Michael On The Move: Exploring Slovenia

Hey all, I hope you enjoyed the first edition of Michael on the Move. As promised, this week I will be choosing a random holiday destination. I gave ChatGPT this prompt: “Give me a random country to go on holiday to.” It chose Slovenia. So, this week’s column will be all about that country. As a quick disclaimer, I have never been to Slovenia myself, but according to ChatGPT’s description, it offers great value for money and has stunning scenery.  

One of the things ChatGPT recommended doing here is to visit Ljubljana. The AI bot called it “a green, walkable capital with cafes, galleries and riverside nightlife”. After a quick scroll through images of the country’s capital, I can confirm that it does look amazing. The mix of greenery, the river flowing through it, and the orange-roofed buildings make it easy to see why it’s such an attractive holiday destination, with over 1.2 million tourists visiting in 2024! 

The ceiling and wall artwork look elegant, and the white-and-gold colour scheme makes the church feel extravagant. It is definitely worth a visit, especially seeing how central it is

When on holiday, one of my niches is to visit churches. I love admiring local church architecture and seeing how it differs from other countries I’ve visited. For example, the Lutheran churches in Denmark look very different from the Catholic churches in Spain. So, when I eventually do visit Slovenia, I’d want to check out its churches!  

Ljubljana’s Cathedral is a Catholic one but compared to other Catholic cathedrals I have seen during my travels, it looks rather modest from the outside. What makes it stand out, though, is its green dome and twin towers. Step inside and the church looks awe-inspiring. The ceiling and wall artwork looks elegant, and the white-and-gold colour scheme makes the church feel extravagant. It is definitely worth a visit, especially seeing how central it is. 

Here, you can browse stalls selling local goods and souvenirs, while enjoying local delicacies like sausages and pretzels

Now might actually be the best time to visit Slovenia! Ljubljana’s Christmas market is considered one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Here, you can browse stalls selling local goods and souvenirs, while enjoying local delicacies like sausages and pretzels. What’s more, the entire city is decorated for the occasion, and from the photos I’ve seen on Google, it looks wonderfully festive. The market’s location also makes it convenient for you to enjoy some sightseeing during the day to then partake in the festivities at night.  

Indeed, it’s located at Presěren Square, right in the heart of the Old Town. The square features a beautiful bridge overlooking the river, perfect for those aesthetically pleasing Instagram stories. It is also surrounded by historic buildings like the unique pink Franciscan Church. Plus, Presěren Square is only a 20-minute walk away from Ljubljana Castle.  

There have been settlements on the hill where the fortress stands, as early as the 13th century BC, with the citadel first developed in the 11th century.  However, the castle we see today mostly dates to the 16th and 17th centuries. It is a major tourist site and offers great vantage points, medieval architecture, paintings, and even a wine cellar. There is so much to do at the site that you might even need to visit it over multiple days to fully discover it! 

Slovenia lies in the Julian Alps, making it perfect for skiing holidays

After all that exploring around the city, I imagine you will be feeling a bit peckish.  

Luckily, Slovenian food is to die for. The typical street food item is the Carniolan sausage, a smoked sausage flavoured with garlic and pepper. A great place to try this delicacy is Klobasarna: located in Ljubljana’s Old Town Centre, this TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Restaurant is a well-known hotspot for tourists eager to try the sausage, so be prepared to queue! The sausage does cost about nine euros… I guess that’s the price to pay for eating in a tourist hotspot like the Old Town. But wherever you choose to go for authentic Slovenian food, you’re sure to have a fabulous experience.

The more I’ve been writing and exploring this country, the more I feel like I want to visit it myself. I’m a big fan of Christmas markets so perhaps I’ll actually be making the trip down this year, I just need to convince my parents to come along. There was so much more I could have included in this article, like how Slovenia lies in the Julian Alps, making it perfect for skiing holidays, but there was just not enough space! For me, I’d want to go to Slovenia for its fabulous scenery and architecture, and what better time to experience this than during the festive season.

I hope you agree and look forward to reading about the next random country. Until then, I’ll leave you with an image of a snow-covered, picturesque city filled with smells of festive food in the air!