A small country, set between Austria, Italy and Croatia, Slovenia holidays cram in every kind of picturesque scene imaginable. There are the snow-capped Alps, vast caves, deep gorges and bright blue lakes with islands housing quaint churches. Plus, a patch of Adriatic coast and the capital Ljubljana with its castle peering down over the 19th-century old town.

What it’s all tied together with is a backdrop of forest which covers half of the country, making it one of the greenest places in the world. Whether you choose to stay on the Slovenian Riviera or in Ljubljana, natural pursuits await like hiking, cycling, skiing or kayaking down rivers. And everything is all very accessible for you to create the holiday itinerary that suits you – and your budget.

The scenic ancient capital of Ljubljana

Flying into Ljubljana, you’ll immediately get a sense of what beauty Slovenia offers – but all of this doesn’t have to come at severe expense. The city’s old town winds around an ancient castle on a tree-covered mound, which houses a museum and puppet theatre. Included in the 10 euro entry fee is a 70-metre funicular ride and 90-minute Time Machine tour, or you can take one of the hourly tourist trains up to it and just walk around the grounds for free.

Ljubljana itself is a cultural hub brimming with restaurants, live jazz bars and art galleries. What’s more, it’s one of the few places in Europe where you’ll find the national poet as the biggest local statue. Plus, the artist’s commune of Metelkova is a must see – transformed from an army barracks it’s an autonomous social centre, adorned with outdoor art and home to some cool bars and clubs.

The Slovenian Riviera

A strip of just 45 kilometres’ worth of the Adriatic coastline belongs to Slovenia on its south-western edge, sandwiched between Italy and Croatia. Despite its small size, this area is home to some stunning resorts including the ancient spa town of Portoroz, the medieval architecture of Piran, plus, the Secovlje Salina Nature Park on the Croatian border.

Portoroz – or Port of Roses – has been a fascinating health resort since the 13th century using mud and salt water baths. Nowadays it still has a wealth of spa and wellness centres, as well as a modern marina and excellent facilities for those enjoying holidays in Slovenia. Just north, Piran’s old town of pretty terracotta tiled buildings juts out into the sea. It’s an idyllic place to sit at a seafood restaurant and enjoy the sunset.

Lakes, islands and castles

One of the most visited places in Slovenia is undoubtedly the spectacular Lake Bled. When you hear of Slovenia, or specifically Bled, there is that famous, postcard worthy image that comes to mind with the beautiful lake and the little island in the middle. What some people don’t know is that the building on the little island is a tiny baroque chapel that you can actually visit via wooden rowing boats called pletnas.

It’s a truly picturesque sight from wherever you’re standing looking across the lake. There’s also a dramatic 11th-century, medieval castle that looms over the lake, almost hanging the cliffs edge, and it houses an interesting museum that gives you the low-down on the lake’s history and Bled’s development as a region. If you book a table at the Castle Restaurant admission to the castle is free, but it’s just 10 euros otherwise.

The popularity of the area means there are resorts and hotels lining the water and a number of top notch restaurants serving the delicious  local dessert – Bled cream cakes. The snow-capped mountains behind are where skiing and climbing are rife and also nearby is the Vintgar Gorge, where you can walk across bridges over the river or hike through the countryside.

Clearly, Slovenia is an incredible and mesmerising destination but to explore it all doesn’t have to break the bank, our cheap holidays to Slovenia are an affordable way for you to experience all of this magic.

Going underground

A hidden wonder of Slovenia is the network of caves that are carved out underground, including one of the largest subterranean canyons in the world. At 60 metres wide and 140 metres deep, the Skocjan Caves have been, and continue to be carved out by the Reka River. There are different options for touring the caves, depending on the time of year, but all are on foot and can be done on a guided tour or just self-guided.

Just 30 minutes away are Postojna Caves, where you can explore five of the 24 kilometres worth of caves via an electric train, which takes you through huge stalactites, stalagmites and other, more unusual natural formations on the way to the Concert Hall cave. Housing 10,000 people for musical performances, the Concert Hall also displays the strange amphibian known as the human fish in its aquarium – a bizarre native of Slovenian cave eco-systems.