Camping and homestays in Slovenia

We're planning to cycle through Slovenia on touring bikes from July 14th to August 14th. We're used to camping, but I get the feeling there are large areas without campsites. Is wild camping allowed? If not, is it easy to stay with locals?

Could you tell me about the must-see spots in Slovenia? I'm thinking of finishing in Istria, at a seaside campsite to relax and enjoy the sea. Is it pretty quiet there?

Thanks so much, Mireille.

There are a lot of apartments for rent in Slovenia and Istria, but I have no idea about campgrounds. Back in Yugoslavia, people used to offer rooms right at the train station—times have changed, but the principle remains. That said, I think people book earlier than they used to.

My favorite spots in Slovenia, where I’ve been three times: Ljubljana around the river Vintgar Gorge Piran

Other places I really love: The charming center of Radovljica and its beehive museum Kropa and the Jamnik church The Vršič Pass road The Brda wine region near Friuli (around the villages of Dobrovo and Smartno) The Robanov and Logar valleys The beer fountain in Žalec and Velenje’s brutalist city center Škofja Loka Lake Bohinj The Soča Valley (Isonzo) and the Kobarid War Museum ...and you still have to go to Bled

I’m not sure you’ll find a "quiet" spot in Istria in August, but most places stay pleasant. The best-known spots (Rovinj, the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, Pula’s amphitheater, hilltop villages) are all worth the trip. We loved Rovinj early in the morning, Labin, and Grožnjan.

Happy planning!

Hi, wild camping is forbidden in Slovenia—be careful, the fine is steep. I’ve been there.

Hi Cécile, could you tell us where you got a fine? In Triglav Park?

Almonds are plentiful in the Forcalquier area ;-) 😏

Hi there, So I hitchhiked from France to Turkey back in 2014, and my memory’s a bit fuzzy now, but I do remember it was in Slovenia. But it definitely wasn’t in a campground—that much I’m sure of. I met a lot of travelers like me who had almonds.

A bitter almond? 😏

As for wild camping:

https://slovenie-secrete.fr/2023/04/27/ours-slovenie/

I must’ve skimmed too quickly, but I didn’t find anything about wild camping! Here, people talk about bears that you can supposedly see more easily by paying a guide 250 € for a 45-minute walk... I think. Interesting, no doubt, but it’s far from the idea of wild camping :) @Mireille 6 I won’t be much help for Slovenia other than telling you that a quick search online will easily give you a list of many campsites in Slovenia. Back when I went, the country was still part of Yugoslavia, and it was cheaper to stay with locals than to camp at a campsite because campsites were paid in dinars but priced in dollars! For me, the must-see in Slovenia is Bohinj and its lake, and Triglavski narodni park (Triglav National Park)

I must have read too quickly, but I didn’t find anything about bivouacking!

"We’re used to camping, but I get the feeling there are large areas without campsites. Is wild camping allowed?"