From Lake Bohinj to the Vintgar Gorge

After a wonderful day spent by Lake Bled, we decided to take the car the next morning to visit the famous Vintgar Gorge. We couldn’t wait to discover this place with its turquoise and emerald waters that make you dream! Once there, we understood why it is one of the most renowned sites in Slovenia. The day went on with the discovery of Lake Bohinj, the country’s second best known lake after Lake Bled.

What to see in the Slovenian Alps

Vintgar Gorge

The Vintgar Gorge lies about 5 kilometres from Bled, so it is very easy to reach. This is where we came across the most tourists: you should therefore try to arrive early at the site (7am to 7pm in July/August). For our part, we arrived around 9am and there were already quite a few people there!
For parking, everything is organised down to the last detail, with attendants showing cars the free spaces. You then have to pay for the car park: 5€ per car. We paid 6€ per person for entry to the Vintgar Gorge (student rate, 10€ for adults), which is not excessive for this kind of visit.
You then follow the marked route that runs alongside the watercourse at the heart of the gorge. As there is only one path, this can create human “traffic jams”, especially by the end of the morning when there are more and more tourists. So we were glad to have arrived earlier and not to have spoilt our visit!
Otherwise, it is true that the site is splendid: the water is so clear and blue… the photos speak for themselves!

At the end of the route on the way out, we went through the barriers to reach the Sum waterfall, a few minutes’ walk away. So remember to keep your entry ticket, you will need it to go back through the barriers and walk the route the other way round. After this lovely morning in the Vintgar Gorge, we set off again towards Lake Bohinj, where we wanted to spend the afternoon. But before that, time for the lunch break (our pick at the bottom of the article)!

Lake Bohinj

Before heading to Lake Bohinj, we had read the excellent articles on the blog Slovénie Secrète, which give all the tips for making the most of the lake and its surroundings. So we followed its recommendations and parked in the large Bohinjska Bistrica car park, on the road leading to Lake Bohinj. From there, we took a shuttle that dropped us off by the lake: very handy! It saves having to look for a space and pay for parking…
To reach the shores of the lake, we crossed the main bridge and walked past the charming church of Sv. Janeza Krstnika. Then you just follow the lake and find yourself a quiet spot on the “beach”! So we spent a good part of the afternoon resting on the pebbles (remember to bring thick towels) and swimming in the lake’s water (not that cold).

After these few hours of rest, we strolled along the lakeside to find other viewpoints, in particular over the church. Even in the middle of summer, a certain calm and gentle way of life reigned there. What is more, the sun was starting to be veiled by clouds, which gave a magnificent light.

We wanted to end this day by gaining some height above the lake, so once again we followed the advice of the Slovénie Secrète blog, in this article in particular. Allow half an hour to climb up to the Pec viewpoint, located here on Google Maps. After the bridge and the church, carry on along the road until you reach the sign for the village of Stara Fuzina. On the right you will see a small bridge and a dirt road facing it: the path is signposted, just follow it! Once at the top, the view over Lake Bohinj is quite simply spectacular, and to top it all off, we were treated to the sunset… a superb memory of our trip.

Heading back down to the lake at 8.30pm, we realised that we had come on a festival weekend… the shuttle times had exceptionally been changed and we were lucky to catch the last one!

Peričnik waterfall

The next morning, before starting our day at the Vrsic pass, we went into the Triglav National Park to visit the Peričnik waterfall. Access is free and the climb is neither very long nor very difficult. The great feature of this place is the presence of a path behind the waterfall! To be honest, we started along this path but quickly turned back because it was very slippery! If you are passing through the region, do not miss this waterfall, it is definitely worth a look!

Our favourite place to eat at Lake Bohinj

• Pension Resje Restaurant: a very good restaurant with architecture typical of the region. Listed in the Gault et Millau, the restaurant serves gourmet dishes at unbeatable prices. We paid 36€ for two.

What we thought of the Slovenian Alps

Here again, no disappointment and so many lovely surprises in terms of landscapes and local food! Even though Lake Bled had set the bar high with its breathtaking views and the colour of its water, we really liked the calm and the wild side of Lake Bohinj. Despite the crowds you can meet in the middle of the day in summer, the Vintgar Gorge remains a must-see in the region. It would be a shame to miss it, because the route is really worth it!
So we advise you to spend at least one day discovering this region, close to Lake Bled: there is plenty to see and to marvel at!