Ljubljana and Lake Bled – Slovenia

Europe is full of beautiful cities and countryside but somehow, when asking for suggestions of where to visit, the same places are recommended over and over. Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, ring a bell? No one talks about the hidden treasures that Europe holds. 

Regardless of being Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana is tiny and everything can pretty much be seen in the space of a day. Although, it is a beautiful city to relax and explore in. A wide river runs through the middle of Ljubljana splitting up the city. Heaps of restaurants sit on either side of the river all through the centre which gives tourists lots of choice from fish restaurants to Indian cuisine. Lying behind the main hustle and bustle is Ljubljana Castle, it sits on a hill overlooking the city. The castle consists of a watchtower with breath taking views, a museum, a high-end restaurant and ancient prison cells. Another popular attraction is the Museum of Illusions, you can photograph yourself in many head boggling positions and poses, every room holds another illusion. The more urban side of Ljubljana has a neighbourhood called Metelkova, one of the largest, most successful squats in Europe. In the day, the rubbish strewn streets are eerily quiet but the illegally occupied buildings fill up at night as the focal point of the country’s alternative culture scene. 

An hour drive from Ljubljana is the stunning, Lake Bled. The lake is in the Julian Alps of northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. The lake is enjoyable in winter and summer months. In winter you can hike or cycle the surrounding hills and enjoy the culture of the village. In the summer you can lounge on the man-made beaches which accommodate water assault courses and waterslides. One of the main attractions of Lake Bled is ‘Straza Bled’, a toboggan ride down the side of one of the winter ski slopes. Many water sports are available to do such as, canoeing, kayaking and boat trips