It hasn’t always been one of Europe’s most popular destinations. While Barcelona, Paris and Rome were swamped with tourists on a weekend break, the stunning city of Ljubljana was one of Europe’s hidden treasures. But Slovenia and its capital are becoming increasingly popular as holiday destinations. Here are the top five reasons to visit.

1. Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, has managed to retain its history and culture while embracing the future. It is a thriving metropolis but still has many historic sites including The Old Town with its medieval castle.

2. Caves
Slovenia is famous for its caves. The country has over 7500 karst caves. The term Karst comes from the Slovenian region of Kras and is used to describe distinctive landforms that develop on rock types readily dissolved in water. The karsts are a striking sight and are extremely popular with tourists.

3. Lakes
Lake Bled and its surrounding countryside is one of the Slovenia’s most scenic areas, although there are plenty to choose from in this breathtaking country. Near Lake Bled there is an historic cliff-perched castle, which helps makes this one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist attraction.

4. Mountains
Slovenia’s mountains are part of the Alps and the Dinarides. There are three main Mountain areas. The Julian Alps are in the northwestern part of Slovenia. Karavanke is a mountainous ridge, which forms a boundary between Slovenia and Austria. The Kamnik Alps lie to the south of Karavanke. All three areas are stunning and a must see for visitors to Slovenia.

5. Waterfalls
Slovenia has over 300 permanent waterfalls. The most famous of which is Rinka in the Logar Valley. It is the source of the Savinja river. Rinka is a stunning sight and is popular with tourists. It has been named a natural heritage site.

Russ Pooley
Writes for http://www.drakeandcavendish.com/luxury_hotels/europe/slovenia/slovenia/