3 Days in Slovenia - an Autumn Road Trip Full of Surprises

Three surprising days in Slovenia - Europe's unexpected Autumn gem

Some countries need weeks to explore. Others manage to surprise you with just how you can squeeze into a few days - and Slovenia was definitely like this!

When planning our European autumn photography trip which also included The Dolomites, Austria and Germany, I knew Slovenia also had some beautiful places that were worth visiting. I'd seen the classic images of Lake Bled with its tiny island church, and picturesque churches perched on hillsides with dramatic mountains behind them. But I had no idea just how much this little country would surprise me!

With essentially three days to explore, we managed to fit in beautiful lakes, waterfalls, dramatic gorges, hilltop churches, a charming capital city and some of the most incredible autumn colours I've ever seen.

And we even managed to drive through three countries in a single day!

A small country with so much to discover

Slovenia is one of Europe's smaller countries at only 20,000 sq km (by comparison New Zealand is 13 times bigger!) with a population of just over two million people.

One of the things I loved most was how accessible everything felt. Unlike New Zealand, where travelling between some of our most beautiful locations can involve hours and hours of driving, in Slovenia it always felt like incredible locations were just around the corner.

And in autumn, the scenery is simply extraordinary.

I'm used to capturing beautiful autumn landscapes in New Zealand, particularly around Central Otago and the Mackenzie Country, where golden poplars and willows dominate. In the Dolomites, it's all about the golden larches.

But in Slovenia, the colours were on another level entirely!

Every shade imaginable, from brilliant yellows and glowing golds to vibrant oranges, rusty reds and deep copper. Entire hillsides were blanketed in colour, and almost every bend in the road revealed another photo-worthy scene. It certainly made it difficult to get anywhere quickly!

Lake Bled – beautiful for both sunrise and sunset

No visit to Slovenia would be complete without seeing Lake Bled, probably the country's most famous photography location, and it's easy to understand why.

With its tiny island church, medieval castle perched high on the cliffs and mountains rising in the distance, it's a scene that just begs to be captured.

We visited at both sunrise and sunset, enjoying completely different moods as the light changed. While the classic view of the island church is beautiful, there are so many other compositions to discover if you're willing to wander around the lakeshore or climb to the viewpoints above.

The autumn trees added wonderful splashes of colour, while calm conditions created beautiful reflections. And after dusk, the lights around the lake brought a completely different atmosphere to the scene.

Lake Bled also makes an excellent base for exploring Slovenia, which is exactly what we did.

Beautiful light with hilltop churches

One of Slovenia's most distinctive features is its collection of tiny churches perched on hillsides, surrounded by rolling countryside and mountains.

Sveti Tomaž (St Thomas Church) is one of the most photogenic. Viewed from a distant hillside, the little church sits against the towering Kamnik–Savinja Alps, creating a beautiful layered mountain scene.

A longer lens works particularly well here, compressing the perspective and making the church and mountains appear much closer together than they do to the naked eye.

Another favourite was Jamnik Church, officially the Church of St Primus and Felician, perched on a narrow grassy ridge with expansive mountain views.

We visited at sunset, staying through blue hour when the church lights came on. The combination of the warm evening light, beautiful autumn countryside and illuminated church was just magical.

Autumn is also famous for the possibility of fog filling the valleys, with these little churches appearing to float above the mist. We weren't lucky enough to experience those conditions, but the beautiful light more than made up for it!

Turquoise waters, waterfalls and the Soča Valley

If there’s one colour that competes with the golden autumn colour in Slovenia, it’s turquoise!

The Soča Valley, surrounded by the Julian Alps, is home to the spectacular Soča River. Its impossibly clear blue-green water reminded me of some of New Zealand's beautiful glacial rivers and lakes.

In autumn, the contrast between the turquoise river and the warm forest colours is particularly striking.

Another favourite spot on our trip was Slap Virje, a small waterfall around 25 mins away from Soča River. Rather than a huge, powerful cascade, Virje is wonderfully delicate, with water tumbling over moss-covered rocks into an emerald pool below.

It's great for more intimate compositions, particularly using colourful fallen leaves in the foreground to contrast with the green water.

We also stopped at Lake Jasna, near Kranjska Gora, surrounded by dramatic alpine peaks. The setting is gorgeous, although I wouldn't recommend visiting in the middle of a sunny weekend afternoon - it was absolutely heaving with people! Next time, I'd love to shoot it at sunrise when the water is calm and the crowds haven't arrived.

From alpine landscapes to the charming streets of the capital - Ljubljana

One of the lovely things about Slovenia is being able to swap mountain landscapes for city streets without travelling very far.

We spent an evening exploring Ljubljana, Slovenia's charming capital, which feels compact, relaxed and wonderfully easy to explore on foot.

The Ljubljanica River winds through the historic centre, lined with colourful buildings, picturesque bridges and lively riverside cafés.

We enjoyed simply wandering the old town, discovering different views as the city lights came on. After all our time spent shooting in the countryside, it was a refreshing change to enjoy some urban night photography.

And the best part? Ljubljana is only around 40–45 minutes from Lake Bled by car.

Vintgar Gorge – allow a whole morning!

If there’s one place that encapsulates everything great about Slovenia in Autumn, it’s the Vintgar Gorge.

Located close to Lake Bled, this spectacular gorge follows the Radovna River through steep rock walls, with wooden walkways and bridges suspended above the rushing water.

The combination of turquoise and emerald-green water, dark moss-covered rocks and vibrant autumn foliage was simply magical.

Around every corner, there was something new to capture: rushing cascades, swirling pools, reflections, waterfalls and beautiful details in the rock formations.

For someone like me who loves photographing moving water, it was an absolute paradise!

Although the gorge itself is only 1.6 kilometres long, we easily spent three hours exploring and capturing it. It's definitely somewhere to slow down and enjoy rather than simply walking straight through.

You'll find more information on how to plan your visit to the Vintgar Gorge in the itinerary below.

Three countries in one day - only in Europe!

One of fun highlights of our trip was driving from Slovenia into Italy, then through Austria, before finding ourselves back in Slovenia again – all in the same day!

Coming from New Zealand, where visiting another country involves boarding a plane and travelling for hours, the novelty of simply driving across international borders never really wears off.

Slovenia's location between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia makes it incredibly easy to combine with other European destinations, and our three-country road trip was a good reminder of just how close everything is.

Make this your own 3-day Slovenia Itinerary

If you're inspired to visit Slovenia yourself, here's how I'd recommend structuring a short photography-focused road trip.

We based ourselves at Lake Bled for three nights, arriving on the first afternoon and leaving around midday on the fourth day. So although the itinerary covers four calendar days, it works out to approximately three days of exploring.

I've refined the route slightly from the order we actually visited some places, grouping locations together to make the driving more efficient. Of course, as a photographer, sometimes you just have to be flexible and go wherever the weather and light look best even if it makes for a longer day of driving!

Day 1 – Arrive at Lake Bled for sunset

Driving distance: Minimal, once you arrive in Bled.

After arriving in Slovenia from the Dolomites during the afternoon, head straight to Lake Bled and settle into your accommodation.

We spent our first evening exploring the lakeshore and capturing the lake in the beautiful evening light.

Photography tip: The classic lakeside viewpoints are wonderful, but if you have time, explore the elevated viewpoints for a completely different perspective. Allow enough time to find your composition before sunset.

Day 2 – Waterfalls, the Julian Alps and the Soča Valley

Driving distance: Approximately 205-220 km, allowing 4-5 hours driving for the three-country loop

This is the biggest driving day, so make an early start.

I'd recommend beginning with sunrise at Lake Jasna, before continuing over the spectacular Vršič Pass into the Soča Valley.

Take your time exploring the turquoise river and its gorges before continuing towards Bovec and Slap Virje waterfall. From the car park, allow approximately 10 minutes to walk down to the waterfall, plus plenty of time for photography.

For your return journey, head over Predil Pass into Italy, then continue through Austria and back into Slovenia via the Karawanks Tunnel.

It's a circular route that takes you through three countries without needing to retrace your steps.

If you have extra daylight and don't mind a detour, Slap Peričnik near Mojstrana is another waterfall worth considering. We didn't manage to fit it in, and it's one place I really wish we'd had time to visit!

Photography tip: Allow more time than the driving estimate suggests. There are countless places to stop along Vršič Pass and the Soča River, so this is easily a full-day adventure. Also check that the mountain passes are open before setting off, especially in autumn.

Day 3 – Misty mornings, hilltop churches and Ljubljana

Driving distance: Approximately 160–200 km, 3.5-4.5 hours

For sunrise, I'd recommend having two possible locations in mind depending on the weather:

• Sveti Tomaž Church: My first choice if there's promising light or valley mist.

• Lake Bohinj: A beautiful alternative for peaceful mountain scenery, reflections and early morning atmosphere.

If you choose Sveti Tomaž, remember that the best viewpoint is much farther from the church than you might expect. A focal length of around 100–150mm works well to compress the scene.

After sunrise, spend the morning exploring the countryside around Škofja Loka, where there are several other picturesque churches worth checking out, including Cerkev sv. Volbenka and Sveti Jakob. Do allow additional time if you plan to walk up to Sveti Jakob.

Then head into Ljubljana for lunch or an afternoon wander through the old town, before driving back towards Jamnik Church for sunset.

Aim to arrive at Jamnik with plenty of time to capture it from golden hour and stay through blue hour if the conditions are good.

Photography tip: Keep your sunrise plans flexible. Low cloud and mist can create extraordinary conditions around the hilltop churches, but if the weather isn't cooperating, Lake Bohinj makes a lovely alternative.

Day 4 – One Last Lake Bled Morning and Vintgar Gorge

Driving distance: Approximately 5–15 km locally

Make the most of your final morning with another sunrise opportunity at Lake Bled before heading to nearby Vintgar Gorge.

I'd recommend booking one of the earliest available entry times so you can enjoy the gorge before it gets too busy.

The gorge itself is 1.6 km long, but the complete walking circuit is approximately 5.7 km. Allow at least three hours for the full experience, particularly if you're planning to capture most of the waterfalls and flowing water along the way.

Check the current return walking routes and shuttle arrangements when booking, as these can affect how long your visit takes.

We finished exploring around midday, bringing our whirlwind Slovenian adventure to an end.

Photography tip: Book ahead, particularly during the busy autumn season, and check the opening dates as Vintgar Gorge generally closes for winter from early November.

A Few Tips for Planning Your Slovenia Trip

• Hire a car: It's the only way to explore the smaller villages, countryside churches and photography locations.

• Visit in October: Autumn colours can be spectacular throughout the month, although the timing of peak colour varies with the weather and elevation.

• Allow extra photography time: The scenery between destinations is often just as beautiful as the places you're heading to.

• Check road conditions: Mountain passes such as Vršič and Predil can be affected by snow or ice later in autumn.

• Book Vintgar Gorge in advance: Check seasonal operating dates and entry times.

• Base yourself at Lake Bled: It's a convenient location for exploring the region without having to change accommodation every night.

Slovenia - Small Country, Big Surprises

Looking back on our time in Slovenia, what surprised me most was just how much this little country exceeded my expectations.

I loved the contrast between the alpine landscapes, turquoise waterways and peaceful countryside, but I think what I'll remember most is the extraordinary autumn colour that made even the journeys between locations a highlight.

Slovenia is easy to explore, wonderfully diverse and an absolute dream for landscape photographers. It's somewhere I can’t wait to return and explore again!

Want to join me here?

If you’d like to explore the The Dolomites & Slovenia with me in Autumn 2028, check out my 13 day Dolomites & Slovenia Autumn Tour page.