Slovenia is a country we discovered as a family during our 3-month road trip through Southern Europe and the Balkans. We arrived there after travelling through Italy, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia.

It is a little green gem in the heart of Europe, with bucolic landscapes, colourful architecture and interesting food (a blend of Austrian, Hungarian, Balkan and Italian cuisine). Unfortunately, we could only stay for four days (due to limited accommodation availability). During our trip through Slovenia as a family, we visited Postojna caves and Predjama Castle, the capital city Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj and Vintgar Gorge.

Important tips for a family road trip in Slovenia

Our first piece of advice: if you can avoid it, do not go in August. We were there from 7 to 11 August 2026, and the limited accommodation availability turned Slovenia into THE logistical headache of our European road trip! We ended up shortening our stay in Slovenia, even though it seems to have so much to offer. Especially at weekends, and particularly if you are travelling there during the first half of August, we recommend to avoid the major tourist attractions.

Second essential tip for a road trip in Slovenia (which we are therefore mentioning in the introduction even though it is not very logical, but it is that important): you need a vignette for motorways and expressways! I repeat: VIGNETTE. We had no idea : it is not clearly indicated at the border, the signs mentioning it are tiny and confusing. Plus, the fine is €300 in 2026! We bought our vignette that evening after realising our mistake. So far, we have not received a fine, but it is better to buy one before using the motorway to avoid a few stressful moments. Apparently, fines are very common. It is very easy to buy one online, on the DARS website.

The struggle of finding accommodation in Slovenia in August with a family

We started looking in April-May to book for mid-August. And even then, we could not find anything affordable and well located. So we opted for a single accommodation for an entire week rather than a road trip, since Slovenia is a small country. The problem was that this accommodation really did not appeal to us. And as we changed our dates along the way during our big road trip through Europe, and in particular reworked our entire stay in Croatia (which was the country immediately before Slovenia), we eventually had to cancel this week-long accommodation and rearrange the dates of our stay properly.

Still unable to find anything, we decided to shorten our time in Slovenia and spend more time in Austria, a country that offered a much wider choice of interesting accommodation. In the end, at the last minute, we discovered that we had points on our Revolut card and were able to book a hotel in Ljubljana, which is a fairly central base. We spent three nights there, as well as one night between Postojna and Ljubljana, which turned out to be more of an organisational mistake than a good idea.

We also considered renting a van and had found some reasonably priced options. However, we quickly changed our minds when we saw the prices of campsites (wild camping is prohibited). In the end, seeing how crowded the campsites around Bohinj were, we think it would also have been difficult to find a pitch and would have cost us more. The idea is not a bad one, provided you book your pitches in advance. But that does take away some of the freedom of van life.

Finally, I think it is easier to find hostel accommodation when travelling alone or as a couple rather than as a family.


Postojna Cave with children

For our first day in Slovenia, we booked (two days in advance) a combined ticket for Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.

Postojna Cave is very impressive, by far the largest cave system we have ever visited, with incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations. The little train inside the caves is great fun, and the children absolutely loved the experience!

On the other hand, it is a real tourist trap. Everything costs extra on top of the already expensive entrance fee, starting with the parking. There was even a photo taken of us, like at an amusement park. We were in a group of around a hundred people, with a single guide for all of us. The walking part of the tour was done at a very fast pace (really difficult with children). We only caught about one word in three from the guide (despite our efforts to keep up and be close to him). As a result, we learned almost nothing (apart from a few jokes we caught) about the history of these caves, which must nevertheless be fascinating.

Given the price of the ticket (plus parking), we are not sure this is an activity we would really recommend.


Predjama Castle with the family

The castle visit was included in our combined ticket with Postojna Cave. We had not noticed, but the two sites are about ten kilometres apart. In high season, it is strongly recommended to take the shuttle, which costs €2 return (children under 7 travel free), from the cave car park (which you have to pay for the whole day).

In the end, the car park where we arrived at the castle by shuttle was not full. For such a small difference in price, it might have been easier logistically to move the car. We were also worried because of a rumour (mentioned in online reviews and also among other visitors looking for information about the bus) that there are parking scams at the castle.

This castle, built into a cliff with caves, was a wonderful discovery. You can explore it at your own pace, with an audio guide via an app. There are a huge number of steps, which are uneven, but there is a surprise around every corner. Most importantly, hidden behind the castle is a troglodyte castle!

Still, visiting both sites in one day was a lot for our young children.

 

Škocjan Caves

We did not visit them but wanted to mention them. We would have really liked to go, but in August you had to book more than a week in advance, and we left it too late. Less expensive and less visited than Postojna Cave, these caves seem to be just as impressive (in a different way).

I read in several places that they really resemble Tolkien’s description of the Mines of Moria in The Lord of the Rings, and that argument made me bitterly regret not being able to visit them (major FOMO here).

A day in Ljubljana with the family

Ljubljana’s old town: a free guided tour

The Slovenian capital is one of the smallest capitals in Europe. Its compact city centre is easy to explore on foot (and with a pushchair). The pedestrianised old town is where most of the architectural highlights are concentrated: Baroque buildings, colourful façades and Art Nouveau influences come together to form a beautiful whole. Around Prešeren Square, you can discover the Triple Bridge, the Dragon Bridge, the banks of the Ljubljanica, the National and University Library, St Nicholas’s Cathedral, the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and the Central Market.

We decided to take a two-hour guided tour, an experience we had already wanted to try in Split, Croatia, but had not managed to organise. These “free” tours are actually tours where guides are paid through tips only.

Honestly, it was a little too ambitious with young children. We could not find any tours in French. The explanations were quite long for the kids, and it was difficult to keep them still and quiet. So we did not particularly enjoy the experience. But we highly recommend it if you are not travelling with young children. It was very interesting and a great way to see lots of things. The tour starts at Park Zvezda.


Ljubljana Castle

Because of the scorching heat, we decided not to climb up to Ljubljana Castle, which overlooks the entire old town. Note that there is also a paid funicular that can take you to the top without any effort.

Tivoli Park and its children’s playground

Just a few steps from the heart of the city, Tivoli Park offers a chance to enjoy nature, with its large green spaces and woodland. We really enjoyed the children’s playground, where we ended the day having fun. There were some really unusual play structures for all ages, as well as water features.

We were also lucky enough to spot a few squirrels and a hare on our way back to the hotel, much to the children’s delight.

A boat trip on the river

To round off our visit to Ljubljana, we took a boat trip on the Ljubljanica River with Ladjica Emonca. It was a relaxing hour that the whole family enjoyed, as we were gently guided along the river while learning about the points of interest along the way.

It included things we had not discovered that morning, such as Ljubljana’s beach and the history of the river and canal. We also passed underneath the city’s iconic bridges, which we were able to see from a different angle, and enjoyed the coolness of the river.


Bookshops in Ljubljana

What a joy to discover so many bookshops throughout the city centre. Between the bookshop chains (such as Felix), the many stationery shops, independent bookshops and second-hand bookshops, there is something for every bibliophile. I was particularly impressed by the huge Konzorcij Bookstore and Stationery, which belongs to the Mladinska knjiga chain.

What is more, most of the bookshops had a section dedicated to books in English.

Where to eat in Ljubljana with the family (lactose-free and vegan options)?

When it comes to eating in Ljubljana, you will be spoilt for choice! We certainly made the most of it. Our first stop of the day was at Barbarella Juicebar for a vegan breakfast before our guided tour. We then continued our vegan quest with lunch at Bistro Maha, but we did not particularly enjoy the selection and had been expecting more burgers. Finally, for an afternoon treat, we had ice cream at Vigò (which had some interesting options, as well as vegan cakes).

We also made use of food delivery services to eat at the hotel and get the children to bed early. We really enjoyed the dishes from HaNoi, a Vietnamese restaurant, and the fauxmage pizzas (vegan cheese) from Pizzerija Bullizza.

Lake Bled: is it a must-see?

We went to Lake Bled at 9am, and there were already plenty of people around. The lake is beautiful, with views of the Church of the Assumption and the castle perched on top of the cliff. On the other hand, everything costs money (and it is expensive): parking, toilets, even access to the first beach for swimming. Going to Bled Island looks like great fun, but boat and kayak rentals are extremely expensive. In Bled, the Parish Church of St Martin is worth a look, and the organ is magnificent.

Do we recommend visiting Bled? It remains one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, but a simple stop to admire it on the way to Bohinj or the Vintgar Gorge may be enough (without the parking hassle).

As for us, on our way back from Bohinj we had plenty of time to see Lake Bled again. This was while sitting in a traffic jam for 30 minutes, on a Sunday in mid-August at 6pm on our return from Bohinj… This gave me the opportunity to pop into Public & Vegan Kitchen Bled (which had been closed in the morning) to try their vegan (and lactose-free) version of the famous Bled cake, a cream-filled cube-shaped cake called Kremšnita. Delicious!

I also spotted a hike that looks like it offers incredible views over the lake: Mala Osojnica. The hike looks accessible and, even though parking is also paid, it seems to be a very good alternative for enjoying this beautiful lake. If it had not been for the heatwave, we would have happily done it.

 

Vintgar Gorge

Our day at Vintgar Gorge was, by far, our favourite activity in Slovenia. The waterfalls deep in the canyon are very impressive, and it is lovely and cool down there! The way the walkways and bridges have been designed makes the walk through the gorge very enjoyable. Afterwards, the hike through the forest is lovely. And, to finish on a high note, the walk through the pastures, with views over Bled and the Julian Alps, was a hit with the whole family.

What we found truly incredible were the activities provided for children. On arrival, they were given a passport to complete. Throughout the walk, they had explanations and a wide variety of really fun games and activities. We loved them too, and thanks to the children’s explanations, we took the time to observe nature and spot animals. At the end, they received a prize: a children’s book that continues the adventures of the characters we had followed throughout the walk. I thought the whole trail was so cleverly designed. It made the 6 or 7 km of walking feel like a breeze.

It was good value for money for Slovenia, with the children’s activities, parking and shuttle included in the ticket. The website says to allow 3 hours for the walk, but we spent 5 hours there, and we could easily have spent another hour at the playground with a coffee shop.



Lake Bohinj with young children

We went there at 12pm (after our visit to Bled), on Sunday 9 August. Although the eastern side of the lake is full of great vegan-friendly restaurants, we wanted to avoid paying for parking twice. Therefore we decided to head straight to the western side, Ukanc, where we had planned to spend the afternoon. We had spotted a short hike with games and legends for children: the magical Zlatorog Fairy Trail.

The walk was really great, with signs explaining different legendary characters. There was only one restaurant with vegan options on this side of the lake, the one at the campsite: Restaurant Camp Bohinj. The setting is lovely, and the (vegan) pizza, salad and beer were good. You can also use the campsite toilets free of charge (we feel obliged to point this out after Bled).

The major downside: when we arrived, the car parks were full, and we had to fight to find a space (literally, we almost came to blows). The lake and surrounding area are beautiful, and we would have loved to spend more time there. As you will have gathered, we could have skipped our morning in Bled and gone straight there. It is also somewhere we would have loved to stay for several days if we had found accommodation there.

Lake Bohinj seemed more interesting to us than Lake Bled in terms of activities. The road between Bled and Bohinj is very beautiful. If you get the chance to cycle it, the route is very well equipped and the cycle path follows a lovely river.

On the way back to the car park, we made a short stop at the little Rožnovenske Matere Božje church (I had fallen in love with its colourful roof tiles).


Conclusion on our family trip to Slovenia

Slovenia seems to have so much to offer, and we feel that we missed out on quite a lot because of the difficulties we had organising a road trip there.

If you have read the rest of our article, you already know that accommodation, activities and parking seemed expensive to us. On the other hand, food (both at the supermarket and in restaurants) and petrol were affordable.

As you will have gathered, we will not be coming back in July-August!

Our ideal itinerary (if accommodation had not been a problem):

We are sharing the itinerary we had originally planned anyway, had a full-on road trip been possible: a few days on the Adriatic coast, then two nights in the south to visit some caves, one or two nights in Ljubljana, three days in the north-east to explore the mountains and alpine pastures (particularly Velika Planina), a few days around Bohinj and in the Soča Valley.

Reading and film list about Slovenia

  • The illustrated guide from the Cartoville collection: Ljubljana and Slovenia.

I have not yet read any books about Slovenia, but I have come across:

  • Works by the Slovenian author Drago Jančar, such as Tonight I Saw Her.
  • Three films: Class Enemy (2013), The Tree (2014) and Houston, We Have a Problem! (2016).

Here are some recommendations that explore the recent history of the Balkans:

  • The novel about exile and nostalgia for a vanished country, The Ministry of Pain by Dubravka Ugrešić.
  • The 2011 film The Parade, a tragicomedy about homophobia and the nationalist divisions of the former Yugoslavia.