Lake Bled Triglav
5
Day Itinerary •
Slovenia
Five days in the Lake Bled and Triglav region gives you the complete extraordinary range of Slovenia's alpine heartland, from the iconic glacial lake and its island church to the summit of Triglav itself, the sacred mountain at the heart of Slovenian national identity, the wild Lake Bohinj, the Soca valley headwaters and the extraordinary Kranjska Gora alpine town. This route covers the full Julian Alps. Lake Bled at dawn, the Vintgar Gorge, the Pokljuka plateau, Lake Bohinj and the Savica waterfall, the ascent of Triglav or the walk in the Triglav Lakes Valley, the extraordinary Vrsic Pass, the upper Soca valley and the finest local trout, buckwheat dishes and Slovenian wine throughout.
Best Time To Visit
June to September
Getting There
Fly into Ljubljana (LJU), drive 45 minutes to Bled
Getting Around
Rental car essential throughout
Budget Per Day
Approx 90 to 160 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, some mountain hiking
DAY 1
LAKE BLED
MORNING
LAKE BLED AT DAWN, THE ISLAND AND THE CASTLE
Arrive at Lake Bled before 7am when the surface is completely still and the island church reflects perfectly in the water. Walk the 6km circuit of the lake to see every angle before the day visitors arrive. Take the traditional pletna rowing boat from the eastern shore to the island , the boatmen whose families have held the hereditary right to row the lake since 1590 are one of the finest living traditions in Slovenia. Ring the wishing bell in the church. Island entry approx 8 euros, pletna approx 15 euros return. Drive: 20 min walk uphill
MIDDAY
BLED CASTLE AND THE OJSTRICA VIEWPOINT
Bled Castle on its 130-metre cliff is the oldest castle in Slovenia, with extraordinary views over the lake and the Julian Alps. After the castle, climb to the Ojstrica viewpoint in 20 minutes for the classic heart-shaped lake photograph, then continue to Mala Osojnica for an even wider panorama. The best light on the lake is in the late afternoon from this western shore. Entry to castle approx 15 euros. Drive: Short walk to town
AFTERNOON
BLED TOWN AND THE CREAM CAKE
The Bled cream cake, kremna rezina, is one of the finest pastries in Central Europe: vanilla custard and whipped cream between layers of flaky pastry, invented at the Park Hotel in 1953. Eating one at the Park Hotel on the lakeside terrace with the island view is an essential experience. The town has excellent local honey and craft shops. The evening light on the castle cliff from the western shore is the finest time to photograph Bled.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Straža hill above Bled has a summer toboggan run that descends through the forest back to the lake. Beyond the obvious fun, the walk to the top of Straža gives an extraordinary aerial view of the lake from the south that most visitors never see. The toboggan run is approx 5 euros per ride.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Belvedere, Bled Dawn coffee on the lake terrace before the crowds arrive. Extraordinary still-water views. | Lunch: Gostilna Pri Planincu The oldest restaurant in Bled. Local trout, buckwheat dishes and Slovenian wine. | Dinner: Vila Preseren, Bled Elegant lakeside dining with views of the illuminated island church at night.
DAY 2
VINTGAR GORGE AND LAKE BOHINJ
MORNING
VINTGAR GORGE AT OPENING TIME
The Vintgar Gorge is the finest gorge walk in Slovenia, a 1.6km wooden boardwalk above the extraordinary turquoise Radovna river through a limestone canyon. Arrive at 8am opening to have the gorge entirely to yourself before the day groups arrive. The final section opens into a pool below the Sum waterfall. The walk is entirely one-way; a path through the forest returns to the entrance. Entry approx 10 euros. Drive: 30 min drive to Bohinj
MIDDAY
LAKE BOHINJ, THE WILD ALPINE LAKE
Lake Bohinj is the largest natural lake in Slovenia, wilder and quieter than Bled, sitting in a glacial cirque with Triglav directly above. The Church of St John the Baptist on the shore has the finest medieval frescoes in Slovenia, painted in the 14th century. The walk along the southern shore to the church takes 40 minutes through mixed forest and meadow. The lake swimming is extraordinary in summer, warmer than expected given the altitude. Church entry approx 3 euros. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
SAVICA WATERFALL AND TRIGLAV VIEWS
The Savica waterfall at the western end of Lake Bohinj is the source of the Sava river and the most important waterfall in Slovenia. A 20-minute climb up 553 steps reaches a viewpoint where the falls drop 78 metres through a narrow limestone cleft. The view up the Triglav valley from the top of the steps, with the peaks still carrying snow in June, is one of the finest mountain views in Slovenia. Entry approx 3 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Pokljuka plateau above Lake Bohinj is a vast spruce forest at 1,300 metres that almost no day visitors reach. Drive up from Bohinj in 20 minutes to reach an extraordinary high plateau used as the Slovenian biathlon training centre. Several marked trails cross the plateau with views over the Triglav massif. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Bled Early coffee before the Vintgar drive. The gorge is best at 8am opening. | Lunch: Gostilna Rupa, Bohinj The finest local restaurant at Lake Bohinj. Lamb, local cheese and extraordinary views. | Dinner: Gostisce Erlah, Bohinj Traditional farmhouse cooking on the Bohinj shore. Local trout and buckwheat bread.
DAY 3
TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
THE SEVEN LAKES VALLEY, THE FINEST HIKE IN TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
The Seven Lakes Valley hike from Bohinj is the finest full-day walk in Slovenia, ascending through the extraordinary Triglav National Park to a high valley containing seven glacial lakes at 1,685 metres. The trail climbs 900 metres through mixed forest and alpine meadow with extraordinary views of the Triglav massif above. The first lake is reached in two hours and the valley beyond opens into an extraordinary landscape of water, rock and sky. A guided ascent of Triglav itself can be arranged through local guides for those who want the summit. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
DOM PRI TRIGLAVSKIH JEZERIH, THE MOUNTAIN HUT LUNCH
The mountain hut above the Seven Lakes Valley serves the finest mountain lunch in Slovenia: hot soup, local cheese, bread and the extraordinary Triglav National Park views. The hut at 1,685 metres has been serving hikers since 1931. The walk continues beyond to further lakes and eventually to the Triglav summit trail for those with the time and fitness. Book a bed in the hut if staying overnight for the Triglav ascent. Drive: Return hike to Bohinj
AFTERNOON
RETURN AND RECOVERY AT LAKE BOHINJ
The descent from the Seven Lakes Valley returns to the Bohinj shore in two to three hours depending on pace. The afternoon at the lake is best spent swimming, recovering and watching the extraordinary evening light fall on the Triglav massif above. The Bohinj valley is at its finest in the hour before sunset when the peaks catch the last light.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Triglav National Park contains the only alpine national park in Slovenia and protects the entire Julian Alps within the country. The chamois, golden eagle and Triglav golden butterfly found nowhere else in the world all live here. The park charges no entrance fee and the trails are extraordinarily well marked throughout.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gostisce Erlah, Bohinj Hearty breakfast before the Seven Lakes ascent. Pack | Lunch: from the hotel. LUNCH Dom pri Triglavskih Jezerih Mountain hut soup and local cheese at 1,685 metres. Book ahead in peak season. | Dinner: Gostilna Mihovc, Bohinj Traditional Slovenian dinner after the long hike. Local lamb and Slovenian wine.
DAY 4
KRANJSKA GORA
MORNING
ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SPRING IN SLOVENIA
The Zelenci nature reserve just outside Kranjska Gora is the most extraordinary natural spring in Slovenia, an emerald pool of perfectly still water fed by underground springs from the Triglav massif that gives the Sava Dolinka river its source. The colour of the water is an extraordinary vivid green caused by the minerals in the limestone aquifer. A short boardwalk circles the pool through the wetland. Free to enter and almost entirely unknown to foreign visitors. Drive: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
PLANICA VALLEY AND THE WORLD'S LARGEST SKI JUMP
The Planica valley above Kranjska Gora contains the largest ski jump in the world, the extraordinary Letalnica, where jumpers have exceeded 250 metres. Open in summer as a walk-in attraction, the scale of the jump seen from the bottom is extraordinary. The entire valley is a UNESCO protected landscape. A cable car to the top of the jump gives views over the Karavanke range into Austria. Entry to the valley free, cable car approx 12 euros. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
JASNA LAKE AND KRANJSKA GORA TOWN
Jasna lake below Kranjska Gora is an extraordinary artificial reservoir fed by the Pisnica river with a spectacular backdrop of the Martuljek group of peaks rising vertically above. The bronze chamois statue on the shore is one of the most photographed objects in Slovenia. Kranjska Gora town is compact and excellent with fine restaurants and local craft shops. The Liznjekova Domacija farmhouse museum shows traditional alpine life. Museum entry approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Martuljek waterfalls above Kranjska Gora are the most extraordinary hidden waterfalls in the Julian Alps. A two-hour return hike from the valley road reaches a sequence of falls in a narrow gorge beneath the vertical rock walls of the Martuljek group. Almost no foreign tourists visit. Free to access.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Kranjska Gora Coffee in the main square before driving to Zelenci. The town is excellent. | Lunch: Gostilna pri Martinu Traditional Slovenian lunch in Kranjska Gora. Local buckwheat, venison and Slovenian wine. | Dinner: Replica, Kranjska Gora The finest contemporary restaurant in the upper Sava valley. Book ahead.
DAY 5
VRSIC PASS AND UPPER SOCA
MORNING
VRSIC PASS, THE HIGHEST ROAD IN SLOVENIA
The Vrsic Pass at 1,611 metres is the highest mountain road in Slovenia and the finest drive in the Julian Alps. Fifty hairpin bends ascend above the treeline to extraordinary views over the Triglav massif. The Russian Chapel halfway up, built by prisoners of war in memory of colleagues killed in an avalanche in 1916, is extraordinarily moving. The descent into the Soca Valley reveals the turquoise river for the first time from above. This single drive is the finest mountain road experience in Slovenia. Drive: 45 min drive down to valley
MIDDAY
THE SOCA SOURCE HIKE, THE ELECTRIC BLUE SPRING
The source of the Soca river is a 90-minute hike each way into Triglav National Park from the valley road below Vrsic. The river emerges from a cave in a sheer limestone cliff in a shade of electric blue that no photograph accurately captures. The hike passes through old-growth forest and along the infant river as it widens from a trickle to a stream in an extraordinary alpine gorge. One of the finest short hikes in Slovenia. Free to enter on foot. Drive: 30 min drive to Bovec
AFTERNOON
BOVEC AND THE GREAT SOCA GORGE
The Great Soca Gorge just outside Bovec is a short signed trail from the road into a narrow limestone canyon where the turquoise water forces through. A final swim in the Soca before the drive back to Ljubljana for departure is the finest possible end to a five-day Julian Alps itinerary. The drive from Bovec back to Ljubljana takes two hours through the extraordinary Vipava Valley.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Predel Pass road just north of Bovec leads to the extraordinary Fort Kluze, a Habsburg military fortress built into a sheer cliff face above the Koritnica gorge, used in both WWI and WWII. Remarkably preserved and almost entirely unvisited. The gorge views from the fort are extraordinary. Entry approx 3 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Kranjska Gora Final breakfast before the Vrsic drive. Stock up for the Soca source picnic. | Lunch: Picnic at Soca source Pack lunch from Kranjska Gora. No facilities on the hike into the national park. | Dinner: Letni Vrt, Bovec Local venison and Primorska white wine on the Soca river terrace before Ljubljana.
Where To Stay
Bled, Nights 1 to 2 Hotel Triglav Bled or Vila Bled. Approx 100 to 200 euros per night. Bohinj, Night 3 Hotel Jezero on the lake. Approx 80 to 140 euros per night. Kranjska Gora, Nights 4 to 5 Hotel Larix or boutique guesthouses. Approx 80 to 150 euros.
Top Tips
1. Lake Bled at 6am before sunrise is extraordinary. The island reflection in still water with nobody else there is one of the finest sights in Europe.
2. The Triglav Lakes Valley hike is the finest full-day walk in Slovenia if a full Triglav ascent is too demanding. Seven glacial lakes in one valley.
3. Zelenci nature reserve near Kranjska Gora is the most extraordinary natural spring in Slovenia, an emerald pool that feeds the Sava Dolinka. Free.
4. Book the Triglav ascent guide at least two weeks ahead in July and August. The mountain is Slovenia's most sacred and busiest at its summit.
5. The Planica ski jump valley near Kranjska Gora is open in summer as a walk-in attraction. The scale of the largest ski jump in the world is extraordinary.
6. Lake Bohinj has no island and no castle. That is precisely why it is finer than Bled for those who want the Julian Alps without the crowds.
Total Budget
90 to 160 euros/day