Visiting neighboring countries

There are some interesting locations close to Slovenia you may wish to visit for a couple of days. All these regions are safe to travel in comparison to many other destinations in the World nowadays.

Italy

Venice is only 2.5 hours drive from Ljubljana (excellent highway). There are alternatives to go there. You can travel across Julian Alps using north Italian highways. Even more interesting would be (longer) trip across the Vrsic pass in the Slovenian Alps and along the Soca river valley (see excursions within Slovenia) to Gorizia in Italy (about 1.5 hour from Venice). Third option is taking catamaran excursion from the very nice coast town of Piran in Slovenia.

If you have at least 2 full days, other interesting locations in northern Italy include: other towns, like Verona, Milano and Firenze, Alps and lakes (like Garda).

For professional visit you may wish to choose the universities of the region or ELSA lab at Ispra/Varese north of Milano.

In general, the air and rail connections between Slovenia and Italy are unreasonably bad. Renting a car seems to be the only efficient option.

Austria

It is less than 5 hours drive from Ljubljana/Bled to Vienna. There are also regular flights to Vienna.

Austrian Alps are of course beautiful. But maybe this time you may choose Slovenian Alps (see excursions within Slovenia). The already mentioned alternative is to travel from Munich to Slovenia with train passing Alpine regions.

I consider the most interesting option to visit Salzburg (including summer music festival). It is only 2 hours drive from Bled. You can make it in a day, but it is definitely better to stay there over the night. Last year I was there with some visitors of mine. We had dinner at a very old restaurant including the Mozart concert. We all liked the experience. If you are interested in this option, please call me for more information. If you are traveling by train from/to Munich, you have an option to make a stop-over at Salzburg.

Hungary

For me Budapest is the only, but top, destination to visit - beautiful bridges and historic structures, good food and music and very much different atmosphere.

It can be easily combined with Vienna. Again renting a car is the best option. There are no direct flights from Ljubljana.

Croatia

After the recent war there, it may seem absurd, but I will consider Croatia safer than Milano and certainly safer than London. However, there have been some consequences of the relatively recent war. One of this is economy, which is reflecting in bad maintenance of most hotels. Consequently the prices of some hotels are low, the tourists on not very “high” level and there is no money to invest … Still, I am recommending visiting Croatia while being in this part of the World. Croatian coast is beautiful (without emotions since this is not "our" country any more) and end of June/beginning of July is good time to visit.

Definitely the first choice is Dubrovnik. There I recommend hotel Croatia, the site of the European EE conference in 1978. I was there last year and it is well maintained. The hotel is in the charming small seaside town of Cavtat only five km from the airport high on the cliffs above the open sea with very nice park. There is bus connection to the old city (25km). There are also very nice boat excursions. I have checked on www.hoteli-croatia.hr. The price for the sea-view double room for 2 persons with breakfast is 162 EUR until July 1 (when the price becomes higher). In general last week of June is offering good balance price/weather, although the school vacations started already around June 20-25.

The NP of nearby Mljet island is reported to be beautiful (I have not been there myself). At this time I will still not recommend to go south to Montenegro (although it is possible), neither for political situation, nor for the maintenance of the area.

There is one major inconvenience about Dubrovnik. There are not regular flights between Ljubljana and Dubrovnik. In summer there are charters but usually only once a week. I have checked with our travel agency and the usual practice is to arrange transfer to Zagreb airport in Croatia. Unfortunately this is nearly 3 hours drive one-way. From there you have at least 3 (cheap) flights a day to Dubrovnik.

Alternative is to fly to Split in the central Dalmatia. Even without visiting Dubrovnik (which you can easily do) from there, the region itself is really worth to visit. There are historic towns of Split, Sibenik and Zadar and beautiful Adriatic islands. In particular the archipelago of the undeveloped islands of Kornati (NP). Going into the mainland there is beautiful NP Plitvice (lakes).

Another archipelago on the north, which is also relatively easily accessed from Slovenia (150 miles; 3 hours), is named Brioni (or Briuni). This was the favorite place of our family for summer vacations some years ago (recently we have been traveling a lot, having little time for relaxed vacations). So I can provide some additional information. Established as high-class resort 100 years ago, the main island was transformed into beautiful park (now the pine trees are 100 years old) incorporating ruins of 1km long Roman villa and Byzantine settlement. Belonged later to many rulers and monarchs. After the 2WW private residence of Tito. Public access very limited to day tours to the NP. Open to public in late 80-ties. Soon after that our family spent vacation there and became in loved with the place. Unfortunately facing constant degradation after than. Very skilled (mostly Serbian and political engaged) personal lost job at the beginning of the war. Locals are very friendly but not at the level expected for such place. The hotels, which were “socialist” type even before, degraded to 3*, except some villas, which are very expensive and again more and more reserved for the (new) political elite. There is little money to maintain numerous facilities. I still recommend this place very much. It is nearly private place. Only 3 hotels there, otherwise the visit is still limited to organized tours. So the coast (kilometers of it) is reserved for guests, and unfortunately to some Italian yachts (paying a lot of money) in the recent years (before private boats were not allowed at any circumstances). There is an organized beach and kms of the undeveloped private places. Park includes tenths of kms of paved paths (very nice for bicycles; cars not allowed on the island, small electric cars can be hired). In the morning and evening you can walk among hundreds of dear and many peacocks. Seems to be a good golf course there (I do not play golf). Among the 3 hotels I will definitely choose Neptun.

You can go to the town opposite the island by car from Ljubljana. There is a guarded garage of the hotel on the mainland. Inconvenient to pay for rent-a-car while being on the island, where cars are not allowed, but bus connections are not good. However, having a car (there is free boat to the mainland during the day for hotel guests), you can also visit Pula with famous amphitheater, Rovinj and some places on the way from Ljubljana to the coast.

Rail passes

For a longer stay in Europe you may be interested in one of several rail passes
(i.e. http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/about_train_travel/perfect_rail_pass.htm).