Slovenia
A global, green & boutique destination for the demanding visitor.
Slovenia occupies a small corner of Europe but includes four different worlds: the Alps, the Mediterranean coastal towns, the limestone hills (karst), and the eastern plains. 60% of Slovenia is covered by forest. Over a third of the country is protected for nature conservation. This is why Slovenia sustainable tourism is flourishing. Some of the most beautiful places are still rather unknown. They offer unspoiled nature and ancient traditions, including how to make food and drinks, such as special beers and wines Learn more on the Slovenian Green Destinations, experiences and tours at www.slovenia-green.si
Not sure where to go?
Explore the options for a responsible trip
GOOD PLACES TO VISIT
Explore destinations that were certified for their sustainability efforts
GOOD BUSINESSES
Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions that are commited to responsible development
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
GOOD PRACTICE STORIES
Get inspired with stories from places and people that are acting for a fair and responsible tourism
Brežice
Brežice is a sustainable destination in Slovenia with a rich natural and cultural heritage, full of folk traditions and customs. The soil and climate of the area have historically provided ideal conditions for the development of viticulture, which has thus become part of our culture. In recent years, interest in preserving this tradition among young people has waned. Many vineyards throughout Slovenia have begun to wither away, left to become overgrown or even cut down by their owners. At Destination Brežice, we want to see sustainable management of our destination, which includes preserving the image of the local landscape, which is largely represented by vineyards, and preserving the culture of growing grapes and processing them into wine.
Jeruzalem
Destination Jeruzalem Slovenia is strategically committed to sustainable, socially and economically responsible development. We try to contribute to nature conservation in several areas. The Ormož basins nature reserve is one of the few, but the best examples of nature conservation in our destination and the study example HOW A DEGRADED INDUSTRIAL AREA BECAME A NATURAL RESERVE. The Ormož basins nature reserve is a 55-hectare wetland of anthropogenic origin, located in the Drava river ecosystem along lake Ormož. It consists of shallow pools with reeds and stands of hornbeam, and is surrounded by a floodplain forest, a rememnant of a softwood river arc in Slovenia.
Kranj
The Proteus is an underground cave animal originaly from the Italian alpine region and Slovenia. The city of Kranj, Slovenia, with the help of the proteus laboratory called Tular Cave Laboratory, have built the SOS Proteus Information Centre through a public-private equity partnership to implement innovative solutions for the conservation of these animals.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum and five Ljubljana artisans have created a series of eight boutique tourism experiences centered around traditional handicrafts and craftsmanship in Ljubljana. These experiences, such as Repair Your Umbrella, Printing for a Day, Weaving from A to Z, and various pottery and goldsmith workshops, aim to revive old crafts, promote the preservation of cultural heritage, and engage young people in traditional crafts. By catering to the desires of contemporary travelers seeking unique experiences and connections with local cultures, these initiatives significantly enhance Ljubljana’s tourism offerings while providing both local and international visitors with a valuable opportunity to explore and appreciate the rich knowledge, creativity, and heritage of the city’s local artisans.
Miren Kras
The extreme summer of 2022 marked the destination Miren Kras for the second time in 3 years with a forest fire – this time the largest in the history of Slovenia. It destroyed 3,600 hectares of land, 80% of which is the territory of one of the greenest and most sustainable destinations in Slovenia (4 times ranked among the TOP 100 in the world and 4 times among the TOP 6 best green practices), which primarily builds its offer on active outdoor tourism in pristine nature. We faced a “survival challenge” – how to encourage/maintain tourism in a “burnt destination”. In cooperation between the three municipalities that were affected by the fire and the non-profit foundation Vrabček upanja, we designed the national campaign SKUPAJ ZA KRAS (TOGETHER FOR THE KARST).
Šaleška Valley
The boutique 5 star experience at Šaleška Valley, with the Coal Mining Museum, Sailing on Velenje lake, virtual diving into the past and culinary experience on the overlook Vista. The experience takes approximately 4 hours. At the start the guests are greeted in front of The Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia by a tour guide miner. 160 meters underground the visitors watch a digital presentation of the sinking surface and village. After they finish with the tour, they are awaited by a boat on the shore of the Lake Velenje. In the middle of the lake they put on the VR Glasses and experience a virtual dive into lost villages. After returning to shore, visitors can discover the edges of Šalek valley from the overlook Vista, where they will experience a culinary conclusion with selected local treats.
Sustainability
In 2016, Slovenia was recognised by Green Destinations as the worlds first green country destination. This is the result of hard work by the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB).
Travel tips from our editors
Getting there
There are three international airports in Slovenia, but heading to Slovenia can be more sustainable and simple. Direct trains connect the biggest Slovenian cities with important towns of all neighbouring countries. You can also reach Slovenia with international long-distance buses that connect larger European cities. You can even board a catamaran between Venice and Koper.
Getting around
Trains will take you to most of the bigger cities in Slovenia and every part of the country is reachable by bus. One drives a car to areas that are harder to reach (using car-rent and car-share too). Ride share is used by many people to travel between different parts of the county. On top of that, some towns also have bike-share and scooter-share systems.
To enjoy more of Slovenia sustainable tourism, those who are interested can also hike long distances. You can walk along the Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail, the European Long Distance Paths E6, E7 and E12, the Way of Saint James (Camino), the Saint Martin of Tours Route, and the Alpe-Adria Trail.
Avoid over-tourism!
Still relatively unknown to wide crowds, Slovenia tries to avoid over-tourism. If you really want to visit Ljubljana and Bled, think about coming in the off-season. Or better yet, there are so many less touristic places to visit and support Slovenia sustainable tourism. They are full of urban history, natural beauty, and top service that you could explore in calm. Your senses would be thankful.
Visit our top destinations
Interested in nature and humanity? Visit Slovenia, where for ages we live and do more than just speak about sustainability. Befriend people and reveal the history of the old towns while your eyes enjoy the splendor of nature. It’s possible to enjoy Slovenia sustainable tourism in a day. However, to visit the Mediterranean region, Alps, and Pannonic plain, you might want to stay longer. Learn about the history, connect with the people, and try the regional food!
Everybody needs to eat
At the crossroads of Slavic, Germanic, and Romanesque cuisine, expect everything and more. While Michelin-starred restaurants are new in Slovenia, old village inns, mountain huts, and farm tourism pamper guests with our grandmothers’ cuisine. Don’t hold back, no one will stay hungry, and everyone will take away a satisfying experience.
Tourism & People
Slovenia has become a popular destination. This can be seen during summers in the centre of Ljubljana, in Bled, and in the northern part of Socha Valley. Hence the Slovenia Tourist board is now implementing measures to prevent over-tourism.
It is a very safe country for travellers and human rights are very well respected.
Nature & Wildlife
Slovenia’s compact size belies its incredible natural diversity. From the stunning Julian Alps to the pristine waters of Lake Bled, this country is a paradise for nature lovers. Over a third of its territory is protected, with Triglav National Park standing as the only national park. You can explore dense beech forests, hike up rocky mountain trails, and experience the vibrant biodiversity in the Soča Valley.
The country is home to rare creatures like the European brown bear, chamois, and lynx. Slovenia’s commitment to sustainability and preservation ensures that its exceptional landscapes and wildlife flourish.
Sustainability Recognitions
Slovenia was featured in the 2020 Global Top 100 Sustainable Destinations.
Other sustainability certifications can be seen here (English) and here (Portuguese).
Mrs. Maja Pak
Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB)
“This pandemic has brought the biggest crisis yet in tourism, but it has also underlined the advantages of Slovenia: we have been consistently developing sustainable and responsible tourism for the last decade, and we can say that today, Slovenia has become a type of destination future travellers will be looking for, green and safe. The 2020 Sustainable Top 100 Destination Award in the category Best of Europe, that we received at this year’s ITB Berlin proves that our decision for the development of responsible tourism was the right one. We are even more proud of the fact that throughout this year, the number of members of the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism has grown and many businesses have expressed interest to join despite difficult circumstances. This shows that commitment to sustainability in Slovenia is wide-spread and can be found in all sectors of our tourism industry, not just on the national level. With sustainability at the core of all our activities, even at this unprecedented time, tourism will become more resilient and will recover sooner.”
Rasto Kirn
Page Editor
A researcher and gourmet at heart, registered architect and spatial planner by profession. Because of love for travel and his wife’s profession, ventured into the tourist waters. Active in the initial stages of tourism project development. Based in Maribor, the second-largest city in Slovenia. Presents his region on social media, calling Maribor the foodie capital of Slovenia based on his own international experience.
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