Slovenia’s must-see attractions: Vintgar Gorge, Bled, and Lake Bohinj in one day

Last April we had the chance to visit amazing Slovenia. We only had a couple of days, and we really wanted to visit some of its nature. As we only had 1 day to rent a car, we wanted to visit 3 places in 1 day

What to expect in this article:

Basics about Slovenia

Slovenia is a small country in central Europe that is often overlooked by travelers, but it has a lot to offer. Here are some basics about Slovenia:

The country is located in central Europe, it has a population of around 2 million people and its capital city is Ljubljana. They use the euro as its currency and it has a diverse landscape, with the Julian Alps in the northwest, forests in the central region, and a coastline on the Adriatic Sea in the southwest.
A friend of mine also called it the ‘Canada of Europe.’ We felt it looked a bit like Switzerland, with cool tech but also amazing nature.

Overall, I feel like Slovenia is a beautiful and underrated country that is definitely worth a visit. Writing this article almost feels wrong, as I don’t want Slovenia to become overly touristic, but at the same time, is what it deserves.

We spend about 3 days in Ljubljana and only had one day to visit some of Slovenia’s nature. I wish we had more time to spend in Slovenia, but unfortunately, we couldn’t. We combined Slovenia with Croatia, which was a great choice. If you want to read more about our roadtrip, you can do it here.

12-day itinerary through Croatia and Slovenia

Is it possible to combine all 3 of them?

Combining Vintgar, Bled, and Bohinj in one day is possible, but it will be a busy and tiring day. Here’s a suggested itinerary for how to do it:

Start early in the morning by visiting the Vintgar Gorge. It opens at 8:00 am and it’s recommended to arrive early to avoid the crowds. The walk through the gorge takes about 1-2 hours, depending on your pace.
After visiting the Vintgar Gorge, drive to Lake Bled, which is about a 15-minute drive away. Spend some time admiring the stunning views of the lake and the island in the middle of it. You can take a stroll around the lake, visit the castle or take a traditional Pletna boat ride to the island.
After exploring Lake Bled, drive to Lake Bohinj, which is about a 40-minute drive away. Stop by the Vogel cable car station on the way to take a ride to the top of the mountain, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Once you arrive at Lake Bohinj, take a stroll around the lake, rent a boat or kayak to explore the lake, or take a dip in its crystal-clear waters. You can also take a hike in the nearby Triglav National Park or visit the Savica Waterfall.
In the late afternoon, drive back to Ljubljana or wherever you want to go. You can stop by some of the small towns along the way, such as Radovljica or Kranj, to get a taste of Slovenia’s traditional architecture and local cuisine.

Keep in mind that this itinerary is quite packed, and you may not be able to fully explore each site. However, it will give you a taste of the beauty and diversity of Slovenia’s natural attractions. If you have more time, it’s recommended to spend a full day exploring each location to fully experience their beauty and charm.

Vintgar Gorge

I would suggest first visiting the Vintgar Gorge and being amazed by the beautiful nature, water, and waterfall. The walk will be around an hour and then you can choose which side you want to go to, I would suggest you take the longer route, towards Bled, as the view is stunning while walking.

The Vintgar Gorge is a narrow canyon carved by the Radovna River, with crystal-clear waterfalls, rapids, and emerald-green pools. The gorge is surrounded by steep rock walls covered in moss and ferns, making for a stunning natural landscape. It is not that difficult to walk here, I saw even children walking with their parents.

The walkway is about 1.6 kilometers long. It costs 10 euros to enter and parking costs 8 euros.
The Šum Waterfall is a magnificent 13-meter-high waterfall that serves as the final point of the trail.

After finishing the hike through the Gorge, you can take 2 routes. An easy one, and a bit more difficult one.
I would recommend taking the difficult one towards Bled, as the view of the town will be magnificent, it is a 45 minutes walk back to the car park.
Just look at the picture below. Amazing right? If you struggle with walking, I would recommend taking the other route, which is also shorter.

Lake Bled

Lake Bled is a beautiful glacial lake situated in the Julian Alps of Slovenia.

The lake is known for its crystal-clear water that reflects the surrounding mountains and sky. The water is exceptionally clean and in the middle of the lake, there is a small, picturesque island called Bled Island. The island is home to the Assumption of Mary Church, also known as the Bled Island Church. This adds a touch of magic to the lake’s landscape.

Lastly, overlooking the lake, on a steep cliff, stands Bled Castle. The castle is atop a hill and offers stunning views.

There are several hikes that you can do, even some which will take you to the top, so you can see Lake Bled and its surroundings. The one with the highest altitude is called Velika Osojnica, which sounded very tempting to us, but after Vintgar we were already a bit tired.
If you have more than one day, I would suggest doing this hike for a postcard-worthy view.

I will start with my honest opinion; I found Lake Bled too touristic. It is true that most tourist spots are this touristic because of a reason (because it is beautiful), but this is also how the place loses its charm.
Yes, Lake Bled is gorgeous, but there were too many buses with people and parking costs (in my opinion). We parked our car for 5 minutes, took some pictures, and were off.
We enjoyed Vintgar and Bohinj much more. I can’t understand how Lake Bohinj is not this touristic yet, but by saying this, I also know it might change completely in the next years.

Anyway, you should definitely try and visit Lake Bled, but try to go early in the morning when there are not so many tourists yet.

Additionally, exploring the less crowded areas, such as walking along the quieter parts of the lake or venturing further into the surrounding nature, can provide a more serene experience.

Lake Bohinj

You might think, another Lake? Yes, it might seem like it, but Lake Bohinj might be one of the most stunning places I have visited. Next to that, I felt like it has not been discovered by the crowd yet, so make use of that, before this Lake becomes famous.

Did you know that Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, covering an area of about 3.18 square kilometers? Pretty cool right? It is situated in the Bohinj Valley, about 26 kilometers southwest of Lake Bled, which means only 30 minutes by car.

It is known for its beauty, nature, tranquility, and outdoor activities: You can enjoy a wide range of activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, and fishing on the lake. The calm and clear waters make it an excellent spot for water-based adventures. Next to that, you can also do lots of hikes.

The Savica Waterfall is nearby. This is a 78-meter-high waterfall and by an underground stream emerging from a vertical rock face.

But also the Vogel Ski Resort is nearby. In winter, Lake Bohinj transforms into a winter wonderland, offering opportunities for skiing and snowboarding. The Vogel Ski Resort, located on the south side of the lake, provides a range of slopes for all ski levels.

Lake Bohinj truly is a hidden gem in Slovenia! If you can spend more days here, I would totally recommend it.
We were here in April and still, there was a lot of snow. Can you imagine, from green Lake Bled to suddenly snow while driving? I found it amazing!

Do you have more than 1 day?

Lucky you! I already said it in the text above, but there a couple more places nearbt that you can visit. One day might be very tiring, which means you won;t visit all the cool spots that are there.

Near Lake Bled you definitely have to do a hike to Velika Osojnica so that you have a picture-perfect view of the Lake and the mountains surrounding.
Near Lake Bohinj, you should do some hikes or go to the Savica Waterfall, a 78-meter-high waterfall. Or the Vogel Ski Resort in the winter to do some skiing.
There are many cute villages to take a stroll, in or national parks to enjoy its nature. Enjoy!