Winning tip: President Tito’s Tearoom, Lake Bled

As you walk round Lake Bled, past Villa Bled, a little sign saying “Tearoom” points upwards through the trees. It gives no indication of the wow factor this tearoom commands. Once used by President Tito, it recently reopened with the original furniture and photos. Have a cup of coffee on the patio with its stunning floor mosaics of wild animals, while you look out over the lake towards the church, and the castle beyond. It is a treasure of pure elegance, the prices are ridiculously reasonable and the coffee just gorgeous!
• lakeblednews.com/cafe-belvedere
cuddlekitten

Logarska Dolina landscape park

We came across this park – in the north of the country near the Austrian border – by accident, and thought it the most beautiful spot in the country, with just a few homes amid mountains and the greenest green you’ve ever seen. Spend a few days cycling, doing walks to the waterfall, or hanging out with your new neighbours who, we found, were more than happy to share their homemade whisky and spit-roasted pig. Stay at Lenar Tourist Farm (doubles €70 B&B) and soak it all in from a hammock. The small park fee (€7 for a car) is worth it when it’s this good.
• logarska-dolina.si
cand82

Bohinj railway to Nova Gorica

The scenic train journey from Jesenice to Nova Gorica on the Bohinj railway takes you from the north to the Italian border in the east. In fact, the Slovenian-Italian border runs through Nova Gorica station car park! You pass through dramatic mountain scenery and follow the brilliantly turquoise Sava river, before crossing the 220-metre-long stone bridge at Solkan. Nova Gorica itself has an international border down the middle, dividing the former communist part of town in modern-day Slovenia from its more picturesque part, Gorizia in Italy.
• bohinj.si
ID5922212

Predjama Castle

If you go to Postojna to see the amazing caves, don’t miss Predjama Castle, a fortress built into a cave mouth 10km away. Erazem passage is a precipitous gap in the cave used as a hiding place when enemies attacked. If you’re brave (and don’t get claustrophobic) you can climb the slippery rocks, but the less intrepid can walk around the cave inside the castle and enjoy the eeriness.
• postojnska-jama.eu
jamesathorpe

GP Trojane restaurant

East of Ljubljana, the GP Trojane restaurant and shop is renowned for Trojane krof, a large jam doughnut that every Slovenian enjoys. It also serves many traditional dishes. To eat like a Slovenian, I recommend soup with rezanci (noodles, €2.50), and some of the many local sausages on offer (€8-10) at this beautiful place in the Sava hills.
• gp-trojane.si
Sam Smith

Hisa Franko, Kobarid

Kobarid is a charming little town in the stunning Julian Alps. The area has plenty to offer to adrenaline junkies and history buffs alike. Hisa Franko is a superb gourmet restaurant, and I still dream about it months later. All the dishes use seasonal ingredients which are locally sourced. Delicate flavours are combined in a magical way and dishes are accompanied by excellent Slovenian wines.
• hisafranko.com
petrangi

Radovljica

When you’ve done Lake Bled, don’t leave without catching the bus to Radovljica. A charming, quiet, laid-back town with a stunning medieval square and easy bus and train connections to Ljubljana, it also boasts a number of bizarre but brilliant museums, including the chance to discover the secret history of Slovenian apiculture at the Beekeeping Centre.
• lectar.com
SCharles1987

Kostanjevica na Krki

With its centre on a small island, the town of Kostanjevica na Krki is perfect for enjoying a coffee by the river Krka, or paddling around on a boat. Just nearby is Božidar Jakac Art Museum, in a former monastery dating from the 13th century and surrounded by the oak sculptures of the Forma Viva Sculpture Park.
• museu.ms
alicamzd

Gingerbread Museum

Slovenia’s a land of castles, lakes and spine-tingling caves, so it seems fitting that it has a one-room museum dedicated to the ultimate fairytale foodstuff: gingerbread. Between Ljubljana and Bled is Radovlijca, where you’ll find (in the Old Town) Gostilna Lectar, a guesthouse-cum-restaurant-cum-shop with a downstairs secret. For €1.5, you descend the stairs for an introduction to the history of this confection, made here since 1766. It is now sold in a multitude of shapes – hearts mostly but also cars, houses, rabbits and chickens – and painstakingly iced in bright, bold colours (including your chosen gift message). Our “souvenirs” certainly didn’t last long.
• lectar.com/_en/lectar_zgodovina.html
SJPtravel

Bovec

In the far north-west of Slovenia is a quiet pretty town called Bovec. It lies in a valley surrounded by mighty mountains and can be reached by a drive along the beautiful river Soca. It stood in for Narnia in the Prince Caspian film. Bovec attracts adrenalin junkies from around Europe but also offers less challenging pursuits. Start the day with excellent cheese borek and apple strudel from the bakery. Then feast on the activities available locally. Try rafting, kayaking or, even more exhilarating, hydrospeeding. Want a go at canyoning? Walking? There are plenty of opportunities.
• Socarafting.si
ChristinevanDuuren

• This article was amended on 1 April 2016 to correct the name of one of the contributors.