Learn about Slovenian destinations emphasising sustainability, what denotes the Slovenia Green Destination Platinum label and what green experiences await you there.
Many destinations in Slovenia strive for tourism and their daily operations to be implemented in the most sustainable manner. The Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism is a system that uses several criteria to assess the efforts and annual progress. Destinations are awarded the Slovenia Green certificates in various colours, i.e. bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The label that is the most prestigious, desired and appreciated by tourists who embrace sustainability is the platinum one, which is very difficult to obtain. The evaluators emphasise that active cooperation between a destination, tourist service providers and other tourist stakeholders is essential. In short and in plain terms: as many individuals and organisations as possible must breathe as one with the destination.
We feature five platinum destinations that have obtained the highest scores in various fields of life and work, and three experiences in each one, which also inspire visitors to act green.
Although it’s not one of the largest European cities, the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana is "great" with regard to its green spirit. If you arrive in the centre of Ljubljana by train, you can visit the city’s main attractions on foot or by bike. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one through the BicikeLJ public bicycle sharing system. It’s possible to use Urban, the electric train, and Kavalir, the electric vehicle, in the centre of Ljubljana. These options are particularly intended for the elderly and people with reduced mobility.
But transport is not all that makes Ljubljana one of the greenest capitals in the world. There’s also the Green Supply Chain project that promotes the use of local ingredients in gastronomy, the "Pardon the weeds, we are feeding the bees" campaign, which is why the lawns won’t look like those of golf courses, and the development of cultural districts that direct tourist flows outside the town centre as well.
Experience Ljubljana in countless ways. We suggest three options, which will bring you a step closer to the green concept of the Slovenian capital.
You can discover the main city centre on foot, but if you want to explore the whole of Ljubljana, which spreads over the flat section of the Ljubljana Basin, then opt for a bike. Join guided cycling tours.
Why buy something new if you can fix the old one? In the unique workshop of the umbrella maker Marija Lah, you can learn how to fix your (favourite) umbrella or make a shopping bag or an apron from it.
On sunny Fridays in the warmer months of the year, Pogačar Square turns into a unique gastronomic marketplace that has become a huge hit among visitors in the ten years of its existence. One of the reasons lies in its green orientation: no plastic, waste separation, and use of fresh local ingredients.
Green will embrace you everywhere you turn in Laško. The narrow valley of the Savinja River, in which the town nestles, is surrounded by green hills and hops plantations. This resulted in the construction of the largest Slovenian brewery, which has been situated in Laško since 1825. On a walk through the quaint streets and squares, you’ll encounter beehives. Laško is known for its health resort activities and is also the European Destination of Excellence regarding accessible tourism. The first winner of the special recognition, "The Best Green Coordinator", within the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism also comes from Laško.
Laško focuses on brewery, beekeeping and healthy waters. Find the inspiration for the best experiences of the green heart of the Lower Savinja Valley.
This two-and-half-hour-long experience combines two of the best known activities in Laško, i.e. brewing and beekeeping. Bittersweet is the winning combination. Become honey brewers, learn about the history of the town, and enjoy the delicious food prepared by top chef Marko Pavčnik.
Experience the tradition of brewing and beekeeping on your own skin. Locally produced honey or a special beer butter is used in the nourishing treatments offered by Thermana Laško. The beer or honey pampering session can be further upgraded with a swim in thermal water under the glass dome. Use a special spa train to visit Laško and enjoy thermal pleasures.
The largest festival in Laško pays homage to the brewing tradition, with flowers decorating the town streets during the festival. This traditional event annually attracts some 60,000 visitors and is focused on sustainability. Visit the festival by train, drink beer from reusable glasses and exchange a bag of collected waste for a pint of beer at the Recycle Pub.
Pristine nature and rich tradition anchored in the very essence of life in this Alpine valley are the main attractions of Bohinj. A large section of Bohinj is situated in the Triglav National Park, dictating a special care for the conservation of the natural environment. However, the locals have practiced this enlightened behaviour over the centuries and have maintained their harmony with nature until today, thanks to their renowned Gorenjska stubbornness. So, they don’t find it difficult to observe the green mentality and are happy to include in their offer everything that is genuinely local. Because the wild beauty of Bohinj attracts numerous visitors seeking direct contact with nature, which results in heavy traffic activity, the people of Bohinj decided to offer alternatives. Travel to Bohinjska Bistrica by bus or train, then ride a bike or use a special bus to get to the lake or any of the starting points for mountaineering and hiking tours.
Everyone, those looking for active experiences and those wanting a brief break from the hustle and bustle, can find something for themselves in Bohinj. Below are but a few options for a green experience of Bohinj.
Zlatorog (Goldenhorn) and Triglavska roža (Triglav Flower) are the two electric boats on Lake Bohinj. You can choose from a single or a return ticket, but it should be mentioned that a walk along the footpath from Ukanc back to the starting point in Ribčev Laz in the shade of trees can be a pleasant experience as well.
Experience Bohinj through traditional flavours and dishes. In the culinary workshop embellished with the Bohinjsko/From Bohinj certificate, the housewives of Bohinj will teach you how to prepare traditional Bohinj dishes. You’ll be able to adjust the traditional recipes a little to suit modern tastes.
The Mostnica River is a hidden gem of Bohinj, rich with wild fish such as brown trout, grayling and rainbow trout. Fly-fishing is a boutique experience, as only five anglers a day can fish in the catch-and-release manner. Fly-fishing on the Sava Bohinjka River, which is particularly the home of salmonid fish, is also a special experience.
The Slovenians are perhaps more familiar with Čatež ob Savi rather than Brežice, although the former has only 342 citizens and the latter 7,000. "Čateške toplice" is a synonym in Slovenia for thermal experiences, either swimming in the pools, trying daring slides, or enjoying whirlpools and saunas. In addition to Terme Čatež, you can also visit Terme Paradiso, where you’ll find wooden houses in the form of apiaries.
But Brežice was there long before any water park, to which the many castles in the town and surrounding area testify. The destination is green due to the BržKOLO unified public bicycle rental system, as many as six sustainable gastronomy providers awarded the Slovenia Green certificate, a wheelchair-accessible town bus and the strategy for carbon footprint measurement and reduction that has been in place with the help of the expert knowledge of the Faculty of Tourism in Maribor.
Once you’ve done with all the splashing in the thermal swimming pools and have viewed all the historical sights of Brežice, you can spend the rest of the day trying out other (green) experiences.
This is the perfect way to recharge your batteries: a less-than-10-kilometre-long trail will lead you past 15 energy swirls, next to which it’s worth taking the time to relax your breathing and calm your thoughts. Walk barefoot on the trail, which is also suitable for Nordic walking.
In the days before bridges had been built across the Sava, the longest Slovenian river, people crossed it by ferries. In the immediate vicinity of Terme Čatež, it’s possible to hop on one that still carries passengers every day. Upon prior agreement, you can also enjoy a meal on the ferry or listen to a detailed explanation about the history of ferrying.
Cviček is the legendary Dolenjska wine made from white and red grape varieties. It’s a light, pleasantly acidic wine with a low alcohol content, but nevertheless don’t try it before your bike has been safely parked. The cycling trip in the land where Cviček is produced is 26 kilometres long and will take you to the edge of the Gorjanci Hills and along the peaceful Krka River that flows into the Sava at Brežice.
The picturesque town near the international airport surprises with its unique position surrounded by the peaks of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps to the west and the edges of the Škofja Loka Hills to the south-east. But the old town centre rising above the second deepest urban gorge in Europe excites even more. The town is steeped in culture, and the great Slovenian poet France Prešeren spent his last years here. The remnants of the town wall and Khislstein Castle tell stories from the past, but also reflect contemporary urban cultural life. On a stroll through the town centre, you’ll come across many small shops offering local products.
Explore Kranj and its surrounding area with KRsKolesom, the public bicycle rental system. Ride the bike to the nearby towns, including Ljubljana or Bled, along the Flower of Cycling Routes around Kranj. Kranj has been the European Destination of Excellence since 2022.
At the gourmet experience, a table for one hundred guests is laid in the garden of Khislstein Castle, and on it are placed selected dishes made from the ingredients produced in Kranj and its surroundings and prepared by Kranj chefs. The guests can thus get to know the supreme gastronomy offer of Kranj and the local produce.
The tunnels under the old town of Kranj are full of mysteries and experiences worth exploring. In addition to various events and guided tours, the SOS Info Centre Proteus can be found here. This project has been studying and protecting the olm for more than 60 years. The researchers of the Tular Cave Laboratory explain to visitors the life of the olm and the importance of maintaining clean groundwater for their existence.
One of the major peculiarities of Kranj is the Kokra River Canyon, considered the second deepest urban gorge in Europe. Take a refreshing walk in the canyon, especially on hot summer days, only a step away from the blistering town streets. It’s possible to descend into the canyon from the old town centre at two locations.
Would you like to experience something more? Something unique, authentic, boutique? Then follow the Slovenia Unique Experience label, which you’ll also find in certain destinations displaying the Slovenia Green Destination Platinum label.
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Read moreWelcome to a country where sustainability has a great impact, as we strive in various fields of life to function in harmony with the environment in which we live. To this end, we’re creating green experiences and browsing through our grandmas’ recipes to reinvent them while using the same ingredients as our forefathers once used. We offer a "green" roof for a rest. In short, we live green and spread this ethos among our visitors.
Slovenia is a pioneer in the field of strategic sustainable tourism development on a national level. Over 270 Slovenian destinations and tourism service providers have successfully obtained the Slovenia Green label, which reflects their sustainable approach and responsible behaviour towards the environment. Discover your favourite green corners and experiences and join us in creating a better future.
MoreSlovenia is a pioneer in the field of strategic sustainable tourism development on a national level. Over 270 Slovenian destinations and tourism service providers have successfully obtained the Slovenia Green label, which reflects their sustainable approach and responsible behaviour towards the environment. Discover your favourite green corners and experiences and join us in creating a better future.
MoreCycling is one of the most sustainable ways to explore Slovenia. This is especially true if you ride along one of the themed cycling routes linking destinations and providers with the Slovenia Green label.
MoreSlovenian cuisine is based on ingredients found in our immediate surroundings. Modern approaches to cuisine combine with elements of culinary tradition. Discover restaurants, recipients of the Slovenia Green label, which put sustainability at the forefront in the creation of their specialities.
MoreHotels and tourist farms provide it. Camps, glamping resorts and spas provide it, too. And it is also provided by a range of other accommodation options that not only offer comfortable beds and food, but think more broadly about their place in the environment. With all the responsibility to future generations. Choose accommodation with the Slovenia Green label and contribute a piece to the mosaic of sustainability.
MoreIf you decide to stay at a location or camping site for several days, you can give your motorhome some "rest" and choose a sustainable way of exploring the surroundings. Hop on a bicycle, take a trip to the city and explore its sights by public transportation, or perhaps it may be easier to rent an electric car and cruise the surrounding area.
MorePut yourselves in the shoes of Slovenians for a day. Learn about what we like to eat and when. Discover the secret to the sporting spirit that pervades Slovenia. Check out the locations that are particularly precious and carefully safeguarded. Uncover the traces of the past hidden among town squares and streets which blend with the modern vibe. And find out why water rules in Slovenia.
Learn about the typical workdays and holidays cuisine of Slovenian people and discover where they obtain the ingredients for their dishes and where you can try them as well.
Learn about the people of Slovenia and their customs and traditions.
Discover the world of active outdoor adventures in Slovenia.
Discover a wealth of various plant and tree species.
Discover the old town centres of historic towns, living museums of time.
The abundance of water resources and premium drinking water are among Slovenia’s main advantages.
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