Your guide to the stunning Vintgar Gorge in Lake Bled, Slovenia

In Vintgar Gorge a narrow mountain river carved it’s way through this deep canyon and it plays a game of rapids, poola and falls. The river twirls and dances as you walk on the wooden galleries and zig zag your way over bridges, continue on paths carved into the rocks until you reach the beautiful waterfall Sum.

Vintgar Gorge is a masterpiece of nature’s art and an attraction you’ll fall in love with. We keep returning here ourselves to admire its beauty.

What is Vintgar Gorge?

Vintgar gorge is a major tourist attraction in Slovenia. This 1.6-kilometre long canyon was carved by the Radovna River which made its path through the towering vertical walls of Hom and Boršt hills. Over 500 metres of wooden bridges and galleries have been built to make access possible to the gorge.

These bridges and wooden galleries are carved into the cliffs and will take you along and across the crystal clear and freezing cold Radovna river so that you can admire its waterfalls, pools and rapids as you make your way through this beautiful gorge.

Vintgar Gorge is also known as Soteska Vintgar, Bled Gorge, Bled Vintgar, Vintgar Bled and Blejski Vintgar. In Slovene Vintgar means gorge or canyon and the English translation of the name is quite unfortunate – Gorge Gorge.

 

Where is Vintgar Gorge located?

Vintgar Gorge is located just over 4km northwest of Lake Bled in Zgornje Gorje, Slovenia, on the eastern part of Triglav National Park.

This stunning gorge is one of the must dos when visiting Lake Bled and one of our favourite walks in Triglav National Park!

 

Getting to Vintgar Gorge

The gorge is easily accessible by car or bus from Lake Bled. There are also many guided tours that will take you there.

 

Lake Bled to Vintgar Gorge: It is 4 kilometres from Lake Bled to Vintgar Gorge and it takes 10 minutes to drive there.

Ljubljana to Vintgar Gorge: It is 58 kilometres from Ljubljana to Vintgar Gorge and the drive takes 45 minutes.

 

Some decide to visit Bled Vintgar by bike but we would not recommend to do so. The road to the gorge is steep, narrow, windy and has heavy traffic due to the popularity of this attraction. Also, you are not allowed into the gorge with the bike.

 

Vintgar Gorge Parking

There is ample parking at both ends of the Bled gorge. There is a carpark attendant who will collect your parking fee at arrival and give you a parking tickets which must be displayed in your vehicle.

 

Personal car: 5€
Camper van: 10€
Bus: 15€

Visiting Vintgar Gorge

Since 2020 there is no return allowed via the gorge and all foot traffic is one way only. This is to help ensure social distancing and to prevent the risk of Covid spread.

The entrance is at the log cabin in the village Podhom, you’ll walk downstream and exit the gorge at the Šum waterfall in Blejska Dobrava.

 

Wooden walkways

As you enter Vintgar Gorge you’ll start by crossing the first bridge and walk the first part (about one third) of the gorge on wooden galleries and zig zag your way over wooden bridges. Below you the Radovna river puts on a display of rapids, pools and small waterfalls.

These wooden walkways have become an iconic part of the gorge and certainly make it special, a fabulous example of nature an manmade structures working together.

 

The Clearing

As you leave the majority of wooden walkways behind you’ll get to a wider area of the gorge and a little clearing by the river. The river is wider here and slower moving.

The little beach is perfect for a picnic or to dip your toes in and make sure if the river really has only 5°C. But be mindful, even if you can solder through water this cold, swimming is not allowed in Vintgar Gorge.

From here you’ll climb up a set of stairs and continue mostly on gravel paths along the edge of the gorge with few shorter galleries as well as paths carved into the rocks.

 

Railway bridge

Towards the end of the gorge you’ll walk under a stone arch bridge of the Bohinj railway. This bridge stands 33.5 metres above the path and is the largest stone single- arch railway bridge preserved in its entirety in Slovenia.

The bridge is still in use today and taking the train over this scenic railway is quite an experience in itself.

 

Sum Waterfall

The walk through Vintgar gorge ends by the Šum waterfall (hum or humming waterfall). Walk through the gates and down to the platform at the foot of the waterfall to see this beauty.

It is said that Sum is the highest river waterfall in Slovenia but there seems to be a disagreement on its actual hight. A few years back the Vintgar Gorge brochure said the waterfall is 16 metres high in the Slovene version, but only 13 metres high in the English one. Online some sources say 13 metres, others 15 or 16 and even 23 and 26!

We haven’t measured but we believe it’s somewhere between 13 and 16 metres.

 

Return options

Once you reach the waterfall you have three options for returning back to the starting point. Unfortunatelly through the gorge is no longer an option.

1. Walk the Hom path via Saint Catherine If you have 1.5h to spare turn right at the end of the gorge and follow the signs for Sveta Katerina. This easy walking path offers beautifu
   l views over the valley and takes you past the church of St. Catherine and through alpine pastures. There isn’t much shade on this walk and we would not recommend it during the day in the peak of summer.
2. Walk the through the forest via the Strma Stran (steep side) path This is a shorter and less scenic route back to the carpark which goes mostly through shaded forests and takes 45 minutes to complete. Walk across the bridge at the end of the gorge and climb the stairs. Follow the signposts through the village as they take you back into the forest. You’ll be walking at the top of the cliff that curves just above the gorge.
3. Take a return shuttle It is a 10 minute walk to the shuttle in the same direction as Strma Stran. As you reach the end of the stairs and make it out of the forest you’ll soon see Natour bar on your left where you can catch the shuttle back.
4. Hop on the bus There is yet another path that will lead you to the bus station and the carpark with all the tour busses. From the end of the gorge continue straight for about 20 minutes. You’ll be walking down a gravel maintenance road which will take you to Blejska Dobrava.  

Opening hours

Gorge Vintgar is closed during winter. Depending on the conditions it usually reopens in April when safe to do so.

April – June: 8.00 – 18.00
July, August: 7.00 – 19.00
September: 8.00 – 18.00
October: 9.00 – 16.00

 

Tickets

In an attempt to promote contactless visits you can now purchase adult tickets online. When buying a ticket online, you must choose the time and the date of the visit which you must adhere to. Open the ticket on your phone and scan the QR code when you enter.

All other tickets must be purchased on arrival.

Adult ticket: 10 €
Students, seniors, disabled: 7 €
Children: 1 or 2 € depending on age
Pets: 3 €

 

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Vintgar Gorge is first thing in the morning right when the gorge opens. For a short time you’ll have this beauty all to yourself and hear nothing but the sound of the water below you and the chirping of the birds above you. With a thin layer of mist rising from the cold water, mornings in Vintgar Gorge truly are magical!

Vintgar Gorge is one of the most popular and most visited attractions in Slovenia and it can get very crowded in high season (June – September). April, May and October are the least busy months.

 

Vintgar Gorge FAQ

Should you visit Vintgar gorge on your own or do a tour?

Up until 2020 we would have recommended doing the tour on your own. The Vintgar gorge entrance fee was only a fraction of what it is now, parking used to be free and walking back through the gorge was just as beautiful as walking it for the first time, if not better since walking upstream gives you a better view over the rapids and waterfalls.

Considering the increase in prices and the one way policy we believe a guided tour might be the better way. By the time you add up the price of the tickets, parking, shuttle or the time it takes to do the loop walk, you’re probably better off hopping on a tour bus which drops you off a the beginning of the gorge and picks you up at the end.

 

How long does it take to visit Vintgar Gorge

The walk through the gorge takes about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace that allows you to take in the views. You will need 2-4 hours to visit Vintgar Gorge including drive times. Many choose to visit the gorge as part of their day trip to Lake Bled.

How long exactly? This is a math problem really. Add another 15-20 minutes if you plan on taking loads of photos. Add 45 minutes if you plan on walking back via the forest. Add 1.5 hours if you plan on walking back via St. Catherine. Add 30 minutes if you plan on taking the shuttle. Add 20 minutes if you’re taking the bus. Then add the time it takes to drive to and from the gorge.

 

What should I wear for visiting Vintgar Gorge?

The path in the gorge is well maintained and many walk it in flip flops in summer. However some area can get slippery when wet and we’d recommend something with a better grip but there’s no need for hiking boots.

Keep in mind that the gorge doesn’t get much sun and the cold river keeps the temperatures fresh. It is always a few degrees less here than in Lake Bled. Even in the peak of summer it can get chilly in the mornings so bring a light jacket if visiting early.

 

How hard is the walk through Vintgar Gorge

The walk through the gorge is easy and mostly flat and the path well maintained.

The return via the forest is steep in parts and the path is at the top of the cliff with very few railings to protect you from the fall. The path to St.Catherine is steep at first and then flattens out, however it is in full sun most of the way. Access to the buss is mostly flat on a well maintained road and probably the easiest of the options.

 

Is Vintgar Gorge accessible by wheelchair or stroller?

No, Vintgar is not accessible by wheelchair nor stroller. The bridges, galleries and paths are too narrow and there are some stars along the way.

 

What kind of facilities are there at Vintgar Gorge?

There is a hut with a bar serving refreshments and snacks at the beginning and one at the end of the walk. Toilets are only available at the beginning of the gorge.

There is a fairly average restaurant near the carpark in Podhom. And a couple of others in Blejska Dobrava which we haven’t tried.

 

Can you swim or kayak in Vintgar Gorge?

No, swimmi
ng and kayaking are not allowed in Vintgar Gorge due to unpredictable and often strong currents and rapids as well as for preservation purposes. Vintgar Gorge is located in Triglav National Park where swimming and boating are limited by law.

 

Is Vintgar Gorge worth it?

If you’ve never visited Vintgar Gorge before, you’ll most definitely love it. Stop reading here, skip the rant ahead and book your tickets now.

So, is Vintgar Gorge worth it? Just over a couple of years ago my answer would have been an excited heck yeah, Vintgar Gorge is a must visit! Now, however, the best I can do is yeah I guess so.

There is no doubt, the gorge is unbelievably beautiful and here you can see some of the finest work Mother Nature has ever done. But you’ll also see more people than you can count, probably some trash left behind and, if you return again in a few years, you might even notice a slow decline of this little piece of paradise.

I’ve been returning to Vintgar Gorge every few years since I was a kid and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been there. Perhaps this is influencing my answer since I know what this place used to be – a little sanctuary of peace and beautiful nature.

On our last visit to the gorge we were actually quite disappointed. Not by nature, obviously, but by the changes to the way Vintgar Gorge operates. Suddenly a visit to the gorge was almost triple the price and double the time for half the enjoyment.

We all know last year was a turbulent one and businesses had to adjust, but we were shocked by the many changes that happened here. The one way policy makes the visit much safer but I seriously wish they chose to make the path in the opposite direction since you’re better able to see the rapids and waterfalls when you walk against the stream.

I feel like all the best views are in the other direction so I implore you, look back often!

By making access only possible one way, a visit to the gorge suddenly takes a lot longer to complete. What used to be a leisurely walk also accessible to the elderly is now quite a bit longer and maybe even a bit of a hassle.

While Vintgar Gorge certainly is beautiful, Slovenia has many other stunning gorges and natural beauties that are easier or faster to access and are much cheaper or even free of charge.

Other attractions nearby

Vintgar Gorge is within easy reach from Ljubljana and Lake Bled. When exploring this area we recommend you also check out:

• Lake Bled
• Lake Bohinj
• Zelenci Nature Reserve
• Lake Jasna
• Triglav National Park hikes

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Have you been to Vintgar Gorge? Would you like to go?
Let us know in the comments below!

 

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