What To Do In Slovenia In Winter: 15 Markets, Ski Resorts & More

Are you planning to visit Slovenia during the cold winter months? Here is what to do in Slovenia in winter, from Christmas markets to skiing.

Are you planning to visit Slovenia during the cold winter months? There is always plenty going on in every season in Slovenia, and winter in Slovenia is no exception – it is extraordinary. Here are some ideas of what to do while in Slovenia in winter.

Driving Around In Winter In Slovenia

First things first, we want to cover your main form of winter transport in Slovenia – the car.

Some winters are snowier, and some are warm and dry. No matter the weather, the Slovene driving law requires all vehicles to be equipped with snow tires or have snow chains in the car booth from November 5 to March 15.

The minimum tire tread depth must be 3 mm. If it snows earlier or later, you are only allowed on the road with the right equipment. When you rent a car during that period, it should come with winter tires on – be sure to double-check.

Slovenia winter travel with a vehicle after a heavy snowfall isn’t too hard, though. The roads usually get cleared quickly, but finding a parking space in big cities like Ljubljana can be tricky, so factor in extra time for finding a space or for more traffic than usual.

It usually takes a while for all the snow to be cleared out, so be patient and perhaps leave the car and test the local bus connections.

Things To Do In Slovenia In Winter

1. Visit The Festive Christmas Markets

The numerous winter markets are my favorite part of the Slovenia winter tourism options. Every town has one, but don’t miss the main one in Ljubljana.

Stalls with tasty treats and adorable gifts become the center of the city’s social life throughout December in Slovenia. So, what to do in Ljubljana in winter exactly? Walk along the Ljubljanica River, check out many wooden stalls, and listen to free concerts in a few open-air venues. It’s easy to reach on foot, so leave the hire car parked safely.

We love to visit early and have our brunch in Ljubljana. It gets more crowded in the evening since it is perfect for meeting friends over mulled wine or tea and deciding where to continue the evening.

Every town has its joyful little place where we love to hang out any day in December at any of the Slovenian Christmas markets.

Want to try even more local delicacies in different festive settings? Then, visit Christmas markets in Radovljica, Bled, or Maribor.

You can enjoy all the sweet treats and work off the calories at one of the seasonal ice-skating rinks. Sadly, not every winter gets cold enough for ice skating at Lake Bled in the winter or on Jezersko Lake. More and more skate rinks pop up each year. Smaller ice skating rinks are built in city centers for all ice skating enthusiasts.

2. Try Cross-Country Skiing

Even if you are new to this sport, you can learn to cross-country ski at a local Slovenia skiing school. They will also happily rent you all the necessary equipment. Popular destinations include Rudno Polje at Pokljuka, the Nordic Center at Kranjska Gora Ski Resort, Rogla, Pohorje (and many more).

After a heavy snowfall, local cross-country skiing tracks emerge, made by enthusiastic locals. Those are usually free and sponsored by a local sporting club or pub.

No snow this winter? No problem. Visit the underground cross-country tunnel with an 800-meter-long course in Planica. They offer natural or artificial snow all year long. It’s one of the most incredible things to do in Slovenia in winter!

3. Tour An Enchanting Winter Castle

Slovenia offers visitors many treasures waiting to be explored, including castles scattered throughout the country. All are within no more than a 90-minute drive from Ljubljana, making them perfect day-trip options with the capital city as a home base. Slovenia has about 500 ruins, fortresses, manors, and castles, many of which have been restored to galleries, house museums, restaurants, and even five-star hotels.

Some castles even host seasonal winter events, like Bled Castle’s Dance.

4. Go For An Evening Torch Walk

I am the first to admit that walking around at night with a crowd of strangers carrying burning torches sounds weird. Nevertheless, it is a popular winter activity.

Winter torch walks are, in reality, quite fun events. There is one around the hill Vrtovin above Lake Bohinj. Local stories and legends accompany the guided walks, all told by the fire.

Or try snowshoeing in Kranjska Gorain in the daylight hours.

5. Go Nighttime Sledding

Do you prefer sledding downhill by the torchlight? You can do it at Krnica and Ljubelj. Many other locations have night sledding options with a less romantic type of illumination. Of course, you can also visit during the day.

6. Explore Ljubljana Without Crowds

Exploring the country’s capital city of Ljubljana is a must, no matter what time of year. In winter, however, you can see everything without the crowds. The city is dreamy this time of year, especially with all of the Christmas lights and festivities.

Don’t forget to take an evening stroll on the Triple Bridge – one of Ljubljana’s most famous tourist attractions. Located just behind Prešeren Square and designed by Plečnik, this is one of the city’s most significant landmarks.

7. Ice Skate In Lake Bled

When visiting Bled Lake, don’t miss the opportunity for some exercise with a view. You can watch the lights from the Christmas market next to the lake light up in the evening as you ice skate in front of the Park Hotel. They also do occasional curling events or salsa dancing on ice if you want less romantic views and more sport.

Lake Bled also features a much bigger permanent ice skating rink. In winter, you can catch a hockey game in Lake Bled or do recreational ice skating.

8. Go Alpine Skiing And Snowboarding 

Slovenians love alpine skiing. Slovenes are so good at it!! Skiing is, by far, the most famous Slovenian winter activity.

Or, if (like me) we do not like to ski, we watch our skiing heroes compete from inside our warm living rooms with a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate in our hands. Knowing the names of the current skiing stars and all about guys and girls who retired from the white circus long ago is normal.

Slovenia ski holidays are extremely popular, and there are many quality ski resorts in Slovenia. Most are family-friendly and close to a town so you can spend part of the day on the slopes and sightseeing. Of course, you can also turn off the TV and go skiing or snowboarding yourself.

When you visit Slovenia in winter, the best options include Rogla, Krvavec, Pohorje, Cerkno, Vogel, Kanin, Golte, Kope, Soriška Planina, and Kranjska Gora is arguably the best place to ski in Slovenia. There is also the tempting option to book Slovenia ski packages at a hotel with a pool and spend half of the day out in the snow and the other half soaking tired muscles in a spa.

Check out hotels around Rogla or Pohorje. With the purchase of a single SkiPass ticket, you can ski at all Slovenian ski resorts and choose your favorite.

9. Visit The Living Nativity Scene In Postojna Cave 

The magical underground world of Postojna becomes a stage. Different nativity scenes are set along a 5-kilometer-long footpath inside the most famous cave in Slovenia. This one lasts only five days in December, so check the dates and plan your Slovenia winter holiday accordingly.

There are around 150 different performers located around the cave. They also include one or two local singers in the show every year. It is a fabulous show in a stunning underground setting, even for non-religious people. This is a must-do activity when you visit Slovenia in winter.

10. Head Into The Underground Caves

Even if you don’t visit during the five days when the nativity is on display at Postojna Cave, you can still explore the beauty of Slovenia’s underground. 

Slovenia boasts a staggering 8,000 caves. However, only 20 of these are open to visitors to explore. Postojna Cave and Skocjan Cave (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are, without a doubt, the most popular and most visited, but the others are worth checking out, too. This makes a great wintertime activity!

11. Go Winter Mountain Hiking (Carefully)

The Slovenian Alps are beautiful all through the year, but be warned! They become dangerous in the winter. That is why locals suggest you team up with a local, experienced mountain guide.

Many mountain winter huts are also open in the winter and offer typical local mountain meals to hiking enthusiasts — the ideal winter escape in Slovenia. You have the proper winter gear, and a local guide or an organized tour will add immense value to your trip, allowing you to enjoy the views.

12. Warm Up At A Thermal Spa

With over 130 spa and wellness resorts in Slovenia and their exclusive and diverse selection of beauty-body-mind treatments, you will be spoiled for choice when picking a thermal spa to relax at. Slovenia has 87 natural thermal springs with water temperatures between 32 and 73 degrees Celsius. Visitors will be pampered at these springs and resorts, from medical therapy (related to recovery and rehabilitation) to aesthetic and cosmetic sessions of pure relaxation and pleasure.

13. Sample Slovenian Wine

Wine can be enjoyed year-round, and Slovenia has some delicious varieties!

Slovenia has three principal wine regions – Podravska, Posavska, and Primorska – that produce some outstanding wines using indigenous and international grape varieties.

With almost all the wine consumed domestically, Slovenian wines are hard to come by outside of Slovenia.  When visiting, be sure to take a wine tour and experience wine made in a country with a winemaking history that pre-dates the Romans.

14. Try Local Cuisine

During your winter travel in Slovenia, you certainly should feed the soul, and that means trying some delicious local cuisine. Be on the lookout for žganci, štruklji, and that famous Bled kremšnita. Ljubljana has countless authentic restaurants, so make sure you head there for a three-course delight.

15. See Frozen Rinka Waterfall

Rinka Waterfall is the main charm of the Logar Valley with its magnificent view. It falls over a wide wall and is the second-highest waterfall in Slovenia at 105 meters. Tourists and hikers often visit during winter, as alpinists climb on its frozen waters and ski close by.

 

I hope you enjoy your visit to Slovenia in the winter; it’s my favorite season. In the comments below, tell us about the most fun thing you did during your winter holidays in Slovenia!