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Apitourism in Slovenia: 17 Awesome Bee Experiences You Have to Try

Last Updated: July 25, 2024 //  by  Ashley Smith Leave a Comment

Apitourism in Slovenia is HUGE… but perhaps you’re not quite sure what it even is? While you may only associate Slovenia with the picturesque Lake Bled, lots of other people know it for one major thing: beekeeping.

In fact, Slovenia is the world capital of beekeeping . It has the most beekeepers per capita (1 per every 200 residents); has its own breed of honeybee; and was home to the world’s first beekeeping instructor (Anton Janša, in the 1700s).

From then on, beekeeping became a sacred tradition in Slovenia and a major part of everyday life. (It’s even been designated an example of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.) And this tradition is still going strong. You’ll see brightly painted beehives everywhere you go in Slovenia and fuzzy buzzy honeybees on every wildflower.

Apitourism in Slovenia

Given the importance of beekeeping in Slovenian culture, exploring this tradition should be on every visitor’s list. As a beekeeper myself (not sure if you knew that about me!), I was very excited to be able to check out all that the motherland (queenland?) has to offer in terms of apitourism in Slovenia during my June 2023 visit.

But these experiences aren’t just for beekeepers! Apitourism in Slovenia is for everyone —those who are just curious, those seeking health and wellness, adventure, or just sweet treats. For your next trip to the world capital of beekeeping, be sure to check out these 17 awesome examples of apitourism in Slovenia.

Table of Contents

The lists of providers I’ve put in this post are not all-inclusive but just some good starting points. Before my own trip I found it extremely difficult to nail down some exact providers and locations, so this is my attempt at making it as easy as possible for you to experience apitourism in Slovenia.

1. Tour an apiary

If you’re not a beekeeper yourself and/or have never been around beehives and/or honeybees en masse , definitely start by touring an apiary .  

An apiary is simply a collection of beehives and/or the area where beehives are kept.

Many Slovenian beekeepers even offer this service from their very own homes. You can visit their home apiary where they’ll suit you up and introduce you to the tradition of Slovenian beekeeping right there in their backyards.

An experienced beekeeper will teach you all about the history of beekeeping in Slovenia and honeybees in general. You’ll get to see the hives up close and all the crazy bee action going in and out of the hives. (I personally call this the “Honeybee Superhighway.”) You’ll also get to sample fresh honey and more. (I’ll talk about the “more” throughout this post.)

These aren’t large commercial ventures or anything—you’ll actually be learning about Slovenian beekeeping from local Slovenian beekeepers. This is as grassroots as it gets.

Apitourism in Slovenia: where to tour an apiary

There’s a long list of beekeepers who offer this service, but here are a few you can start with:

• Toni Zupančič in Rateče (near Kranjska Gora). Also on Instagram .
• Batištuta Beekeeping in Kojsko (near the Italian border). Also on Facebook .
• Panorama Glamping offers the chance to “ become a beekeeper for a day .”
• Kralov Med offers a variety of different guided apiary tours.
• Čebelarstvo Kozmus in Lesično has comprehensive guided tours.

2. Spend the night in a beehive

While this one may be for the more open-minded traveler, it’s still not as daring (i.e. batshit crazy) as it sounds. When I first heard about beehive hotels as part of the apitourism in Slovenia, I knew instantly it was something I had to experience for myself! And it was definitely an adventure.

All over Slovenia people have constructed sleeping cabins that double as beehives. And, no, this is not the beginning of a horror movie. Rather, it’s the beginning of an extremely unique health and wellness experience.

“Sleeping with bees” is reported to have many physical and mental health benefits . The constant hum and vibration of the thousands of bees, the aromatherapy of the honey-scented room, and the highly ionized air from the hives are just the start of it.

The bees are never in the room with you , but their hives might be. (From which they can’t escape, so don’t worry.) While in there you also have the opportunity for beehive inhalation (which I’ll talk more about in a second), and just a whole lot of relaxation. If you’re the kind of person who can relax while surrounded by hundreds of thousands of bees, then you’ll love this!

But note that there are some hive hotel options that are simply beehive-themed and may not contain actual hives. This is in case you’ve ever wanted to feel like an actual queen yourself.

Bee hotels in Slovenia

If you’d like to get a jump on your stay at a beehive hotel in Slovenia, check out these awesome options:

• Sleeping with Bees in Grosuplje (just outside Ljubljana) – This is where I stayed and it was fantastic.
• Sleeping with the Bees in Kobarid (far western Slovenia)
• Carniolan Bee House in Višnja Gora, near Ljubljana – Bee-free but bee-themed
• Beeland Apartments in Mozirje (northeastern Slovenia) – Awesome hive-themed separate apartments on a beautiful property
• BEe in foREST in Pivka (southwestern Slovenia) – Bee-themed house but they also have a beehive house for rent as well (inquire here ).
• The Apitourism Beehouse near Lake Bohinj

Book the bee house I stayed in here.

3. Taste Slovenia’s unique honeys

Here in the U.S. we are accustomed to a few popular varieties of honey—mostly, wildflower (the most common, and the kind I produce), clover honey, and orange blossom honey. But in Slovenia there are many other kinds of honey that are popular instead. Varieties like chestnut, linden, and forest honey dominate the shelves here.

Besides the honey you get with all your hotel breakfasts in Slovenia , you can also taste the wide range of Slovenian honeys at many different places. If you stay in one of the beehive hotels, your host will likely have their own honey for you to try as well.

The same goes for your apiary tour. These tours often include the chance to try the many different kinds of honey their bees produce.

Otherwise, you can head to any of the beekeeping centers or shops in Slovenia and try many different kinds of honey there too. At the Beekeeping Center in Maribor, I was able to try (and purchase) some:

• Chestnut honey –This is probably the most popular variety of honey in Slovenia and my favorite for sure! It is said to have more vitamins (vitamin bee, I assume?) and antioxidants than other honey types and be diabetic friendly.
• Linden honey—Light in color, big in flavor, popular in Europe
• Acacia honey—Super light in both color and flavor, great for sweetening tea.
• White fir honey—One of Slovenia’s famous “forest honeys,” the bees only produce this kind of honey every six years! And it’s green! Obviously I bought some of this too.

“Honey” in Slovenian is med .

4. Get a honey massage

Despite my aversion to both massages and being sticky, I still didn’t hesitate to sign up for a honey massage during my trip to Slovenia. (I hesitated hella hard when it came time to actually do it, but I survived.)

Slovenia, as the beekeeping capital of the world, produces more than 2,000 tons of honey each year. It’s sold in jars, used in cooking and winemaking, and all kinds of “normal” things you’d assume. But it’s also poured on people’s bodies and rubbed all over by trained apitherapists.

Besides being delicious, honey is all kinds of magic: antibiotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, just to name a few. Anyone can sign up for a honey massage and the cost is about the same as your typical Swedish or deep tissue massage. Trained therapists perform these massages all over the country and in many different kinds of settings.

I wrote an entire post on honey massage in Slovenia that includes everything you need to know: how it works, where to get one, and even TMI about my own hilarious honey massage experience.

5. Breathe in the bees with beehive inhalation

One of the more unique aspects of apitourism in Slovenia I discovered was hive inhalation (often just called “aerosol”). In case you didn’t think a honey massage was weird enough, they bring you: the chance to hook up a respirator to a beehive.

It’s believed that the air inside the beehive has all kinds of beneficial and restorative properties. And, “they say” it can help with ailments like asthma, respiratory diseases, bronchitis, allergies, and even stress disorders. Though, I guess that last one depends on how comfortable you are next to a beehive in the first place. Plus, it all smells very nice.

Get my sunflower shirt here.

If you’re interested in trying beehive inhalation, check out the following providers:

• Sleeping with Bees , the bee house I stayed in overnight offers this service.
• Apitourism Kozjak – This bee house offers this as well.
• Batištuta Beekeeping offers bee aerosol for children, adults, and seniors.
• BEe in foREST offers the chance to “breath the beneficial bee air.”
• Panorama Glamping Visole offers aerosol therapy in what seems like the most chill setting imaginable.
• Mr. Bee offers a 45-minute apitherapy aerosol session.

6. Take a beekeeping class

If you’ve ever considered becoming a beekeeper, sign up for one of Slovenia’s beekeeping education or training courses. Most beginner beekeepers take some kind of training course when they’re getting started, so you might as well do it in the home of the world’s first beekeeping instructor!

There are beekeeping centers throughout Slovenia and all offer education and training opportunities. You’ll get to learn the art of beekeeping from trained local beekeepers and get cool insight into Slovenia’s most treasured tradition.

Check out the education opportunities at places like:

• The Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association in Lukovica (near Ljubljana) – In Slovenian: Čebelarska zveza Slovenije
• The Beekeeping Center in Maribor – Čebelarska zveza društev Štajerske

7. Visit the Beehouse at Bled Castle

If you want to check out some apitourism in Slovenia but don’t want to go too far off the beaten path, stop by the hive shop at Bled Castle. The castle at Lake Bled is already a major(ish) tourist attraction and they have an awesome hive shop that’s pretty nondescript from the outside, so you could easily miss it.

At Castle Beehouse you can check out some of Slovenia’s unique bee products, taste different kinds of honey, and buy some bee-utiful gifts and souvenirs. Plus, this place is so cool! It really feels like you’re inside a beehive yourself. Probably.

Castle Beehouse is located down a few steps inside the main courtyard and is open year round.

Even if you only have 3 days in Slovenia , this is an easy place to visit.

8. Eat traditional Slovenian honey cookies

Traditional Slovenian honey cookies are heart-shaped gingerbread cookies known as Lectar . They use honey-heavy dough and are delicately decorated by hand in a process called lectarstvo . (A tradition that goes back to at least the 14 th century.)

Only a couple of traditional lectarstvo workshops remain, and the biggest and most well-known is the Gostilna Lectar (who recently celebrated their 250th anniversary). Head to the town of Radovljica (not far from Ljubljana) for this delicious morsel of apitourism in Slovenia.

You can have a meal in their family-run restaurant, visit the gingerbread museum, watch the bakers decorate these ornate cookies, and even stay the night in their on-site hotel. (Which probably isn’t a gingerbread house in the woods owned by a child-eating witch, but you never can tell. You can check out some of the rooms here on Expedia and Hotels.com just to be sure.

9. Eat all the honey foods

OK but why stop at honey-bread cookies? There are actually plenty of honey-sweet treats to eat while you absorb all the apitourism in Slovenia.

At my house, we use honey in just about everything. Any recipe that calls for sugar? We use honey instead. In addition to beer, cider, and wine, my husband also brews mead with the honey from our hives.

Slovenia embraces this honey-centric food culture as well. Besides having honey available at every hotel breakfast, you can find delicious honey foods all over the country. Stop into these shops to see about their current offerings:

• The café at the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association has excellent honey desserts like Marlenka honey cake (also known as Medovik).
• The café at the Carniolan Bee House also has homemade honey delicacies.
• As does the Honey Villa Café (Medena Vila Café) at the Gorenjska Beekeeping Center.

Hungry for honey? Check out my very own super simple recipe for honey walnut baklava .

10. Try the sparkling mead (honey wine):

Another delicacy you’ll find in Slovenia is sparkling mead. In case you’re new to alcohol, mead is an alcoholic beverage brewed with honey and water. And it’s fantastic!

Here in Slovenia, you can try their signature sparkling mead at a couple of different places. In Ljubljana, you can find great options from the Jere Meadery at:

• Gostilna Pri Trubarjevi mami – Authentic Slovenian restaurant
• Strelec – the Michelin star restaurant at Ljubljana Castle
• And these many other shops and sites

For more on how to go wine tasting in Slovenia , read my full post in that link!

11. Make your own beeswax candles

Honey isn’t the only byproduct of Slovenian beekeeping. Beeswax has its own place in the country’s apitourism as well. Besides the many beeswax products you can buy at the souvenir shops and beekeeping centers, you can also make your own beeswax candles.

The process doesn’t take too much time and you get to take home a truly unique Slovenian souvenir. Check out the following providers if you’re interested in joining a beeswax candle-making workshop :

• The Gorenjske Beekeeping Center outside Ljubljana
• Kralov Med in Bled
• Šolar Apitourism in Laško

12. Visit some apiculture museums

If you’d prefer to learn about Slovenia’s beekeeping tradition, like, not while surrounded by actual bees, maybe one of the country’s apiculture museums would be more up your alley.

These museums bring to life not only Slovenian beekeeping but also honeybees in general (especially their signature Carniolan bee). Special topics also include beekeeping history, biology, Slovenian painted hive panels, and honeybee conservation. Some even have observation hives where you can watch the innerworkings of the hive behind glass.

Consider adding one of these museums to your Slovenia itinerary:

• The Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica
• The Experiential Exhibition at the Carniolan Bee House in Višnja Gora
• Janša’s Apiary in Breznica – A reconstruction of Anton Janša’s beehouse (the first beekeeping teacher), guided tours, honey tastings, and it’s free to visit (does that make this a free-bee !).
• Museum of Beekeeping Cultural Heritage in Smarje Sap – Huge collection of painted hive panels and more.

13. Paint your own beehive panel

A big part of the Slovenian beekeeping tradition is the incorporation of brightly painted wooden panels into the beehives. Many are simple colors, but most depict all kinds of scenes and stories. Sometimes it’s stories from the Bible, sometimes it’s Slovenian history , other times it’s family histories, and still other times it’s just funny beekeeping moments.

You’ll see these all over Slovenia, and at some places you can even paint your own. At Kralov Med , for example, they provide the panel with a motif already drawn for you to paint.

14. Pray to the Patron Saint of Beekeepers

Because of course there’s a patron saint of beekeepers! His name is St. Ambrose and at the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association you can even find a tiny little chapel among the wildflowers dedicated to him.

Apparently, this is where we get the Latin word for honey (ambrosia). So that’s something you probably didn’t already know! The sign next to the chapel tells you the whole interesting story.

15. Celebrate World Bee Day

In 2017, the UN declared May 20th to be World Bee Day in an effort to draw attention to the global threat honeybees face. (May 20th is Anton Janša’s birthday.) As the UN puts it :

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

And as the world capital of beekeeping, World Bee Day is a huge deal in Slovenia. While there, just a month later, I saw signs for it and heard it mentioned everywhere. In fact, it was Slovenia who lobbied so hard for the creation of it so they’re extremely proud of this victory.

If you happen to be in Slovenia on or around May 20th, keep an eye on the local beekeeping centers for a list of special events and programs.

16. Go inside a hive via virtual reality

OK, I get it, maybe hanging around bees and beehives isn’t for everyone. So for the rest of you, there’s the virtual reality beehive you can visit at the Čebelarstvo Kozmus in Lesično.

Pop on their VR headset and enter a virtual hive to learn how honeybees operate in 360°. Get all the information you need here .

17. Fly like a bee

And finally, the most out-there piece of apitourism in Slovenia of them all—you can fly like a bee in Maribor. It’s really just a zipline adventure that takes off from their giant “beehive” but it’s too cute. It’s actually the longest two-way zipline in Slovenia and certainly the closest way to experience what a bee does all day every day.

You can fly over the wildflowers in Maribor on this zipline bee flight from March to November. There’s even a gourmet culinary experience on site! Get all the information here.

I hope I’ve been able to open your eyes to the world of apitourism in Slovenia. Whether you’re a beekeeper or bee-phobic, you’ve got plenty of ways to enjoy the fruits of the Slovenian beekeeping tradition.

More info for your trip to Slovenia

• Heading to Slovenia?  Read reviews and find great places to stay here on  Booking.com  and  Expedia .
• Need a rental car?  Check out the  best Slovenia rental car deals  here.
• Pick up a  Slovenia guidebook  for all your other sightseeing.
• And this  S lovenia customs and culture guide  (a must-have!)

Which of these activities would you do? Let me know in the comments!

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 39 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

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Bee tourism is a thing and Slovenia is hoping to become a place for it

Jun 18, 2018 • 1 min read

Slovenia is hoping to become the world capital of apitourism… or more simply put, bee tourism.

The Central European country offers special tours for those obsessed with all things bee-related, including honey tasting, honey drinks, and even honey massages. Slovenia is regularly described as a “cradle of beekeeping” and the country is home to the original Carniolan honey bee, one of the most popular species worldwide.

Carniolan honey bees – which are native to Slovenia – are the second most popular species among beekeepers internationally because of their gentle nature and ability to fight off pests. Visitors to the country can now also take part in special bee bike tours which are being organised by the hotel group Sava. That includes a stop-off at the famous  Beekeeping Museum  in Radovljica where visitors can learn all about the history of apiculture in Slovenia.

Other activities include sculpting with beeswax, walking beekeeping trails, along with countless honey drinks and sweet treats to try. Hotels are even graded according to how they cater for bee tourists and Slovenia is the only country in the world that ranks hotels with one, two, or three bees.

They were also responsible for creating World Bee Day, which was celebrated for the first time ever on 20 May this year. It coincides with the birth date of Slovene Anton Jansa, who was the first teacher at the world’s very first beekeeping school in the 18 th  century. Even now, the country has one of the highest rates of bee-keeping in the world, with five beekeepers for every 1000 inhabitants. Together, they maintain 200,000 bee colonies around the country with most being kept in what are known as Slovenian AZ-beehives (which have also become popular right around the world among honey farmers). You can find out more  about Slovenia and bee tourism here .

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Ekorna > Blog > Beekeeping in Slovenia

Beekeeping in Slovenia

Close coexistence with nature, sustainable lifestyle and local food production – all highly valued concepts in Slovenia – come together in one exceptional product: honey . During the past centuries, beekeeping in Slovenia has became part of the national identity and is increasingly growing international recognition. Especially important breakthrough came in 2017 when The UN member states approved Slovenia’s proposal to celebrate World Bee Day on the 20th of May, birthday of Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping.

We would love to present beekeeping in Slovenia as a unique travel experience and include different aspects of apiculture in our flexible tailor-made trips for everyone interested in this topic. From learning about this old tradition at the beekeeping museum, to honey-tasting and enjoying the well-bee-ing of honey massages. All this and more, can be included in your personalized trip to Slovenia .

for bee -autiful holidays in Slovenia

ORIGINS OF BEEKEEPING IN SLOVENIA

Honey production has a long history in Slovenia, which nowadays is widely recognized as the cradle of modern beekeeping . This tradition originates in the 7th century when the beekeepers of the first Slavic state ( Carantania ) were supplying honey to monasteries, churches and counties all over Europe.

Because of the region’s great biodiversity and favorable climatic conditions, a special type of beehive evolved and was significantly upgraded in the 18th century by Anton Janša from Žirovnica , a small town at the foothills of the Karavanke mountain range in the region of Gorenjska . Janša was born in 1734 into a family that owned more than a hundred beehives and he soon developed a fascination for this craft. His inventive approach and excellent observation skills led Janša to revolutionize the trade of beekeeping. He introduced a new apiary design, defined the role of drones and queen bees and overall perfected honey production techniques.

Janša put all the accumulated knowledge into two books on apiculture which became important source of information for beekeepers of the time and were greatly sough-after throughout the vast Hapsburg Empire , which the territory of Slovenia was then a part of. Moreover, empress Maria Theresa named him the official teacher of apiculture at her court in Vienna.

To honor his legacy and to raise awareness about the importance of bees to the environment, the Beekeepers Association of Slovenia with the support of the national government, send the initiative to the United Nations in which they purposed the celebration of Anton Janša’s birthday (May 20) as World Bee Day .

SLOVENIAN BEE

Slovenian native bee, better known as Carniolan bee ( Apis mellifera carnica ), is the second most common honeybee in the whole world, after its Italian counterpart. Carniolan bee is widely celebrated for its great sense of orientation, hard work, non-aggressive behavior, immunity to diseases, quick spring build-up and suitability for collecting forest honeydew. It proved so valuable to Slovenians that they decided to protect it under special legislation.

Discover the wonderful tradition of beekeeping in Slovenia

HIGH-QULITY HONEY

The central product of beekeeping in Slovenia is of course its high-quality honey, celebrated throughout the world. Unique beekeeping techniques used in Slovenia produce an exceptionally vast variety of  this golden substance. Most common are acacia, lime, chestnut, fir, spruce, floral and forest flavors. Three types of honey produced in this country – the Slovenian honey , the Kočevje forest honey and the honey from the region of Karst – are protected on the EU level and honored with a special geographical designation.

Slovenia produces around 2,500 tons of honey every year which doesn’t qualify it as one of the world’s greatest exporters. Nevertheless, Slovenes like to pride themselves not on great quantity but rather on high quality.

The importance of honey to the Slovenes is also demonstrated in its wide use in local cuisine . On your gastronomy trip through the country, you will get the chance to supplement numerous traditional and modern dishes containing honey, including liqueur and ale.

PAINTED BEEHIVE PANELS

Although the pioneer of beekeeping in Slovenia and ultimately the whole world, Anton Janša, also showed remarkable artistic talent in painting, he decided to dedicate his life to professional apiculture. However, later he found a way to combine his love for the bees and painting by creating wonderful colored beehive panels and popularized this unique Slovenian tradition.

Typically, beehive panels are decorated with scenes depicting everyday life of Slovenian peasants and characters from the rich local folklore. However, the panels’ designs weren’t primarily meant as a platform of artistic expression. Their task was to helps the bees find their way into beehives as well as making it easier for the beekeeper to distinguish between bees colonies.

Today, beehive panels are one of the most iconic Slovenian souvenirs and can be found in the shops through the country. They certainly are a unique gift you can bring to your friends and family.

OTHER HONEY PRODUCTS

In addition to a large number varieties of honey, the Slovenian beekeepers also offer countless other bee products. The first one that needs to be mentioned is pollen , one of the richest natural substances known to human. Similar matter, the so-called  royal jelly is a powerful biostimulator secreted by young bees for their queen. Also worth seeking for is propolis , a natural antibiotic generated by bees and of course the delicious comb honey .

Wax is another great souvenir produced by bees. It is edible and can be used in cooking, but most commonly you will find it in the form of beeswax candles . What a great gift for your family back at home, don’t you think?

WELL-BEE-ING

Slovenia, already famous for its numerus wellness centers , is now throwing honey into the mix. Leaning on traditional knowledge of beneficial effect this natural substance has on our bodies, a host of treatments involving honey are now available in spa resorts throughout the country. It has been proven that honey massage detoxicates our organism and nourishes the skin.

Furthermore, some places even offer meditation session with the bees. Imagine laying down next to the beehive, listening to the calming buzz of these hard-working animals and breathing in the air scented with the sweet odor of honey. It is said to be one of the most unique experiences you will ever cross off your bucket list.

“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left.”

– Albert Einstein

BEEKEEPING NUMBERS

Albert Einstein , one of the smartest people who ever lived, suggested that the humankind will go extinct soon after the last bee disappears from Earth. “No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man,” he added. Was he right? It looks like Slovenians don’t want to take any chances when it comes to Einstein’s predictions.

With five beekeepers per one thousand inhabitants, Slovenia is at the very top of the EU members list. As the love for this trade is being passed from one generation to the other, the number of beekeepers is still rising. Every one of the ten thousand beekeepers in Slovenia is in charge of approximately 16 beehives. In total there are almost 200 thousand bee colonies; 90 % of them live in a typical Slovenian beehive called AŽ , after another apiculture pioneer, Anton Žnidaršič from Ilirska Bistrica. He came up with the idea of this innovative hive in the winter of 1902/03 and soon after it became widely used across the region.

Keeping the beehive-to-plate routes short, over 80 % of produced honey is being sold directly to households. This means every Slovene consumes about 1,4 kilograms of honey per year. Locals love to sweeten up their tea with it or bake delicious gingerbread cookies. You can taste them almost anywhere in Slovenia, but you can also try make one yourself as a part of unique local experience , when visiting gingerbread and apiculture museums in Radovljica . Ask our agents to include this activity in your tailor-made trip to Slovenia , when sending an inquiry at ➨ [email protected] .

APITOURISM IN SLOVENIA

Positioning itself as a boutique and sustainable tourist destination , Slovenia is trying to offer unique and authentic travel experiences which will bring you closer to local way of life, its culture and gastronomy. Apitourism is just one aspect of these goals and we would like to include it in your travels to Slovenia to a degree that is interesting to you. We can arrange for you to meet the beekeeper and help him with his everyday work, get close to the bees and try ther delicious honey products .

For those of you even more invested in apiculture , we can provide properly qualified beekeeping tourist guides or organize educational tours for individuals or groups. Apitourism is a great way to upgrade your regular vacations to a higher level of sustainability and raise awareness about the importance of bees to humankind.

Contact us for more information on beekeeping in Slovenia.

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Terms and conditions

Apitourism is unique to Slovenia!

Slovenia has around 9.000 beekeepers and therefore among every thousand citizens four people are beekeepers. This is unique in the world! No wonder Slovenia is the first – and only – country to certify apitourism providers.

What is apitourism?

Apitourism or bee tourism is a new discipline and very fresh approach to sustainability. It aims at raising awareness as to the importance of bees to mankind, enriching knowledge about the use and effects of bee products and apitherapy, and enhancing people’s well-being. Further more, the so called api tours create a new dimension of travel. It combines country’s distinctive heritage and rich beekeeping tradition and is aimed at travellers who favour healthy and eco-friendly pursuits. 

Apitherapy is becoming one of the most niche travel trends

  Travellers who take an ‘api-tour’ in Slovenia can book onto a whole host of honey trails, candle-making workshops and beekeeping classes. The so-called api experience includes visits to beekeepers, as well as try-outs of bee products such as honey liqueurs and sparkling mead, honey chocolate pralines, gingerbread, refreshing energy drinks with herbs and honey, invigorating teas. It is also possible to admire the Slovenian architectural typical apiaries, which can not be found anywhere else in the world. They are even pioneering ‘apitherapy’ – a form of homeopathy that uses aromas from the beehive to help cure asthma and all sorts of respiratory problems. Many health tourists are also travelling to Slovenia for their rich sources of bee pollen, Royal Jelly, propolis and other bee-products – all said to have healing properties.

Apiaries – the place of healing energy

The apiary is a million times the concentration of pollen in nature. Induction of the air from the beehive has healing effects.

Beekeepers and apitherapists thus came up with the idea of ​​making an apiary a place where people can stay without the danger of being beaten by the bee. The aerosol can be inhaled freely, while the rear hinged door is open; a customized inhaler can be also use for this purpose. Apart from inhaling the wonderful aromas of bee products, visitors in the typical Slovenian beehive can also enjoy bio massage, thermotherapy, honey bath. Staying in the apiary one hour a day should have a very positive impact on our psycho-physical well-being. With apitherapy we treat many health problems – from respiratory diseases, allergies, asthma, bronchial to pulmonary diseases, strengthened resistance and functioned relaxing.   Check out Slovenian beekeeping-experience providers here ! For more information also visit the web page of the Slovenian Beekeepers Association !

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Mellow Wanderer

TRAVELER-ADVENTURER-STORYTELLER

A Paradise for Bee Lovers: The Honey Pot Leads To A Tiny Village In Central Europe

Radovljica, Slovenia is a bucolic village nestled in the heart of the Julian Alps. From the cobblestone streets to the pastel alpine houses, storefronts, and office buildings, you can feel a sense of history throughout the charming village.

Radovljica is known as the “Beekeeping Capital of Slovenia,” with a rich history that stretches back centuries. We came here to embark on a journey to explore its remarkable connection to bees.

Tucked away in a picturesque mountain valley surrounded by lush greenery and snow-capped peaks, Radovljica’s location couldn’t be more perfect. The village is situated in the Upper Carniola region, in the same neighborhood as the enchanting Lake Bled .

Radovljica’s beekeeping heritage is deeply ingrained in the village’s identity. This identity is on full display at the Radovljica Beekeeping Museum, a treasure trove of knowledge and artifacts. The museum revealed the fascinating world of beekeeping, from the intricate hives to the traditional beekeeping tools. It provided a glimpse into the life of a beekeeper and the significance of bees in the region’s economy and ecology.

Slovenia’s Beekeeping Panels Are An Art form And Cultural Tradition

In Radovljica, beekeeping is not merely a trade—it’s a way of life. The harmonious relationship between humans and bees is palpable, emphasizing the village’s commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation. A visit to a local honey store is like visiting a wine bar offering a variety of tastings. A serious Slovenian purveyor of honey is something like a wine sommelier : They know the various honey producing regions, the flavor differences, and food pairings. The purity and richness of the local honey were evident in every taste.

Press Play To View Video Of A Live Bee Museum Hive

Our time in Radovljica was extraordinary. It’s a hidden gem off-the-beaten tourist path, and is often overlooked as it sits in the shadow of popular Lake Bled. From its inspiring mountain vistas to the quaint village atmosphere and beekeeping heritage, this place is unique and special and well worth your time to visit.

Press Play For A Video Tour Of Radovljica

Photos & Video By Steve Geiger

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A bee-friendly region

Slovenians are known for loving and respecting bees. Slovenia is home not only to the Carniolan honey bee, but also to Anton Janša, the first beekeeping teacher and the pioneer of modern beekeeping.

A special feature of the Slovenian landscape is the apiary: beehives stacked next to each other in several rows as a bee house. Slovenia has gained international recognition due to its particularities, such as the unique painted beehive panels and the special traditional architecture. Almost every municipality in the Ljubljana Urban Region has its own Beekeeping Association. We invite you to learn about the various bee stories and products in the region.

In Ljubljana Urban Region you can visit  API LAB – House of the Carniolan Bee ,  Beekeeping centre of Slovenia ,  The Božnar House of Honey  in Polhov Gradec,  Domžale Beekeeping Route and Apitherapy apiary , and The Museum of Beekeeping Heritage  or you can learn about Urban Beekeeping and Bee Path in Ljubljana  and many beekeeping associations and activities in Ljubljana Urban Region .

API LAB – The House of the Carniolan Honey Bee in Višnja Gora, Ivančna Gorica

The House of the Carniolan Honey Bee in Višnja Gora tells the story of the Carniolan Grey bee, the native Slovenian bee and the second most widespread bee species in the world.

You can enter the world of bees through unique experiential exhibitions with virtual protagonists, the famous Rothschütz beekeeping family that elevated the Carniolan honey bee into an independent subspecies. You can also spend the night in a bee hive right at the top of the House of the Carniolan Honey Bee. Rooms are designed as innovative honeycomb cells with individual entrances and connected into an enormous honeycomb wooden structure.

The House is also home for the Centre for Innovative Technologies APILAB – a business epicentre for innovations and start-up companies for the local community, Slovenia, and the region.

More information:  https://www.hisakranjskecebele.si/en/

Urban Beekeeping in Ljubljana

As many as 3% of all Slovenian beekeepers with over 4500 beehives are active in the area of the City of Ljubljana. Urban beekeeping is flourishing in Ljubljana with the culture and congress centre Cankarjev dom as a pioneer leading the way.

Honey produced in this area is of very high quality. In addition to beekeepers, the City of Ljubljana also takes care of bees by planting perennials with many honey plants among them and promoting the activities of beekeeping societies. The Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association awarded Ljubljana with the golden recognition and the title “Most Bee-friendly Municipality” in 2019.

Apitourism has become very popular over the past years. The Bee Path was created in 2015 by the city of Ljubljana. The path is designed in an interdisciplinary way and shows bees and beekeeping from various perspectives. It is not just a path, it is a movement of like‑minded people caring for the well‑being of bees in the city with very diverse activities. The path is designed for visitors to fully comprehend the importance of bees for our survival and food safety, to discover the necessity of honey in our daily diet and find out more about the city's beekeeping culture. Interesting public events such as Honey Day and workshops are organized on a yearly basis.

More information:  https://www.ljubljana.si/en/ljubljana-for-you/environmental-protection/the-bee-path/

Apitourism: enjoying the bee tourism in Slovenia

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Darja | Live the World

November 23, 2022

Beekeeping or apiculture has always been a large and important activity in Slovenia . In the last few years, a new form of tourism , more specifically bee tourism  or apitourism has been developed. You can enjoy delicious home-made honey and original honey products and at the same time learn about the history, tradition and culture of beekeeping in Slovenia . In our country, this activity is highly respected and appreciated. Not only because of the important role the  bees have in nature, but also because of the various honey products , that can highly benefit our mental and physical health. 

With an  apitourism, you will get a chance to visit a Slovenian bee house and get as close to the bees as you want. The educated local beekeepers will explain everything about the lives of hard-working queen bees and drones and the creation of tasty honey , that you will get to try as well. Slovenia is famous for its delicious honey , that has been given the protected geographical indication status in the European Union. There are also many other bee products available, from the sweet honey drinks to the candles made from the  beeswax . 

The bee tourism isn’t just observing and learning about the bees or buying their products. It also includes a new form of alternative medicine called Apitherapy . This form of homeopathy uses the aromas from the beehive and helps in curing asthma and other respiratory problems. There are also many other bee products to try, for example t he honey facial masks . The honey massages also contribute to the detoxification of your body, and even the sound of the buzzing bees adds to your well-being, as it soothes and relaxes you completely.

The  beehives and apartment houses in Kozjak offer the perfect experience of discovering the bee world and apitourism in Slovenia . Guided tours, honey massages and even sleeping as close to bees as possible. In these modern apartments, you can observe the magnificent bees through the glass window and enjoy the view of the mountains and nature of the Triglav National Park in the distance. Live the so-called api experience , which includes the  beekeeping classes, workshops and honey trails , as well as trying various original honey products.

Beekeeping has always been and will continue to be an important part of Slovenian culture and identity. This new form of tourism, apitourism , is growing and developing rapidly, and the offer of Slovenian bee tourism is great. In almost every corner of the land, you will be able to enjoy the interesting bee products and appreciate the importance of these tiny honey-makers at the same time.

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Beekeeping tours to slovenia.

We offer beekeeping tours to Slovenia twice a year. Slovenia lies in the center of Europe and is known as the center of beekeeping in Europe where one out of every 250 people is a beekeeper. It is also known as a Green Country with pristine waters, clean air and 80% of the people living in the country with large gardens. Stay tuned for the announcement of the date of our next tour.

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Want to learn more about Slovenian Beekeeping and become a beekeeper yourself?  Take a beekeeping course with Suzanne and become a member of the hive! 

Slovenian Beekeeping Equipment and Suzanne's honey

We sell a wide range of Slovenian Beekeeping equipment and accessories. Give us a call to visit our shop in-person or view a list of products HERE.

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Celebrate world bee day with us.

The United Nations declared 20 May World Bee Day. The initiative came from Slovenia. Check why.

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Dear readers.

Our mission is to inspire your visit to Slovenia by sharing the excellent and unique experiences Slovenian tourism has to offer at www.slovenia.info . Discover inspiring stories and plan for a time when we are able to travel safely again. Let’s be responsible today for a better tomorrow.

Harmony between humans and bees

Bees play an important role in nature, and for the survival of humankind too. In Slovenia, people are very aware of their incredible mission, so bee-keeping has strong roots in Slovenian tradition. Blooming meadows and forests are home to the Carniolan honeybee , an indigenous Slovenian sub-species of bees. It is known for its characteristics, such as docility, diligence, humility, and a great sense of orientation.

Did you know? Beekeeping in Slovenia, a way of life, has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2022. More

These characteristics are also seen in the people who take care of the bees and live with them. Throughout history, Slovenians have spread their extensive knowledge of the life and work of these hard-working insects around the world. Today, you can learn about the Slovenian bee-keeping tradition and the applications of bee products in very exciting ways. Slovenia breathes with bees, so it is no wonder that this was the birthplace of the idea of World Bee Day.

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Slovenia, the land of bees and beekeepers

Did you know that Slovenia has the most beekeepers per capita in the world? Get to know the Slovenian beekeeping tradition through the eyes of a British journalist, an organic farmer who runs the bee-friendly Garden of Flavours not far from Lake Bled, a leading beekeeper who spreads knowledge about bees around the world and runs a Carniolan honey bee breeding programme, and the first urban beekeeper, who maintains beehives on the roofs of several buildings in Ljubljana.

Feel Slovenia the Podcast #7: A Bee's Eye View on Slovenia

Why is 20 may world bee day.

The initiative to declare World Bee Day came from Slovenia, and the date that was selected was the birthday of the great bee expert from the 18th century, Anton Janša. Janša was the first bee-keeping teacher in the court of the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa. By introducing bee-keeping methods that were successfully used by Carniolan bee-keepers, he caused a real revolution in bee-keeping of the time. Among other things, he introduced honey flow, re-defined the role of drones, and wrote all of his findings in two books, which are still a useful manual for many bee-keepers.

Beekeeping in villages below Mt Stol

Learn about Anton Janša, the pioneer of modern beekeeping, by visiting his birthplace in the area of Žirovnica, where you can see Janša's Apiary in Breznica and enjoy his legacy by tasting local honey...

The history of beekeeping in Radovljica

Explore the rich tradition of beekeeping, including unique folk art – painted beehive panels – at the Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica, where you can also see an exhibition on Anton Janša, which has...

Green and bee-friendly Slovenia

Beekeeping is deeply rooted in the Slovenian consciousness. Slovenia is one of the leading EU countries in terms of the number of beekeepers per capita, and the Carniolan honeybee, a native bee species in Slovenia, is one of the most widespread honeybees in the world. The well-preserved natural environment offers good conditions for beekeeping. Learn about our green story through an interactive video and discover why Slovenia is a paradise for beekeeping and bees.

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Listen to stories about Slovenian beekeeping

The beekeeping tradition is carried on by beekeeping societies around Slovenia, which are joined together in the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association. Beekeepers can be found primarily in the countryside, although urban beekeeping is growing in popularity. Bee-related tourism has also been flourishing.

Guided excursions and tours

You can learn about the Slovenian beekeeping tradition by tasting honey delicacies on guided excursions and tours.

Beekeeping tourist guides

Beekeeping tourist guides will be able to answer many of your questions related to beekeeping and bees and acquaint you with the life and importance of these tiny animals.

Resting with the bees

Unique honey experiences are waiting for you at certified providers, whom you will recognise by a sign with one, two or three bees.

Honey stories on Google Arts & Culture

Meet the hardest “worker” in Slovenia – the native Carniolan honey bee – and discover its products and positive attributes through stories on the Google Arts & Culture platform. Find out what inspired the folk artists who transferred their creative impulses to beehive panels. Discover why it is good to listen to bees and breathe the same air as them.

Generous bees

Get to know the Carniolan honey bee, a species that is native to Slovenia, and learn how much good these little creatures bring to our lives.

An apicultural “art gallery”

Illustrated beehive panels are a phenomenon that exists only in Slovenia, where they are a unique expression of folk art. Beehives in Slovenia are veritable art galleries!

Oldest beehive panel

Did you know that the oldest known illustrated beehive panel is more than 260 years old! Bearing a depiction of the Virgin Mary and Child, the panel is kept in the Beekeeping Museum in Radovljica.

Apitherapy – well-being with the help of bees

Apitherapy is based on bee products that have positive effects on our health and well-being. Find out what they can do for you.

A bible story on beehive panels

Religious themes are frequent on beehive panels. They were later joined by satirical and historical themes. Look at the story of original sin told through a series of illustrated beehive panels.

Experience beekeeping stories in a modern way

In recent years, beekeeping in Slovenia has again been gaining momentum thanks to the interesting experiences through which one can gain insight into the lives of bees and learn about the beneficial effects of their products.

Slovenia – the land of beekeeping

The rich beekeeping tradition is the basis for many beekeeping experiences in Slovenia. Beekeeping is embedded in Slovenian cuisine, pampering centres and folk art. The green, pristine natural environment is an excellent habitat for the native Carniolan honeybee, which produces the protected Slovenian honey.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with honey and feel its revitalising energy

In the past, people already knew about such sweetness and the positive effects that honey and bee products have on one’s well-being. Find out where you can taste honey in Slovenian traditional and modern cuisine and how bee products can be an elixir of health, vitality, and energy. Enjoy the flavours of honey with a protected geographical indication.

Visit bees for wellbeing

Bee-keeping has a rich tradition in Slovenia. If bee products once had an important place in cuisine and candle making, they are nowadays also used for body pampering treatments and maintaining health: from honey massages to inhaling beneficial aerosol in apiaries. Find honey treatments in spas and health resorts.

Experiences inspired by bees and honey

Immerse yourself in the beekeeping tradition. Visit beekeepers and taste original bee products. Learn about the typical beehive architecture and travel through history at beekeeping museums. Create dishes or souvenirs from bee products. The soothing energy of beehives can be your path to relaxation and well-being.

Did you know…

Bees are faithful life companions and should be respected and protected. Our existence depends on them. Do you know why? See the facts below.

Bees pollinate more than 170 species of plants. 

Every third spoonful of food in the world depends on pollination.

Bees are also excellent biological indicators of how clean the environment is.

For a kilogram of honey, a bee must visit 4 million flowers and fly a distance equal to four times around the world.

In harmony with nature

Nature has a special importance in Slovenia. We take care of our natural environment and strive to preserve it for generations to come. We accept its gifts and include them in all aspects of life.

Local high-quality brands in green destinations

Choose local quality brands in green destinations marketing short supply chains and interesting local delicacies.

The best for gourmets

Discover why Slovenia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for gourmets.

Slovenia’s flavourful wellness experiences

Try various wellness programmes, which use very tasty ingredients.

Best glamping experiences in Slovenia

Slovenia is a destination for top glamping experiences!

Green story of Slovenia

Plan your holidays in green.

Famous people who have marked historical towns and cities

Learn about the important historical personalities who have left their mark on Slovenia’s historical towns and cities.

Farm stays that tell a green story

Choose a holiday on one of the farm stays whose sustainable attitude is proven by the Slovenia Green Label.

Discover nature

Feel the beneficial effects of the green natural environment in Slovenia.

Follow the bees

Get to know the land of bees, beekeepers and honey love. Certified beekeeping providers, tourist farms, places of original ethnological heritage and green nature await you in Slovenia. Draw your own Slovenian beekeeping trail!

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• General information
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• EU honey breakfast

The diversity of rocks, reliefs and the atmosphere also determines the incredible soil and biotic diversity. In this small country with pristine nature, in a country where we can admire mighty mountains, lush green forests that cover 60 percent of the total surface, clean rivers and lakes, blossoming meadows and the underground world of numerous caves, the sea and so much more, there hides a true treasury of flora and fauna. Despite Slovenia being a small country, it offers favourable conditions for beekeeping, as the diversity of plants enables the production of various types of honey.

Slovenians are emotionally attached to bees. The old saying that beekeeping is the poetry of agriculture was first used by the residents of the Slovenian lands. In addition, a recent slogan says that to be Slovenian is to be a beekeeper. Among every thousand citizens of Slovenia, four people are beekeepers, which is unique in the world. Slovenia has an over 140-year-old national beekeepers’ association, the prominent technical magazine Slovenian Beekeeper (Slovenski čebelar) of a similar age, a beautiful beekeeping centre at Brdo pri Lukovici, more than 150 beekeeping banners, beekeeping formalwear, a hymn and much more.

You are most welcome to visit us. We will be glad to open the doors of our beekeeping premises. You will find out more about the mysterious life of bees, the life and the work of some of the best known Slovenian beekeepers, bee products and many other things.

Slovenian beekeepers, who are mostly united in the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, are proud to continue and to preserve the tradition of their ancestors. They take special care in the conservation of the autochthonous Carniolan bee, the protection of its life habitat and the production of the finest bee products.

Slovenian Beekeepers' Association

Brdo 8, 1225 Lukovica Slovenia T. +386 1 7296 100 E. [email protected]

Bee tourism in Slovenia: the travel trend with plenty of buzz

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written by Lucy McGuire

updated 05.11.2018

You’ve probably never heard of apitourism, or even considered “bee tourism” to be a thing. But it is, and it’s a travel trend swarming all over Slovenia .

Go on the honey tasting trail

Take an apitherapy tour, get hands-on at an apicamp, stay on an eco-api-friendly estate, discover api-folklore.

While bee populations in countries such as the US are dwindling at an alarming rate, Slovenia is the only EU member state to have officially protected its prized bee race. They have over 10,000 beekeepers, 12,500 apiaries and nearly 17,000 hive colonies.

We say ‘prized’ because the Carniolan honey bee is known for its friendly nature (they rarely sting) and hardy characteristics (they can survive sub-zero temperatures). Which explains why they sell 30,000 of their Queen Carniolan bees to European countries each year.

One of the first countries to certify apitourism providers and also the European Green Capital in 2016, Slovenia's sustainability is going from strength to strength. This year on the 20th May the first World Bee Day will take place – an initiative driven by the Slovenian Tourist Board – marking the country's ongoing attempt to save the declining bee population and promote its country's long history of beekeeping.

So how can you get in on the action? Here are five ways to get up close and personal with Slovenia's bees.

Travel ideas for Slovenia, created by local experts

Gorgeous gems of Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia

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You will visit three different adjacent countries and experience traditional local food and wines. You will visit some of the most intriguing restaurants and wineries in the area taste the delicious contrast between fine restaurants, and more traditional, authentic taverns.

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Love Thy Neighbor - Croatia and Slovenia

Slovenia and Croatia are neighboring countries, and the close proximity of Slovenian and Croatian Istria make them a perfect destination for a single trip. The area has numerous stories waiting to be discovered, from magical alpine landscapes of Slovenia to charming historical towns inland.

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This expansive trip celebrates the splendour of Croatia and Slovenia, with their wondrous hilltop towns and stunning cities, such as Dubrovnik, Ljubljana and Split. Experience the wine and olive oil-making traditions of these two countries, and go truffle hunting on the Istrian Peninsula.

The Best of Croatia and Slovenia

Combine the highlights of neighboring countries Croatia and Slovenia on this self drive trip. Explore Dubrovnik, Plitivce Lakes, Zadar and Zagreb in Croatia before heading out to see Lake Bled and Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. Make stops along the way and soak in the culture, food and history.

Thanks to its rich diversity of flora and expertise in mobile beekeeping, Slovenia produces around 2400kg of honey each year.

Visit Marko Cesar, of the family-run Cesar brand, at his home near Maribor and you can sip on the country’s only sparkling chestnut honey-based wine. Elsewhere, you can sample liqueurs, mead, vinegar, beer and goats cheese, all made from honey.

Further west at the quaint Restaurant Lectar in Radovljica you can watch traditional honey bread hearts, or lectarstvo, being made; many biodynamic farmers flavour theirs with cinnamon, ginger, blueberry and chocolate.

Honey tasting © Lucy McGuire

Nineteenth-century physician Filip Terc was ridiculed for claiming that bee venom could cure arthritis. But apitherapy is now recognised by the Slovenian Beekeeper’s Association as a legitimate form of homeopathy.

You can learn about the bacteria-fighting properties of propolis and the ‘curative’ effects of royal jelly on high blood pressure on an apitherapy tour.

Those with asthma can inhale ‘healing aromas’ from the hive while anyone feeling a little weary can try honey massages, beeswax thermotherapy – claimed to boost circulation and treat skin disorders – and a nap on special beehive beds, whose vibrations are said to induce calm.

Whether you’re a beekeeping pro or simply want to learn more about the api-industry, Slovenia offers various ‘apicamps’ on Queen breeding, the apiculture science and traditional AZ hives.

You can join lectures in honey production, bee feeding and everything from comb wiring to obtaining propolis and royal jelly. Or if you want to do some serious swotting-up, you can head to the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association in Lukovica – home to a honey laboratory and apiculture Library. This is by far one of the best things to do in Slovenia .

Bee hive © Lucy McGuire

The apitourism trend has done wonders for highlighting new forms of eco-conscious travel. And many companies like ApiRoutes are using this niche industry to shine the spotlight on an array of eco and socially conscious accommodation and tours.

If you do one thing, check out the remarkable Trnulja Estate – a 100% organic farm with charming bio-apartments and excellent green credentials. Tanja Arih Korosec, Director of AriTours, says: ‘Tourism is becoming more about sustainability and if we can [use apitourism] to encourage tourists to act in a more sustainable way, other countries will follow."

Eco-stay © ZTKMŠ Brda archive

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During the mid-eighteenth century, Slovenia was rich in rural folk art, which appeared on many of the country’s traditional stacked AZ bee houses – it was believed that the motifs helped the bees navigate back to their hives.

Visit the Slovenian beekeeping museum in Radovljica to see 600 of these original hand-painted panels or take an excursion to the beautiful village of Selo to meet Danijela Ambrozic, who offers traditional api-artwork workshops from her beekeeping farm.

For more information on AriTours and ApiRoutes, visit Aritours.si and Apiroutes.com. Find more travel information on the Slovenia Tourist Board site at slovenia.info. WIZZ flies from London Luton to Ljubljana. For more information visit wizzair.com.

Discover more of Slovenia with The Rough Guide to Slovenia . Compare flights , find tours , book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go. Top image: Bees and flowers in Slovenia © Jošt Gantar.

Lucy is a freelance travel writer and blogger with over 10 years of experience in the industry and has covered everything from bee tourism in Slovenia to dune bashing in Brazil for both print and online titles. She is just as curious about the people she meets while travelling as she is the destination and as a newspaper-trained journalist, she thoroughly enjoys interviewing people she meets along the way. Some of her most memorable travels have included her wedding in Jamaica and a three-month trip through Southern Africa which included canoeing among hippos in the Zambezi river. Follow her at @LucyAMcGuire on twitter and instagram .

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What’s so special about beekeeping in Slovenia

Slovenia was labelled the “heart and soul of beekeeping” in Europe. The country is known for the quality of its honey and its long tradition of apiculture.

Pioneers of modern apiculture

One of the pioneers of apiculture on a global scale was Slovenian. Anton Janša (1734-1773) is considered to be the first teacher of modern beekeeping at the Habsburg court in Vienna.

Native Carniolan bee

Slovenia is also the only European Union Member State to have protected its native bee, the Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica). The Carniolan bee is now the second most common honeybee in the world, famed for its docility, hard work, humility and excellent sense of orientation.

Painted beehive panels

A unique feature of beekeeping in Slovenia is the colourful panels of the beehives. Typically, they are decorated with paintings depicting scenes and characters from folk tales. This helps bees find their way into beehives and makes it easier for the beekeeper to distinguish between bees colonies.

Best quality honey

Slovenia is known as a country using a “unique beekeeping method” characterized by wide varieties of honey, like the acacia, lime, chestnut, fir, spruce, floral and forest honey. Slovenia boasts three EU-protected types of honey: the Slovenian honey with the protected geographical designation, the Kočevje forest honey and the honey from the Kras region.

• Bee Healthy
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• Bee Yourself
• Kranjska Gora
• Beekeeping in Slovenia
• Anton Janša

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The booklet and website have been created as part of the Bee Our Guest project in cooperation with the Municipality of Kranjska Gora, the Municipality of Gorje, the Municipality of Bohinj, the Municipality of Radovljica, the Municipality of Bled and the Municipality of Žirovnica / Published by: Institute for tourism and culture Žirovnica /Copywriting: Artemidis / Logo design: Andrejka Čufer / Booklet design: Simon Pavlič /Website design and production: Luka Žgur (WebMojo.si), Janez Prašnikar (WebMojo.si), Jure Kumljanc/ Photos: Franc Šivic, Simon Senica, photo collection of the Tourist Board Kranjska Gora by Bogomir Košir, Radovljica Tourism by Miran Kambič, Tourism Bled, Institute for Tourism and Culture Žirovnica, Bohinj Local Tourist Board / Žirovnica, 2017

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Honey Bee Holidays: emerging travel trend with plenty of buzz

Bee tourism or apitourism is a niche tourism trend that proves to have wings. Honey Bee   holidays connect nature and tourism for responsible travelers in search of unique, eco, healthy experiences and wellbeing. In Medieval times, honey was used as a form of payment because it was considered so valuable. Explore the healing power of bee products, experience a rich beekeeping tradition and follow the list of 10 fascinating api-adventures.

1. Spend a day with a beekeeper on island Šolta and make your own honey

Visit Šolta island and meet Tvrdić family , the 3rd generation of beekeepers known by the  rosemary honey called Olynthio . See a real beehive, join the beekeeper at work and learn how to make your own honey. You can also adopt a beehive, write your name on it and receive organic honey in unique jars. Give bees a chance and check the largest collection of honey in the world that has been received by inspired guests from all over the world.

Where to eco-stay?

Tvrdić honey apartments  are located on a  family api-friendly property at a very heart of the  island Šolta . This family is fully committed to sustainability and follows zero-waste approach in their everyday lifestyle. Each interior is uniquely designed and furniture is decorated in a chic way. Enjoy Meditteranean flora, surrounded by ancient olive trees and modern comfort.

2. On your Honey Bee Holidays, inhale the air from the beehives

Apitherapy is a form of homeopathy that uses aromas from the beehive to help cure asthma and all sorts of respiratory problems. Bee houses are being transformed into apitherapeutical chambers , where you can breathe aerosol directly from hives and relax while listening to the buzz of bees. Visit one of the many apiaries in Slovenia – the Europe’s leading apitourism country and pamper your respiratory system.

Where to eco-stay? Hotel Ribno is the first zero-waste hotel in Slovenia, located near apiary Selo pri Bledu, just a hop, a skip and a jump from the iconic Lake Bled . You can also book charming glamping cottages with a wooden Jacuzzi and enjoy authentic stay surrounded by nature.

3. Enjoy a honey massage and the buzzing of the bees

Honey is an ancient remedy for skincare that is enjoying a great return today. Luxurious honey massage keeps the skin elastic and slows down the effects of aging. It acts like a magical youth elixir that nurtures and refreshes your skin. Free yourself from the shackles of the everyday, surrender to the allure of the buzzing of the bees and allow the energy of honey to rejuvenate you . Here you can find your own honey wellbeing experience in Slovenia.

4. Sleep in unusual api- chalets in Honey Village

Transform yourself into a bee for a day and live among the shelter of honeycombs. Visit the  Honey Village in Mozirje with authentic and unique honeycomb-shaped cabins . Here you’ll pamper yourself with honey and bee products at every step and enjoy the natural pool.

5. Visit Ljubljana – the world’s most bee-friendly capital

Bees are indicative of a clean environment. This is a good affirmation of Ljubljana as one of the cleanest cities in the world with rich urban beekeeping culture. You can meet the urban beekeeper and follow the Bee Trail . If you though that urban honey is black from pollution, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that Ljubljana’s honey is actually of supreme quality with frequent awards. Urban bees produce even healthier honey than country bees since they tend not to come into contact with pesticides. Ljubljana is surrounded by forested hills less than three kilometres (1.8 miles) away in any direction, which is within the bees’ top effectiveness range for collecting nectar and pollen. City’s authorities are now planting only plants that attract the bees thanks to successful collaboration with the Slovenian  Association of beekeepers.

Where to eco-stay in Ljubljana? Our green urban recommendations is Hotel Park , the first api-friendly hotel in the heart of Ljubljana with a rooftop beehives. Feel the urban beat and enjoy in cozy and stylish eco-friendly rooms.

6. Discover traditional api-folklore and paint your own beehive

A very unique feature of beekeeping in Slovenia are  colorful paintings decorating the front panels of bee houses. The motives are mostly biblical or are depicting scenes and characters from folk tales. It was also much easier for a beekeeper to remember the position of certain bee colony by having the front panel of a beehive painted. Stimulate your creativity on your Honey Bee holidays, join the workshop and paint your own front panel.

7. Observe authentic energy candle making craft in Honey Heaven

In Slovenj Gradec you can meet one and only European honey-bread and candle maker with tradition and knowledge passed down through 9 generations of family business. See how the members of Perger family produce honey bread and bestselling hand-made energy candles made from natural premium bee wax and honey perfume with secret formula. Candles hold a vibration of peace and pure love and represent a family innovation among the honey products worldwide. In Honey Heaven you can also taste home-made sweets free of preservatives and artificial colors.

Where to eco-stay during your Honey Bee holidays?

Rotovnik Plesnik vacation farm  is a family-friendly farmsted with almost two-hundred-years-old tradition. Located in the idyllic valley below the Pohorje mountains , it provides stunning views and complete indulgence into the untouched nature.

8. Visit the Museum of Apiculture in Slovenia’s sweetest town

Radovljica, Slovenia’s ‘sweetest town’ is a charming old town and home of The Museum of Apiculture , specialized in heritage of Slovenian beekeeping. It is located in Baroque Mansion House in the old part of the town and exhibits painted beehive panels, an insight into the native Carniolan honey bee and more interesting facts and famous beekeepers.

9. Decorate your «lect« – a heart-shaped honey bread for unique souvenir

»Lectarstvo«, a honey-bread bakery is a traditional handicraft of sLOVEnia . During the late Middle Ages, lect or honey bread was popular with the social elite as a precious  symbol of passion, love and affection . It is decorated and made from honey dough and shaped by hands. The red color symbolizes love, the yellow ribbon represents infinity and the green ribbon with flowers represents growth. Attend a workshop with lect masters in Lectar museum  and create together your unique souvenir.

10. Indulge in honey pampering wellness & spa experiences

Health and beauty go hand in hand on your Honey Bee holidays. Discover the world of unique honey wellness experiences in Thermana Laško . Give yourself a beautiful and youthful look with honey wraps, massages, baths and saunas and swim under the stars.

Bee a responsible consumer – buy honey from your local beekeeper

There is a beekeeping rule which obliges beekeepers to always leave enough honey in a beehive during the wintertime. The basic philosophy here is the respectful coexistence between man and bees , based upon ethics that bees have worked hard during the year and need a part of the honey for their food during the harsh winter. The mass honey industry nowadays replaces honey with sugar and thus leaves nothing for the bees, to maximize their profits. Look at the world from the bee’s perspective. Buying honey from your local beekeeper not only tastes but also feels better.

Cover image: Jošt Gantar for Slovenia.info

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