famous road
Solčava Panoramic Road
A high balcony road above the Logar Valley in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, threading hill farms and viewpoints between Solčava and Podolševa with constant views of 2,000 m limestone walls.
33 km · about 40 min drive
EuropeSloveniaUrban Municipality of Velenje
Velenje
Urban Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia · Europe
About Velenje
Velenje sits on the route: 10 minutes from Šoštanj, 33km from Solčava Panoramic Road.
Velenje is in Urban Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia, with about 24,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Šoštanj, about 6 km away.
Velenje (pronounced [ʋɛˈlɛ̀ːnjɛ] ; German: Wöllan) is the sixth-largest city of Slovenia, and the seat of the Municipality of Velenje. Velenje was owned by the Habsburgs for several centuries, which is reflected in the exceptionally rich legacy of castles and manors. The city is located in the traditional SlovenianRead more
region of Styria, among the rolling green hills of the Šalek Valley, with the Kamnik–Savinja Alps to the west and the Pohorje Mountains to the east. The city of Velenje was officially opened on September 20, 1959, according to a unified construction plan. Velenje is marked by mining with the Velenje Coal Mine, popular due to its longwall mining method, opened in 1875 and still operating, where over 260 million tons of coal have been mined. The old part of the coal mine is home to the Slovenian Coal Mining Museum.
Where to Stay in Velenje
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Velenje.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Velenje.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Velenje?
Within an hour or so of Velenje: Solčava Panoramic Road (33 km), Velika Planina (36 km), Logar Valley (37 km), South Styrian Wine Road (53 km).
Are there any good drives near Velenje?
The nearest famous roads are Solčava Panoramic Road, South Styrian Wine Road and Ljubelj Pass (Loibl Pass).
Where is Velenje?
Velenje is in Urban Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia, about 6 km from Šoštanj.
Road trip
Drive to Velenje
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Velenje. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 24,327
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Slovenia
- Region
- Urban Municipality of Velenje
- Timezone
- Europe/Ljubljana
- Coordinates
- 46.3572, 15.1128
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Slovenia
Motorway vignette required.
Full driving guide for SloveniaTags
Worth the detour from Velenje
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
photogenic
Velika Planina
High karst plateau above Kamnik dotted with one of Europe's last herders' settlements: oval shingle-roofed huts still used by dairymen each summer. Reachable by cable car or a mountain road to nearby trailheads.
36 km · about 40 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Logar Valley
Glacial U-shaped valley in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps with a toll road running its length to the Rinka waterfall.
37 km · about 45 min drive
famous road
South Styrian Wine Road
Ribbon roads roll along vine-covered ridges on the Slovenian border between Ehrenhausen, Gamlitz and Leutschach, the 'Austrian Tuscany': dotted with Buschenschank taverns and klapotetz windmills.
53 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana
An iconic Art Nouveau bridge guarded by four dramatic copper dragon statues, a beloved symbol of Slovenia's charming capital.
57 km · about 65 min drive
castle
Ljubljana Castle
A medieval hilltop castle offering panoramic views over Ljubljana's pastel-colored old town with the Julian Alps on the horizon.
58 km · about 65 min drive
castle
Ptuj Castle
Castle above Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia, overlooking the Drava river and a Roman-era settlement site.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Velenje
- 33 kmSolčava Panoramic RoadA high balcony road above the Logar Valley in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, threading hill farms and viewpoints between Solčava and Podolševa with constant views of 2,000 m limestone walls.
- 37 kmLogar ValleyGlacial U-shaped valley in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps with a toll road running its length to the Rinka waterfall.
- 53 kmSouth Styrian Wine RoadRibbon roads roll along vine-covered ridges on the Slovenian border between Ehrenhausen, Gamlitz and Leutschach, the 'Austrian Tuscany': dotted with Buschenschank taverns and klapotetz windmills.
- 67 kmLjubelj Pass (Loibl Pass)One of Europe's oldest mountain crossings, this 1,367 m pass between Slovenia and Austria keeps its steep historic cobbled-era road above the modern tunnel: a favourite hairpin climb for drivers and cyclists.
- 79 kmMala Osojnica Viewpoint (Lake Bled)A 685-metre hilltop overlooking fairy-tale Lake Bled with its island church, medieval clifftop castle, and the Julian Alps behind.
- 79 kmPyramidenkogel TowerThe world's tallest wooden observation tower (100 m) spirals above the Wörthersee, reached by a drivable summit road; go up by lift or 441 steps and down Europe's highest indoor slide.
Driving in Slovenia
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €16 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Velenje.
Plan a trip around Velenje
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Velenje.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.