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines. Face masks are recommended, but they are not required inside the cable car.

The magnificent setting and breathtaking panoramas make it worth a trip up Mount Vogel. (photo: Mitja Sodja, Slovenia.info)

The cable car runs every 30 minutes or so from its base near the village of Ukanc at the far side of Lake Bohinj. The base station is at 569 metres, and the cable car takes you up the imposing cliffs to 1537 metres, with Mount Vogel itself being 1922 metres high. From December to May, Vogel Ski Resort is open for both skiing and snowboarding. During the summer, the cable car takes passengers to the top to enjoy stunning views of the Slovenian Alps and hit the hiking trails.

From December to May, the cable car takes you to Vogel Ski Resort. (photo: Iztok Medja, Slovenia.info)

All You Need To Know To Visit Bohinj

BOHINJ – the perfect place for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts First, you have to know that Bohinj is an area – not a town. It is a 20 kilometre long and 5 kilometre wide basin in the Julian Alps in northwestern part of Slovenia. The area is very popular due to its beautiful unspoiled nature with one of the most imposing parts of the valley being Lake Bohinj, the largest of the Slovenian lakes. There are several small villages and hamlets in Bohinj with the largest one being Bohinjska Bistrica. The villages that lie in the immediate vicinity of the lake are Ribcev Laz, Ukanc and Stara Fuzina.

After winter hibernation and after the Coronavirus crisis, the Open Kitchen (or ‘Odprta Kuhna’ as the locals call it), a popular gourmet open-air food market in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana, re-opened for the 8th season of mouth-watering gastronomic creations today at 10 am.

Every Thursday and Friday (weather permitting), throughout the warmer months in Ljubljana’s Pogacar Square, food and drink vendors throughout Ljubljana and across the country congregate for Open Kitchen, or Odprta Kuhna as the locals call it. (photo: Jost Gantar)

Every Thursday and Friday, from today until late October (assuming the weather is good) Pogacar Square in the centre of Ljubljana will host the mouth-watering gastronomic creations of many of the finest restaurants in Slovenia (such as Franko House, Atelje, JB and Gric), as well as local beers, wines, cocktails and other drinks. The event always attracts large crowds of hungry (but not for long) local and foreign visitors.

The concept of this fabulously colourful and varied gourmet open-air food market is remaining unchanged and is focused on originality, freshness, variety and quality. Part of the Open Kitchen’s great charm and uniqueness is also its eco conscience organizers, who try to separate all trash and use recyclable or biodegradable packaging.

A full list of participants can be found on the official website.

Images by Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info!

All You Need To Know To Visit Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA – the small but beautiful capital of Slovenia Slovenia's capital Ljubljana has all the right ingredients for the perfect city break. It's one of the youngest and most liveable capitals in the European Union. It’s a city with a medieval heart, a city of the Baroque and Art Nouveau, with numerous picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river and the vast green Tivoli park, which stretches into the very city centre.

It has been the longest time Postojna Cave has been closed in its 201-year history – but this Wednesday (June 3) it reopened for visits, much to the delight of nature lovers. The cave closed along with all the other tourist attractions in the country at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in mid-March. Visitors are now encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines including maintaining a physical distance of at least 2 meters between individuals. Face masks are recommended, but they are not required inside the cave.

Owing to its immense natural beauty, Postojna Cave is Slovenia’s most popular tourist attraction that attracts the largest number of visitors annually. (photo: Iztok Medja)

With over 24 kilometres of chambers and tunnels, the jaw-dropping Postojna Cave system is the most popular natural attraction in Slovenia. The cave was hollowed out by the seeping waters of the Pivka river and its tributaries over a period of more than three million years.

The cave was first opened to visitors in 1819, with Austrian Emperor Francis I as the guest of honour. Today, visitors get to see 5 kilometres of the cave on one-and-a-half-hour tours; more than 3 kilometres of this is covered by a fun electric train.

Postojna Cave has a constant temperature of about 9 degrees Celsius, with 95% humidity, so a warm jacket and decent shoes are strongly advised. There aren’t any stairs or difficult climbs along the path to or inside the cave, so visitors with mobility impairments and walkers should not have any difficulties.

The experience of visiting the Postojna cave is breathtaking. It has to be seen to be believed as you file past millions of years worth of naturally formed stalactites and stalagmites in all different varieties, shapes and colours.

The caves consist of 25 kilometres of wondrously sculpted galleries, chambers and halls of stalagmites and stalactites.

The cave was open to public 200 years ago and have been visited by more than 37 million visitors.

The path is very clean and not so slippery as one would expect.

The centre piece of the cave, two sculptures called the Brilliant which also feature on Postojna advertising material.

The visit to the caves begins with a 10-minute train journey into the cave, that is enjoyable and full of many stunning highlights.

The underground train takes you deep into the guts of the cave, and the scenery is unbelievable.

Images by Iztok Medja, Slovenia.info!

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS IN POSTOJNA AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

POSTOJNA CAVE – the most-visited cave complex in Europe Overall Rating:     10/10   (Must-See) The Postojna Cave is a stunning underground system of passages, caverns, magnificent halls and stunning stone sculptures that are more than 20 km long. It is the most visited cave in Europe and the only cave with a double-track railway in the world, where visitors can experience a thrilling train ride through the extraordinary beautiful underground landscape. Visitors explore almost 6 km of the cave.