A stunning European country with flights from just £43 has been named one of the continent’s most overlooked travel destinations by a popular YouTube influencer.
Slovenia, a tiny nation of just over two million people, is quietly enjoying a tourism surge, yet many British travellers still pass it by in favour of better-known hotspots.
Visitor numbers rose by nine per cent over the past year, with an estimated 7.3 million foreign tourists booking overnight stays in 2025. Almost one million arrivals were recorded in July alone.
YouTube creator Paul Taylor, who posts travel content under the name Suitcase Monkey, said his six-day trip to Slovenia was ‘packed but peaceful’ and described the country as the ‘best most overlooked country’.
Beginning his journey in the capital Ljubljana, Paul said the city’s layout made it the perfect base.
In a video shared with followers, he explained: ‘Home to just 300,000 people, its river walk is the obvious highlight, but its many offshoots and compact nature make it perfect for finding on foot.
‘Whilst walking anywhere in the city it is impossible to miss its most dominant centrepiece and it was our first stop. Ljubljana Castle is worth a visit.’
Slovenia, a tiny nation of just over two million people, is quietly enjoying a tourism surge, yet many British travellers still pass it by in favour of better-known hotspots
Visitor numbers rose by nine per cent over the past year, with an estimated 7.3 million foreign tourists booking overnight stays in 2025
The hilltop castle can be reached via a steep walk from the city centre or by a funicular railway that takes just two minutes. Paul said one of the highlights was a 4D film that explores the castle’s long history.
He also said he enjoyed learning about Slovenia’s modern past, noting that the country has existed in its current form only since 1991, after previously being part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Later in the trip, Paul and his wife Chiaki travelled to Lake Bled, famous for its fairytale church and dramatic scenery. He said: ‘Just watching the world go by from various locations was magical.
‘Especially on the more remote western side and this peace and quiet is what I’ll remember.’
Another standout moment came at Postojna Cave, part of the Classical Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors travel through the underground tunnels on a 90-minute train journey – a world first when it was built.
Paul said: ‘This is the world’s first underground railway. With almost 4km of track it acts as the grand entry point for Postojna cave, a massive network of passages, tunnels, and an ancient gift shop.
Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Bohinj Lake, Church of St John the Baptist with bridge
The franciscan Church of Annunciation and the Triple Bridge
‘Although its arrival may grab the headlines, it’s the 120m deep, 24km cave system that makes up the majority of the time for any visit. The caves are full of intricate stalactites and stalagmites.’
Slovenia also caters to thrill-seekers, with the turquoise Soca River popular for rafting and the country’s mountainous terrain attracting canyoning enthusiasts.
Flights to Slovenia are available from several UK airports including Heathrow, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh with prices listed on SkyScanner from as little as £43, making the picturesque destination one of Europe’s best-value hidden gems.
