Exploring Slovenia: Our Favorite Places to Visit

Since we live in Zagreb but often spend weekends at our countryside house near the Slovenian border, close to Varaždin, we’ve visited Slovenia countless times—both as kids and now as adults. It’s a country we always love going back to because it truly offers so much to see and do.

In this post, I’ll share a few places we’ve visited and warmly recommend to anyone planning a trip to Slovenia:

1. Alpaca Ranch Slovenia

A charming spot where you can meet and feed alpacas. It’s a great experience for both kids and adults, especially if you love animals and nature.

2. Jelenov Greben

A beautiful deer farm and restaurant near Olimje. You can walk among the deer, feed them, and enjoy a meal in a cozy, rustic setting.

3. Sikalu Zoo

A small but lovely family-run zoo that’s perfect for younger children. It’s intimate, interactive, and allows for close contact with the animals.

4. Lipica Stud Farm

One of the oldest stud farms in the world, famous for the Lipizzaner horses. Even if you’re not a horse enthusiast, the history and beauty of this place make it well worth a visit.

5. Postojna Cave (Postojnska jama)

A spectacular underground cave system and one of Slovenia’s top natural attractions. You can ride a train through the caves, explore massive chambers, and even spot the rare olm (proteus).

6. Magic Story, Kranjska Gora

A Harry Potter-themed restaurant and café in the heart of Kranjska Gora. Known for its whimsical interior, fun atmosphere, and delicious homemade food, it’s a magical stop for both kids and adults.

Alpaca Ranch Slovenia

If you’re an animal lover or just looking for a unique day trip near Slovenska Bistrica, Alpaca Ranch Slovenia is a place you shouldn’t miss. This charming ranch is home to a herd of alpacas that roam freely across spacious meadows—and the best part is, visitors are welcome to spend time with them.

I went there with two of my friends, and we had an amazing time. One important thing to know: you need to book your visit in advance through their website.

Here’s what the visit includes:

A guided tour and introduction to alpacas
A hands-on workshop to make your own alpaca wool-wrapped soap
A generous platter of local cold cuts with a bottle of wine

During the tour, you can walk freely among the alpacas inside their pasture. Each visitor gets a small bucket of food—which of course makes the alpacas come closer. They are gentle, calm, and super curious, and spending time with them is honestly heart-melting. When we visited, there was even a baby alpaca, and I couldn’t resist sneaking in a little cuddle—that was definitely the highlight of my day!

You might think one or two hours sounds like a lot, but time flew by. We kept wandering from one alpaca to another, took tons of photos, and just enjoyed being close to them.

After feeding the alpacas, we joined the soap-making workshop. We laughed the whole time—mostly at our own silly jokes—but the workshop was also fun and educational. The wool-wrapped soap works as a natural scrub, and making it ourselves made the experience even more memorable.

And then came the feast! We were served a platter of local cold cuts, homemade bread, and a bottle of wine. Everything came from nearby family farms, which made the whole thing feel even more authentic and special.

All in all, it was a truly lovely experience. Even though our visit was a while ago, we still talk about it often—and we definitely plan to go back.

Jelenov Greben

Just a little over an hour from Zagreb, on a scenic hill, you’ll find Jelenov Greben—a deer farm where visitors can walk freely among deer and does, feeding them corn and enjoying the peaceful nature.

When we visited, we stocked up on corn from the souvenir shop (€1 per scoop)—and of course, we bought ten scoops so we could spend as much time as possible with the deer. The farm is spacious, with pathways both above and below the on-site restaurant, and deer roam freely all around.

Tip: Visit in the morning! That’s when the deer are still hungry and eager to interact. Later in the day, after they’ve been fed by multiple visitors, they usually lie down in the grass and are less interested in people.

At the entrance, you’ll find a list of farm rules, and one is especially important: Be careful around the male deer (stags), especially during feeding time. They have antlers, and if they see you feeding the does, they might nudge you or the does with their antlers to get the food for themselves.
This happened to us a few times—one stag even bumped into Tin so hard he almost fell over! Luckily, this is more about showing dominance than actual aggression. To stay safe, it’s best to throw corn on the ground for the males, while the females are gentle enough to feed from your hand.

While feeding the deer is the main attraction, the restaurant at Jelenov Greben is also a highlight. They offer venison specialties and other local dishes. We tried:

A cold cuts platter with venison pâté (amazing!)
Venison steak
Venison sausages
Venison goulash

Everything was delicious and reasonably priced.

In the souvenir shop, you’ll find products from nearby local farms. We brought home:

Venison sausages and pâté
Homemade elderflower syrup (which was fantastic)

For those wanting to stay longer, the farm offers rooms for overnight stays. They also organize workshops like painting and decorating canvas bags, though unfortunately, there weren’t any workshops happening when we visited. But it’s definitely something to consider for next time.

Sikalu Zoo

Sikalu Zoo was one of the places that truly surprised us—in the best way. It’s perfect for a half-day trip, especially if you love animals and don’t mind driving a bit off the beaten path. The zoo is located close to the Hungarian border, pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but that actually makes it feel even more special.

It’s not a typical zoo with large animals. Instead, Sikalu is home to smaller, friendly animals like chickens, turkeys, peacocks, turtles, sheep, goats, cows, and ponies. But they also have some unique residents—camels, lemurs, and capybaras!
We had never seen capybaras in real life before, so getting to enter their enclosure, feed them, and even brush them with a small comb was definitely a highlight.

The zoo is easy to explore. You enter in the middle and can go in three different directions, which makes it simple to walk around at your own pace and revisit animals you liked most.

Here’s a quick look at the prices and experiences:

Entrance ticket: €12 per person
Animal food: €2 (small cup) / €4 (large cup)
Lemur encounter: €10 per person for 5–10 minutes
Capybara encounter: €15 per person for 10–15 minutes (only from 2 PM to 4 PM)
Fish feeding: €2 (vending machine by the pond)

Important tip: Bring cash! The zoo is cash-only. We forgot, and Tin had to leave the park to find an ATM in the nearest village—but luckily they let him back in with a stamp.

We actually ended up spending about four hours at Sikalu Zoo. It’s not huge, but because everything is interactive and hands-on, the time flies by.

Some of the best parts for us were:

Feeding baby goats (they’re adorable!)
Feeding monkeys for the first time
Visiting the lemurs and capybaras up close
Feeding the koi fish in the pond

We didn’t eat at the zoo, but there’s a small restaurant with pizzas and burgers if you get hungry. We decided to head back to Croatia for dinner.

Sikalu Zoo is especially great for families. Kids can feed animals, interact with them safely, and even drive small toy cars and tractors around the park. All the kids we saw there were loving it.

All in all, it was a wonderful day. It’s a calm, friendly place where you can spend quality time with animals, and we’d love to visit again.

Lipica Stud Farm

Lipica is located near the Italian border, close to Trieste, and it’s home to the famous Lipizzaner horses—the elegant white horses known worldwide for their grace and history.

We arrived around 11 AM, just in time for the guided tour of the farm, which started at that hour. The tour was charming and informative, and with the ticket, we also had access to the Lipica museum. Unfortunately, the interactive exhibits weren’t working when we visited. We’re not sure if it was because the season hadn’t officially started yet, or if something was simply out of order.

During the tour, we learned a lot about the Lipizzaner horses, their history, life at the stud farm, and the details of how they are raised and trained.

After the tour, we wanted to have lunch at the on-site restaurant, but the kitchen was closed that day—possibly just a coincidence. So we took a short drive to a nearby village where we found a small local tavern for lunch.

We returned to the farm in the afternoon and took a walk along the road next to the pastures, where many of the Lipizzaner horses roam freely. One of the most delightful moments was watching the playful young foals jumping and running around the fields—a truly heartwarming sight.

We went back to the farm shortly before 3 PM to visit the stables again and get ready for the a Show by the Lipica Riding School, which started at 3. And the show was spectacular! It was much more impressive than we expected—a beautifully choreographed performance featuring Lipizzaner horses executing elegant movements to classical music. The combination of precision, beauty, and tradition made it a real highlight of the day.

After the show, we took another stroll around the farm to soak in the atmosphere before heading back home.

If you’re planning a visit, you can check ticket prices and the daily schedule on Lipica’s official website. It’s definitely worth checking in advance to make sure you catch the guided tour and the equestrian show!

Postojna Cave (Postojnska jama)

One spring weekend, we set off to visit Postojna Cave, one of Slovenia’s most famous natural attractions. We bought our tickets directly at the entrance—it’s not necessary to purchase them online, as there seemed to be plenty of availability. However, during peak season or weekends, booking ahead might still be a smart move just in case.

Upon arrival, we had to wait in line to board the underground train. After the train, there were several separate lines depending on the language of the guided tour. We joined the English-speaking group.

The experience begins with a train ride through the cave, which was surprisingly fun! The small electric train winds through narrow tunnels and wide chambers. You can definitely feel the cold air brushing against you, and while I’m exaggerating a little when I say it chills you to the bone—it really is quite cold inside, especially during the train ride. The temperature in the cave is constant year-round, usually between 8°C and 10°C, so it’s a good idea to bring a jacket or long sleeves, no matter the season.

As we rode, we got our first glimpse of the cave’s magnificent chambers, full of stunning stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (rising from the ground). This 10-minute ride gives you a sense of the sheer scale and natural beauty of the cave—with zero effort on your part.

After the train ride, we continued the tour on foot with a guide, exploring several of the cave’s most iconic halls: the Great Hall, Spaghetti Hall (named for the thin, noodle-like stalactites), and the White Hall. A special highlight was the Brilliant, a dazzling white stalagmite that serves as the symbol of Postojna Cave.

At the end of the walking tour, near the Concert Hall, there is a small aquarium where we saw the olm (Proteus anguinus)—a rare, blind, cave-dwelling amphibian that is endemic to this region. There’s also a souvenir shop and even a working post office, where you can send a postcard directly from inside the cave—a fun little bonus!

To wrap up, we boarded the train again and rode back to the entrance.

The entire tour lasts around 90 minutes. Photography is allowed, but flash is strictly prohibited to protect the cave formations and wildlife. I’d say the cave is definitely worth visiting at least once in your life, although the ticket price is on the higher side.

After the cave, we headed into the nearby town of Postojna for lunch at a restaurant called Čuk. We were so impressed by both the food and the service that I have to recommend it to anyone visiting the cave who’s looking for a good meal afterwards.

And of course—for all Croatian readers—there’s a must-watch video you shouldn’t miss before (or even after) your visit to Postojna Cave. Even if you don’t plan to go, it’s worth watching just for a laugh!

Magic Story, Kranjska Gora

Near Kranjska Gora, close to the Austrian border, there’s a restaurant that every Harry Potter fan absolutely has to visit. I first stumbled upon it in an Instagram video—and then, just a day later, a friend sent me the same video in a message. That was the final sign. I turned to Tin and said, “We’re going there the first weekend we’re free.”

Reservations are required, especially on weekends, as the place is quite popular and seating is limited. So make sure to book in advance.

The interior design is brilliant—they’ve packed the place with Harry Potter-inspired details. From the entrance, where there’s a replica of the Weasleys’ flying car, to the restroom signs referencing the Ministry of Magic entrance, and even a “staff only” area guarded by the Fat Lady, which (of course) requires a password to enter—we couldn’t go in, but it was a fun touch!

Naturally, we sat down and placed our order first. Then I spent a good 10 minutes just walking around and soaking in all the décor. Every corner had clever, magical details, and you can tell the creators are true fans who went the extra mile.

We ordered soup, appetizers, mains, and cocktails—and everything was fantastic. The dishes all had themed names inspired by the wizarding world, though the food itself was classic and familiar. That didn’t bother us at all—the food was excellent, both in quality and flavor.

Prices were reasonable, especially considering the unique experience. All in all, we had an amazing time, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend this place to anyone—whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or just looking for a fun and tasty outing.