Slovenia

Slovenia is Europe's best-kept secret — a country of extraordinary natural beauty that most travellers have still not found.

It is bordered by Austria to the north, Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and Hungary to the east. In area it is smaller than Switzerland. But within those borders it manages to contain Alps, karst caves, an Adriatic coastline, river valleys, medieval castles and vineyard-covered hills.

The country is 60% forest. This is not a statistic — it is an experience. Driving through Slovenia, the density of trees is constant and remarkable. Villages emerge from the woods, rivers run clear and cold through limestone gorges, and the light through the canopy has a quality that photographers travel specifically for.

Dolenjska, the region southeast of Ljubljana, is the quieter face of Slovenia. Here the Krka river winds through forested hills and past old castles. Vineyard-covered slopes produce the Dolenjska wines — Cviček, a light red blend particular to the region, and increasingly serious single-varietal wines from producers finding their footing.

Otočec Castle, sitting on a small island in the Krka, is one of the most unusual hotel settings in central Europe. The only water castle in Slovenia, it has been receiving guests since the communist era and now operates as a Relais & Châteaux property. Dinners here feel genuinely historic — and the kitchen earns its Michelin mention.

Slovenia asks to be travelled slowly. The country rewards detours, unhurried drives and days with no fixed agenda.