h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The budget airlines have opened up hundreds of cities across Europe to British weekenders, but here's one that remains a little secret.

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia, the first country to declare independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Tucked away between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, Slovenia is the size of Wales and is a gem of a country to explore. It's only the size of Wales, but contains virtually every type of geography that you can find in Europe. It's also the most forrested country on the continent.

Ljubljana is perfect for a weekend, which the charming old town snaking between the city's castle hill and the Ljubjlanica river. Ascend the castle hill and then the castle tower to get the best view of the city. Do this in the morning so that the sun is behind you when you take pictures of the city below you.

Ljubljana is a mix of several European cities, part Vienna, part Venice, part Florence. It's small enough to be manageable yet varied enough to enthrall. Hire a car and explore the beautiful mountains and lakes to the north and west, especially around Lake Bled.

There are no budget flights to Slovenia yet, but Ryanair flies to Trieste just across the border in Italy and Klagenfurt in Austria. British Airways and Adria, the national airline of Slovenia, both fly direct to Ljubljana.

There are budget flights to Ljubljana from London and Berlin with Easyjet.