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.

Slovenia has recorded no new coronavirus cases among 828 tests carried out yesterday. Last remaining coronavirus patient in the country has been discharged from ICU, and only five Covid-19 patients remain in hospital care.

There are only 3 active coronavirus cases currently in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, slovenia.info)

Slovenia has found only 13 new infections in the last three weeks, all of which were linked to known cases or outbreaks or imported from abroad. There had been a total 1,477 confirmed cases to date, and 1,359 recoveries. 109 people have died from coronavirus in Slovenia, with a vast majority of deaths connected with the significant clusters at aged-care facilities, in Ljutomer, Smarje Pri Jelsah and Metlika. In total, 81,333 tests had been carried out in the country.

The number of active and hospitalized Coronavirus cases in Slovenia has been on a decline for several weeks. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Slovenia has found only 4 new infections in the last week. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Discover beautiful Slovenia through amazing photos
SLOVENIA PHOTOS – currently 104 galleries with 5.607 photos from 57 photographers Discover beautiful Slovenia through amazing photos that will instantly make you want to visit and explore this delightful country in the heart of Europe. View more than 100 galleries with more than 5.500 landscape and nature photos from 50+ photographers! ENJOY!

American business magazine Forbes has made a list of so-called ‘rising stars’ in travel and named 7 countries that have potential to become major tourist destinations in a post-Covid world. Slovenia was included on this prestigious list.

Slovenia has everything it takes to become a major tourist destination in a post-Covid world. (photo: Mankica Kranjec, Nea Culpa, Slovenia.info)

The Forbes substantiated its decision with the following words: ‘Many of Slovenia’s close neighbours – Italy, Croatia, and Austria, to be specific – draw large swathes of tourists each year, while this small mountainous nation remains one of the region’s more underrated gems. The capital, Ljubljana, is a major cultural hub for the region, featuring world-class art and history museums alongside elaborate centuries-old cathedrals and a spectacular castle overlooking the Old Town. After thoroughly exploring the city, be sure to make the journey north to the Julian Alps – this stunning mountain range was named in honor of Julius Caesar, with a large portion of it falling within the boundaries of Triglav National Park, where the natural beauty of Slovenia can be encountered in abundance.’

The other countries included on the list are Ethiopia, Iran, Myanmar (Burma), Georgia, the Philippines and Tunisia.

Lake Bled is definitely one of the most famous places in Slovenia. (photo: Alex Strohl, Slovenia.info)

With its hilltop castle, Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana is the perfect place for people who love strolling and sitting at waterside cafes. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)

Piran is a charming coastal town and is full of Venetian style architecture and narrow streets. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)

With its cobblestone alleys rimmed by interesting facades, Ptuj is the oldest town in Slovenia, dating back to the Stone Age. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)

Maribor is Slovenia’s second largest city, but somehow often overlooked as a tourist destination. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)

Celje is a quaint central European town that proudly celebrates its rich cultural heritage. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)

All images provided by I Feel Slovenia!

Discover beautiful Slovenia through amazing photos
SLOVENIA PHOTOS – currently 104 galleries with 5.607 photos from 57 photographers Discover beautiful Slovenia through amazing photos that will instantly make you want to visit and explore this delightful country in the heart of Europe. View more than 100 galleries with more than 5.500 landscape and nature photos from 50+ photographers! ENJOY!

To help people from around the world decide where is safe to travel to, Forbes has published European Best Destinations’ list of the 20 Safest Places For Travel And Tourism Post-Coronavirus – and we’re very glad to report that Slovenia’s Bohinj is number 15 on the list!

With its tranquil lake and mighty mountains, Bohinj is one of the most popular destinations in Slovenia. (photo: Ales Zdesar, slovenia.info)

‘Recognized by the European Commission as one of the best sustainable tourism destinations in Europe, Bohinj is a haven of peace for lovers of nature, outdoor sports, trekking, local products, crafts and real experiences. Located in a basin in the Julian Alps in the Upper Carniola region of northwestern Slovenia, it’s known as one of the “green paradises of Europe” and the green lung of Slovenia (a highly nature-oriented country).,’ EBD substantiated their decision to include Bohinj on the list.

With countries around Europe reducing coronavirus restrictions, opening borders and creating new ways to ensure safe travel for visitors, summer holidays to Europe are becoming a realistic possibility for relief-seeking travelers. Thanks to the very good epidemiological situation in Slovenia, where over 99% of people infected with Covid-19 have recovered and only 8 active cases, Slovenia is at the top of the list for holidaymakers from around Europe this summer.

“Slovenia has been little affected by coronavirus (10 times less contaminated than the most-affected countries) and it has more hospital beds per inhabitant than the majority of European countries.,” EBD writes.

The full list of the ’20 Safest Places For Travel And Tourism Post-Coronavirus’ includes destinations from 16 different European countries:
1. Tbilisi, Georgia
2. Corfu, Greece
3. Cavtat, Croatia
4. Azores Islands
5. Preveza, Greece
6. Alentejo, Portugal, Portugal
7. Batumi, Adjara, Georgia
8. Zagreb, Croatia
9. Algarve, Portugal
10. Sibiu, Romania
11. Kotor, Montenegro
12. Rijeka, Croatia
13. Warsaw, Poland
14. Vienna, Austria
15. Bohinj, Slovenia
16. Malta
17. Gdansk, Poland
18. Vilnius, Lithuania
19. Riga, Latvia
20. Wild Taiga, Finland

The article is available here!

The Bohinj area is home to a lot of small hamlets and although tourism has begun to grow, many of these are still farm focused. (photo: Iztok Medja, slovenia.info)

While most of the tourists focus on Lake Bled, another gem of Slovenia is located only a short drive away – Lake Bohinj. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, slovenia.info)

Bohinj is the largest permanent glacial lake in Slovenia and is part of the Triglav National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Europe. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, slovenia.info)

Lake Bohinj is one of those places you can’t quite describe with words. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, 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.

As the Covid-19 epidemic in Slovenia was officially ended on Sunday, hotels are opening to a ‘new normal’ of strict health and safety protocols.

The Kempinski Palace Hotel in Portoroz is one of the most luxurious hotels in Slovenia. (photo: Jure Kravanja, Nea Culpa)

To ensure health security and help restore confidence, government health-and-safety guidelines have been drawn up for every sector of the tourism industry. For hotels, this means vigorous cleaning and disinfection multiple times a day by staff wearing PPE, as well as changes to the guest experience, such as a ban on buffets.

Some hotels are installing screens between tables in their dining rooms, and introducing staggered dining hours and room service deliveries by staff in masks and gloves. Rooms are more wipe-down, with coffee makers, extra bedding and decoration removed. The government protocol also suggests removing carpets and minibars. In common areas such as pools and gyms, strict social distancing and disinfecting regimes are in place.

Credit-card payment is being promoted in hotels and bars, and contactless technology is coming faster than anticipated.

Whether guests will ‘feel like kings’ or feel a little uncomfortable in an environment of screens, masks and none of the usual interaction, is another question.

Hotels in Slovenia that we recommend
Finding a hotel that suits your needs and fits your budget can be a hassle. Slovenia is a small country but it has more than 250 hotels ranging from super luxurious to boutique style hotels to a nice choice of affordable 3-star hotels. Find out which hotels in Slovenia we recommend and why.

After two consecutive days with no new coronavirus cases and no new deaths, there are only eight Covid-19 cases considered to be active in Slovenia, according to official figures, with recoveries outpacing new cases for weeks.

There are only 3 active coronavirus cases currently in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, slovenia.info)

Slovenia has found only 8 new infections in the last 15 days, all of which were linked to known cases or outbreaks. The last evidence of community transmission was in late April. Two people remain in ICU, both in a critical condition. There had been a total 1,473 confirmed cases to date, and 1,357 recoveries. 108 people have died from coronavirus in Slovenia, with a vast majority of deaths connected with the significant clusters at aged-care facilities, in Ljutomer, Smarje Pri Jelsah and Metlika. In total, 78,529 tests had been carried out nationwide by Friday – up 613 in the past day.

Slovenia has found only 8 new infections in the last 15 days. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

The number of active and hospitalized Coronavirus cases in Slovenia has been on a decline for several weeks. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Globally renowned travel blogger Aurelia Teslaru has published a list of the 50 most beautiful European towns and villages, with two Slovenian towns on it. The lakeside town of Bled, with its placid lake, fairy-tale island church, and clifftop castle, has claimed the 41st spot, while the coastal town of Piran, with its Venetian architecture and narrow, cobbled streets, made it to the top ten at rank 8.

With its Venetian architecture and narrow, cobbled streets, Piran is the prettiest town on Slovenia’s short Adriatic coastline. (photo: Ubald Trnkoczy, slovenia.info)

‘With colorful houses, a bustling harbor, and lots of tourist attractions, Piran is one of Europe’s off-the-beaten-path destinations. For the best views, head to St. George Church or climb the Bell Tower. The sea of orange rooftops and the harbor are just some of the places that you can admire from above.’ Aurelia substantiated her decision to include Piran on the list.

The lakeside town of Bled with its placid lake, fairy-tale island church, clifftop castle and girdle of mountains. (photo: Jure Korber and Tjasa Borsnak)

Aurelia summed up her decision to include Bled on the list with the following words: ‘Famous for the picturesque small island situated in the middle of Bled Lake, Bled is a small corner of paradise and one of the most visited places in Slovenia’. She also provided a few recommendations of things to do in Bled: ‘While in Bled, take a walk to the castle, visit Vintgar Gorge, and take a boat tour around the lake. Also, don’t hesitate to try the delicious cream cake called Kremsnita’.

Aurelia Teslaru is a full-time travel blogger currently exploring the Asia. She once worked a more typical job in advertising before leaving her office behind in pursuit of a full-time travel adventure. She documents her travels on her website called ‘Daily Travel Pill’. Last year in March, we were privileged enough to make an interview with her. You can read it here!

Aurelia’s full list of the ’50 most beautiful European towns and villages to visit in your lifetime’ includes towns and villages from 24 different countries.

1. Smogen, Sweden
2. Sibiu, Romania
3. Telc, Czech Republic
4. Portree, Scotland
5. Santana, Madeira, Portugal
6. Annecy, France
7. Gjogv, Faroe Islands
   8. Piran, Slovenia
8. Bamberg, Germany
9. Hvar, Croatia
10. Budva, Montenegro
11. Brno, Czech Republic
12. Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland
13. Symi, Greece
14. Oxford, England
15. Dubrovnik, Croatia
16. Lucerne, Switzerland
17. Kaysersberg, France
18. Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
19. Bruges, Belgium
20. Kufstein, Austria
21. Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
22. Burano, Italy
23. Olvera, Spain
24. Rovinj, Croatia
25. Sighisoara, Romania
26. Zalipie, Poland
27. Castle Combe, England
28. Vernazza, Italy
29. Kotor, Montenegro
30. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
31. Sintra, Portugal
32. Alberobello, Italy
33. Giethoorn, Netherlands
34. Split, Croatia
35. Casares, Spain
36. Zermatt, Switzerland
37. Bellagio, Italy
    41. Bled, Slovenia
38. Reine, Norway
39. Menton, France
40. Hydra, Greece
41. Ghent, Belgium
42. Colmar, France
43. Haarlem, Netherlands
44. Ivalo, Finland
45. Hallstatt, Austria
46. Brasov, Romania

The article is available here!

Slovenia has recorded 4 days in a row of no new coronavirus cases, with only 13 active cases remaining in the country, according to the National Institute of Public Health Slovenia. Origin of every new coronavirus case in the month of May has been traced.

There are only 2 active coronavirus cases currently in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. (photo: Jacob Riglin, Beautiful Destinations)

Slovenia has found only 4 new infections in the last 10 days, all of which were linked to known cases or outbreaks. The number of active and hospitalized coronavirus cases has been on a decline for several weeks. There are now only 13 active cases of Covid-19 in Slovenia. Four people remain in ICU and are all in a critical condition. A total of 99,1 per cent of people infected have recovered. So far, 74,760 tests have been conducted, meaning testing ratio per million is 36,130.

Slovenia has found only 4 new infections in the last 10 days. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Slovenia has the best epidemiological picture in mainland Europe currently. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Slovenia has recorded zero new coronavirus cases for the third day in a row and has currently the best epidemiological picture in mainland Europe.

There are only 4 active cases currently in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, slovenia.info)

Slovenia has found only 5 new infections in the last 10 days, all of which were linked to known cases or outbreaks. The number of active and hospitalized coronavirus cases has been on a decline for several weeks. There are now only 21 active cases of Covid-19 in Slovenia. Four people remain in ICU and are all in a critical condition. A total of 98 per cent of people infected in the country have recovered.

Slovenia has found only 5 new infections in the last 10 days. (Source: National institute of Public Health Slovenia)

Slovenia has the best epidemiological picture in mainland Europe currently. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Slovenia may be able to eradicate the new Coronavirus within a month, health authorities say, as the country records no new COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row.

There are only 4 active cases currently in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, slovenia.info)

Slovenia has found only 7 new infections in the last 10 days, all of which were linked to known cases or outbreaks. The number of active and hospitalized coronavirus cases has been on a decline for several weeks. Currently there are only 21 active cases with only 4 COVID-19 patients in intensive care.

Slovenia has got to this point through social distancing and border control. The country entered lockdown mode very early and swiftly closed down facilities where the virus could be spread, including schools, religious services, major concerts and events, and urged everyone to stay at home.

Slovenia has the best epidemiological picture in Europe currently. (Source: COVID-19 sledilnik)

Slovenia has found only 7 new infections in the last 10 days. (Source: National institute of Public Health Slovenia)