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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Discover Slovenia

Self-guided rail journey from London through Alps to Slovenia's coast and lakes

Illustration of Discover Slovenia

Discover Slovenia is a self-guided 11-day rail holiday run by Tailor Made Rail that departs London and arrives in Amsterdam, threading through Turin, the Adriatic coastal town of Piran, Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, and Lake Bled in the Julian Alps. The journey combines express rail across Europe with slower regional trains through the Alpine valleys and Slovenian countryside. On Day 1, you take Eurostar to Paris, transfer by metro, then board the TGV across the Alps via the Fréjus Tunnel into Turin. After exploring Turin's role as Italy's first capital, you travel by rail through Milan and Verona to the coast, then continue inland to Ljubljana and Lake Bled, where you hike to viewpoints, swim, and tour the lake by traditional boat. The trip returns you to Amsterdam aboard a sleeper train from Vienna, arriving the next morning. This trip suits independent rail travellers with some station experience and couples seeking multi-night stays in each destination.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a self-guided trip, not escorted; you navigate independently between cities and make your own choices on free days.
  • The price from October to May is £1699 per person (£1799 June to September); rail journeys are in Standard Class with seat reservations.
  • The final hotel in Lake Bled is named as Park Hotel, but optional upgrades to Grand Hotel Toplice are available.
  • Day 10 involves a bus journey from Bled to Villach across the Austrian border before boarding the Vienna sleeper service.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Turin

    London to Turin

    Eurostar to Paris, metro transfer from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, then TGV across the Alps via the Fréjus Tunnel into Turin.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Piran

    Turin to Piran

    Morning exploring Turin, the first capital of Italy, then a direct train across northern Italy via Milan, Verona and Venice to Trieste, with a private transfer on to Piran.

  3. Day 3overnight: Piran

    Piran

    Wander the car-free medieval centre and Tartinijev trg, with visits possible to Portoroz's casino or the port city of Koper.

  4. Day 4overnight: Piran

    Piran

    Further free time exploring Piran and the surrounding Adriatic coast.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Ljubljana

    Piran to Ljubljana

    Private transfer to Koper, then a direct afternoon train through rolling hills into Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, for a 2-night stay.

  6. Day 6overnight: Ljubljana

    Ljubljana

    Explore the mix of Roman, Baroque, Vienna Succession and Art Deco architecture; recommended boat tour on the Ljubljanica. TMR recommends extending with a side-visit to Maribor.

  7. Day 7overnight: Lake Bled

    Ljubljana to Lake Bled

    Open ticket to travel from Ljubljana to Lesce Bled station, around an hour's journey, for a 3-night stay by Lake Bled.

  8. Day 8overnight: Lake Bled

    Lake Bled

    Walk the lake shore, take a traditional Pletna boat to the island church, or hire rowing boats and paddleboards.

  9. Day 9overnight: Lake Bled

    Lake Bled

    Hike to the Ojstrica viewpoint for panoramic views, and sample the famous Bled cream cake at a lakeside café.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Sleeper train (Vienna–Amsterdam)

    Lake Bled to Vienna for sleeper service

    Bus from Bled village across the Austrian border to Villach, then the high-speed line to Vienna to board a sleeper service bound for Amsterdam.

  11. Day 11rail

    Amsterdam to London

    Arrive in Amsterdam this morning and connect onto the Eurostar for the return journey to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar departs London for Paris, then transfer via metro to board the TGV across the Alps through the Fréjus Tunnel into Turin.
  • Day 3Wander Piran's car-free medieval centre and Tartinijev trg (Tartini Square) overlooking the Adriatic.
  • Day 6Explore Ljubljana's mix of Roman, Baroque, Vienna Succession and Art Deco architecture, with a recommended boat tour on the Ljubljanica River.
  • Day 9Hike to the Ojstrica viewpoint for panoramic views of Lake Bled and the Julian Alps, then taste the famous Bled cream cake at a lakeside café.
  • Day 10Board the sleeper train in Vienna bound for Amsterdam, sleeping in a private compartment as you travel overnight.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 9 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Overnight sleeper from Vienna to Amsterdam in a private compartment
  • Private car transfer from Trieste to Piran
  • Private car transfer from Piran to Koper
  • Private car transfer from Lesce Bled to Lake Bled
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes all rail journeys in Standard Class with seat reservations, plus the sleeper compartment from Vienna to Amsterdam.
Is this trip guided or self-guided?
It is self-guided. You travel on your own; Tailor Made Rail provides tickets, hotel bookings, and travel documentation but no tour leader.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Turin via the Fréjus Tunnel), regional trains to Slovenia, and a sleeper train (Vienna to Amsterdam in a private compartment).
How many nights do I spend in hotels versus the train?
Nine nights in hotels and one night in the Vienna-to-Amsterdam sleeper compartment.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys, seat reservations, nine nights in hotel accommodation with breakfast, the sleeper compartment, three private car transfers, travel documentation, and proactive rerouting if strikes disrupt schedules.
How much time do I have for exploring each city?
One night in Turin, three nights in Piran, two nights in Ljubljana, and three nights at Lake Bled, with free time on most days to explore independently.

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