Holidays and events in Slovenia
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date but are based on the time of Easter. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Lent, which lasts 46 days, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter.
The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
1./2. January | New Year |
February 8 | Prešeren Day, Slovenian cultural holiday |
March April | Easter Monday |
April 27 | Day of the uprising against the occupation |
12th of May | Labor Day |
25th June | National holiday |
15th of August | Assumption Day |
October 31 | Reformation day |
November 1 | All Saints Day |
August 1 | Independence Day/National Day |
15th of August | Assumption Day |
November 1 | All Saints Day |
25 December | Christmas |
December 26 | independence Day |
Source: Countryaah – Slovenia Holidays
Cultural events
May June July August
- Jazz festival in Ljubljana
- International music festival in Bled
- International youth music festival in Postojna
- Summer festival in Ljubljana
- International festival of alternative music
- Summer festival in the coastal region
- Music festival in Piran
- Literature festival in Velenje
- Street theater festival in Ljubljana
November
International Film Festival LIFFE in Ljubljana
Sporting events
June July
- International handball tournament in Izola
- Rowing regatta in Bled
- International dressage world cup in Sezana
- Adventure race (three-day competition in different sports disciplines) in the Sasa region
October
International marathon in Ljubljana
climate
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. For example, cultural travelers see the climate very differently than people who want to spend a pure beach holiday, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role.
For sun seekers
For people who like to enjoy a lot of sun and for whom higher temperatures do not cause problems, summer is particularly recommended for a stay or vacation.
For people who prefer a more moderate climate
People who prefer a moderate climate and lower temperatures should better use the following time to stay in Slovenia: spring, autumn.
Winter is usually less suitable for a vacation
Climate table
The following table shows a range of climate data for the country. It should be noted, however, that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ considerably from one another and thus also from the values shown. In addition, such monthly temperature averages say little about the possible current minimum or maximum temperatures. It is not uncommon for average temperatures of around 30 °C to reach maximum values of 40 °C or even more on a number of days. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in the country.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 09-10 | 01-02 | -03 to -05 |
February | 09-10 | 05-06 | -03 to -05 |
March | 09-10 | 08-10 | at 0 |
April | 10-12 | 12-14 | 02-03 |
May | 12-14 | 18-20 | 07-08 |
June | 08-10 | 24-25 | 10-12 |
July | 08-10 | 24-26 | 12-13 |
August | 06-08 | 24-26 | 14-15 |
September | 07-09 | 21-22 | 08-10 |
October | 12-14 | 14-16 | 23-25 |
November | 12-14 | 07-08 | 06-07 |
December | 12-14 | 02-03 | 0 to -3 |
Attractions
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that SI stands for the nation of Slovenia as a two-letter acronym.
Cities
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia. The settlement of the area goes back to 1200 BC. BC back. After the Romans and Huns annexed the city, Slavs settled there. The name Laibach first appeared in writing in 1144. After a strong earthquake in 1511, the residents skillfully rebuilt the city. After the First World War, Ljubljana became the capital of the Slovenes in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In addition to its extensive history, the city also has a lot to offer culturally. In addition to numerous museums, churches and the university, the varying architectural styles of Ljubljana’s buildings are striking and make a walk through the city a real pleasure for the eyes. A detailed description of the sights of Ljubljana can be found here
Maribor
Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia, was one of the most important industrial cities in the former Yugoslavia. Today most of the industrial facilities are outdated, making the outskirts of the city extremely unattractive. The socialist apartment blocks add to this first impression. Maribor with its baroque city center is worth a visit. The city was first mentioned in the 12th century and developed into a steadily growing trading city in the 19th century. During the Second World War, Maribor was badly damaged and rebuilt during the socialist era. Unfortunately, the economic crisis that set in after Slovenia’s independence continues to this day.
Koper
Koper is the only port city in Slovenia and has around 25,000 residents. It is located on the Adriatic Sea in the province of the same name, which has around 51,500 residents. Koper is located about 12 km south-southwest of the Italian port city of Trieste.
Piran
is an old city with a Venetian history. As one of the few picturesque coastal towns in Slovenia, it is completely overcrowded. You have to park your car in one of the large parking lots and walk to the old town
Kranj
The city with residents
Nova Gorica
Special buildings and structures, Antonius tunnel
State Archives in Ljubljana
The State Archives in Ljubljana is housed in Palais Gruber from the 18th century, which has very beautiful stucco work.
Neboticnik
The oldest skyscraper in Ljubljana dates from 1933. It is called Neboticnik, which means skyscraper.
Kranj
Town Hall The town hall of Kranj from the 16th century was merged with the adjoining castle from the 17th century in 1921. Today the town hall is used as a museum. The old renaissance paneling of the castle’s ceiling and the foundations of an old Slavic grave are worth seeing.
Sivec House
The Sivec House in Radovljica dates from the 16th century and is one of the most important secular buildings of the late Gothic in Slovenia.
Celje
Town Hall The Celje Town Hall was built in the neo-renaissance style in the 19th century. Today there is the tourist center, an art salon and a center for cultural events.
Villa Bartolomei
Villa Bartolomei in Nova Gorica houses an exhibition on the history of the region.
Tromostovje Bridge
The Tromostovje Bridge in Ljubljana is a three-span bridge with a central part from 1824 and two secondary parts from 1929 and 1930.
Antonius tunnel
One of the oldest mine entrances in Europe to the Antonius tunnel was dug in Idrija in 1500. You can visit the mine today.
Palaces and castles
Ljubljana
Castle The Ljubljana Castle on the imposing Castle Hill dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was created after two previous buildings were completely demolished. The castle museum shows an exhibition about the settlement of the region.
Mestni grad City Palace
The Mestni grad City Palace in Maribor was built from 1478 and completed in the 17th century in the Baroque style. The Rococo staircase is well worth seeing. Today the castle houses a regional museum.
Windischfeistritz Castle
One of the most beautiful baroque castles in Slovenia is Windischfeistritz Castle in Grad Bistrica. A first castle was built in the 13th century. A renaissance building was built on its foundations in the 17th century, which was finally converted to baroque style. You can visit the premises today. The castle park is also very beautiful.
Olimje Castle and Monastery Olimje
Castle and Monastery near Podcetrtek dates back to the 11th century, but has been expanded and redesigned several times over the course of history. Today minorite monks run the business of the monastery. The pharmacy on the ground floor is one of the oldest in Europe. Impressive frescoes illustrate the manufacture of medicines.
Brdo Castle The Brdo
Castle near Kranj was built in 1510. After the Second Well War it became Tito’s summer residence. In 2001 there was a meeting between Russian President Putin and American President Bush.
Skofia Loka
Castle The Skofia Loka Castle dates back to 1215 but was rebuilt in the 16th century. The castle chapel dates from 1526. Today the castle serves as a museum.
Renaissance Castle Kromberk
The Renaissance Kromberk Castle near Nova Gorica houses two galleries and a cultural and historical exhibition with objects from the 19th century.
Dobrovo Castle Dobrovo
Castle near Nova Gorica dates from the 16th century and was built in a mix of Renaissance and early Baroque styles. There you can admire a collection of graphics and a collection of cultural history.
Sneznik Castle Sneznik
Castle in the south of Cerknica was founded in the 9th century, but was remodeled in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. Today you can admire the beautiful interior and the art objects inside the castle.
Khislistein Castle in Kranj
The Khislistein Castle in Kranj originally dates from the 10th century. The current structure was built between the 15th and 19th centuries. Today it houses several studios and cultural institutions.
Velenje Castle Velenje
Castle in the town of the same name was first mentioned in writing in 1264. It was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. Inside there is a permanent exhibition on the region and Slovenian art of the 20th century.
Celje Castle Celje
Castle was built in Romanesque style in the 12th century. For a long time it was considered the safest castle in Slovenia. Summer events are held there today.
Bled
Castle The Bled Castle dates back to the 11th century, but most of the parts date from the 16th and 17th centuries. The museum in the castle complex shows an exhibition on home decor.
Museums and galleries
Slovenian Theater Museum
The Slovenian Theater Museum in Ljubljana documents the history of Slovenian theater and has an extensive film and video repository.
City Gallery
The City Gallery in Ljubljana shows changing exhibitions of contemporary Slovenian art.
University Library
The University Library in Ljubljana was built from 1936 to 1941 from gray limestone from the Karst. The building offers space for 1.5 million fonts, including manuscripts, sheet music and maps.
City Museum
The City Museum of Ljubljana is housed in the Auersperg Palace. The building dates from 1575 and today houses the city history collection.
Jakopic Garden
The Jakopic Garden in Ljubljana is an open-air museum that shows ancient Roman excavations, including house foundations and mosaics.
Architecture
Museum The Architecture Museum with the exhibition about the famous Slovenian architect Plecnik is located in Ljubljana.
Culture and Congress
Center Ljubljana’s modern culture and congress center, Cankarjev Dom, houses two galleries and several event halls.
National Museum in Ljubljana
The National Museum in Ljubljana houses a collection of exhibits from all periods of the Slovenian territory.
National Gallery in Ljubljana
The National Gallery in Ljubljana shows a permanent exhibition of Slovenian art from the High Middle Ages to the beginning of modern times.
Tivoli Park
The Tivoli Park in Ljubljana is home to the Tivoli Castle, which houses the International Center for Art Graphics, and the Cekin Castle with the Museum of Modern History.
Architecture Museum in Fuzine Castle
In the east of Ljubljana is the Fuzine Castle, which today houses an architecture museum.
Ethnographic Museum
The Skofja Loka Ethnographic Museum has one of the most important collections in Slovenia. The city and cultural history is well documented.
Ethnographic Museum
The Ethnographic Museum in Koper has an interesting cultural and historical collection.
Regional museum in Koper
The regional museum in Koper houses an exhibition on the history and culture of the port city.
Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum in Piran shows the history of Slovenian seafaring and interesting facts about shipbuilding.
Lower Carniola Museum
The Lower Carniola Museum in Novo Mesto houses various exhibitions, including an archaeological, art-historical and ethnological collection.
Celje
Regional Museum The Celje Regional Museum shows the culture and history of the city and region. Umetnostna Gallery The Umetnostna Gallery in Maribor exhibits Slovenian art from the 20th century.
Opera and theater
Philharmonic
The Ljubljana Philharmonic was built between 1888 and 1891 on the site of a former theater.
State Opera in Ljubljana
The State Opera in Ljubljana was built between 1890 and 1892 in the neo-renaissance style.
City Theater Mestno Gledalisce in Maribor
The City Theater Mestno Gledalisce in Maribor was built in a classicist style. The cultivation dates from the 20th century.
Historical
Archaeological Open Air Museum
The Archaeological Open Air Museum in Ljubljana shows early Christian ruins from the 5th century.
Old Roman port
The remains of the old Roman port in Izola can only be seen at low tide.
Former Jewish Tower in Maribor
The former Jewish Tower in Maribor dates back to the Gothic period.
Synagogue
The synagogue next to the tower was built in 1480 and converted into a church in 1500. From the 18th century it was used as a storage room. Today the tower and the former synagogue are used as exhibition rooms.
Churches and monasteries
Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity
The Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity in Ljubljana dates from 1718 and was built in the Venetian Baroque style.
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation in Ljubljana dates back to the 17th century. The beautiful staircase from the 19th century.
Cathedral of Ljubljana
The Cathedral of Ljubljana Sv. Nikolaj was built in the 18th century as a hall church with two chapels. The library with its beautiful vault painting is particularly worth seeing.
Krizanke
The Krizanke in Ljubljana is a monastery of the Teutonic Knights from the 12th century. However, it has been redesigned several times over the years. Part of the building now houses a summer theater.
Pilgrimage Church on the Smarna Gora Hill
The pilgrimage church on the Smarna Gora hill north of Ljubljana dates from 1712. The frescoes, which are worth seeing, are from 1846/47.
The Carthusian Monastery of Bistra The Carthusian Monastery of Bistra is located around 20 km from Ljubljana and dates back to the 13th century. In the 18th century the monastery was closed. Today there is a technical museum there.
Sv. Kancijan
The Church of Sv. Kancijan in Kranj dates back to the 14th century. The vault frescos date from 1460. Old Slavic graves can be seen on the cemetery grounds.
Poor Clares Monastery
The Poor Clares Monastery in Skofja Loka dates back to the 14th century. The church dates from 1660. The paintings inside the church were, however, created in the 19th century.
Parish Church of Skofja Loka
The Parish Church of Skofja Loka was started in 1271 and completed in the 15th century. The star vault is particularly worth seeing.
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on the small island of Otok in Lake Bled can be reached via 99 steps. The church is one of the most popular wedding addresses in the country. Traces of a pre-Roman chapel were found on the island, followed by a basilica in the 12th century. The current church dates from the 17th century and was built in the Baroque style.
Franciscan Monastery Kostanjevica
The Franciscan Monastery Kostanjevica in Nova Gorica was built in 1625. The Bourbon King Charles X is buried in the crypt of the monastery.
Pilgrimage Church in Nova Gorica
The pilgrimage church in Nova Gorica dates from 1544. In 1565 a monastery was attached to the church by the Franciscans. During the First World War, the entire complex was completely destroyed and rebuilt as a basilica.
Koper
Cathedral The Koper Cathedral was started in the 12th century in the Gothic style. The upper area of the cathedral is in the Renaissance style, the interior is from the Baroque. The baptistery of the church and the bell tower that you can climb are also worth seeing.
Fortified church of Sv. Trojica
The three-aisled Romanesque fortified church of Sv. Trojica in Hrastovlje looks more like a fortress than a church. Inside you can admire particularly beautiful frescoes from the 15th century.
Chapter Church in Novo Mesto
The baroque Chapter Church in Novo Mesto houses a painting by the famous Italian painter Tintoretto.
Sticna Abbey The Sticna
Abbey in the town of the same name was founded by the Cistercians in 1135. It was one of the most important religious centers in the country until 1784 when the abbey was closed. The most important monument of the abbey is the Romanesque basilica.
Pleterje Monastery The Pleterje
Monastery near Kostanjevica was built by the Carthusian monastery between 1407 and 1420. The Jesuits managed the monastery in the 16th to 18th centuries. Today it is in the hands of the Karthauser again.
Carthusian monastery Zice
The Carthusian monastery Zice near Slovenske Konjice was founded in 1160 and existed until 1782. The huge complex is very impressive and gives a lively impression of the former monastery life.
Cathedral of Sv. Janeza Krstnika
The cathedral church of Sv. Janeza Krstnika in Maribor was started in the 12th century and heavily baroque in the 18th century. The Gothic choir and the ribbed vault are worth seeing.
Dominican monastery
The Dominican monastery in Ptui houses one of the most beautiful cloisters in Slovenia. It dates from the 15th century and shows fragments of buildings from Roman times to the Baroque.
Universities
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana (Slovenian: Univerza v Ljubljani) is the oldest and with around 64,000 students the largest university in Slovenia.
It was only founded in 1919. It should be mentioned that humanistic and theological academies were located in the city as early as the 17th century. The university, founded in 1810 under French rule, only existed for a short time. The university is divided into 22 faculties, the majority of which are located in the central building of the university in the center of Ljubljana.
University of Maribor
The University of Maribor was founded in 1975 as the second Slovenian university. Around 20,000 students are enrolled at the university.
It is divided into 15 faculties, including (alphabetically) agricultural sciences, chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science, nursing, mechanical engineering, law and economics. A special feature is the Am IER – Institute for Entrepreneurship Research (IER), which is dedicated to research into business start-ups in Slovenia.
University of Primorska
The University of Primorska dates back to the time after the reunification and was opened in 2001. The university has locations in Koper, Izola and Portorož. It got its name after the Primorska region.
The university is attended by around 5,000 students and is divided into the following three faculties, two colleges and two research institutes.
- Faculty of Education in Koper
- Faculty of Humanities in Koper
- Faculty of Management in Koper
- College of Tourism in Portorož
- Health College in Izola
- Research center in Koper
- Primorska Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology in Koper
Lipizzaner
Lipizzaner stud farm The Lipizzaner
stud farm in Lipica dates back to the 16th century. The famous snow-white horses are bred there.
natural beauties
Triglav National Park
The Triglav National Park covers the area around Mount Triglav and thus almost the entire Slovenian part of the Julian Alps.
Botanical Garden
The Ljubljana Botanical Garden was founded in 1810. Today over 4,500 plant species grow there, in addition to Slovenian plants also plants from all over the world.
Ljubljansko moorland The Ljubljansko
moorland south of Ljubljana is known for its rare plant and bird species.
Pokljuka Gorge
The Pokljuka Gorge is located west of Bled and is 2 km long. It is still part of the Triglav National Park.
At the northern edge of the gorge there is a cave into which light falls through several openings.
Savica Fall
The Savica Fall near Bohinjska Bistrica is 51 m high.
The waterfall appears in one of the most famous Slovenian poems “Baptism on the Savica”. The hero of the poem is baptized in the river.
Boka waterfall
The Boka waterfall near Bovec is a total of 106 m high and offers an impressive natural backdrop.
Polosk Cave
The most extensive mountain cave system in Slovenia, the Polosk Cave, is located near Tolmin. The cave system is 705 m deep and has shafts of lengths up to 12 km.
Skocjan Caves
See UNESCO World Heritage Sites for more information.
Krizna Cave
The Krizna Cave near Cerknica consists of 22 underground lakes and stretches for 8 km.
Rakov Skocjan
The nature reserve Rakov Skocjan in the west of Cerknica is very easy to hike. The nature trail is particularly beautiful.
Adriatic
Slovenia has a coast to the Adriatic with a length of less than 50 km.
You can find detailed information about the Adriatic at Goruma under the following
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Skocjan Caves
The Skocjan Caves contain beautiful stalactite formations, the 100 m deep canyon of the Reka and a natural bridge that is 40 m high.
The Škocjan cave system is located approx. 20 km east of Trieste at an altitude of 435 m. Rainwater and the Reka River loosened the limestone and dug caves into the rocks. The Great Valley was created by a cave collapse that is approx. 160 m deep.
The cave system is approx. 6 km long and the difference in altitude is approx. 200 m.
Clay deposits color the stalactites in the caves, which are up to 15 m high. The caves had been inhabited since the Stone Age. Numerous animals live in the vicinity and in the caves, such as rock pigeons, eagle owls, common ravens, peregrine falcons and bats.
The caves were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986
Historic sites of mercury mining in Almadén and Indrija
Antoni tunnel in Indrija
The town of Indrija with around 6,000 residents is located in the Goriška region in western Slovenia. The city was named Alpine City of the Year 2011.
Mercury has been mined in the Antoni gallery since 1490. A vat maker discovered the mercury. About 150,000 tons of mercury were extracted.
Over the years, new tunnels were dug, so that in the end almost 700 km of tunnels were created.
Idrija was the second largest mercury mine in the world – after Almadén in Spain. Most of the metal was shipped to America at the time because it was needed there for gold mining.
Mercury (lively silver) is a strange metal. It is liquid at room temperature. It has a density of 13.6 g/cm³. Other metals, such as iron, float on the surface of mercury. It’s superconductive.
Mercury is currently still needed by industry, even if attempts are made again and again to replace it with other substances. Nowadays the mine is closed and the “Antoni-Stollen” can be visited as a museum.
Almadén in Spain
Almadén is located in the Spanish province of Ciudad Real and has an area of approx. 240 km². Mercury sulphide (HgS (cinnabar)) has been mined near Almadén for centuries.
Vermilion is a bright red ore, it is not dangerous to humans.
Cinnabar (chemically mercury sulfide) is a solid with a melting point of 386 ° C, so it does not evaporate at normal temperature and is not soluble in water.
It is high in mercury. However, in order to obtain pure mercury, one has to work the ore, which creates toxic mercury fumes that are extremely harmful to health. In the case of minor poisoning, the teeth fall out and there is an abnormally high flow of saliva. Hg is also accumulated in the brain. Mercury-poisoned people usually die of kidney and liver failure and are in severe pain. From 1566 to 1801, many convicts and slaves from North Africa were employed as labor. In 1645 the Spanish state bought the mine. In 1755 a fire broke out in the mine that could not be extinguished for a long time.
The historic mercury mining sites in Almadén and Indrija were inscribed in 2012 on the list of “cross-border” UNESCO World Heritage Sites.