I shouldn’t even be telling you about this – my beloved Slovenia. In fact, I should be petitioning Google maps to blur it out, so that no one can find it and spoil it. But a place this special should be enjoyed with friends, so I will share it with you – but only if you are worthy.

Wait, where?? Slovenia what?

I thought the same thing when I first heard of it (and I thought I was pretty savvy on world geography). No. It is not Russia, or Slovakia, or even in Eastern Europe. Did you just google? You totally should… I’ll wait…

Slovenia is probably the most amazing little place you’ve never heard of… This tiny, but oh-so-amazing country is nestled into a forgotten little nook of Central Europe. Bordering on Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia – Slovenia is hiding in plain sight. Home to a little over 2 million people, Slovenia encompasses just 7,837 sq.mi (roughly the size of New Jersey or Wales).

So why have you never heard of it? Who knows…maybe because they are a relatively new country. While the Slovene people have been there since the 6^th century, Slovenia just became an independent country in 1991 – when they split from Yugoslavia. They became part of the United Nations and the European Union in 2004  – and began utilizing the euro as its currency in 2007.

How did I find Slovenia?

I was first introduced to this little gem through my husband Matt. Ancestors on both sides of his family hail from Slovenia, and many of his distant cousins still live there. Once I Googled, I was intrigued – and I knew we HAD to go there one day. Seriously….if you haven’t done a Google image search of Slovenia do it NOW. I really don’t mind waiting…

We finally had the pleasure of visiting the “motherland’ in 2015 for our honeymoon, and we totally fell in love (like we knew we would). In fact, we connected so deeply with Slovenia that we ached to return… So we did – the next year, in 2016 for a second honeymoon and AGAIN just now, this summer (2018) for the most epic adventure yet. So there may be more Slovenia-related blog posts coming your way…

So…what is it that makes this little country so great? I’ll start with the obvious:

The landscape

The snow-capped Julian Alps… the cave-riddled Karst region… the fertile vineyards of Goriška Brda…the charming Adriatic coast… the unreal turquoise of the  Soča river… the fairy-tale Lake Bled…and the quaint capital Ljubljana – and that’s just only part of the country! I mean, oh my gawd! It doesn’t even look like a real place. You feel like you’ve stepped through the wardrobe into Narnia or into the Shire from Lord of the Rings. Even when you are there, the colors are so vibrant that you can’t believe what you are looking at. Seriously #nofilter needed, Slovenia stands on its own.

For such a small country, Slovenia’s landscape is quite diverse. Its tiny (only 46km long) Adriatic coast will remind you of a little Venice. Its wine regions – like stepping into Tuscany. Its alpine region would have you convinced that you were standing in Switzerland. And it is all so close! Within short 40 min drives, you could be breathing the fresh mountain air of the alps, then swimming in the sea, or strolling around admiring the architecture in Ljubljana’s charming city-center. It’s a road-tripper’s paradise, a new lush landscape within a short drive in any direction.

The nature

This country is literally bursting with “the nature” as they like to call it, and Slovenians celebrate (and almost worship) it – which is a very good thing indeed. The nature is everywhere! Slovenia is mostly mountainous and lush forests cover more than half of the country. Slovenians pride themselves on enjoying every bit of it – every chance they get. Their national pastimes are mountaineering, skiing, hiking, climbing, biking, swimming, rafting, canyoning, kayaking, spelunking….I could go on and on. If it is in the nature, they are out there doing it – and they are more than happy to take you along.

Oh and the gardens! A drive through the countryside would suggest that almost every Slovenian keeps the most pristine vegetable garden I’ve ever seen. Seriously, even the most humble Slovenian garden plot puts my home garden to shame. Slovenians have obviously worked out a partnership with the nature, and the results are inspiring.

The green

Despite the obvious (I mean Slovenia is so freaking green I have to turn down the saturation on some of my photos) Slovenia also prides itself on being the first country in the world to be declared a Green Destination.  Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana was also declared the “Green Capital of Europe” in 2016. Slovenia is dedicated to sustainable tourism, energy efficiency, recycling, green space preservation, and local sourcing of food. It definitely shows… the country is incredibly clean, there are recycling options available EVERYWHERE (even in rural areas), and its designated natural areas are pristine.

The people

From my experience, Slovenian’s are incredibly warm and friendly people. I don’t think I’ve met a Slovenian yet that wasn’t exceedingly nice and unbelievably accommodating. The hospitality we’ve been shown in Slovenia is unmatched – and not just by family we’ve encountered. We’ve been shown exceptional (out of their way) kindness by shopkeepers, restaurant owners, vacation rental hosts, waiters, merchants, you name it. And it is always very genuine.

While the primary language in Slovenia is of course, Slovene – many Slovenians also speak English. They are taught it in school at a young age, so that they can one day converse with people from other countries. For example, the common language between Germans and Slovenians might be English. Fortunately for visitors, this makes navigating Slovenia easier. However, I would stress the importance of learning some Slovenian phrases and niceties. Not only is it the polite thing to do, but it is also very appreciated by Slovenians. They know their language is difficult, and by taking thing time to learn some of it, you are showing them respect. Be worthy of visiting this place!

The food

If the pristine nature, adrenaline outdoor sports and incredibly nice people weren’t enough of a draw…..the food definitely will be. With influences from all sides, Slovenian cuisine is diverse – and so damn good! Think fresh seafood, pastas, prosciutto, cheeses and olives from the Mediterranean influence to the west. Hearty game dishes, sausages, sauerkraut and goulash from the Hungarian and Austrian influences to the east and north. And unique Istrian influences like truffles and octopus salad from the south, bordering with Croatia. I mean, drool….. (surprisingly even the octopus salad…you must try it).

Eating in Slovenia is not only scrumptious – it is surprisingly affordable!  There are many traditional meals to be had for reasonable prices in gostilnas (restaurants/country inns) throughout Slovenia. Now, if you are a foodie though, you are in for a real treat. Slovenia has really upped their game in fine food circles, even boasting the best female chef in the world: Anna Roš. Bottom line, you won’t be disappointed eating in Slovenia.

Now….don’t screw it up

Slovenia holds a dear place in my heart. I am always torn when it comes to sharing it. I don’t know whether to shout its awesomeness from the rooftop, or to keep her secrets to myself and hope that it never becomes popular. But it IS becoming popular, it is no longer the “hidden gem” of Europe it used to be. My biggest fear is that it will become super popular, and this will ruin its charm. Once mass tourism takes over a place, authenticity goes out the window.

So I plead with you, only go to Slovenia – IF you promise to not be a crappy tourist. Respect and enjoy the nature. Do not litter, recycle everything in its proper bin. Respect the people. Learn some of their language, learn about their culture, ask questions and listen. Don’t expect everything to be exactly like America (or your home country). Be patient, things move at a slightly slower pace in Slovenia. Don’t seek out fast food, try all of the local cuisine. Eat sloooooowly, enjoy every course. And do enjoy some homemade schnapps at the end of every meal. It’s a digestive, and pairs perfectly with long walks in the nature. 🙂