Not to miss

Adriatic Coast

There are several bustling beach towns along Slovenia's short Adriatic coast. Italianised Koper has a medieval flavour despite the surrounding industry, container ports and superhighways, and pretty Piran is a gem of Venetian Gothic architecture with narrow streets.

The Maritime Museum, in a 17th century harbourside palace, has compelling exhibits on seafaring and salt-making, which have been important to Piran's development over the centuries.

The nicest beach along the coast is nearby at Fiesa. From its clean sands and boat-restricted waters you can see Trieste's Miramare Castle.

Piran is 17km (10.5mi) southwest of Koper, which in turn is 163km (101mi) southwest of Ljubljana. Bus service to both towns is frequent from Ljubljana and Trieste; buses also conveniently link all the coastal towns. A train also links Koper to Ljubljana.

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a smaller Prague without the hordes of tourists. By far Slovenia's largest and most populous city, this charming place feels like a clean, green, self-contented town rather than an industrious municipality of national importance.

Ljubljana began as the Roman town of Emona, and legacies of the Roman presence remain throughout the city. But contemporary Ljubljana has a vibrant Slavic air all its own. The 35,000 students who attend Ljubljana University keep the city spirited and young.

Most of the city's sights are along the banks of the Ljubljanica River. On the southwest side is the Municipal Museum. Northwest of the river is the National Museum, which has the requisite prehistory, natural history and ethnography collections. Diagonally opposite is the Museum of Modern Art, where the International Biennial of Graphic Arts is held every other summer. More museums occupy the Old Town, which also features cafes, baroque churches and quaint bridges hidden in its maze of narrow streets. If looking at all this art incites the need for some R&R, head for peaceful Tivoli Park, in the northwestern quadrant of the city.

Predjama Castle

Predjama Castle actually appears to grow out of a yawning cave. The partly furnished interior boasts costumed wax mannequins, one of which dangles from the dripping rock-roofed torture chamber. Beneath are stalactite-adorned caves, which lack Postojna's crowds but also much of its grandeur.

The eight museum rooms are ho-hum but the position and the views over the valley are incomparable. And it has all the frills that castles should. There's also a 7km (4.5mi) cave network below, 900m (2950ft) of which is open to visitors.

National Gallery

Of several major galleries and museums west of Slovenska, one of the best is the impressive National Gallery, which contains the nation's rich and sophisticated historical art collection. Give yourself plenty of time to take it all in.

Škocjan Caves

The immense Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, is a highlight of any trip to Slovenia. With relatively few stalactites, the attraction here is the sheer depth of the awesome underground chasm, which you cross by a dizzying little footbridge. This involves a shepherded two-hour walking tour and ends with a rickety funicular ride.