Slovenia

This new, thoroughly updated and significantly expanded third edition of Bradt’s Slovenia offers expert travel advice about this engaging European country. Slovenia has emerged as a serious year-round tourist destination that combines captivating city breaks in the capital Ljubljana with stellar outdoor activities in varied, wildlife-rich landscapes.

Widely renowned as a world leader in green tourism and sustainable development, Slo-venia showcases many of Europe’s finest elements in an area roughly the size of New Jer-sey. Here you can walk amid Alpine mountains or lush valleys, visit glacial lakes and charming Adriatic coastal towns, or admire a rich tapestry of architectural styles while delving into the country’s captivating culture, diverse history or delicious cuisine.

Ljubljana is a vibrant capital, so Bradt’s Slovenia provides intimate detail on where to stay and eat, what to see and do, and how to get around. But this guide will also inspire and inform wider explorations in this impressively varied and conveniently compact country. Here you can ski in the Alps in the morning, eat a late lunch with world-class chefs in the hilly hinterland then savour an Adriatic sunset with a glass of locally produce fine wine.

In a country where half the land is protected, you can hike in the Juliana mountains, go wild swimming in Lake Bled (one of Europe’s finest glacial lakes), raft rivers in the Soča Valley, venture underground into UNESCO-listed caves such as Postojna and Skocjan, or relax in thermal spas. Foodies will revel in a rich culinary larder blending influences from neighbouring Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy, while remaining distinctively Slovenian. Vinophiles will enjoy touring local vineyards, discovering world-class wines only available locally.

Alongside an extensive update that sheds new light on old favourites, this new, longer edition contains more maps, explores more diverse locations, identifies the best places to eat and stay, and offers greater focus on cycling and family travel, spas and health re-sorts, the growing foodie culture, ecotourism and wildlife-watching. The upshot is that Bradt’s Slovenia serves as the perfect travelling companion to this compelling European destination.

Rudolf Abraham (rudolfabraham.com) is an award-winning travel writer and photographer specialising in Central and Eastern Europe - in particular, Croatia and Slovenia. He has regularly visited both countries since the late 1990s, and still spends several weeks a year in both. He writes about hiking, outdoor adventure, art, culture, family travel and sustainable tourism. He is the author of a dozen books - several of which focus on Slovenia or Croatia, but also covering Chile, Montenegro and the UK - published variously by Bradt (for whom his books comprise Slovenia, Croatia, Croatia: Istria and Alpe-Adria Trail), Cicerone, DK Eyewitness and Rough Guides. His writing and photography are published in publications including Family Traveller, BBC Countryfile, Geographical, Hidden Europe, The Guardian, The Independent, JRNY Magazine, Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveller UK, The Telegraph and Wanderlust. Rudolf is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers.