Travel Inspiration: Bled, Slovenia recognised as one of the most welcoming cities on earth

Booking.com includes the picture perfect city of Bled, Slovenia in its top 10 most welcoming cities on earth for 2022 to inspire future travellers

Renowned for their warm and friendly nature, Slovenians are not only hospitable in their customs but also in their development of nature-based tourism, encouraging communities and visitors to take a more sustainable path. Booking.com’s latest study highlights those destinations, including Slovenia which consistently provide outstanding hospitality, as evidenced by more than 232 million verified reviews from real travellers.

Joining a stellar line-up of cities amongst its European neighbours, including Italy, Greece, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, this year’s list of destinations includes an outstanding place to stay making it easier for future visitors to explore the range of welcoming, one-of-a-kind experiences on offer in each one.

The Adora Luxury Hotel has been hand-picked for Slovenia’s entry as it offers breath-taking views of Lake Bled, its iconic island church and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The former villa is located right on the edge of the lake, providing easy access to walking and hiking trails, including a climb to towering Bled Castle, perched atop a cliff overlooking the lake and said to be the oldest fortress in Slovenia. Rooms here start at £229 per night.

Additional accommodation options located around the stunning turquoise blue lake include Bled Rose Hotel from £131 per night, Hotel Villa Bled from £122 per night and Triglav Bled with rooms from £82 per night, providing a wide selection of places to stay for all budgets and experiences.

Bled is a great spot for hiking, water sports and biking. Backed by Slovenia’s majestic Julian Alps, the city has also long advocated for sustainable tourism practises, making it a picturesque place for more eco-conscious and mindful travellers. Just 30minutes west lies another picturesque and destination-worthy resort lake, Lake Bohinj. Spanning 785 acres, it is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, located within the Bohinj Valley of the Julian Alps and offers a wealth of walking and cultural experiences. Take the cable-car up to Mount Vogel at 1,530m and enjoy a bird’s eye view or follow Sava Bohinjka river down into the valley. In the winter, it’s a haven for skiers and winter activity enthusiasts.

The announcement closely follows several other awards and accolades given by the travel and tourism industry recognising Slovenia as a must visit destination in 2022.

Earlier this year, global travel authority Lonely Planet named Slovenia 5th in its top 10 countries to visit with the release of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022. Decided by a panel of industry experts, Slovenia was praised for its green credentials both literally and figuratively, recognised for its focus on sustainability in addition to its vast, naturally beautiful landscape.

European Best Destinations’ annual list of the greenest cities in Europe also crowned Ljubljana as the European Best Green Capital for 2022. Already globally recognised for its commitment to sustainability, Ljubljana was praised for its ample green spaces and outdoor pursuits which lend themselves to an active holiday.

And finally, five new restaurants have been added to the world-renowned 50 Best Discovery list. Joining the existing five, the list acts as an extension of the annually updated ranking of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, evaluated by a panel of international experts, as well as those recommended by international reviewers. Recent additions include Gostilna pri Lojzetu, Zemono; Grič, Šentjošt nad Horjulom; Gostilna na Gradu, Ljubljana; Mama Marija, Kranjska Gora and Restavracija Topli val, Kobarid.

For more information on travel in Slovenia, visit slovenia.info/en

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