Before I moved to Europe, Slovenia was a country I wanted to visit for years. Luckily for me, it borders Austria and is just a short drive away!
I’ve often gone to Slovenia for the gorgeous scenery but I always end up staying longer than I intend to because there’s just so much to do! These fun facts about Slovenia are sure to entice you to make a stop here.
1. Lake Bled is Gorgeous
One of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Bled is picture perfect from the towering castle overlooking the water to the quaint church situated on an island in the middle of the lake.
Lake Bled is one of the main attractions of Slovenia, and it is near the Austrian border. Parking can be hard to find so be sure to arrive early in the day!
2. Slovenia Has Stunning Caves
Slovenia has over 10,000 caves, but only 20 of them allow visitors.
Postojna Cave is perhaps the most visited cave in Slovenia both for its size (20 kilometers or 12 miles) and its age (over 2 million years old).
Another famous cave is the Krizna Jama Cave which is often called one of Europe’s natural wonders and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can take a boat tour of the underground lakes in this cave ranging from 1 hour to 3.5 hours.
3. Slovenians Are All About the Wine Life
Wine is a staple on every table in Slovenia. It is said that for every 70 people, an entire vineyard exists in Slovenia and they consume most of the wine they produce – exporting only 9% of what the country makes.
Not only does Slovenia produce great wine, but the world’s oldest vine that still produces fruit is located in Maribor. Žametovka or modra kavčina is over 450 years old and listed in the Guinness Book, having been planted during the Middle Ages and surviving the Turkish invasions.
If you wish to see this vine yourself, you can visit the museum which is attached to it!
4. Green Is the Best Color to Describe the Capital City
The capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana meaning “the Loved One” and it was honored as Europe’s Greenest Capital back in 2016.
The city has sustainable practices in place to help reduce the carbon footprint while helping to keep the biodiversity, climate, and culture authentic.
5. The Slovenian Riviera is just like Italy
If you think France and Italy have the market covered when it comes to the Riviera, think again! Slovenia may only have a small coastal region between Croatia and Italy, but it is every bit as picturesque as Trieste.
I was astonished by how lovely it was with quaint coffee shops, Venetian architecture, and adorable gelato shops. It is a great place where one can stroll while basking in the sun by the Adriatic sea.
6. Slovenian People Have Adventurous Spirits
The Slovenian people I’ve met seem to have a certain adventurous quality that comes from a love of the outdoors and nature.
Case in point, the first married couple to conquer Mt. Everest were from Slovenia, and the first person to ski down Mt. Everest was Davo Karničar, a Slovenian who has made a career of skiing down the highest peaks on all 7 continents.
7. The World’s Largest Ski Jump is in Slovenia
It makes sense that the adventurous people of Slovenia would build the world’s largest ski jump. What is surprising is that Planica Ski Jump has been the site of over 60 world record jumps!
I can’t say that I’ve tried it, but I did get to enjoy watching several people launch themselves down the steep incline.
8. Olms Live in Slovenia
Affectionately called baby dragons by locals, the Olm is a rare creature that can live for over 100 years and can be found in Postojna Cave in Slovenia. This aquatic salamander doesn’t breed much, once or twice per decade, so the population remains small.
Olms are the only cave vertebrate in Europe and are a protected species in Slovenia.
9. The Art of Beekeeping is Alive in Slovenia
As many as 1 in 200 people in Slovenia keep bees and Slovenia produces world-famous honey.
Beekeeping is deeply ingrained in Slovenian culture and no visit is complete in Slovenia without sampling the local honey.
10. Slovenia Has More Protected Land than Most Countries
Second only to Venezuela, Slovenia is one of the countries that has the most protected land in the world. More than half of Slovenia is environmentally protected land and 54 percent of the surface is forested.
The most visited protected area is Triglav National Park, with stunning hiking trails, and huts that you can rent and stay in overnight.
11. Cake is the National Food of Slovenia
Potica is the most famous internationally recognized Slovenian food. It is a rolled nut cake that is traditionally filled with hazelnuts, walnuts and tarragon but can come in hundreds of different varieties.
This pastry is often eaten during the holidays and is typically made at home rather than purchased at a bakery. The one I sampled had raisins, walnuts, and honey and was so delicious I’ve been dreaming about it ever since.
12. Slovenia Has an Annual Bonfire Night
On April 30th, something magical happens in Slovenia. Every village will light bonfires on that night, and the smell of smoke mingles with the night air.
This cultural tradition has been practiced for hundreds of years, and while it traditionally was a kickoff for International Labour Day, nowadays it’s mostly done for fun as a social event.
13. Slovenia is Home to the Oldest Wooden Wheel in the World
This is for the anthropologists and history buffs out there! In 2002, a wooden wheel with an axle was found within the Ljubljana marshes.
It was carbon-dated and was determined to be around 5,150 years old which makes it the oldest wooden wheel in the world.
The invention of the wheel is one of the most important things man ever made, and if you’d like to admire it in person you can see it at the City Museum of Ljubljana.
14. 1 in 4 Slovenians Own Forest Land
Slovenia is covered in beautiful, lush forest land. Many Slovenians feel a kinship with nature, and more of them are purchasing forest land than ever before.
Yet most people in Slovenia own less than 5 hectares (12 acres) due to cost and the regulations of keeping the land pristine.
15. Top 10 Safest Countries in the World
Slovenia comes in 7th place as the safest country in the world according to the Institute for Economy and Peace. The capital Ljubljana is likewise considered one of the safest capital cities anywhere on earth.
16. Lipizzaner Horses Come from Slovenia
Equestrians will appreciate that the Lipica stud farm has been in operation since 1580 and is the original source of all Lipizzaner horses in the world! It is considered the oldest stud farm in Europe and an important cultural attraction.
Lipizzaner horses are incredibly intelligent and are a beautiful white color. Their gait is unlike other horses, and they were once favored by aristocrats.
17. Curious Travelers Can Stay at Celica Prison
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night behind bars without having a record to show for it? In Slovenia, you can stay at an actual military prison that has been turned into a Hostel.
Hostel Celica has renovated the cells into rooms and local artists have made interesting and unusual installations in the rooms, but the bars are original it still feels a little too claustrophobic for my taste.
They offer daytime tours if you want to check out the interior before you commit to a stay!
18. Slovenia Has The World’s Longest Vertical Drop
If you want to see one of the world’s tallest underground waterfalls as well as the world’s longest, straight vertical drop, Vrtiglavica is the place for you.
Slovenians call the karst shaft “the cave of dizzyness” because it is 603 meters (1,978 feet) tall. It was first discovered by Italian speleologists in 1996.