8 days in Slovenia, Our Slovenia Travel Itinerary - Lakes, Mountains and National Park

We travelled to Slovenia during the month of August, which is considered to be one of the best times of the year to visit. Located in central Europe, Slovenia was formerly part of Yugoslavia and currently is surrounded by Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy; Slovenia is known for its natural beauty, mountains, lakes, wine producing regions and beautiful towns by the Adriatic Sea.

We landed at the country’s capital Ljubljana by air from London and picked up a car from the airport and drove around the central, north-west, west and south-west part of the country. This is how we spent 8 days in Slovenia, our Slovenia travel itinerary.

This is part one of our travel story, for the first four days we visited sone of the most popular tourist attractions from the north and north-west part of the country starting from lake Bled, lake Bohinj, Vintgar Gorge, Savica waterfalls, hiking in Julian Alps from Vršič Mountain Pass and many other popular places. For remaining of our Slovenia itinerary check part two of this Slovenia blog here.

Day 1: Arriving from London and Lake Bled

We took an early morning flight from London Gatwick and arrived at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport during late morning. We picked our rental car from the airport and left for our first destination, the town of Bled which is famous for its world renowned natural attraction – Lake Bled.

The drive from airport to Bled usually takes around half an hour by motorway, with additional time of fifteen to twenty minutes in traffic once you are in or near the town of Bled. The drive through the motorway was smooth and we arrived at the edge of the town of Bled within half an hour only to be slowed down by the bumper-to-bumper traffic in the town of Bled. It took us an additional 30 minutes to navigate through the heavy traffic and arrive at our Airbnb accommodation in the neighbourhood near the Bled Castle near the north side of lake Bled. The lake was around 10 minutes of walk through the picturesque neighbourhood packed with old houses, few hotels and some restaurants.

Lake Bled

We arrived in the town of Bled just after midday, well ahead of the check-in time and hence parked our car in the designated car park of the Airbnb accommodation and walked around to explore the area for some traditional authentic Slovenia food for lunch. We found a table at Gostilna Murka, a restaurant loved by locals and known for its traditional Slovenian food.

You can read more about traditional Slovenian food, we tried during our trip in Slovenia in our food blog here.

Post lunch we walked through the circular path around the lake which e is roughly around 8 kilometres in length. We walked around 3 kilometres towards the west side to the lake to a location known as Velika Zaka which is a popular area for locals and tourists for relaxing by the lake. There is a viewing deck and couple of openair restaurants by the lake and small shops renting out paddle boats and kayak for visitors.

As it was middle of summer, we tried to avoid the crowds and found ourselves a  quiet spot by the lake around 200 meters away from Velika Zaka area. We enjoyed some quite time before continuing our walk around the lake to other viewpoints. There are some beautiful viewpoints around the lake and one in particular in the south side of the lake offers a beautiful view of the little island in the lake where the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located and with Bled castle in the backdrop.

There is a wooden walking deck by the shore of the lake in the south side which offers stunning views of the lake and also from the deck clear water and fishes on the lake can be seen beneath. We walked the entire length of the wooden walking path/deck and took some pictures of the lake and the island.

At the south side of the lake, near the hotel Vila Bled, wooden boats rides are available to the small island in the middle of the lake. 

Ojstrica Viewpoint

We continued our journey towards the viewpoint called Ojstrica located around 1 kilometre from the lake and took us roughly 30 minutes through gravel hiking trail through the woods on the hills. The initial part of the hike was easy, however last couple of hundred meters required climbing through steep surface of the mountain. It was well worth the time when we saw stunning picture postcard view of the lake and surrounding mountain from the viewpoint. We spent some time at the top to appreciate the view and made our way back to the lake just before sunset. We went back to Velika Zaka and found ourselves a table with a view of the lake and enjoyed sipping coffee with a bite of Slovenian cake Kremsnita or popularly known as Bled Cream Cake.

After sunset we visited a popular restaurant near our accommodation for the dinner, feed well and happy we talked walked back to our accommodation and called it a day.

Day 2: Lake Bohinj and Savica Waterfall

Lake Bohinj

After breakfast, we drove to Lake Bohinj located around 25 kilometres by road from the town of Bled. Lake Bohinj is the second most popular and picturesque lake of Slovenia after Lake Bled. Depending on traffic the drive between Bled and Bohinj takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

Finding a parking in Bohinj is not an issue with lots of big parking spaces that offer full day slots available on open fields around 10 minutes of walking distance from the lake where all shops, restaurants are located. After arriving in Bohinji we parked our car in one such parking and walked to the lake. At the east end of the lake near the stone bridge and St. John the Baptist Church a number of cafes, restaurants and shops are located. A boat ride from this location is also available for a scenic ride of the lake Bohinj. Next to the stone bridge a small patch of sandy bank offers visitors a perfect location for relaxing and swimming in clear shallow waters, there is also a small changing room next to the lake. We spent some time by this sandy bank and went on to rent kayak from a shop next to the stone bridge. We rented a two-seater Kayak for couple of hours and took our turn between three of us and sale around the lake. We went to lake Bohinj before the midday and hence it was not too hot and kayaking was fun. The view of the lake and surrounding mountains from the middle of the lake was breathtaking!  

After plenty of kayaking we jumped into the water to cool down. Though it was peak of summer the temperature of the water was quite cold, so it was refreshing.

St. John the Baptist Church the Baptist

After lunch at a local restaurant, we went to visit St. John the Baptist Church located next to the lake and stone bridge. This picturesque small church which was built during mid of 11^th century is the finest example of medieval architecture and frescoes of Slovenia. The building carries important historical significance falls under Slovenia’s cultural heritage protection.

Inside the church various styles of architecture can be seen from Romanesque to baroque to gothic, indicating that the church was modified and features were added over centuries. The frescoes on the walls and ceiling of the church were painted during 15^th and 16^th century and depicts many important saints from history.

This 700-year-old building, along with its bell tower and the stone bridge is the second most photographic churches in Slovenia after the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in lake Bled.

Savica Waterfall

After visiting lake Bohinj, we drove to visit Savica waterfalls located in the heart of Triglav National Park. We drove towards the west of the lake along a winding road that runs next to the lake for most of the time. The distance from lake Bohinj to the car park of Savica waterfalls is around 8 kilometres and takes around 20 minutes by car.

The Savica waterfalls is one of the most famous waterfalls in Slovenia for its A shaped water stream that falls 78 meters from the opening on the mountain face and into an emerald-green pool below. The waterfall is fed by the water flowing from the Triglav Lakes Valley above. The water runs through numerous underground siphons and passages in the valley before falling through a cave on the mountain slope.

The waterfall can only be reached by a 20 to 30 minutes easy hiking from the car park and through a dense forest area by climbing over 500 steps which leads to a viewing platform near the waterfall. There are plenty of benches along the hiking path to pause and catch a breath if you need to.

There is an entry fee to this waterfall and ticket office is located at the start of the hiking trail. The entry fee is €4 for adults, €2 for children.

The car park of Savica waterfall charges around €5 for of parking. There are few restaurants next to the parking area serving good quality local food for reasonable price. We took a break in one of the restaurants after visiting the waterfall. 

Črno Jezero or Black lake

Black lake is a small and picturesque lakes in Triglav Lakes Valley and is within walking reach from the Savica waterfall car park by crossing the bridge over Savica and following a hiking train through the forest following the signs along the path. The distance from the car park to the lake is around 2 km and takes around 40 to 50 minutes to walk and hike.

We left Savica waterfall by 3 pm in the afternoon and had plenty of time on hand to visit the lake. We started hiking towards the black lake, and 20-25 minutes into our hiking the skies opened up (as it always does during our holidays, no matter what time of the year it is) and as the rain got heavier, we decided to return to car park.

Around 4 pm in the evening we started driving back to Bled from Bohinj and arrived back in Bled before sunset and to a clear blue sky. We parked our car and went for an early dinner at a nearby restaurant.  

Day 3 – Soteska Vintgar, Zelenci Nature Reserve and more in Triglav National Park

On day 3 after breakfast, we checked out from out accommodation and headed towards Triglav National Park to explore some of the most beautiful natural attractions of Slovenia. The first destination of the day was Soteska Vintgar or Vintgar Gorge.

Soteska Vintgar or Vintgar Gorge

Considered as one of the most beautiful gorges in the world, Vintgar Gorge is one of the top tourist attractions of Slovenia. Located near Gorje and around 4 kilometres north-west from Bled, Vintgar Gorge is gateway to the Triglav National Park. The George was created by the fast-flowing Radovna River through the hills of Hom and Boršt during the end of the last ice age. The gorge is 1.6 kilometres in length from start to end and is flanked by wooden walking path for most of its length. The path ends at a 13 metres high Šum river waterfall. The gorge was discovered in 1891 by Gorje mayor and cartographer Jakob Žumer and a photographer named Benedikt Lergetporer. The gorge was inaccessible when it was discovered and looking at its beauty, 500 meters of wooden path was laid and opened to public in 1893. Along the walking path in the gorge there is a viewing gallery named Zumer gallery commemorating the discoverer Jakob Žumer.

The water of Radovna river in the gorge is crystal clear, or emerald-green or turquoise depending on the lighting conditions. There are lush vegetations in few places along the gorge and steep hill next to the walking path.

There is a car park and a ticket office at the start of the trail to the gorge. When we went the entry fee was 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children (6 to 13 years). The walking path of the gorge is one way. You cannot walk back in the opposite direction from the walking path. At the end of the trail, you have two options to return to the car park. One is short and almost the same distance as the gorge but goes through couple of short steep hill passes and the other trail is longer and goes past St. Katarina church. Both trails are scenic and enjoyable to walk.

Traditional local lunch at Kranjska Gora

After visiting Vintgar Gorge, we drove towards the northwest corner of Slovenia to Kranjska Gora. After reaching Kranjska Gora we stopped at a famous local restaurant named Lacni Kekec for lunch. The restaurant is popular among locals and tourists for serving local mountain food, mainly grills. We ordered a platter of charcoal grilled meat and a big piece of pork knuckle, pork ribs and grilled lamb sausage which was served with roasted potatoes and salad. For more on Slovenian food, read our blog here on food to try in Slovenia.

After that scrumptious lunch we drove a short distance to Podkoren to check-in at our accommodation and took some rest. We left our accommodation late afternoon to visit the remaining attractions in nearby places. 

Zelenci Nature Reserve

From our accommodation we drove for 5 minutes to reach Zelenci nature reserve which is a  stone’s throw from the Italian border. Located near the village of Podkoren, Zelenci nature reserve is a wetland, covering 15 hectares of land. The wetland is home to a wide range of flora and fauna and was declared as nature reserve in the year 1992. Near the western part of the wetland lies an emerald-green lake. The lake is filled by the spring water that comes out through the layers of chalk at the bottom of the lake which gives the lake it’s emerald-green colour. This spring is also one of the main sources of Slovenia’s longest river, Sava. The water of the lake is clear and always maintains a temperature between 5 to 6 degree centigrade. The lake never freezes- not even during the harsh winter months.

The wetland and lake are located next to the main road that goes from Kranjska Gora to Italy via the village of Podkoren. The wetland can be accessed from the car park next to the road and a well-maintained forest trail takes visitors to the lake. The walk from the car park to the lake is around 10 minutes and takes visitors through thick vegetation and tall trees. Near the lake a wooden footbridge take visitors to the edge of the lake over the swampland. At the end of the wooden footbridge an observation deck is located for visitors to get a bird’s eye a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding wetlands. The observation deck also offers a picturesque view of the Ponce mountains with emerald-green lake in the foreground.

Lake Jasna

Located near the town of Kranjska Gora, lake Jasna is a picturesque man-made lake constructed next to the confluence of Mala Pišnica and Velika Pišnica streams. Lake Jasna is made up of two interconnected lakes covering an area around 2 hectares and famous for its surrounding views. The clear turquoise waters and the refection of nearby limestone peaks of the Julian Alps on lake transforms it into a magical experience for nature lovers.

The lake is open for public for swimming and for fishing as well. A well-maintained walking path around the lake offers visitors a relaxing stroll. At one end of the lake a statue of the Zlatorog (the legendary golden horn chamois of mount Triglav) is perched up on rocks. Taking a picture with the Zlatorog is must while visiting lake Jasna.

There are a few bars and restaurants at one end of the lake located near the car park. All bars and restaurants offer outdoor seating with stunning views of the lake and the Julian Alps. We visited the lake in the evening before sunset and spent a good couple of hours relaxing and walking around and finally settling down in a restaurant for a glass of wine and dinner while admiring the view.

Post dinner at lakeside restaurant, we drove back to our accommodation just after sunset.

Day 4 – Hiking at Vršič Pass and visiting Soča Gorge

On day 4, we started early after breakfast and headed towards the mountain for exploring Julian Alps. Our first stop was Russian Chapel or Ruska kapelica outside of Kranjska Gora.

Russian Chapel or Ruska kapelica

Dedicated to St. Vladimir, the Russian Chapel was built during early 20^th century on the Vršič Pass by Russian prisoners of war. Also knows as Ruska kapelica in Slovene, the chapel is also a military war memorial to commemorate Russian soldiers who died during the construction of the road that goes through Vršič Pass. Due to this the chapel was declared a monument of national importance in 2015. The chapel is a wooden structure designed in the Russian Orthodox style with a characteristic onion dome. The construction of the chapel started on 1915 and finished within a year. A small pyramid style structure was discovered at the chapel construction site. Though the purpose and origin of it is still not known.

The chapel can be accessed via well laid stone stairs located next to the winding road leading to the Vršič Pass. There is a car park adjacent to the road near the chapel from where the chapel is short 5 min walk. After visiting the Russian Chapel, we continued to drive towards Vršič Mountain Pass through hairpin bend mountain roads.

Hiking in Vršič Pass

Located at 1611 metre from sea level, Vršič Mountain Pass is the highest motorable pass in the Eastern Julian Alps. Vršič Mountain Pass is located in the road that goes from Kranjska Gora to Log in Trenta. The road leading to the pass from either side has a number of hairpin bend, 24 bends on the road from Kranjska Gora to the top of the pass and then 26 bends from the pass to Log in Trenta.

Vršič Pass is the starting point for some of the most popular hiking trails of Julian Alps namely Slemenova Špica, Mala Mojstrovka and Jalovec. Among these trails Slemenova Špica is most popular among hikers due to its moderately easy hiking trail. The hike to Slemenova Špica is short, easy and full of breathtaking and spectacular views of Julian Alps along the trail. The round trip from Vršič Pass to Slemenova Špica is around 5.7 kilometres and takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete.

We did a morning hike to Slemenova Špica. At Vršič Pass a small car park is available for visitors which gets full early every day, apart from that visitors can also park along the shoulder of the road near the pass. When we arrived at the pass, the car park and all roadside parking spots were full, so we had to park our car in another car park which was located almost a kilometre away from the pass down the mountain road towards Kranjska Gora.

The hiking trail for Slemenova Špica starts near the car park at Vršič Pass close to the large Vršič Pass sign. At the start of the trail a red signpost is present pointing towards Slemenova Špica and Mala Mojstrovka. From here the trail goes uphill through low spruce forest. This part of the train is known as Vratica Saddle and is the only relatively challenging part of the entire Slemenova Špica trail as it’s a steady and short climb which takes around 50 min to an hour. Once we reached the top of the saddle we were greeted with most spectacular view of the Julian apls.

At this point one trail goes to the left to Mala Mojstrovka and one goes to right to Slemenova Špica. From here we continued our journey towards right to Slemenova Špica. The trail started to descend as we continued to walk. The surroundings were quiet and peaceful, and with light breeze blowing it was even more charming. The trail soon took us to a stunning viewpoint from where Austria and Italy can be seen at a distance. We continued to walk ahead and reached the summit of Slemenova Špica. We sat down under the shade of a tree for a much-deserved rest after the hike. We enjoyed and admired the surroundings before continuing our journey back. The hiking trail took us back to the Vratica Saddle again and from here it was only downhill walk back to the car park.

By the time we reached back to Vršič Pass, it was past mid-day, and we were hungry and exhausted after the hike. Near the car park at a lodge a popular restaurant is located which offers delicious local food to hikers and visitors. We took a seat outdoors and enjoyed our lunch and admired the mountain view.

We then headed back to the car and continued to our next destination - Soča Gorge.

The Small Soča Gorge

Carved by the beautiful river Soca, small Soča Gorge is a stunningly beautiful natural attraction in the heart of Trenta Valley. For millennia the gushing flow of the Socariver through limestone cliff created a narrow canyon which in places is only 1 meter wide. The small Soča Gorge is known for its rugged beauty, clear emerald-green waters and rock formation on limestone cliffs. The canyon in places is deep and fast flowing. There are small and big cascading waterfalls present throughout the length of the canyon.

The gorge is easily accessible from the road that runs next to the canyon. Parking can be a challenge as the road is narrow and single lane. There are a plenty of stops by the gorge to seat and admire the beauty. At small Soča Gorge there is a stone bridge over the canyon which is used as jumping platform into the gorge by many adventure-seekers.  

The Great Soča Gorge

The Great Soča Gorge is the jewel of the crown of Triglav National Park. The area is famous for its outstanding natural beauty. The Great Soča Gorge is the section of the canyon created by the Soča River which is wider and deeper. Like small Soča Gorge, the water that flows through the Greate Soča Gorge is clear emerald-green. Rock formations on the limestone cliffs in the canyon are as beautiful as rock formations in small Soča Gorge.

There is a wooden suspension bridge that runs over the Great Soča Gorge and offers a breathtaking view of the gorge below. Great Soča Gorge is easily accessible by car as its located next to the mountain road. There is no dedicated parking near the location, and you will need to find a suitable spot by the road to park your car.

After a long day of hiking and exploring, we called it a day and drove back to our accommodation at Podkoren. Later in the evening we went out to the town of Kranjska Gora for dinner. Due to the proximity to Italy, this little town houses a number of good pizzerias. We went to one such place where we had to queue outside and wait until we got a table. Needless to mention that the pizza was heavenly!!

Click here to read about the remaining part of our Slovenia adventure.