Felicity Long
When it comes to inbound tourism initiatives, Slovenia casts a wide net, particularly in the areas of ecotourism, Michelin-star cuisine, notable wine varietals and family-friendly ski resorts.
But those pursuits barely scratch the surface of what clients can do on a vacation to the Central Europe destination.
Sometimes lost in the conversation about the destination, for instance, is its robust culture scene. It ranges from the classical -- such as ballet performances at the Maribor Opera and Ballet, philharmonic concerts at Gallus Hall and paintings at the National Gallery of Slovenia -- to DJ music parties and vibrant urban graffiti.
For a close-up look at traditional local handicrafts, visitors can join interactive workshops, guided studio visits and artist-led experiences throughout the destination, including pottery traditions in Dolenjska, wooden crafts in the Slovenian Alps and lace-making in Idrija.
Architecture buffs can explore the historical streets of Ptuj and the storybook charm of Skofja Loka, where this year marks the return of the Skofja Loka Passion Play after an 11-year pause. The production involves around 1,300 volunteers, including 1,000 performers, and will run from March 21 to April 12. The play is performed every six years, and venues are erected across town.
Slovenia's natural wonders
More than half of Slovenia is covered in forests, and there are more than 1,300 lakes. The destination boasts five properties inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, including the Skocjan Caves, billed as having the largest underground canyon in Europe; the primal beech forests of the Carpathian Mountains; the intricate mines of Idrija; the prehistoric pile dwellings in the Ljubljana Marshes; and the architectural works of Joze Plecnik in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital.
Plecnik's most notable legacy includes the Central Market, the Triple Bridge, the National and University Library and the Krizanke open-air theater as well as the Roman Wall archaeological park, which he renovated.
A rival cave system, the Postojna Caves, is known for its subterranean walkways and railway and its eerie olms, or "baby dragons," which are blind underground salamanders that are said to live 100 years and can go without food for years at a time.
A historical church, accessible by colorful tourist boats, sits in the middle of Lake Bled. Photo Credit: Felicity Long
Visitors can also hop on a boat in Lake Bled to visit the tiny island in its center, where they can take in the view from the bell tower of Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. Also in Bled, the 11th-century Bled Castle, the oldest castle in Slovenia, houses its own museum.
For a refreshingly modern take on the destination, there's the urban murals in Metelkova City in Ljubljana and Pekarna in Maribor.
With summer approaching, clients might be interested in taking in one of many festivals celebrating music, art, culture, heritage and gastronomy. The Visit Slovenia website is a good place to learn more about them.