Very popular indoor team sports
Although winter sports are by far the most popular, team sports also have their fans. In soccer, the national team is very discreet (one participation in the Euro, in 2000, and two in the World Cup in 2002 and 2010), but the Slovenians shine in basketball and handball
Basketball. After the independence of the country in 1991, Slovenia joined FIBA (the international federation) the following year. Since then, it has always qualified for the European Championships. Its good results in 2005 (6th) and 2009 (4th) allowed it to go to Japan for the 2006 World Championships where it finished 12th. After these few convincing results, Slovenia had the honor to organize the EuroBasket in 2013. Eliminated by the France of Tony Parker, the future winner, the selection will finish in a nice5th place. A mere foretaste of the glory hour of Slovenian basketball that will dominate the Old Continent by offering the gold medal of the European Championships 2017 without losing a game. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the thrilling semi-final between France and Slovenia will be long remembered. The Slovenian selection led by its star Luka Dončić was close to dismissing France. It was not until the last second and a miraculous counter from Nicolas "Batman" Batum that the tricolores joined the United States in the final. The Slovenian selection will finally fail at the foot of the podium.
Handball. Slovenians are also fond of handball. Their selection has offered them some good runs in international competitions. At the Euro 2002, the men's team finished in5th place, beating the formidable Croatia. At the 2003 World Championships in Portugal, they reached the second phase, but narrowly missed out on one of the top two places in their group, qualifying for the quarter-finals. In 2004, the Slovenian team played in front of their home crowd at the European Championships and won the silver medal after failing to reach the final against Germany. After a short period in the desert, the Slovenian team reached the4th place at the 2013 World Championships in Spain before finishing 6th at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016. A year later, the Slovenians won their first medal (bronze) at the World Championships held in France. Finally, at the 2020 European Championships, the Slovenians finished4th after falling in the match for3rd place to Norway, one of the host countries.
Hiking, the queen activity
There are many hiking and trekking trails of varying difficulty. More than 10,000 km of mountain trails run through the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Karavanke massif. This means that there is plenty to do, whether you are an experienced hiker or just a family looking for a walk! The best time to take advantage of the entire network is between late spring and early autumn: almost all mountain huts are open then.
As for the routes to choose from, in Slovenia there are more than 700 thematic routes, both long and short. You can choose the Triglav Park and its peaks of over 2,500 m, climb canyons in the Soča Valley
or walk in the Karst, not far from the sea. Finally, it is worth noting that Nordic walking has been gaining popularity in Slovenia for several years. This special walking technique, which requires poles, is considered optimal for body maintenance and suitable for all ages and levels. It can be practiced on any mountain trail, but it is even more enjoyable on specialized trails, such as in Šmarješke Toplice or in the Pomurje region.Many water sports
Although some Slovenian hotels offer swimming pools, swimming is mostly done in the Adriatic Sea, of course, but also in the interior of the country, in the lakes of Bled and Bohinj
or in the very popular Kolpa River.Rafting, as well as canoeing and kayaking, is very popular, thanks in part to the magnificent spot offered by the turquoise and turbulent waters of the Soča. The starting point for these activities remains the town of Tolmin, about 30 kilometers north of Nova Gorica. The upper part of the Sava River, the Savinja (Styria), the Kolpa (Bela Krajina) and the Krka (Lower Carniola) also offer good profiles for rafting. The many agencies along these rivers rent equipment and take care of bringing you back to your starting point.
Hydrospeeding is also very popular in Slovenian whitewater, especially in the Soča and Sava rivers: equipped with a small float, flippers and protective gear, you can go down the rivers in direct contact with the water.
There are also a few places that are suitable for extreme canyoning. The Sušec and Fratarca gorges (Soča valley), as well as the Grmečica and Jerečica gorges (Bohinj lake) are the most suitable sites. Beware, accompanying person required!
Finally, during the summer season, the underwater coastal reliefs between Piran and Strunjan are ideal for diving: in addition to the underwater fauna and flora, you will have the opportunity to discover wrecks of military ships or cargo ships sunk during the Second World War. Finally, the Divje jezero lake, near Idrija, also sees a lot of scuba divers.A renowned spa resort
Spa and wellness tourism has long attracted visitors who want to take care of themselves. Spa centers and health resorts are legion in Slovenia.
In Terme Čatež, on the Croatian-Slovenian border on the road between Ljubljana and Zagreb, for example, there is the largest open-air water complex in this part of Europe. The spa in Dobrna, in the northeast of the country, is a testimony to the long tradition of Slovenian spas, which have been in operation since 1403. Among the most famous establishments, the Dolenjske Toplice and Moravske Toplice thermal baths have made the country famous since the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The reason for the success of this specific type of tourism is probably due to the past geology of the eastern part of the country: the Pannonian Sea covered this part of the country millions of years ago, and the Romans in their time already discovered the beneficial effects of these thermal waters.
