Ski holidays Slovenia

Slovenia lies in the heart of Europe and borders with Italy in the west, with Austria in the north, with Hungary in the east and with Croatia in the south. The entire country offers 20,273 km² of terrain and is therefore one of the smallest European countries - yet unbelievably diverse. Picturesque river landscapes, vast forests, rough rocky plains, soft hills and the steep peaks of the Eastern Alps all belong to Slovenia's marvellous nature. A third of the country is covered as nature reserve. Whilst the climate in the south and on the Mediterranean coast are milder, the hilly north benefits from cooler and dryer air, but gets more precipitation, which is ideal for the winter sports regions. The capital is Ljubliana with 278,000 inhabitants and is located quite centrally in the country and therefore offers perfect access to all surrounding holiday regions.

Where to go skiing in Slovenia?

The alpine and low mountain ranges extend over the North of Slovenia, so that the most ski areas can be found between Triglav National Park in the North West and in Pohorje in the North East. The most-known mountain ranges are that of the Julian Alps, the Karawanks and Kamnik Alps at the border to Austria and Italy. Here the alpine mountains reach up to a height of 3,000 m. Slovenia's highest mountain can also be found in the Julian Alps: the Triglav with a height of 2,864 m. The prominent Mountain is the centre of Triglav National Park and is depicted on the slovenian Flag as national symbol. The national park is characterised by high rocky mountains, deep karst caves, widespread river valleys and a large diversity of plants and animals. Kranjska Gora, one of the most well-known ski areas in Slovenia is located in this beautiful landscape north of Triglav mountain. The area became famous when it hosted the Ski World Cup and comprises 20 km of piste and 17 lifts. It was chosen to be the best ski area in Slovenia several times.

In the North East at the border to Austria and Hungary, the Pohorje Mountains extend to a height of up to 1,500 m. As a low mountain range it offers flat high plateaus, moderate gradients and great observation point, making it a holiday paradise for winter lovers and families who want to spend a relaxed ski holiday. At the foot of Pohorje Mountains and outside the cultural metropolis Maribor lies Slovenia's largest ski area with approx. 42 km of pistes: Maribosko Pohorje.

Why book ski holidays in Slovenia?

The holiday region has its very own charm thanks to its diverse landscapes. Wherever you turn, you will find romantic panoramas of mountain landscapes and lake sceneries awaiting holidaymakers with various leisure time activities. 60 % of Slovenia is covered with forests, so that the ski areas are often embedded in woody mountain ridges which make for a snowy winter wonderland. Here, winter activities such as hiking, cross country skiing, tobogganing and skiing have a deeply romantic feel. The Drau region Podravska in Lower Styria offers a particularly good mix of relaxation and winter sports. Especially in and around the metropolis of Maribor you can find cultural-historic sights, regional culinary treats, thermal baths and numerous leisure time activities in the mountains and in the city. The ski areas are very family friendly, well assessable, sure of snow and have partly been awarded.

How long is it possible to ski in Slovenia?

As there are no glacier ski areas in Slovenia the season is limited to the three main winter months and a few weeks before and after. As in the most ski areas, the official start of the winter is in December and the season goes on until April. The important ski areas Kranjska Gora and Vogel in the West, as well as Rogla and Maribor in the east open in the first week of December and close in the first week of April.

Gorenjska

The region of Gorenjska in the Northwest of Slovenia is one of the most gorgeous regions in the country. The region especially stands out due to the Julian Alps massif, which extend from Italy to Slovenia. Here, visitors will also find the Triglav National Park, a real highlight for nature-lovers: along with the breathtaking mountains, there is also a plethora of lakes, rivers, and dense forests. Around the peak of Triglav Mountain, there are also plenty of diverse activities available to enjoy. Winter sports fans will therefore be sure to get their money's worth here, especially considering the well-know Slovenian world cup ski area of Kranjska Gora with its famous Planica run. The region is also designed for trips into the surrounding larger cities, like Slovenia's largest citiy in the region, Kranj, with its approx. 56,000 residents.

Lower Styria (Slovenia)

Lower Styria (slov. Štajerska) is one of five historic landscapes in Slovenia and one of the most important cultural and natural landscapes in the north of the country. Up until the beginning of the 20th century it was part of the dukedom Styria, which has made an impact on the locals through the Austrian and German-speaking influences. The 6,050 km² large terrain between the large rivers Mur and Save form a diverse natural habitat with vast lowlands and soft hills, but also mountain ranges which reach up to 2,300 m altitude. A large part of the Lower Styria region are made up of the Steiner Alps, which belong to the Karawanks. The most important urban zones here are Maribor, Celje, Velenje and Ptuj, which all offer easy access to a local ski area - above all the largest in Slovenia, which is called Pohorje. The magnificent Slovenian-Austria border region of Lower Styria offers winter holiday makers an ideal mixture of natural experience and activities in the mountains, as well as some very pretty cities which are worth visiting, such as the lively town of Maribor.