Hotels
Best hotels in Slovenia: where to stay, from Lake Bled to the coast
Mist still hangs over Lake Bled as the first rowing boat sets off for the island church. Behind it rise the Julian Alps, and two hours south is the Adriatic. Slovenia is small enough to see mountains, city and coast in a week, and its hotels are fewer and more personal than in the neighbouring countries.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Slovenia is roughly the size of Wales, and no journey is long. Ljubljana is in the middle, Bled and the mountains in the north-west, and the short Adriatic coast in the south-west. Most visitors combine two of these areas, often with a hire car.
We have chosen ten hotels across four areas, from Tito's summer residence on the lake to a manor house with medieval roots in the hills near Idrija, and we say who each one suits. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link.
Short answer: where to stay in Slovenia
Spend two nights in Ljubljana, in the old town by the river, and two or three at Lake Bled. With more time, add the coast at Portorož and Piran, or a few days in the mountains around Bohinj and the Soča Valley.
Best for romance: Hotel Vila Bled
Best for families: Grand Hotel Toplice
Best for first-timers: Grand Hotel Union
Best for design: Hotel Cubo
Best for peace: Hotel Kendov Dvorec
How to choose the right hotel in Slovenia
Bled: the lakeside hotels have the best views. They line the promenade, close to the rowing boats, but summer weekends are busy.
Ljubljana: the old town along the Ljubljanica river is car-free and easy to walk. Stay near Prešeren Square or across the river.
The coast: Portorož is the beach resort, and Piran is the old town on the headland next door. It is about an hour and a half from Ljubljana.
Driving: motorways require a vignette. You can manage Bled and Ljubljana without a car, but the mountains and coast are easier with one.
High season: July and August are busy at Bled. June and September bring good weather and fewer people.
The mountains: for hiking in the Julian Alps, Bohinj and the Soča Valley are better bases than Bled. Hotels there are simpler, so many stay at Bled and drive out for the day.
The villa on the lake
Vila Bled seen from Lake Bled.
Bled: the lake below the mountains
Lake Bled has a small island with a church in the middle and a castle on the cliff above the water. A path of around six kilometres runs around the shore.
Hotel Vila Bled: Tito's summer residence
Vila Bled was the summer residence of the Yugoslav leader Tito and stands in a large park on the south shore of the lake. It has its own jetty and bathing area, and the view of the island and castle is among the best on the lake.
This is our romantic pick, for travellers who want peace and history. The interiors keep much of their 1940s and 50s style, and some rooms are simple for the price. Take a rowing boat from the jetty and cross to the island early, before everyone else.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Vila Bled
The facade
Grand Hotel Toplice on the lakeshore at Bled.
Grand Hotel Toplice: a thermal pool by the lake
Grand Hotel Toplice has stood at the water's edge in Bled for more than a century, looking straight across to the island and the castle. It has an indoor pool fed by thermal water and its own lakeside bathing area.
This is our family pick, with a central spot on the promenade and swimming indoors and out. The style is classic and somewhat old-fashioned. The promenade outside is busy by day but quiet in the evening.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hotel Toplice
Above the lake
Triglav Bled on the slope above the lake, with the mountains behind.
Triglav Bled: the view from the hill
Triglav Bled is a small hotel in a restored early 20th-century house on the slope above the lake, near the parish church. From the terrace and many rooms you look across the lake to the island and the castle.
It suits couples who want a personal hotel with good food and a little distance from the promenade. It is a short, steep walk down to the water. The restaurant uses produce from farms nearby.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Triglav Bled
The pool
The outdoor pool with a lake view at Rikli Balance Hotel.
Rikli Balance Hotel: wellbeing on the promenade
Rikli Balance sits on the lake in central Bled and is named after Arnold Rikli, the Swiss natural healer who turned Bled into a health resort in the 19th century. It has a large spa with pools and saunas, and many rooms have a balcony facing the lake.
It suits travellers who want to combine walks around the lake with long afternoons in the spa. It is a large, modern hotel with little charm from the outside. Its spot on the promenade, though, is hard to beat.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rikli Balance Hotel
The facade
The art nouveau facade of Grand Hotel Union.
Ljubljana: the river and the old town
Ljubljana is a small capital with a car-free old town along the river, bridges designed by the architect Jože Plečnik and a castle on the hill above.
Grand Hotel Union: art nouveau by Prešeren Square
Grand Hotel Union opened in 1905 and is one of the city's finest art nouveau buildings, right by Prešeren Square and the Triple Bridge. It has an indoor pool and a grand cafe on the ground floor.
This is our first-timer pick, with the old town on the doorstep. Rooms in the oldest wing have the most character. Cross the Triple Bridge in the evening, when the riverside cafes light up.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hotel Union
The rooftop pool
The rooftop pool above the old town at Vander Urbani.
Vander Urbani Resort: a rooftop pool in the old town
Vander Urbani occupies four old houses in the old town by the river, with modern design inside and a small rooftop pool. Its restaurant is well reviewed.
It suits travellers who want to be in the thick of riverside life. Rooms are small, and weekends can be noisy from the street. The roof terrace is the place for a drink before dinner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Vander Urbani Resort
The facade
Hotel Cubo in central Ljubljana.
Hotel Cubo: clean-lined design in the centre
Cubo is a design hotel in the centre, with clean lines, dark tones and large windows. It is a few minutes' walk from the old town and the river.
This is our design pick, and guests rate its service and breakfast highly. There is no spa or pool. In return, the whole city is within walking distance.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Cubo
The pool
The pool with a view over the city at InterContinental Ljubljana.
InterContinental Ljubljana: the view from the top
InterContinental is the city's tallest hotel, with a restaurant and bar on the top floors and views to the castle and, on clear days, the Alps. It has a spa and large, modern rooms.
It suits travellers who want familiar standards and a view. It is just outside the old town, around ten minutes on foot. Have a drink in the top-floor bar at sunset.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at InterContinental Ljubljana
The palace
The Palace hotel in Portorož seen from the air.
The coast: Portorož and Piran
Slovenia's Adriatic coast is only around 45 kilometres long. Portorož is the beach resort, and Piran is the Venetian old town on the headland.
Hotel Palace Portorož: the palace by the sea
The Palace in Portorož was built in the early 1900s and has been restored, with a new wing, a large spa and pools. It sits on the seafront promenade, and Piran is a short trip along the coast.
It suits travellers who want a few days of coast and spa. Portorož is lively in summer, with beach clubs and a casino. Walk or cycle to Piran in the afternoon and stay for the sunset.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Palace Portorož
The entrance
The entrance and garden at Kendov Dvorec.
Idrija: a manor house in the hills
Idrija is an old mining town in the west, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its mercury mines and famous for its bobbin lace.
Hotel Kendov Dvorec: medieval roots and lace
Kendov Dvorec is a manor house with medieval origins in a small village near Idrija. Rooms are furnished with antiques and local lace, and the garden looks out over the valley.
This is our pick for peace, for a couple of nights in the countryside between Ljubljana and the Soča Valley. There are few rooms and little to do in the evening beyond dinner. That is exactly the point.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Kendov Dvorec
When to book
June and September: good weather, warm enough to swim in Lake Bled and fewer people than in high season.
July and August: high season at Bled and on the coast. Book early.
December: Christmas markets in Ljubljana and Bled, and snow in the mountains. Many hotels have good winter rates.
Easter and bank holidays: many visitors from neighbouring countries head to Bled and Ljubljana on long weekends. Check Austrian, Italian and Croatian holidays before you book.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Slovenia
Where should I stay in Slovenia?
Ljubljana and Bled are the most popular bases. Two nights in the capital and two or three at Lake Bled make a good start.
Is it worth staying at Lake Bled rather than visiting on a day trip?
Yes. The lake is at its most beautiful early in the morning and in the evening, after the day-trippers have left.
Can you swim in Lake Bled?
Yes, in summer the water is around 22-24°C. Several hotels have their own bathing areas.
How long does it take from Ljubljana to Bled?
About 40 minutes by car and a little over an hour by bus.
Do I need a car in Slovenia?
Not for Ljubljana and Bled. For the mountains, the Soča Valley and the coast, a car is the easiest option.
What is best for a short weekend?
Ljubljana alone is enough for a long weekend, with the old town, the castle and the market. With a car, you can drive to Bled in the morning and be back for dinner.