Top things to do in Slovenia and Croatia

Slovenia and Croatia aren’t the most well-known of European countries, but their smaller size means that you can see a lot in just a week, especially if you focus on the northernmost part of Croatia.

So, what are the top things to do in Slovenia and Croatia, when you’re limited for time?

To listen, hit play below or find episode 255 in iTunes or Soundcloud:

We threw our time in Slovenia and Croatia open to all as we prepared for IndieRail, and we’re glad we did. The three recommended places we had time to visit each had a unique charm, and balanced city and countryside perfectly.

The highlights of Maribor

One of this year’s European Cities of Culture, Maribor is small and easily walkable. There’s plenty of cute little streets where old and new collide, a lively street-art scene, and the river-valley is pleasantly surrounded by vineyards and forest.

Vinag Wine Cellar

Arrive at 1pm to tour these cellars – one of the most exclusive in the old Czechoslovakia. Your €3.50 tour fee also gets you a glass of wine to finish off with.

Visit the world’s oldest vine

The oldest grape vine in the world is still producing grapes, and they are still being made into wine! Arrive in early March for the annual cutting festival, and join the party.

Walk up Piramide hill

One of the several hills, Piramide has several walking paths, so you can choose your route and escape the city for as long as you like. We spent an hour up here, looking through the ruins, the vines, and enjoying the view.

The top 10 monuments and things to do in Maribor

Linda’s put together this video of the top 10 things to do in Maribor.

The highlights of Bohinj

You’ve heard of Bled? This quieter neighbour helps you to avoid the resorts while still enjoying everything that Lake Bled has to offer.

The lake

It’s just as beautiful as everyone says.

The countryside

Forest, farms, local produce… What’s not to like? We’ll be back here with a week or two of hiking in mind.

Highlights of Zagreb

We first visited Croatia’s capital in 2007, but it seemed like a different city this time around. We loved its grungy energy, and specifically enjoyed…

The markets

Bridging the upper and lower towns, these huge outdoor markets bring in local farmers and little old ladies who have been out collecting mushrooms or making fresh cheeses. The grill restaurants on the stairs are highly recommended.

Religious buildings and artworks

Luckily, many of Zagreb’s religious buildings survived the Communist era. We were surprised by the beauty of many, as we ducked inside.

A beer at Jarun

The large lake and water-sports complex south of the city is an easy tram ride away from the centre. The perfect place to have a wander, and sit lakeside with a beer.

Two very different museums in Zagreb

The Museum of Broken Relationships is certainly unique, showcasing dozens of items representing the grief, anger, and sometimes joy, of the break-up. The Archeology Museum is sometimes poorly curated, but houses some fascinating exhibits, including the longest Etruscan text in the world.

To hear the stories behind the highlights, hit play above or search for “indie travel” in any podcast app. This is episode 255, and it’s free in iTunes.