Vrhnika, Slovenia

Capital City

With just 2,882 residents, Vrhnika is a quaint Slovenian town that's hardly the bustling metropolis some Americans envision when moving abroad. Nestled at the southwest end of the Ljubljana Marsh, the town's picturesque natural setting is marred by persistent bureaucratic headaches - the construction of the Austrian Southern Railway in the 1840s severely stunted Vrhnika's development, leaving it as a "satellite town of Ljubljana" to this day. For those seeking a quiet, pastoral lifestyle close to Slovenia's capital, Vrhnika may fit the bill, but its isolation and administrative challenges could prove frustrating for the average expat.