Places you have to see as an English teacher in Slovenia
Slovenia is one of the most stunning corners of Central Europe. Wedged between Austria, the Italian Alps and the plains of the Balkans, it’s got some seriously amazing spots. This guide runs through five of the most incredible; places you simply have to see as an English teacher in Slovenia. They include the soaring heights of Triglav park and the gleaming waters of Lake Bled to name just two…
Lake Bled
No list of the places you have to see as an English teacher in Slovenia could possibly be complete without at least a mention of Lake Bled. This one is the poster boy of the whole country, and often hailed as the single most gorgeous location on the continent! Set deep in a theatre of jagged peaks in the Julian Alps, the lake is a clear, cobalt blue. The spire of a church, dating all the way back to the 1400s, crowns a wooded islet in the middle of it all, while packs of ducks and clusters of wooden barge boats drift this way and that. Bled is a perfect location for wild swimmers, hikers, and even skiers in the colder months. Don’t miss it!
Ljubljana
The bijou capital of the nation is probably where you’ll be based as an English teacher in Slovenia. It’s very walkable and very charming. Take the old town area, which is watched over by the turrets and crenulations of Ljubljana Castle, built sometime in the 11th century. Below are the winding courses of the Ljubljanica River, separating cobbled promenades that bustle with cafes and open-air beer terraces. All roads intersect at lively Prešeren Square, where you’ll find lots of shopping and the intriguing Dragon Bridge. At night, make for the art commune come squat known as Metelkova, where rollicking alt clubs inhabit old military barracks.
Triglav National Park
The Triglav National Park is the natural jewel of Slovenia. It’s tucked right into the north-western portion of the country, butting up to the Italian Dolomites and the foothills of the Austrian Alps. That should give a taster of what’s on the menu – think dagger-like peaks and gleaming alpine lakes filled with milky blue waters. The park is a hiker’s and climber’s dream come true, with routes like the Soča River Trail and the rugged Tolmin Gorge coming up trumps. 2,864-meter-high Triglav stands at the heart of it all, representing a snow-touched challenge for true mountaineers.
Snežnik
Snežnik reigns as the tallest peak in the south of the country (in fact, the Croatian border is less than 2.5 miles away!). Clad in dashes of fragrant pine woods and covered in zig-zagging trekking routes, it’s perfect for any English teacher in Slovenia on the hunt for an outdoorsy adventure. However, the area is also known for its winter sports. When the snows fall in November and December, the whole mountain of Snežnik turns into a ski touring mecca, and folk come from far and wide to navigate the off-piste routes that go from top to bottom.
Koper
Koper is Slovenia’s sole major town on the Mediterranean Sea. It manages to find a place on the short, 28-mile-long Slovene Riviera, and really makes the most of it by opening onto beaches like Portorož and pretty Piran. In those, you’ll swim right next to charming tavernas and bars that can seem more Italy than Istria. Koper itself draws in visitors with its maze-like medieval core. Stony alleys and plazas filled with restaurants really get into full swing when the warmer months kick in, which means you should have this one on the radar when school’s finally out for summer.
Have you been an English teacher in Slovenia? Got anything to add to this list? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Alternatively, check out our 120-hour TEFL course, which is the bare minimum you’ll need to start applying for jobs in this handsome corner of Europe.