Slovenia — July 26, 2025

Family Holiday in Slovenia

Summer holiday 2025 was a family road trip through Slovenia, starting in the Alpine mountains of the north and ending two weeks later on the Adriatic coast.

Slovenia is a small country, but they pack in a lot.

Act 1: Bled - The Alpine Vibe

Slovenia is a small country so everything looks like a short drive. We weren’t expecting the traffic though, and the motorway to Ljubljana was a pretty painful…..but that’s all part of travel….

We arrived in Bled late in the afternoon and were welcomed by our host. It was a lovely apartment on the top floor of a family home about 1km from the lake shore at Bled town.

We did all the usual trips around Bled; visited the castle, Vintgar Gorge,

White flowers spell BLED on a grassy hill in front of a beige building with a green roof.

Castle on rocky cliff above lake with church and mountains.

Clouds over forested mountains and a red building.

Wooden walkway beside a river in a forested gorge.

Clear plastic cup with golden liquid, hand holding it, grassy area, lake, mountains, people walking.

People swimming in a lake with mountains and a church in the background.

Wooden boats with striped canopies on a dock by a lake with mountains in the background.

Red boat on calm lake with forested shore and mountains under blue sky.

Tree branches frame a lake with buildings and mountains in the background.

River with rocks and trees under cloudy sky.

People walking on a path next to a lake with mountains and buildings in the background.

Yellow raft with four people wearing helmets and life jackets on a river with trees and rocks.

Projector screen showing a couple kissing.

Green hill with trees, red roof, and lake with boat under blue sky.

Wooden boat docked at grassy shore with trees and mountains in background.

A lake with mountains and a partly cloudy sky.

A cream car on a crosswalk in front of a pub with ivy and flowers.

Wooden walkway over river in forested gorge with rocky walls.

Bled, Slovenia's iconic church island glistens under a dramatic, cloud-streaked sky at dusk.

Bled, Slovenia's emerald lake cradles a picturesque island with a charming church, framed by lush, mountainous terrain.

Church on island with red roof, surrounded by water and trees, under cloudy sky.

Two waterfalls flowing into a pool surrounded by rocks and trees.

Bled's iconic church perched on a lake island captivates amidst lush, mountainous Slovenian scenery.

Clear blue lake with rocky bottom, surrounded by forested mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

People walking on a path next to a lake with mountains and a castle in the background.

Glide through Bled, Slovenia's emerald waters on a serene rafting adventure amidst lush forests and majestic mountains.

Act 2: Ljubljana - The Urban Experience

Green dragon statue on stone pedestal near buildings under cloudy sky.

Ljubljana Castle offers stunning views of Slovenia's vibrant capital cityscape and lush greenery below.

Ljubljana's sparrows perch charmingly on a stone ledge amidst lush greenery and historic architecture.

Two flags on a tower above a stone building with red roofs and trees.

Trees frame a cityscape with red-roofed buildings and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

White building with flags, statues, and people in front of gray sky.

Green dragon statue with wings on stone bridge railing, river and buildings in background.

Red and black padlocks hang from metal bars over a river with stone bridges and buildings in the background.

Act 3: Terme Čatež - The Down Time

We decided to spend a few nights in this family campsite / water park to give the kids something to look forward to during the trip.

Anytime I have gone to a European campsite I find it takes me a little while to find my feet and settle in.

We stayed in an ‘apartment’ which ended up being a small house, with a small back garden & bbq. Small but perfect for the family.

The pool facilities were fantastic, with a large outdoor area with multiple slides, pools, splash areas and other water related fun. There is also a totally separate indoor area to explore with its own array of pools, slides etc.

Person standing on diving board above swimming pool with people swimming.

Dive into summer fun at Terme Catez, Slovenia's vibrant aquatic paradise.

Children playing in a swimming pool with a water slide and a fake island.

Dive into fun at Terme Catez, Slovenia's vibrant water park with slides and inflatables under a clear blue sky.

A house with a red roof under a blue sky with a moon.

Castle with red roof by river, surrounded by trees and grass.

A Citroen 2CV driving along the side of a river, with a forest in the background.

Act 4: Portorož - The Adriatic Finish

Our last stop was on the Slovenian coast, and after much debate, we elected to book an apartment in Portoroz, a couple of kilometres south of Piran.

Portoroz's coastal charm shines with historic architecture against the Adriatic's serene backdrop.

Explore the stunning Skocjan Caves near Portoroz, Slovenia, a UNESCO World Heritage site with breathtaking underground formations.

Cityscape with buildings, lights, and water under a moonlit sky.

A coastal town with red-roofed buildings, a church, and trees overlooking the sea.

People swimming and standing in shallow water near a pier under a blue sky.

Rectangular pools of water with wooden walkways and grassy banks under a blue sky.

Rectangular pools of water with dark borders under a blue sky.

White building with balconies, arches, and trees under blue sky.

Blue sea, green hills, buildings, and boats under a blue sky.

Portoroz's salt pans glisten under Slovenia's clear blue sky, a serene coastal marvel.

A coastal town with red roofs, trees, and sailboats under a blue sky.

Child in blue jersey riding bicycle on rural road with sign and trees.

A coastal town with buildings, trees, and a marina under a blue sky.

Portoroz, Slovenia, dazzles with azure waters and sailboats dotting the serene coastline under a clear blue sky.

Portoroz's coastal charm shines with red-roofed buildings and a historic church overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

Portoroz's illuminated sign shines brightly against the night sky, inviting visitors to explore its coastal charm.

Two children in blue jerseys walking on a wooden pier.

Blue floating pool with ladders in calm sea near coastline with buildings and trees.

Wooden pier beside water canal with grass and hills in background.

Three children sitting on a concrete ledge overlooking sailboats and a blue floating platform in Portoroz, Slovenia.

Field Notes

Breakfast Treat - We didn't have a chance to get to a shop, so treated ourselves to a Bled Breakfast when we arrived. Delivered to the door and the breakfast crate for 4 was enough for the 5 of us for a couple of days. Well worthwhile!
Bled Cake - such an obvious one, but you can't do Bled without Bled cake. Served everywhere, but worth experiencing the spiritual home at the Park Hotel.
Bar in Portoroz. Ribic Sunset Beach Bar - a magic relaxed beach bar. The kind of place that just makes you feel like you are on holiday.

The Basecamps

Bled: Apt Regina – A kilometer walk from the town / lake shore. Nice spacious aprartment above a family home which proved to be an ideal base for us. Hosts were super nice, gave us a lovely cake on arrival.
Ljubljana: Apartments Rog – Perfect spot right inside the pedestrian zone. Being able to pop back in for a rest afternoon was a lifesaver.
Terme Čatež: We stayed in the 'Apartments' – Great access to the pools. Pro tip: book the ones closer to the thermal winter riviera.