Why camping is one of the best experiences in Slovenia

Slovenia is a small country in the heart of Europe with an area of 20.200 km²: it lies at the crossroad of many important European ways from the North to the South and the West to the East. Thanks to its location on a strategically important area between the Alps, the Karst, the Mediterranean, and the Pannonian plain, it was known already in ancient times to nomads, merchants, army leaders, and other restless souls. Nowadays it is continuously gaining popularity and is visited by restless souls of another kind, active tourists who like to have genuine contact with nature during their holiday.  

Thanks to its diversity, purity and its numerous beautiful destinations in unspoiled nature, Slovenia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Europeans who wish to spend their vacation relatively close to home, in a country with a familiar culture and embraced by magnificent nature, which they do not have at home. 

In its small area, where everything is nearby, Slovenia offers an incredible variety. From high mountains reaching altitudes of 2000 metres and more, concentrated in the massifs of the Julian Alps, the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and the Karavanke range, to magnificent valleys amongst them, crisscrossed by brooks and rivers, to the secrets of the Karst, the hillsides rich in vineyards in the western, eastern and southern parts of the country,  the beneficial influence of the Mediterranean, many springs of healing thermal waters and an almost infinite number of other points of natural and cultural interest.

You can stay in any part of Slovenia and still see the whole county with day trips: driving from its northern border to the southern border will take less than three hours, whereas the distance from its western border to the east will take less than four hours. Thanks to its infrastructural connections you can plan your trips with efficiency and in the smallest detail. 

Two years ago Slovenia became the first country in the world to be awarded the flattering title “green destination”: it was awarded by the Dutch foundation Green destinations, which based the evaluation on the standards of the international Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and ETIS standards of the European Commission. Thus, when visiting Slovenia you will find a touristic infrastructure with a strong emphasis on solutions that are environmentally friendly, sustainable and strive to protect natural resources, and as a result, ensure a high quality of life. 

With approximately a hundred campsites that are open all year and some seasonal campsites, Slovenia creates almost two million overnight stays a year. The campsites are excellent, of great quality and can be found in the whole country. The largest has a maximum capacity of approximately a thousand guests, so you do not need to worry about getting lost in them. Most campsites offer a wide selection of services and activities to their guests, so you can easily spend your holiday in an active way or use the offer as an inspiration for day trips. Even if you spend a few days of your vacation doing absolutely nothing, that is ok too! Camping itself is a very beneficial thing for your body and soul.

Camping has many positive effects on adults, but if you are bringing your children with you, the effects on them are even greater – especially on their development. If we had to choose one word to sum up the beneficial effects, the most appropriate would be “detox”, in its literal and symbolic meaning. Camping detaches us from the bad habits we have in our everyday life (insufficient physical activity, addiction to modern technological appliances, lack of genuine contact with other people) and connects us with nature, helps improve our self-esteem, reinforces the immune system, establishes a natural biorhythm, acquaints us with new aspects offered by nature and living in a different environment, teaches new ways to play in new surroundings, gives us the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Of course, most of the above-mentioned effects apply to adults and children. 

Hoteli Bernardin kindly invites you to Camping Lucija, which is open all year. It is embraced by the lush greenery of the Seča peninsula and has 550 camping spaces and a total capacity of 1000 guests. More than half of the camp is organized in camping spaces with electricity hook-ups and more than half have water hook-ups. The upper terrace has no defined camping spaces and is intended for visitors with tents.

The campsite has a well-tended beach, free Wi-Fi and a playground for children. During the summer campsite, guests can upon payment swim in the outdoor swimming pool in Bernardin resort, whereas during the rest of the year they can visit the Sea water park Termaris upon payment. Pet owners can bring their pets to the beach and there is also a “dog shower” they can use. The average air temperature in the campsite and its surroundings is 16°C in spring, 26°C in summer and from 8°C to 18°C in autumn. 

Close to the campsite you can find tennis courts, a mini-golf course, courts for volleyball, basketball, handball, and football as well as a track for bocce and bowling. The largest Slovenian seaside resort is a stone’s throw from the campsite, you can also take a walk along a well-tended path along the sea and visit Piran or the famous saltpans of Sečovlje. On the beach, you will find a playground with trampolines for children and you can also rent equipment to ensure water fun! A cycling path crosses the campsite and takes you to the saltpans of Sečovlje; the most avid cyclists absolutely have to try at least one segment of one of the loveliest and best-tended cycling trails in Slovenia – the Parenzana. It follows the route of the ancient narrow-gauge railway which connected Muggia (Italy) and Poreč (Croatia) and was very important for the economic development of northern Istria at the beginning of the 20^thcentury. Windsurfers and kitesurfers will find a great spot close to the campsite.

Camping Lucija is a great starting point for tripsto the nearby points of cultural and natural interest and also for visiting western and central Slovenia. The wine cellars of the coastal region are close, as well as the wine road in the hills of Goriška Brda with wine cellars of world-renowned wine producers. Less than an hour away by car you will find two jewels of the Karst, the Škocjan caves, which are protected by the UNESCO, and the world-famous Postojna cave with its Predjama castle. Just a bit further you can visit the capital Ljubljana, which is great for a day trip. Another hour away there is another pearl – Bled, with its lake and castle, and from there is just a quick hop to Bohinj, the heart of Triglav national park and the Julian Alps.

The staff of Camping Lucija will be glad to help you organize your trips and give you useful suggestions, especially about the lesser known – but well-worth visiting – local points of interest in the hinterland of Portorož and Koper.