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Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley

The land of unique vines and first-rate cuisine between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea

Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley are the intersection of two worlds and different cultures. The wine growing region inspires with its gastronomy, and the city offers entertainment with its casinos.

“The valley is green and beautiful, the food and wine are of superior quality. A perfect destination for a relaxed and at the same time active vacation.”

Anna Tyler, Lonely Planet, London

TOP 5 sights

Every step you take, you will be surprised by Slovenia’s natural and cultural gems. Are you interested in what you need to see in Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley?

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TOP 5 experiences

Explore interesting remains of the past from the Roman area to World War I. Experience the beauty of the landscape covered with vineyards and orchards from above. Taste the wealth of the Vipava Valley, which is integrated in the top gastronomic creations.

Gastronomic Pampering at Zemono Manor House

The Renaissance Zemono Manor House in Vipava is a temple of Vipava gastronomy. At the Manor, there is the Michelin-starred restaurant Gostilna pri Lojzetu, which is managed by the chef Tomaž Kavčič. As he points out, his restaurant offers Vipava Valley on a plate. You will also find top culinary delights at Dam and Pikol restaurants in Nova Gorica, which are also listed in the Michelin Guide.

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Gastronomic Pampering at Zemono Manor House

Gastronomic Pampering at Zemono Manor House

The Renaissance Zemono Manor House in Vipava is a temple of Vipava gastronomy. At the Manor, there is the Michelin-starred restaurant Gostilna pri Lojzetu, which is managed by the chef Tomaž Kavčič. As he points out, his restaurant offers Vipava Valley on a plate. You will also find top culinary delights at Dam and Pikol restaurants in Nova Gorica, which are also listed in the Michelin Guide.

More on: Gastronomic Pampering at Zemono Manor House

Discover the Uniqueness of Vipava Wines

Discover the Uniqueness of Vipava Wines

Did you know that the highest number of indigenous wine varieties in Slovenia can be found in Vipava Valley? Embark on a wine and food experience with the Winestronaut team. In authentic wine cellars, winemakers will personally present their excellent wines for you to taste. Each glass of wine is accompanied by homemade snacks. Taste the uniqueness and take home a bottle of wine as a souvenir.

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Experience the medieval Vipavski Križ

Experience the medieval Vipavski Križ

The idyllic village of Vipavski Križ, which in the Middle Ages was the smallest town in the empire and is one of the most beautiful cultural and historical monuments in Slovenia today, can be explored through a playful hunt for hidden treasure. On an informative walk through the rich history and cultural heritage of the village, you will be rewarded for your discoveries several times over, including the opportunity to taste local delicacies.

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Two Goricas, two countries

Two Goricas, two countries

Feel the interweaving of different cultures that mark Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley. At the crossroads of worlds, where the cross-border Goriška region meets Soča Valley, you can discover the history and contemporary pulse of the border area through an adrenaline-fuelled adventure. Experience the fierceness of Soča River, the richness of the local cuisine, and two Goricas that, without a visible national border, form a unique European coexistence of cities.

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Walking along the Peace Trails 100 years after the war

Walking along the Peace Trails 100 years after the war

Where the worst clashes took place in World War I, the trails of peace nowadays run. Visit the hill Sabotin rising above Nova Gorica, where you will be taken to military caverns along the trails of the Park. In the museum collection at Sabotin you can learn about all the dimensions of wars. Along the Peace Trail, you can also climb Škabrijel and, for the most beautiful views, Cerje, where the imposing Peace Monument beckons you from afar.

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Bike & Taste in Paradise Valley

Cycling in Vipava Valley is a special experience because it offers double pleasures. The beautiful and just-right rugged landscape, the varied cycling routes and the long season, which lasts all year round, are a delight for every cyclist. After an active day, reward yourself with a taste of local delicacies. Here you can literally cycle from taste to taste, which is why Vipava Valley and the Goriška region are considered a true cycling paradise.

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Bike & Taste in Paradise Valley

Bike & Taste in Paradise Valley

Cycling in Vipava Valley is a special experience because it offers double pleasures. The beautiful and just-right rugged landscape, the varied cycling routes and the long season, which lasts all year round, are a delight for every cyclist. After an active day, reward yourself with a taste of local delicacies. Here you can literally cycle from taste to taste, which is why Vipava Valley and the Goriška region are considered a true cycling paradise.

More on: Bike & Taste in Paradise Valley

Hiking adventures

Hiking adventures

A diverse and picturesque landscape of Vipava Valley and Goriška region offers true hiking delights all year round. Go on a hike on Nanos, discover the natural attraction of Otlica Natural Window or Skozno, and admire the sea from the Trnovo Plateau or from Cerje. Conquer the high peaks or choose easier routes in the valley and between the villages of Vipava Hills. Take advantage of your hike to taste local delicacies.

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Adrenaline adventures, all year round

Adrenaline adventures, all year round

The steep slopes of the high plateaus above Vipava Valley challenge the most courageous. All year round they offer excellent conditions for free flying. From the Lijak and Kovk takeoff points, you can go paragliding or hang-gliding. Transportation is available to take you all the way to the registered take-off points, and you can also fly in a tandem. Experience the steep slopes of Nanos, Gora, Trstelj and Cerje with your bike, even in the winter. You can go kayaking and canoeing down the Soča River in Solkan.

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A castle-like paradise for heritage gourmets

Once upon a time, castles and manor houses were scattered all over Vipava Valley and the Goriška region. Some still stand today and tell their own stories. Today, the restored castle rooms also invite you to experience different experiences, such as discovering paradise with Eleonora of Rihemberk at Rihemberk Castle, in the fertile landscape of Vipava Valley, in its villages and tasting local delicacies on the farms.

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A castle-like paradise for heritage gourmets

A castle-like paradise for heritage gourmets

Once upon a time, castles and manor houses were scattered all over Vipava Valley and the Goriška region. Some still stand today and tell their own stories. Today, the restored castle rooms also invite you to experience different experiences, such as discovering paradise with Eleonora of Rihemberk at Rihemberk Castle, in the fertile landscape of Vipava Valley, in its villages and tasting local delicacies on the farms.

More on: A castle-like paradise for heritage gourmets

Family api tour

Family api tour

Unspoilt nature and beautiful landscapes are the hallmark of Vipava Valley and the Goriška region, and bees are a unique symbol of the balance of nature and the quality of life in these places. Not only for the sweet honey. On a professionally guided family api tour, you will learn about the importance and life of the Carniolan honey bee, the indigenous bee, and taste different types of honey in the company of an experienced beekeeper.

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Wine tasting and animation for children

Wine tasting and animation for children

Tasting of excellent local wines are a must in Vipava Valley. If you're travelling with children, you do not have to give up the wine experience. In the beautiful setting of the medieval town of Vipavski Križ, parents will be able to indulge themselves with local wines and snacks, while the children play carefree with an activities leader in the safe environment of a town with pedestrianised streets.

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Green facts

Slovenia writes a green story. Feel it at every step.

Decanter magazine recognised three traditionally produced wines from the Vipava Valley as the best natural wines in the world.

More than two thirds of the nature in the area of the Vipava Valley and Nova Gorica is protected and a large part of it falls within Natura 2000.

The Vipava Valley is famous for the year-round supply of fruit and vegetables. From the garden to the table is the motto of the local cuisine which focuses on seasonal dishes.

Numerous water springs, an abundance of drinking water and clean rivers are a true luxury of the Vipava Valley. Waters abundant with fish attract many fishermen.

Vipava Jota with Turnip Fermented in Pomace

Traditional Vipava jota interweaves all the characteristic flavours of the valley, grapes, crops and meat products. Grapes? Of course. It is prepared from turnip fermented in grape pomace. Dried meat or a sausage adds character to the dish. You will be served Vipava jota on farms, in inns and in restaurants.

Try our recipe

Vipava Valley – Uniquely Different. Any Time of the Year.

The Vipava Valley, shaped by the sun and the bora wind. Experience its homeliness and hospitality. Choose your favourite activities in nature, taste the traditional cuisine. Any Time of the Year.

Awakening beauty between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea

Below the high Karst plateaus lies the Vipava Valley, the beauty caught between the Alpine, Karst and the Mediterranean world, which basks in the sun. This is where the fine tastes of special wines mature, where the luscious smell of the maturing fruit spreads and where picturesque villages shimmer among the green hills. 

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Register of Tourist Guides

Local guides will help you discover local attractions and hidden treasures. Find a tourist guide that will present Slovenian cultural and natural heritage to you in more detail in your chosen language.

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Experience a pleasant getaway and have some rest

Would you like to stay a little longer and see and experience as much as possible? Then select suitable accommodation that is ideal for you in the nearby area.

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DAM Boutique Hotel & Restaurant

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Kamp Vrhpolje

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TripAdvisor traveller rating Tripadvisor rating: 5.0

Boutique Rooms & Winery Žorž

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Perla, Casinò & Hotel

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TripAdvisor traveller rating Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Vila Burbonka Studios

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TripAdvisor traveller rating Tripadvisor rating: 5.0

Prenočišče Pertout

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Prenočišča D&D

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TripAdvisor traveller rating Tripadvisor rating: 5.0

Borea Rooms – Sobe Budanje

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TripAdvisor traveller rating Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Sobe Pilih

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Book your adventure in Mediterranean and Karst Slovenia.

Learn about the stories stemming from salt, carved in stone and hidden among the green vineyards. Descend into the karst caves, enjoy the beach, explore its hinterland with a diverse range of tastes and enjoy the view of the fertile landscape with a glass of top-quality vine.

Price in EUR From 250,00 €

Discover a world of luxury and fun with our exclusive package at the Casino & Hotel ADMIRAL Škofije. Step into the Admiral's world and indulge in a few...

Admiral's gaming pleasure – Škofije

Price in EUR From 116,00 €

There's never a wrong time for ultimate pampering. Indulge in the soothing effects of spa treatments and savour an unforgettable gourmet experience.

Ultimate pampering

Price in EUR From 780,00 €

Revitalise your body and mind in an oasis of tranquillity and relaxation – the Rose Spa wellness centre at Portorož’s Kempinski Palace hotel.

Spa Pampering in Kempinski Palace Portorož

Price in EUR From 110,00 €

A lovely Mediterranean hotel, just a few hundred metres from the sea, which will enchant you with warm woods, Mediterranean colours and lush vegetation....

A getaway in Laguna, Strunjan

Nearby destinations

Embark on a journey to explore other destinations. From Nova Gorica, follow the Soča River upstream and first take a turn to cross the Solkan bridge and reach a little more than 15 km distant Brda. An idyllic landscape covered with vineyards and fruit trees will charm you with its top-class wines and culinary treats. In the upper stream of the emerald Soča River, in the heart of the Julian Alps – but only 40 km from Nova Gorica, you can taste a diverse range of active experiences in the open air. From the Vipava Valley, you can go to the Karst, where only 15 km away underground wonders and remarkable Karst phenomena on the surface await. Drive for another 60 km and you will reach the capital city of Ljubljana, where you can walk among its architectural gems and immerse yourself in the lively city flow.

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More details about Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley

For more information visit the Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley websites.

Discover Nova Gorica Discover Vipava Valley

 

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