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Mexico City to the Alps and the Adriatic: Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Kotor

Mexico City → Ljubljana → Lake Bled → Kotor

Ljubljana
"Ljubljana_Old_Town,_Slovenia_(Old_Camera)_(33286165680).jpg" by Andrew Milligan Sumo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Ljubljana Old Town, Slovenia (Old Camera) (33286165680) (Ljubljana)
Photo: Andrew Milligan Sumo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alps to Adriatic Best season (general guide): Late May–Jun, Sep

This route pairs Slovenia's lakes and mountains with Montenegro's fjord-like bay on the Adriatic. From Mexico City you'll connect via a European hub to Ljubljana. A flight from Ljubljana via a hub, or a long scenic road trip down the coast, takes you to Kotor.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in Ljubljana: day one, old town; day two, castle and market. Then spend days three and four at Lake Bled: day three, travel to Bled, then pletna to the island; day four, Bohinj or Vintgar. Then spend days five to seven in Kotor: day five, fly to Tivat, then old town; day six, walls to the fortress; day seven, Perast boat.

Ljubljana is relaxed and green, with riverside cafés, open-air markets and bridges designed by the architect Jože Plečnik. Lake Bled is close by. You can row a traditional pletna boat to the island church, walk around the lake or climb to the castle and the Ojstrica viewpoint. Lake Bohinj and Triglav National Park are a short drive beyond. The final stop, Kotor, sits where steep mountains meet the sea. Its old town is a maze of squares and churches, and a long climb up the walls to the fortress gives views over the bay. Boats visit Perast and the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks.

Late May to June and September offer the best balance: warm weather, swimmable water on the coast and fewer crowds. In midsummer, Kotor is busy with cruise ship passengers.

Climb Kotor's walls early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the heat. Montenegro isn't in the EU, so check entry rules for your passport.

If you'd rather travel overland, the long road and bus journey from Slovenia through Croatia's coast to Montenegro can be broken with a night in Split or Dubrovnik. Either way, consider adding Lake Bohinj to the Bled stay, which is quieter and surrounded by the mountains of Triglav National Park.

Suggested outline

  1. Mexico City

    Start

  2. Ljubljana

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    Slovenia's small capital, with a car-free riverside centre, Plečnik's bridges and a castle on a hill.

  3. Lake Bled

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    An alpine lake with an island church and a cliff-top castle, about an hour from Ljubljana. Vintgar Gorge and Lake Bohinj are nearby.

    Lake Bled
    "Lake_Bled_from_the_Mountain.jpg" by Canadianhockey91, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Kotor

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    A walled medieval town at the head of the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. Tivat airport (TIV) is close by.

    Kotor
    "20090719_Crkva_Gospa_od_Zdravlja_Kotor_Bay_Montenegro.jpg" by User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Ljubljana — Arrive; old town· Mexico City → Ljubljana (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Ljubljana — Castle and market
  3. Day 3 · Lake Bled — To Bled; pletna to the island· Ljubljana → Lake Bled (overland)
  4. Day 4 · Lake Bled — Bohinj or Vintgar
  5. Day 5 · Kotor — Fly to Tivat; old town· Lake Bled → Tivat (by air), then Tivat → Kotor (overland)
  6. Day 6 · Kotor — Walls to the fortress
  7. Day 7 · Kotor — Perast boat
  8. Day 8 · Kotor — Travel home from Kotor· Kotor → Tivat (overland), then Tivat → Mexico City (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Ljubljana

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Lake Bled

Nearest airport: Ljubljana Search fares · Ljubljana ↗

Kotor

Nearest airport: Tivat Search fares · Tivat ↗

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