Cathedral of St Nicholas, Ljubljana

The magnificent Baroque cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen, dates from the early 18th century, but was renovated and had beautiful carved bronze doors added for the Pope's visit in 1996. The doors depict the development of Christianity in Slovenia, and give way to a richly ornate interior below the impressive cupola, and the stunning Giulio Quaglio frescoes.

Opening Times:
Open daily from 7am to 12pm, and 3pm to 7pm

Ljubljana Castle, Ljubljana

The imposing landmark castle towers over the city, offering spectacular views of the Ljubljana River and the attractive skyline of the old town, with the distant Alps providing a backdrop. The medieval castle with its impressive tower, which was added in the 19th century, is linked to the old town by a steep cobbled street. The castle complex includes a museum, restaurant and chapel.

Opening Times:
Open daily from 9am to 10pm (May to September), and 10am to 9pm (October to April). Tours run from 10am to 4pm (1 June to 15 September); and from 16 September to 30 May tours are by request only

Admission:
EUR5 for guided tour (concessions available)

Joze Plecnik House, Ljubljana

Architect Joze Plecnik is largely responsible for the city of Ljubljana being as neat and well-planned as it is, with his insistence on classical lines and uniform dimensions. The renowned architect's home and studio, furnished and equipped as he left it, is open to the public a few days a week. His influence is, however, everywhere to be admired in the city at sites like the wide Shoemaker's Bridge and the colonnaded market beside the river.

Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm; and from 9am to 3pm Saturdays. Open on Monday and Friday for appointed groups only

Admission:
EUR3 (adults), Concessions are available

National Museum, Ljubljana

The impressive National Museum of Slovenia is housed in a lovely neo-Renaissance style palace, the most interesting and popular of Ljubljana's many museums. The permanent exhibition consists of archaeological material, displayed in chronological order, such as ancient Palaeolithic artefacts discovered in karst cave sites and even the only Egyptian mummy in Slovenia. A wonderful museum, that has a number of kid-friendly attractions and amenities.

Opening Times:
Open daily from 10am to 6pm (until 8pm on Thursdays)

Admission:
EUR3 (adults),concessions available. Free admission on the first Sunday of every month

Postojna Cave, Ljubljana

Slovenia's Postojna Cave is the most-visited cave complex in Europe, and in its history as a tourist sight has welcomed nearly 200 million visitors to gape at its incredible karst formations, cavernous chambers and interesting collection of cave animals. Stretching for 13 miles (20km), one of the best things about visiting the astounding Postojna Cave Complex is its top-class infrastructure: the Cave is well-lit, and visitors access the underground walkway by train. Guided tours of the Cave last about 90 minutes, during which time you will treated to a wealth of glittering calcite formations, stalagtites and stalagmites, as well as a visit to the underground aquarium, where an array of troglodyte creatures are displayed. The Postpojna Cave is also home to a subterranean Concert Hall with celebrated acoustics, and classical music performances are common (especially in the summer). One of the very best things to see in Slovenia - and in the whole of central Europe, for that matter - a trip to the Postojna Cave Complex is highly recommended.

Opening Times:
The Postojna Cave Complex operates on a strict timetable, and you should check the website to best plan your visit. Tours are generally at 10am, 12pm and 3pm every day, however – and often even more frequent than that.

Admission:
EUR22 (Adults), EUR13.20 (Children)

Lake Bled, Ljubljana

Slovenia's most popular destination, the charming town of Bled exudes simply tourist appeal. Located just 45 minutes' drive from the capital Ljubljana, many tourists make Bled the focus of their holiday in Slovenia. A town with an ancient history and gorgeous natural surrounds, Bled's stellar attraction is the glacial Lake Bled, a cobalt-blue expanse of water with a forested island in the middle, accessible by traditional row-boats known as pletnas. Overlooking the lake is the photogenic Bled Castle, while the island itself is home to one of Slovenia's best sights, the tall and spired Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church. Bled offers tourists a range of great outdoor sport activities, such as golfing, fishing and horse-riding, while the nearby Triglav National Park has fantastic walking and hiking trails. Those looking for a cost-effective and richly rewarding European city break vacation should check out Bled, Slovenia's undisputed tourist jewel.

Tivoli Park, Ljubljana

Tivoli Park is a massive wooded area in Ljubljana. The park covers an impressive five square kilometres and is the perfect place for a picnic or evening stroll. Tivoli Park is a popular place to visit in Ljubljana and includes a number of ponds, playgrounds, sporting facilities, flower beds, grassy patches, forest and fountains. Visitors to Ljubljana will find that the park is the perfect place to go when they want to relax and really breathe in the beauty of this wonderful Slovenian city. Tivoli Park is also a wonderful place to take the kids, to let them run around a little and burn off some energy.

Ljubljana Zoo, Ljubljana

The quaint Ljubljana Zoo is situated in a forested area a short walk from the city centre. The small size of the zoo gives visitors a more intimate experience with opportunities to handle some of the animals, particularly the scary ones such as snakes and scorpions. Other animals at the zoo include wild cats, lions, sea lions, giraffes, elephants and as well as over 100 other spiecies. The zoo offers visitors to Slovenia a chance to stray from the normal tourist list of things to do in Ljubljana, and provides family vacationers with a wonderful way to entertain the children.

Triglav National Park, Ljubljana

The only national park in Slovenia, Triglav National Park is named after the highest peak in the Julian Alps, Mount Triglav. Appearing on the Slovenian flag, the mountain is a symbol of national identity - and its craggy, snow-covered summit provides a wonderful backdrop to a holiday spent exploring tall deciduous forests and hiking out to pristine waterfalls. The trail that leads out to the 240-foot (78m) Slap Savica Waterfall is an especially popular tourist route, drawing outdoor lovers from all over the continent each year. Triglav National Park is also perfectly set up for mountain bikers, perhaps taking a cycle tour of central Europe, and for keen mountaineers who wish to get to grips with the rocky slopes. Triglav National Park offers relatively cheap camping, and its close proximity to Italy and Austria makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious travellers who wish to experience the Alps without having to shell out more than they can afford.