Abercrombie & Kent’s premier destinations for 2026
Slovenia: Europe’s Best-Kept Not-So-Secret (But Don’t Tell Everyone)
Slovenia, sitting pretty at number 12 on Abercrombie & Kent’s Top Places to Visit in 2026, is the travel equivalent of that impossibly stylish friend who never has lipstick on her teeth, even at midnight. While Italy is busy crowd-managing gondoliers and Austria is running out of Sound of Music hills to twirl on, Slovenia has been quietly perfecting the art of being fabulous without fuss.
Lake Bled
This is the country where Lake Bled looks like it was dreamed up by Hans Christian Andersen after a particularly good night’s sleep. There’s an island with a storybook church, reached by boats so elegant you half expect Cary Grant to appear, scarf fluttering. Then underground, in the Škocjan Caves, Mother Nature has staged her own operatic production, colossal chambers and echoing waterfalls that make you feel like you’ve snuck backstage at Earth’s grandest theatre.
And just when you think Slovenia couldn’t possibly offer more, along comes the Vipava Valley with its rolling vineyards and family-owned wineries. Forget the soulless tasting rooms where you’re handed a laminated sheet and a thimble of Sauvignon. Here, winemakers argue across the table over who has the better vintage while you sample both for research purposes, naturally. Add in Triglav National Park, with peaks and lakes that are so pristine they should have their own Instagram filter, and you’ve got an alpine fantasy that feels both deeply European and refreshingly undiscovered.
Slovenia’s Michelin Starred restaurants
Then there’s the food. Slovenia is having a culinary coming-of-age that’s impossible to ignore. At the helm is Ana Roš, the country’s Michelin-starred culinary powerhouse, whose Hiša Franko restaurant has become a pilgrimage site for foodies. She’s the sort of chef who forages for wild herbs in the morning, then transforms them into plates that feel like edible poetry by evening. This is Slovenia’s love letter to hyper-local ingredients. And she’s not alone. Across the country, a new generation of chefs is elevating traditions with innovation, proving that Slovenian cuisine is as exciting as its landscapes.
Do It the A&K Way
Of course, Slovenia is wonderful on your own. But in the hands of Abercrombie & Kent, it’s cinematic. A&K’s tailormade itineraries are designed for people who like their adventure active but also like someone else to arrange the picnic basket. Imagine private rowing lessons on Lake Bled with an Olympic champion who makes balancing in a boat look as natural as brushing your teeth. Picture yourself cycling past vineyards before collapsing into a tasting hosted by a winemaker who still crushes grapes barefoot because, well, that’s how his grandmother did it.
Boutique hotels? Slovenia has those too – sleek, design-conscious properties that look like they were curated for an interiors magazine but still manage to be warm and personal. And A&K slips you into this world seamlessly, blending outdoor adventure with cultural immersion so you’re experiencing Slovenia at its sophisticated, sustainable, and still blissfully uncrowded best.
Slovenia embodies anti tourism
As an A&K insider sums it up: “Slovenia embodies the ‘anti-overtourism’ movement perfectly – guests are actively seeking destinations that offer authentic European experiences without battling crowds at every turn. We’re seeing a 75% increase in enquiries as travellers discover Slovenia delivers everything they love about the Alps and Mediterranean, but with genuine local encounters and sustainable tourism practices. It’s become the ultimate ‘insider’s Europe’ destination.”
While Slovenia is number 12 with Abercrombie & Kent in your corner, it feels like number one. Just don’t tell the crowds.
