Laško

Laško: thermal water and beer on the Savinja

Laško lies in the narrow valley of the Savinja, between Celje and Zidani Most, surrounded by hills that rise right behind the town. The place is known in Slovenia for two things: thermal water and beer, which gives it an unusual combination of spa calm and festival bustle. If you are looking for a place where you can walk uphill in the morning and lie in warm water in the afternoon, Laško is the right choice.

Zakaj v Laško

Laško is small, so you do not visit it for the town core but for what is around it. The thermal water is the reason the place became a spa town, and the hills above the valley the reason hikers and cyclists return here. It is precisely this duality that means you can do a more strenuous climb in the same day and then rest in the water, which for families is often more practical than a place that offers only one of the two.

Termalna voda in wellness

The spa offer in Laško is gathered in the town centre, right by the Savinja, and includes indoor and outdoor pools and wellness. The water is thermal and is also used in rehabilitation, so the offer is divided into a holiday and a health part. Prices and opening hours are on uradni strani laškega zdravilišča. If you are looking for a quieter version, you can drive a few kilometres further to Rimske Toplice, where the spa tradition is just as long.

Pivo, po katerem je kraj znan

Laško is a name that in Slovenia many people first associate with beer, as in the town there is a brewery that bears its name. Every year the place is also the venue of the Beer and Flowers festival, which for a few days fills the town with visitors and music. If you are looking for peace, you can plan your visit outside this time, but if the atmosphere interests you, that is when you will see Laško at its liveliest. You will find the programme and the dates on the festival's official page.

Kam na pohod nad dolino

Above Laško rise Hum and Šmohor, two scenic hills to which marked paths lead from the valley. The climbs are short but steep, so you can choose the route by the elevation gain rather than the length, and from both peaks a view opens over the Savinja Valley and the hills towards Kozjansko. As the paths are through the forest, they are pleasant on hot days too, while in winter the surface on them can be slippery.

Kam s kolesom

Laško is more interesting for cyclists than it seems at first glance, because roads branch off from the valley into the hills in every direction. On the portal you will find kolesarske poti okoli Laškega, among them longer circular versions towards Rimske Toplice and Zidani Most. For families the most suitable is the gentle path along the valley by the Savinja, and you can view the whole offer among doživetji v Laškem.

Kaj in kje jesti

Styrian cuisine in this part of Slovenia means hearty meat dishes, soups and pastries made from leavened dough. In Laško the dining offer is tied mainly to the spa part of the town, so for a wider choice it is worth looking at Celje, which is a few minutes away. In the hills above the valley there are mountain lodges with a simpler offer. During events in the town a reservation makes sense, because the eateries fill up faster than usual.

Kam na izlet iz Laškega

Laško lies on a busy transport axis, so from it you can reach very different days out. To the north lies Celje s starim gradom in mestnim jedrom, proti vzhodu pa Rogaška Slatina and Podčetrtek with a thermal offer. If you are planning several days in this part of Slovenia, take a look at the whole destination Thermal Pannonian Slovenia. Za dan v naravi lahko ostanete v hribih nad dolino ali ob Savinji.

Where to stay

The offer in Laško is smaller but varied in type, so you can decide according to how much peace you want. Available are private rooms, farm stays and penzion. A tourist farm in the hills makes sense if you travel by car and seek quiet, and a private room if you want to be on foot near the spa area. For attending events it is best to stay as close to the centre as possible.

Kdaj priti

The thermal water is the same all year, so the season decides mainly what you will do outdoors. Spring and autumn are the best for Hum, Šmohor and cycling days, and summer for the outdoor pools and long evenings. In winter Laško is quiet and suitable for a wellness weekend. If crowds bother you, the only time worth avoiding is the week of the Beer and Flowers festival.