Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia: An Easy and Amazing Hike (+ Tips for Visiting)
If you’re planning a trip to Slovenia, one of Europe’s most green and eco-friendly destinations, make time to visit Vintgar Gorge Slovenia — no doubt one of the most gorge-ous spots of all!
Slovenia is a very small country after all — only 2 million people call it home, and a quarter of them live in the capital of Ljubljana — and it’s easy to see why it’s on so many travelers’ European Bucket List.
Slovenia has some of the world’s most scenic natural beauty, and Vintgar Gorge is just one of the unique natural attractions you can easily visit.
It’s so popular in fact, that it can be frustrating to compete with the crowds for a glimpse of all this beauty, let alone snap some good photos of Mother Nature herself.
The last thing you want at a place like Vintgar Gorge is to bump into crowds of tourists along the narrow paths and walkways above the rocky gorge and chilling water.
Before we visited Vintgar Gorge, we had the impression that it was difficult or challenging to hike.
That’s not the case at all.
Despite its name, Vintgar Gorge offers walkers and hikers of all skill levels a rare opportunity to experience one of Slovenia’s natural phenomenons in a mostly-level and very easy hike on elevated boardwalks and a mix of level dirt and concrete walkways.
So if you’re heading to Slovenia and Triglav National Park in the Soca Valley, here’s how to slow travel Vintgar Gorge like a pro, experience the magic of the place, and enjoy the solitude as nature intended.
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What’s in This Article?
About Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia
Getting to Vintgar Gorge
Tip for Visiting Vintgar Gorge Without the Crowds
What to Know Before You Visit Vintgar Gorge
Our Experience Hiking Vintgar Gorge
About Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is located in the eastern part of Triglav National Park, an area in northwest Slovenia nearly 350 square miles wide.
The gorge is just a few kilometers from scenic Lake Bled, and hiking Vintgar Gorge is one of the most popular Lake Bled activities.
Tourists come here to hike, swim, paddle to the tiny island church in the middle of the lake, and swoon over Creme Cake and other delicious Slovenian food specialties that Bled is famous for.
Over millions of years, the crystal clear waters of the Radovna River carved out the deep Vintgar Gorge, also known as Soteska Vintgar or the Radovna River Gorge.
The Trail
Vintgar Gorge is so scenic, but the cool thing about the trail is that it feels to almost suspend you in the gorge clinging to the inside of the cliffs and the river’s edge.
There’s a sturdy wooden walkway originally built in 1893 (and updated many times since) which runs all the way through the gorge, crisscrossing from one side to the other.
The walkway is suspended just meters above the icy cold river affording you a fabulous view as you walk along, and occasionally gives way to trails made from stone and cement.
The river meanders through the gorge narrowing and widening here and there forming rapids, small waterfalls, and tranquil pools so tempting you want to dive right in.
Sadly — but understandably — there is no swimming allowed in the gorge, which can get pretty deep — 250 meters at its deepest!
There are so many photo ops and scenic views around every corner of the hike.
As you near the end of the trail, you’ll see a single-arch bridge made from stone which dams the river. Constructed in 1906, the bridge was part of the Bohinj Railway.
Eventually after 1.6 kilometers, the gorge culminates at the 16-meter high Šum Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Slovenia, where there’s a small hydroelectric power plant nearby.
Getting to the Šum Waterfall, however, isn’t quite as easy to navigate.
You can see it from above, or you can slog the final steps and narrow trail down to the base of the waterfall.
There’s also a small cafe and restrooms at the end so you can have a seat, get something to eat or drink, or buy some wooden souvenirs!
Getting to Vintgar Gorge
If you’re planning on visiting Vintgar Gorge, you can enjoy a full day in Triglav National Park, or go hiking in Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, or even the South Styrian Wine Road in Austria for the day.
Kranjska Gora is also around 30 minutes away if you’re here for winter sports or driving the Vrsic Pass to the Soca Valley in the summer.
All of these are perfect day trips from Ljubljana yet close enough to Vintgar Gorge that you can make visiting the Gorge the last stop of your day.
It’s just 4 kilometers from Lake Bled to Vintgar Gorge so getting there is very easy:
Walk from Lake Bled
If you’re visiting Lake Bled and don’t mind the workout you could actually walk to Vintgar Gorge.
If you’re there during the busy summer months, you may even get there before someone who chooses to drive!
Bus From Ljubljana To Lake Bled
Another option on getting here is to take the bus from the bus station in Ljubljana to Lake Bled.
The trip takes under an hour. Then you have to walk, or take the shuttle from Lake Bled to Vintgar Gorge.
Take a Shuttle
For a fee, the Mamut shuttle goes to Vintgar Gorge from the main bus station in Bled for around €10.
Drive
Driving to Vintgar Gorge is easy — the main road from the A2 highway leads you directly to the entrance of the Gorge if you just follow the signs.
I know it sounds vague, like you might get lost with directions like these, but this is Slovenia. The Gorge is still relatively rural.
If you’re driving from Ljubljana, you’ll drive into Lake Bled, then you can walk, drive, or take the shuttle from there.
Tip for Visiting Vintgar Gorge Without the Crowds
Did we mention Vintgar Gorge can get crowded?
After the civil unrest in the former Yugoslavia and the region’s break up into the smaller countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia in the 1990s, this Balkan region has blossomed into one of the most touristed destinations in the world.
Slovenia works hard at being a green destination and they’re succeeding.
Today it’s a hiker’s and nature lover’s paradise.
And like all places that are truly stunning, this level of popularity comes at a price.
Some areas of the country have become so popular so quickly that they can be downright frustrating to visit.
This part of Slovenia near Triglav National Park has some of the most scenic road trips in all of Europe.
On our road trip from southern Austria to Italy, we decided to detour and spend a few days exploring Vintgar Gorge and Triglav National Park.
But like our visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia last year, we knew that Vintgar Gorge was also one of those places that gets a ton of tourists — it’s one of the most popular things to do in Lake Bled.
So we were hoping to get an early start from Austria and make it to the Gorge by 9am.
When that didn’t happen and we found ourselves still having lunch with friends in South Styria at noon, we almost bagged visiting Vintgar Gorge altogether.
There was no way I was going to go through the same unpleasant experience we had at Plitvice last year where we were nearly knocked into the lake by an aggressive tour group trying to follow their leader with the flag! We were beyond aggravated.
So the last thing we wanted was to experience Vintgar Gorge the same way. I mean, just take a look at those narrow walkways!
We knew that a good way to avoid the crowds was to visit early in the morning, but there was no way we were going to make it.
Our solution? We decided to take our time and enjoy the scenic drive from south Styria to Slovenia, and arrive at Vintgar Gorge late in the day — very late in the day.
We didn’t arrive until 5:00pm, figuring we’d have a good two hours to explore before the park closed.
But we were wrong.
Vintgar Gorge closed at 9:00pm — SCORE — we’d be alone in the Gorge for 4 hours!
Depending on the month you visit, the afternoon light filters through the gorge and rewards you with a stunning — almost dreamy — atmosphere that can only be described as magical.
So much so, that several famous movies have even been filmed here — parts of The Chronicles of Narnia and Star Wars were filmed in Triglav National Park and the Soca Valley.
We virtually had the entire place to ourselves except for 5 or 6 other hikers.
It was the perfect time of day to visit, and for once we were glad to be running late.
What to Know Before You Visit Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge Opening Times
Vintgar Gorge is open from April through November.
Hours of Operation: April, May 8:00am-6:00pm. June 7:00am-7:00pm. July, August 7:00am-8:00pm. September 8:00am-6:00pm. October, November 9:00am-4:00pm.
Confused? So were we.
We’re not sure what’s behind so many different closing times throughout the season.
We were there in late August and were told the Park was open until 9:00pm, though their website says it’s only open til 8:00pm in August. Go figure!
But don’t stress about it. If you’re late getting out of the Gorge or parking lot, there is no gate that will keep you locked in. The ticket office will just be closed and the parking lot unmanned.
Vintgar Gorge Price of Admission
How Much is Parking at Vintgar Gorge? 5 Euros for car, 10 Euros for Campers.
How much are tickets to Vintgar Gorge? Adults: 10 Euros per person, Kids 15 and under: 3 Euros, 6 and under: 1 Euro
When to Go to Vintgar Gorge
Since Vintgar Gorge is CLOSED during the off-season, plan your visit around the shoulder season (April/May and October/November) if possible.
Early in the morning or very late in the day (even better)! At 5:00pm there were only 8 cars in the entire parking lot when we arrived.
We parked, packed light with camera gear and a few bottles of water in our backpacks.
There was no line at the Ticket Office, and we breezed right through.
Once you buy your tickets, head through the turnstile and make sure that you hang on to your ticket. You’ll need it if you leave and want to get back in.
Is Visiting Vintgar Gorge Good With Kids?
Yes! Kids are welcome and will be safe walking at Vintgar Gorge with your supervision.
There are spots where the walkways are level with the water, so supervision is a must.
But we saw several families with small children. They were all wearing sturdy hiking shoes and/or sandals.
Our Experience Hiking Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is a nice little hike/walk for just about anyone. The relatively level path makes it a perfect hike for families with kids.
Though we saw some people wearing flip flops and even nice shoes, we wouldn’t recommend wearing these.
It may be a level walk, but it’s still a hike on uneven stone walkways, timber bridges, and dirt paths.
It’s definitely a great place to visit as part of your trip through Triglav National Park.
If you’re thinking of visiting Slovenia, Vintgar Gorge should be high on your list!
Triglav National Park, Slovenia
What Else to See in Slovenia?
If you’re interested in camping and glamping, we went glamping in Bela Krajina, the lush area in south Slovenia that borders Croatia, and then took a train to the capital of Ljubljana before heading north to hike the upland pastures of Velika Planina and the crystal turquoise lakes around Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled.