The Slovenia Times

Travels

Open Kitchen, the Ljubljana outdoor food market. Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
Ljubljana's popular outdoor food market has opened for its 13th season, attracting an enthusiastic crowd eager to sample Slovenian and international cuisine to the Pogačar Square next to the central market.
The organizers promise Open Kitchen to deliver even more variety this year with more than 65
The Solomon Knot is the symbol of the cross-border Goriška Camino. Photo: Nace Novak

Goriška Camino, a route inspired by friendship

European Capital of Culture 2025Travels
The UNESCO world heritage site of Aquileia in northeastern in Italy and the pilgrimage site of Sveta Gora in western Slovenia have been linked with a new 82-kilometre-long trail called the Goriška Camino or Iter Goritiense.
Designed as Nova Gorica and Gorizia came together for the first cross-borde
Chef of the Year Tomaž Kavčič (centre) pictured with Economy Minister Matjaž Han and director of Gault & Millau Slovenija Mira Šemić. Photo: STO
Tomaž Kavčič of Gostilna Pri Lojzetu in Zemono Manor near the western town of Vipava has been named the chef of the year 2025 by Gault & Millau Slovenia as Hiša Franko in Kobarid further to the west, run by star chef Ana Roš, was again declared the best of the best.
Hiša Franko, the only Sloven
Vessels on Lake Bohinj. Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
Lake Bohinj has joined Lake Bled in imposing a series of restrictions on boating as two of the country's prime tourist destinations seek to preserve their Alpine charm, improve safety and minimise the impact on the environment amid the pressure of rising visitor numbers.
Taking cue from their neigh
A vineyard cottage on Trška Gora hill near Novo Mesto (NE). Photo: Aleš Kocjan/STA
Far from the madding crowd, vineyard cottages of southeastern Slovenia make a perfect place to lay back and relax, get together with family and friends, and enjoy local food and wine. For many they serve as a base to explore the countryside or even the country.
Small wooden, stone or brick cottages
Brdo Mansion. Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
The Brdo mansion, on the northern outskirts of Kranj, is the best maintained and one of the best known of all mansions and castles in Slovenia, largely thanks to the fact that the estate is the backdrop to virtually all top political events in the country.
A soul-sensing place
Built 500 years ago,
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport. Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Passengers from Ljubljana airport will be able to fly to 26 destinations on scheduled flights this summer season, which starts on 30 March, according to airport operator Fraport Slovenija. The flights will be operated by 24 airlines.
New carriers joining this season are KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and
An aerial view of the Soča River. Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Virtuoso, the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, has picked Slovenia as one of nine must-have experiences of luxury travel for 2025.
Virtuoso's 2025 Luxe Report describes Slovenia as a "rising European gem" and an "adventure lover's playground".
"Cliff dive into
A customs check on a smuggling tour in Nova Gorica. Photo: STA

Smuggling tour taking visitors back in time

European Capital of Culture 2025Travels
Visitors to Nova Gorica will be able to try out their smuggling skills on a guided tour of a once tight Slovenian-Italian border in a new tourism product inspired by the European Capital of Culture.
The two-hour Smuggling Tour will run from Europe Square to the Smuggling Museum in Pristava, crossin
The renovated Nova Gorica railway station with Europe Square in front. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
Built at the times of the Habsburg monarchy, the Nova Gorica railway station has reopened after a major renovation just in time for the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture.
The city's landmark station has been revamped and rail infrastructure upgraded in an investment valued at €61.
A Maribor city bus. Photo: Andreja Seršen Dobaj/STA
Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, has modernised its bus transportation system, introducing new routes, additional stops and updated timetables, as well as contactless payment by bank cards.
Inspired by larger cities that have main metro lines and smaller feeder lines, Maribor streamlined it
A tourist boat on the Ljubljanica in the Slovenian capital. Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
Slovenia recorded the highest ever number of tourist arrivals and nights in 2024, with visitor numbers significantly above the 2023 records driven by a surge of visitors to the capital Ljubljana.
Visitor numbers rose by 6.3% to 6.6 million, with the guests generating 16.9 million overnight stays, a