Ljubljana, Slovenia

After a flight cancellation, I ended up having diversion to Vienna in Austria for a few hours. Luckily they have a great train link to the city so I was able to spend some time wandering through the city which is stunning, and a place I haven't been to in many years. You could say it ended up being a bonus despite losing some time in Slovenia.

Slovenia is situated right in the heart of Central Europe bordered by Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. It's relatively small country with just over 2 million inhabitants however it has a whole range of natural treasures just waiting to be explored. Snow capped mountains, emerald green rivers, and endless forests that cover more than half of the country. Plus picturesque towns, great food and a vibrant culture.

With only a few days in the country I spend most of the time in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and one of Europe's greenest capitals. The emerald-green Ljubljanica River flows right through the city, with great architecture, cafes and vibe.

I also took a bus to Lake Bled, a glacial lake fed by hot springs with an island in the middle. It's surrounded by mountain peaks and is an easy day trip with a stunning setting. I took some lunch, meandered around the lake and took a boat out to the famous Bled Island and the pilgrimage church. There are loads of trails to explore as well as the towering castle right by the lake on a cliff.

Be sure to check out:

• Ljubljana Castle - On top of a 375m-high hill by the Old Town, this castle has some great architecture from the 16th century and is a great place to watch the sunset.
• Škocjan Caves - An incredible cave system that's been attracting tourists for over 200 years. Be sure to check out Predjama Castle, one of the largest cave castles in the world.