Easy to miss on even the largest of maps, Slovenia is tucked into the armpit formed by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, and Croatia to the south. It's pretty much in the center of Europe, about the same distance from London as it is from Istanbul, and more or less midway between Moscow and Lisbon.
Ljubljana is more or less in the center of the country. To the north, the Julian Alps on the Italian border form one natural perimeter of the Triglav National Park, synonymous with the triple-peak Triglav Mountains seen on the national flag. Triglav's proud peaks add to the splendor of the country's most cherished lakes, Bled and Bohinj, both defining features on the country's tourist trail. Tucked between Triglav and the Italian border is the fantastic Soca River Valley, a tour de force for travelers looking for river and mountain thrills. And stretched along the northern Austrian border is the Karavanke Mountain range, providing rewarding views as you drive anywhere north of the capital.
Slovenia's southwest is defined by its unique limestone formations that make up the unique region known as the Karst, a term that has been exported around the world to describe similar "Karstic" phenomena. Squeezed between Italy's Trieste and the border with Croatia is Slovenia's tiny slither of Istrian coastline, with fishing ports of distinctly Venetian influence. Finally, more mountains, wine lands, and remnants of a Roman and medieval past are found in the less traveled east.
