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Slovenia offers pristine surroundings, few crowds, and enormous value
Making it Happen
GETTING THERE
Austrian Airlines (aua.com) offers flights from major U.S. cities to Vienna, where you can transfer to an hour-long connecting flight to Ljubljana. If you prefer to drive, be sure to stop at a gas station to pick up a mandatory vignette sticker ($46; valid for six months) to enter the country. There is daily train service between Vienna and Ljubljana and from Ljubljana to desti- nations like Bled, Bohinj, and the Julian Alps region (slo-zeleznice.si). Driving to the mountains takes a bit longer, but the views are spectacular.
WHEN TO GO
Spring, summer, and fall are all good for hiking and city sightseeing. Winter brings a Christmas market to Ljubljana and downhill skiing to the resort town of Kranjska Gora in the Julian Alps. The fall is probably most welcoming since the weather is mild, airfares are low, and tourists are scarce. To get a taste of Slovenia’s rural culture, plan an autumn trip to coincide with the Cow’s Ball festival in September, when Bohinj’s cattle return from summer pastures bedecked in wreaths, or the November feast of St. Martin, which marks the christening day for the season’s new wine. Families celebrate with a seven-course meal featuring roasted goose and sweet red cabbage.
WEB RESOURCE
Official tourist site: slovenia.info
CURRENCY
As of February 2009, one U.S. dollar buys .77 euros.
COST CALENDAR
High season lasts from June through August.
