A beautiful city in Europe is often overshadowed by more famous neighbours, but is hailed as a hiddem gem without the hordes of tourists.

Nestled between Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia in Central Europe, Slovenia has become a popular alternative holiday destination due to its welcoming atmosphere, rich cultural heritage, and stunning landscapes.

These include the gorgeous emerald waters of Lake Bled and the scenic splendour of Triglav National Park.

Its rich mix of lush green valleys, alpine peaks, and charming villages makes it a hub for wildlife enthusiasts and hikers.

Another major plus is that Slovenia – unlike Italy and Switzerland, which draw tens of millions of tourists per year – is relatively undiscovered, which means hotspots in the country are unlikely to be overcrowded. However, it is growing in popularity, with some 6.2 million visiting last year.

Nevertheless, Slovenia is said to offer a more intimate and authentic experience, allowing visitors to explore historic sites, such as Ljubljana Castle or the Predjama Castle, without the hassle of long queues.

It also has a capital city to rival some of Europe’s best, with Ljubljana often compared to Prague due to its vibrant cultural scene and charming old town.

Slovenia’s Adriatic coastline, which stretches over 29 miles, is also said to offer a more peaceful alternative to the heaving beaches of Croatia and Italy.

Among the top spots is the seaside town of Piran, which boasts well-preserved medieval architecture as well as stunning sea views.

The Julian Alps also offer great opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities and is reportedly less busy and expensive as than Swiss ski hotspots.

Slovenia even has a growing reputation for the quality of its wine region, despite it being small in size. It’s diverse climate and soil conditions help it produce high-quality wines, and vineyards can be found across its rolling hills.

There are direct flights from the UK to Slovenia from various major airports.

The most popular route is from Heathrow to Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport in Ljubljana, according to Booking.com, with the flight taking five hours nine minutes one way on average, and costing £422 for a round trip.