Logarska Dolina and northern Slovenia

After a day spent discovering Maribor and Ptuj, we hit the road towards the Upper Savinja valley and the mountains of northern Slovenia. We had planned to sleep in Luče to be close to the Logarska Dolina nature park.

What to see in northern Slovenia

The Upper Savinja valley

Our hotel was located on the banks of the Savinja river, so we could enjoy it from the morning onwards, as soon as we woke up. The colour of the water is quite simply striking, so clear and turquoise! The air was very humid that morning, so water vapour hung above the river.

The Logarska Dolina nature park

Despite the rainy, gloomy weather, we decided to go to the Logarska Dolina nature park, which we had been dreaming about from photos. Entry by car costs 7€ and helps contribute to the upkeep and preservation of the park. Slovenia’s low prices will never stop amazing us!

First stop: the Palenk waterfall. You can park the car near the very lovely hotel Plesnik and you just have to follow the signs to quickly reach the small (but tall) waterfall. This is where we were able to take the park’s famous photo that we had seen in the guidebooks! A real postcard setting.

Second stop: the Rinka waterfall. This one takes a bit more effort and a half hour walk. This waterfall is impressive for its height and the colour of the rocks: the red contrasts with the green of the conifers and the white of the mist that surrounds the mountain. You can get as close as possible to the waterfall or climb up to the refuge below for a different viewpoint. We got an eyeful and took the chance to get some nice photos. We definitely recommend this magnificent place!

Kamniška Bistrica

To stretch our legs, we stopped in the Kamniška Bistrica valley, which is the starting point for many hikes. As we didn’t have a proper map, we left the car on the side of the road and started walking through the forest to reach a river. We were alone in this place, which felt a bit mystical because of the mist hanging above the water. A very strange atmosphere!

Kamnik

We then spent a short hour in the village of Kamnik, which didn’t blow us away. You can go round this little town quickly and what is really worth it is the view from the castle ruins. The streets were empty here too because the weather was gloomy and very grey.

What to see in Kamnik? Sutna street with its colourful houses and the Mali Grad, the little castle from which you get a view over the town and its red roofs.

Radovjlica

Before reaching Bled, we wanted to take another break by stopping at Radovjlica to discover this picturesque Slovenian village. We got there at the end of the day, just as a local festival was starting. So we were lucky enough to watch a show on the village square, with traditional dances and songs.

What to see in Radovjlica? The main square (Linhartov trg) and its colourful houses, the viewpoint over the Sava valley, the Saint Peter parish church and, for lovers of folk arts, the Beekeeping Museum.

Škofja Loka

This small medieval town is less than thirty kilometres from Ljubljana and can therefore be visited at any point in an itinerary. You can include it after a visit to Bled or Kranj for example, or on your way from the capital. Even though we wanted to include it in this article about the Julian Alps, we actually visited Škofja Loka on the last day of our road trip, on the way to the airport. So we weren’t able to discover all of it (its castle in particular) because time was short.

What to see in Škofja Loka? The castle and its museum, the Three Castles trail (5 kilometres), the colourful Town Hall square (Mestni trg), the Saint James parish church or the Capuchin bridge.

Our accommodation in northern Slovenia (Upper Savinja valley)

For this stop in the heart of Slovenia’s mountains, we set down our bags at the magnificent hotel Raduha in Luče (520 metres above sea level). We had a lot of trouble finding accommodation in this part of the country, as there are very few hotel and Airbnb options. But the luxurious hotel Raduha offers a room in its annexe for the modest sum of 68€ a night (with a generous breakfast, served in the main building). The room, with a private bathroom, was perfectly fine, with a nice view over the garden. It’s a good deal if you want to enjoy a beautiful spot, on the banks of the turquoise Savinja river!

What we thought of northern Slovenia

For us the Logarska Dolina nature park is a must in Slovenia because it offers magnificent landscapes for nature lovers. Between mountains, forests and waterfalls, we were well served in this region! The road that leads to Bled is also very pleasant and you can make several stops to discover typical villages like Radovjlica.
If you want to go from the east of the country to the Julian Alps, we can only recommend stopping on the way in the Logarska Dolina valley. You won’t regret it!

Planning a trip to Slovenia? Read all our articles about our road trip!