Best of Slovenia Cycling Tour
(13 ratings)
Swim in clear alpine mountain lakes.
Soak up the culture in the capital, Ljubljana.
Visit vast underground limestone caves.
Chill out at the Muggia Venetian piazza.
Sample the sumptuous Karst wine. Departure
Daily departures
Duration
11 Days / 10 Nights
Starting Point
Arrival to Bled
Total Distance
372 km
Activity Level
Medium
Ultimate 10 Days Slovenia discovery cycling trip
Best of Slovenia cycling tour is a 10-day self-guided journey created for travelers who want to experience the country’s most beautiful regions in one seamless route. Starting in Bled and finishing on the Adriatic coast, this cycling holiday in Slovenia takes you along scenic back-roads, through charming towns and across diverse landscapes that showcase the true character of the country.
The tour combines carefully planned routes, cultural highlights and plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace. It includes GPX navigation, luggage transfers, handpicked accommodation and full local support throughout the journey. Whether you are looking for an iconic cycling route across Slovenia or a high-quality self-guided cycling experience, this tour offers an authentic and rewarding way to discover Slovenia by bike.
If you prefer a shorter but highly scenic route, take a look at the Emerald Tour from Ljubljana to Piran. Wine enthusiasts may enjoy a more relaxed pace on the Slovenia Cycling Tour Vistas and Wines. For a sunny Mediterranean atmosphere, the Istrian Coastal Tour offers beautiful seaside cycling.
What is included in the Best of Slovenia cycling tour?
The Best of Slovenia cycling tour includes accommodation, daily cycling stages across Slovenia’s highlights, GPS tracks and route notes, luggage transfers, and full local support during the trip.
Which places do we visit on the Best of Slovenia tour?
On this tour you will cycle through some of Slovenia’s top highlights such as Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, charming countryside towns, river valleys and selected historic cities, depending on the itinerary.
Where does the Best of Slovenia cycling tour start and finish?
The tour typically starts in one of Slovenia’s main towns and finishes in another highlight region, allowing you to experience the country from alpine landscapes to lower valleys and towns.
Is the Best of Slovenia tour suitable for recreational cyclists?
Yes, this tour is designed for recreational cyclists who want to enjoy varied scenery with manageable daily stages and a relaxed pace.
Is the Best of Slovenia cycling tour self-guided?
Yes, this is a self-guided cycling tour. You will receive GPS tracks, route notes, accommodation, luggage transfers and on-call local support.
When is the best time to join the Best of Slovenia cycling tour?
The best time is from April to October, when weather conditions across Slovenia are ideal for cycling.
Itinerary
Arrive in Bled, the famous lakeside town with its island church and clifftop castle. Hike to the castle for alpine views and try the local cream cake by the lake.
Today is one of the scenic highlights of the tour, as you cycle from Lake Bled into the Bohinj Valley — a route that beautifully combines riverside cycling, alpine scenery and the peaceful character of Bohinj.
Leaving Bled behind, the ride first takes you through Bohinjska Bela before joining the valley of the Sava Bohinjka River. The route follows the river upstream, with the landscape gradually opening towards Bohinj. Along the way, you pass the area of Grmečica Waterfall, a pleasant natural stop before reaching Bohinjska Bistrica, the gateway to the Bohinj Valley.
From Bohinjska Bistrica, the main route continues towards Lake Bohinj. This extra section is well worth the effort: the lake lies at the foot of the Julian Alps and offers one of the most memorable settings of the day. After enjoying the lakeside scenery, you return through the Upper Bohinj Valley, passing traditional Bohinj villages, open meadows and mountain views before finishing back in Bohinjska Bistrica.
For a shorter day, you can also finish the ride in Bohinjska Bistrica and check into your hotel there, making this stage easy to adapt according to your pace and energy.
From the Bohinj Valley, climb towards the Jelovica high plateau, leaving the lakes behind for forested hills and wide mountain views. An optional transfer to the top of the Sorica pass is available if you would prefer to shorten the climbing section.
The route then descends towards Sorica and the Selška Valley, passing through the countryside around Železniki. Your destination is Škofja Loka, one of Slovenia’s best-preserved medieval towns. Its old streets, riverside setting and castle above the town make an inviting place to explore after the ride.
A shorter stage takes you from the medieval streets of Škofja Loka towards Slovenia’s capital. Enjoy the transition from the countryside to Ljubljana, with time left in the afternoon to discover the city at your own pace.
Walk through the old town and its elegant squares, visit the castle above the city or settle into a café beside the Ljubljanica River. The compact centre is particularly pleasant in the evening, when the riverside terraces fill with people and there is a wide choice of places for dinner.
Leave Ljubljana and ride out onto the Ljubljansko Barje, the broad marsh plain south of the capital. The pace changes as the city gives way to open fields, waterways and small villages. This varied wetland landscape is home to many bird and plant species, offering a gentler change of pace after the earlier stages.
Along the way, look out for the remains of the railway viaduct at Borovnica and Bistra Castle, home to the Technical Museum of Slovenia. Continue to Vrhnika, where the Ljubljanica River emerges from the surrounding Karst landscape, and settle in for the evening.
Today’s ride leads away from the main tourist routes and into the changing landscape of the Slovenian Karst. The roads climb through quieter countryside towards Postojna, with forests and small settlements giving the stage a different character from the marsh plain.
If you would like a longer day, take the optional detour to Predjama Castle. Built into the mouth of a cave beneath a towering cliff, it is one of Slovenia’s most striking sights. Continue to Postojna for the night, ready to explore more of the region’s underground world.
Before setting off, you can visit Postojna Cave, where an underground train and walking route lead through chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Allow time for the visit if you choose to include it in your day.
Back on the bike, leave Postojna and descend towards the vineyards of the Vipava region. The landscape gradually becomes warmer and more Mediterranean, with stone villages and vine-covered slopes replacing the higher forests. Finish in the Štanjel area, where a guesthouse provides a welcoming base for the evening.
Today you enter the distinctive landscape of the Karst: a world of pale limestone, red earth, vineyards and villages built from the very stone beneath your wheels. Quiet roads and changing views make this a day to enjoy at an unhurried pace.
Ride towards Štanjel, one of the region’s most atmospheric hilltop villages. Its stone houses and narrow lanes invite a short exploration on foot, while the terraced Ferrari Garden offers a peaceful place to pause and take in the countryside.
From here, continue through small Karst villages towards Sežana, the region’s bustling centre. Stop for a coffee, or make time for its botanical garden beside Villa Mirasasso, before following the route to Lipica.
Best known as the historic home of the Lipizzaner horses, Lipica introduces a greener, park-like landscape of pastures and tree-lined avenues. An optional visit to the stud farm offers a closer look at its centuries-old breeding tradition. The final stretch brings you to Divača, where you settle in for another evening in the Karst.
The UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves offer an optional visit before you leave the Karst. Their vast underground river canyon makes a memorable stop, particularly if you have not visited Postojna Cave earlier in the trip.
The ride then leads towards the Adriatic and the Italian harbour town of Muggia, just south of Trieste. After the changing inland landscapes, arriving by the sea feels like a new chapter of the journey. Explore the small old town, enjoy a gelato by the waterfront or take a boat trip to Trieste if time and the timetable allow.
Follow the Adriatic coast from Muggia towards Slovenia, using stretches of the cycle path along the former railway line. Views over the Gulf of Trieste, coastal towns and changing seaside scenery provide plenty of reasons to pause along the way.
Continue past Portorož towards Piran, a beautifully preserved town of narrow lanes and Venetian architecture. Finish beside the harbour or in Tartini Square, then take a walk around the peninsula to enjoy the sea on three sides.
The tour ends after breakfast in Piran. Continue independently or reserve one of the optional private transfers listed below.
Price
Price per person based on two people sharing:
Date of Day1 sets the trip's season.
(Currency converter)- Ten nights accommodation in 3* / 4* hotels and guesthouses in two bedded ensuite facilities room, on basis of bed & breakfast.
- Luggage transfer – one piece per person, max 23 kgs / 50 lb. Lufthansa airline dimensions. Every additional piece 40 EUR per trip, payable on spot.
- Welcome meeting and bike handover.
- Tour description and maps in GUIBO application electronic form. One download per adult person. Every additional download 15 EUR.
- Local tourist and other taxes.
- Backup service (hotline) during the trip.
- Single travelers – Applies when a person travels alone. Includes single room supplement.
Season A: 445 EUR;
Season B: 455 EUR;
Season C: 465 EUR. - Single room – Applies when a person is traveling together with other persons in a party.
Season A: 345 EUR;
Season B: 375 EUR;
Season C: 395 EUR. - 4* Hotel in Ljubljana City Center location supplement:
Season A and B 45 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 70 EUR.
Season C 60 EUR per person per night in a standard double room B&B, single room 90 EUR. - Standard touring bike rental 190 EUR. Bikes have 18 gears (XL frames 11 gears).*
Every additional day 25 EUR per bike. - Electric or gravel bike rental 390 EUR. *
Every additional day 50 EUR.
* Bike rental period starts 9:00 of day 2 of the tour and ends at 18:00 of day 10.
- Additional transfer to the top of Sorica pass 30 EUR.
- Printed information package in English or German, including route notes and detailed maps, delivered upon arrival 30 EUR.
Price is per person per night.
- 4* Hotel in Bled
Season A: Double Room 100 EUR. Single room 195 EUR.
Season B: Double Room 110 EUR. Single room 210 EUR.
Season C: Double Room 125 EUR. Single room 215 EUR. - 4* Hotel in Ljubljana
Season A: Double Room 95 EUR. Single room 150 EUR.
Season B: Double Room 105 EUR. Single room 165 EUR.
Season C: Double Room 110 EUR. Single room 177 EUR. - 3* guesthouse in Štanjel Area
Season A: Double Room 75 EUR. Single room 105 EUR.
Season B: Double Room 75 EUR. Single room 105 EUR.
Season C: Double Room 85 EUR. Single room 115 EUR. - 4* Hotel in Muggia
Season A: Double Room 80 EUR. Single room 115 EUR.
Season B: Double Room 90 EUR. Single room 130 EUR.
Season C: Double Room 110 EUR. Single room 150 EUR. - 4* Hotel in Piran
Season A: Double Room 120 EUR. Single room 185 EUR.
Season B: Double Room 145 EUR. Single room 195 EUR.
Season C: Double Room 165 EUR. Single room 215 EUR.
- Children up to 12 years when sharing room with parents 30 % discount on basic price.
- Third adult in the room 10% discount on basic price per third person only.
Entrance fees, lunches, dinners, additional transfers, not mentioned in tour program.
Route Profile
347 km / 366 km with side trips
80% regional country roads, 15% cycleways, 5% main road (town and city approach sections)
95% asphalt and paved, 5% unpaved
Medium – Ideal for recreational cyclists who ride regularly and enjoy exploring at a relaxed pace. The route includes gentle hills and occasional gravel sections, so you should be comfortable cycling on consecutive days. Check the day-by-day itinerary for each stage’s distance and ascent.
Accommodation
Carefully selected 3-star and 4-star hotels and guesthouses, with ensuite rooms and breakfast. The exact accommodation may vary according to availability while the published comfort level is maintained.
- Day 1: Hotel Lovec, Kompas, Savica 4* or Astoria 3*Superior in Bled
- Day 2: Eco Bohinj Hotel 4* in Bohinjska Bistrica
- Day 3: Mini Hotel 3* in Škofja Loka
- Day 4: M Hotel 4* in Ljubljana
- Day 5: Hotel Mantova 4* in Vrhnika
- Day 6: Hotel Kras 4* in Postojna
- Day 7: Guesthouse Hiša Posebne Sorte 3* in Štanjel Area
- Day 8: Hotel Malovec 3* in Divača
- Day 9: Hotel San Rocco 4* in Muggia
- Day 10: Hotel Piran 4* in Piran
Travel Options & Local Transfer
Starting point of this trip is Bled in NW Slovenia.
Getting to Bled
By plane: closest airport is Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve it. From the airport you can travel to Bled by bus (change once, takes about two hours) or book our transfer: Ljubljana Airport to Bled (faster – 20 min) – please check here below.
By bus: Flixbus lines stop at Lake Bled.
By train: Bled has two railway stations: Lesce-Bled station on the Villach – Ljubljana mainline, 4 km away from town center, need to take a bus or call us, we’ll give you a lift for free. The other is station Bled-Jezero on the Jesenice – Nova Gorica sideline, only a few trains a day.
By car: take exit Lesce on the A1 motorway Ljubljana – Jesenice, Karavanke. Please consult us about parking options.
Back from Piran
By plane: Trieste airport (TST) or Ljubljana (LJU). Several airlines serve them. You can book our transfer: Piran to Ljubljana Downtown or Ljubljana Airport – please check here below.
By train: Koper railway station is 18 km away from Piran. Trains leave from here to Ljubljana. If you wish to travel onward to Rijeka (Croatia) you need to change in Pivka, however, only a few trains cross the border! There are no train connections to Italy, you’ll need to first travel to Trieste.
By boat: there are boats operating from Piran to Venice and to Trieste and ferries from Poreč to Venice.
By car: if your car is in Bled, you can return there by bus or train. Our transfer is available – please check here below.
Available Transfers
Ljubljana Airport to Bled
1-3 persons 90 EUR
4-8 persons 130 EUR
Ljubljana City to Bled
1-3 persons 130 EUR
4-8 persons 170 EUR
Piran to Trieste City
1-3 persons 165 EUR
4-8 persons 200 EUR
Piran to Trieste Airport
1-3 persons 175 EUR
4-8 persons 210 EUR
Piran to Ljubljana City
1-3 persons 225 EUR
4-8 persons 265 EUR
Piran to Ljubljana Airport
1-3 persons 250 EUR
4-8 persons 290 EUR
Piran to Bled
1-3 persons 290 EUR
4-8 persons 320 EUR
All prices per transfer, one way. Price includes transport of bikes.
Rental Bikes
Helia bikes are available in different sizes and unisex frame model:
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
- Pannier
- Helmet
Only for self-guided tours: per two bikes – one repair kit, one spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, Allen keys and tire levers. + one combination lock.
Other available rental bikes
What Our Guests Say
Travelled with us? Share your experience
Thank you Helia for organizing the wonderful self-guided trips we did with you in September. Everything was just perfect. The different hotels were interesting, always in lovely locations, always clean and very welcoming. The maps and instructions combined with your stickers on various fences and posts made navigation really easy. After 23 years of cycling on our own, this was the first 'self-guided tour 'we've done and now we are hooked on this way of cycling. Many thanks for all your efforts and help.
We were very pleased with every aspect of this trip. The staff’s support in answering our questions before departure was excellent, and everything unfolded just as expected. We received the Trek bikes we had requested, and they were in perfect working order.
Superb trip! Beautiful route through Slovenia, excellent hotels, and baggage transfers that ran like clockwork. A fantastic way to explore the country—truly exceeded our expectations. Top tip: bring a handlebar mount for your phone.
Thanks very much Ana. We had a great trip and would definitely consider Helia again, or recommend you to others. Slovenia exceeded our expectations!
Just completed 9 days/350km "Best of Slovenia" bicycle tour on standard bikes hired from Helia.
Bikes were excellent. Helia included a pannier each, and repair kit for the pair of us. One bike needed a bit of adjustment to derailleur. No problem for us. But if you're not mechanical take your test ride on handover seriously so that Helia can fix issues at start
Hotel bookings and bag transfers were simply done. Worry free.
Accommodation varied from satisfactory to great. Huge buffet breakfasts standard.
A lot of route was great, some blissful, some exhilarating, some relaxed,some we just had to get through. Much of route is shared with cars, trucks - but that was fine with appropriate caution/awareness.
We never had to rush, time to stop, detour, etc was great.
1 particular 750m climb was very hard for us moderately fit 55 year olds.....consider the €30 offer of a lift up that.
Hi Helia,
I just want to say how absolutely delighted we were with our cycle trip, the best of Slovenia in early May! Helia staff were just fantastic with their support and professionalism in all aspects of the trip! I especially want to highlight how wonderful the accommodation was at Hista Posebne Sorte - what a beautiful place and wonderful hosts.
Many thanks for an enjoyable holiday in such varied, interesting & beautiful scenery. We loved the challenges, although we did gratefully accept a lift up to the Ski Centre, but we did cope with all the rest of the ascents, even in the relentless heat. Piran is a n incredible place to finish an active holiday. The sea managed to wash away all the aches & pain.
We enjoyed the self-guided tour, “Best of Slovenia, 10 days.” The Helia employee who met us on Day 1 was very helpful and informative. She ensured our bikes were properly adjusted. She gave us an additional cable locs after I commented that first one was very weak (thin cable). We appreciated the additional heavy cable lock since the thin one stopped working.
The upgraded gravel bikes (rented) have good gearing for climbing. The frame geometry was also comfortable for long climbs. Shifting into the large front chainring was difficult and needs adjusting (both bikes).
The Guibo App is very easy to use; it’s especially good for off-line. We appreciated the POIs and visited many sites, such as Postojna castle, caves and Lipica Stud Farm.
We thoroughly enjoyed the best of Slovenia self- guided bicycle tour. Day 1 a Helia representative met us to explain the overall tour and our bikes were properly fitted. Our choice of upgraded gravel bikes (manual) were great for climbing. You will do a lot of climbing but it’s doable w/ good bikes. All hotels were fine and easily located along the routes. We enjoyed visiting the points of interest – Postonja caves, Lipica stud horse farm, etc… The GUIBO app is comprehensive and easy to use.
Many thanks to the Helia team.
A great trip visiting lots of interesting places. Also a trip of contrasts, the Alps, Ljubljana, the Karst and then the sea. Everything worked as planned and we loved undertaking the ride.
Excellent adventure! Slovenia is a beautiful country with lovely people and really good food! The bike ride exceeded our expectations with both scenery and accommodations. Irena who was our agent was a real pleasure to work with, she answered our question’s with a quick reply, and fulfilled all of our requests with no problems. We highly recommend using the agency.
The best of Slovenia cycling really was THE BEST. Helia did a great job of route planning. Some of the accommodations were fabulous some were basic good sleeping quarters. Luggage was usually delivered by the time we arrived and always by the time stated in the brochure. They were responsive on WhatsApp to all my questions and needs along the way. The Guido App was good for directions and side trips. Overall an excellent trip.
We cannot speak highly enough about our trip with Helia. The staff was extremely helpful, courteous and accommodating. The routes the selected from Lake Bled to Piran were outstanding and allowed to get our first glimpse of this wonderful country and its people! We would highly recommend engaging Helia for any bike trips in Slovenia. We did a self-guided, 8-day trip and loved every route segment. The hotels were great and the daily breakfasts were consistently excellent. We loved the GUIBO app used for route guidance and appreciated the additional information about sites along our route as well as important spots like restaurants and bike shops. Our only recommendation for potential travelers would be to upgrade to true road bikes or e-bikes. We didn’t and regretted that decision on some of the hills. The routes included mostly local paved roads which were generally in good condition but do include some gravel sections which varied in quality due to recent rains. All in all, Helia gets 5 stars from us! Thanks for an amazing trip. We’ll be back!