Wander Through Slovenia: A Journey of Taste and Tradition

Today on Go Nomad, we visit the small nation of Slovenia.

When people think of Slovenia, they often imagine a quick stop at Lake Bled, a stroll through Ljubljana, and maybe a visit to the Paj Cave before moving on.

But Slovenia is so much more.

Today we're going to join writers Kathy Arguilla, Sharon Kurtz and Bel Wodehouse, who give their impressions and their images from their visits to Slovenia over the years.

We're diving into emerald rivers, medieval villages and culinary adventures that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about this Central European gem.

Slovenia is just south of Austria, about the size of New Jersey.

Let's begin with the capital, Ljubljana.

It's often described as charming, but that doesn't quite do it justice.

They boarded a river cruise on the Ljubjanica river, gliding past weeping willows and pastel buildings that look like they belonged in a fairy tale.

The iconic dragon bridge loomed ahead, guarded by fierce green dragons.

Legend has it they wag their tails when a virgin crosses.

Locals joke that it's more of a mother in law bridge, fiery and unpredictable.

As we floated past riverside cafes and lovers locking padlocks on Butcher's Bridge, the guide shared stories of pirates, blood soaked legends and even giant rodents called nutria, like beavers with attitude.

It was whimsical, weird and wonderful.

But Slovenia's magic isn't confined to its capital, just west of Lujana.

Go Nomad writer Kathy Aquila visited the Horjul region and went truffle hunting with Mataj Besnik and his two dogs, Eric and Fendi.

Matjaz named his business Mati Truffle Mati, meaning mother in Slovenian, a tribute to the earth's nurturing power.

She hiked through damp forest floors, wildflowers blooming and red roofed villages peeking through the trees.

This wasn't just about finding truffles.

It was about connecting with nature, with tradition, and the people who live it.

Every day after the hunt, they sat down for a truffle tasting lunch at Gric, a restaurant that merges Slovenian rusticity with Asian umami.

Chef Luca Cozier served dishes that felt like edible poetry, fermented, cured and plated with reverence.

His cellar was a shrine to miso, soy sauce and goose eggs.

It was Slovenia's culinary soul.

Led bear from forest to vineyards, the journey continued to the Pava Valley.

Here, the wine flows as freely as the conversation, such as Pinella, a crisp white wine that dances on the tongue.

Walking through the village of Gochi, past beekeeping farms and stone houses, Draped in vine.

At the Petrich Urban, a sustainable winery, we sipped orange wine and and talked politics, motherhood and the strange comfort of shared uncertainty.

Slovenia's food and wine scene isn't just delicious, it's deeply personal.

At Gostyna Marikrik, a family run restaurant near the Adriatic coast, chef Concedia and her husband Martin welcomed us like long lost relatives.

Concedia crafts her own ceramics and plates each dish with devotion.

Her beef tartare with pumpkin seed oil moss was a revelation.

This wasn't just farm to table, it was heart to table.

The Then there's Peran.

This coastal town is a mashup of Italy, Croatia and Austria.

Standing in Tartini Square, eating ice cream and watching boats bob in the harbor, writer Sharon Kurtz felt the layers of history.

Five passports in a hundred years.

Venetian architecture and salt pans that once made the region rich.

Speaking of salt, Cathy met Nina Forgot at the Gramona farm, where she and her family produce olive oil, which with flavors so vibrant, orange, lemon, you'll want to check your luggage just to bring some home.

Beneath a pergola with views of the salt pans, they dipped bread, shared stories and watched the sun sink below the Adriatic.

It was one of those moments that make you forget the noise of the world and remember what really matters.

But Slovenia isn't just about indulgence.

It's about nature.

With over 60% of the country covered in forest, it's a haven for hikers, kayakers and dreamers.

Lake Bohinge, nestled in the Triglav national park, is quieter than bled, but no less stunning.

The water is crystal clear, fed by mountain streams and the Soka River.

Locals say you're not truly Slovenian until you've climbed Mount Triglav.

It's more than a peak, it's a rite of passage.

In the Karst region is the Lipicka stud Farm, home of the Lipprazaner stallions.

Watching foals gallop beside their mothers, knowing their dark coats would turn white by age 7, felt like witnessing transformation in slow motion.

And then there was Sanjal, a medieval village with just 19 residents.

Perched on a hilltop with views of the Vipava Valley.

They wandered stone streets, tasted Tehran wine and imagined music festivals echoing through these ancient walls.

Finally, they reached Korska Brada, Slovenia's Tuscany E. Biking through the vineyards, picking cherries, tasting olive oil in a round stone tower, they understood what Tina Nova Kzamek.

Meant when she said, we.

We are a little piece of heaven.

Slovene is not a place you pass through it's a place you linger in, a place where dragons guard bridges, truffles hide beneath forest floors, and wine flows with Astorias.

Read more about Slovenia on gonomad.com.