Located on the Savinja river, Celje is Slovenia's third-largest city. The city is home to the Museum of Contemporary History, the Museum for Children and a contemporary art gallery. The city's most impressive aspect, however, is the 13th-century castle that sits above; part of it resembles a rook chess piece. The castle often features medieval festivals and plays host to weddings.

If you're traveling between Celje and Ljubljana, stop at the small town of Trojane, which is known mainly for its trojanski krof (doughnuts) that have won recognition both locally and abroad. The Trojane restaurant complex (founded in 1849) features those and other traditional Slovene fare as well as a great view of the surrounding valley from its hilltop dining salon. Celje lies 46 mi/74 km northeast of Ljubljana.