ピフカ

Summer is the best time for walking and the outdoor parts of the museum. Spring and autumn are mild but rainy. Winter is cold, with frost and some snow.

The seasonal lakes depend on rain. They fill after wet weather, so water levels change a lot from year to year.

• Park of Military History is the main reason to stop in Pivka. It fills a former barracks with heavy weapons, military vehicles, aircraft and a helicopter. You can also go inside a Yugoslav submarine.
• Ecomuseum of the Pivka Intermittent Lakes is a good first stop for the lakes. It explains how karst water rises and falls and shows a model of the valley. It is also a start point for walking and cycling routes.
• Pivka Intermittent Lakes Landscape Park protects the valley of seasonal lakes, with karst fields, meadows and forest. It suits easy walks and bird watching.
• Lake Palško is one of the larger seasonal lakes. Its size changes with the rain, so the view differs from visit to visit.

• By air: The nearest airport with scheduled service is Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU), about 80 km away. The drive takes around 55 minutes. Trieste Airport (TRS) in Italy is also an option.
• By train: Pivka station is on the main line between Ljubljana and Trieste. Trains also stop at Postojna. Check the timetable before you travel, because not all long-distance trains stop here.
• By road: Take the A1 motorway to Postojna, then drive about 12 km to Pivka. Ljubljana is about 45 minutes away by car. A car is useful for the lakes and villages around the town.

Quick practical facts for Slovenia at a glance: