Slovenia in September: a 5-day road trip from the Alps to the coast

September is a very pleasant time to explore Slovenia by car. The summer crowds are slowly easing, the days are still long enough, and you can combine the Alps, the Soča Valley, vineyards and the coast in one trip.

If you have five days available, we recommend this circular route:

Ljubljana → Kranjska Gora → Vršič → Soča Valley → Goriška Brda → Slovenian coast → Ljubljana

You do not need to see everything. It is better to choose a few main stops and leave enough time to enjoy the drive itself.

What you’ll learn

For the first day, we recommend a shorter drive towards Kranjska Gora. After arriving, you can stop at Lake Jasna and then continue to Zelenci Nature Reserve. If you have enough time, you can also add Planica. If you picked up your car on the same day, try not to pack too much into your schedule on the first day.

Overnight stay: Kranjska Gora or the surrounding area.

Day two is dedicated to one of the most scenic drives in Slovenia. Cross Vršič Pass, descend towards Trenta and continue along the Soča River towards Bovec. Along the way, it is worth stopping at the Russian Chapel, at the top of the pass or at one of the viewpoints. When driving over Vršič, do not rely only on the navigation time. The road is winding, and even a few stops can quickly make the journey longer. Before setting off, check the latest traffic and weather conditions.

Overnight stay: Bovec, Kobarid or the surrounding area.

Spend the morning exploring the Soča Valley. You can choose Bovec, Kobarid or Tolmin, then continue towards Goriška Brda in the afternoon. In Brda, we especially recommend Šmartno and the viewing tower in Gonjače. September is a particularly interesting time to visit this area because of the grape harvest and the changing landscape. If you visit a winery, make sure one of the passengers remains the designated driver.

Overnight stay: Goriška Brda or the area around Nova Gorica.

On day four, continue towards the coast. If this is your first time visiting the Slovenian coast, we recommend choosing Piran as your main stop. Leave your car at a designated car park or parking garage and continue on foot. For a few hours, Tartini Square, a walk through the old town and the Church of St. George are more than enough.

If you have some time left, you can also add Izola or Koper. There is no need to visit all three places in one day.

Overnight stay: Piran, Portorož, Izola or Koper.

Keep the last day a little more relaxed. After a morning walk or breakfast by the sea, head back towards Ljubljana. If you have enough time, you can break up the journey with a short stop along the way. If you need to return the car by a specific time, make sure to leave enough time to avoid rushing.

Before each longer part of the journey, it is enough to check a few basic things:

Weather: Conditions in the Alps can be very different from those on the coast.

Vršič: Check the current road conditions before driving over the pass.

Vignette: A vignette is required for most Slovenian motorways and expressways. A Slovenian vignette is already included with Free2Rent vehicles.

Luggage: If you change accommodation every day, having a sufficiently large boot is more important than it may seem at first.

September is a great time to experience different parts of Slovenia. Mornings in the Alps can already be cooler, the landscape in Goriška Brda begins to change, while days on the coast are often still very pleasant. We therefore recommend dressing in layers and keeping an eye on the weather.

One of the main advantages of travelling by car is that you can adjust your plans according to the conditions.

You do not need a special off-road vehicle for this kind of trip.

For two people, a compact car is usually enough, while larger groups should choose a vehicle with enough space for luggage.

With Free2Rent, you can pick up your vehicle at several locations in Slovenia and travel at your own pace.