The best places to see in Triglav National Park in Slovenia
Soca River, Triglav National Park, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 s)
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**This post is the 5th of a 7-post series discussing what to see on your Slovenian road trip (You can check out the other parts in the list below, separated by each city/region (just click the name to see the blog post. Everything is also summarized in another post here.**
Ljubljana (Blog Post: Why Ljubljana, Slovenia is such a wonderful country capital)
Ptuj (Blog Post: Check out the small Slovenia town of Ptuj)
Maribor (Blog Post: Take a trip to the wine region of Maribor, Slovenia)
Bled (Blog Post: Why Bled is the best city in Slovenia to visit)
Triglav National Park (Blog Post: The best places to see in Triglav National Park in Slovenia)
Piran (Blog Post: Why Piran is a hidden gem in Slovenia)
Slovenian Road Trip Summary (Blog Post: The Epic Slovenia Road Trip)
Triglav National Park is the sole national park in Slovenia. When you realize how awesome Triglav is, you understand why it is unnecessary to need any more. Triglav is the largest peak in the Julian Alps and highest in Slovenia with an elevation of 2,863.65 meters. So with that, it is considered the flagship mountain of the country and the park itself.
The park occupies a large part of Northwestern Slovenia and its perimeter is situated very close to the town of Bled. I found myself in this part of the country during my 10 day long Slovenia road trip, of which I easily spend 4 days in Triglav National Park. There are plenty of hikes of varying difficulty, suitable for everyone.
Soča River, Slovenia (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/80 s)
Four days may seen like enough but I could have easily spent more time. The places I will discuss in this post are the sights I have been to and can personally vouch for. So bear in mind that this list is not comprehensive, but are more or less the highlights one can expect from the park. There is a Google Map at the end of this post with all the places I will talk about.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Slovenia, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Lastly, the time of year I went here was in Mid-October, just in time for the colors of fall to fully come out and although I have never been during any other time, I cannot recommend this time frame enough. I was blown away by my photos and the natural, raw beauty of this place.
Check out my drone video of Slovenia below!
As a drone operator, I always love finding places where my drone will capture such amazing shots. After doing my research before my trip here, I found that flying the drone in Triglav National Park was heavily restricted. Because of this, I decided to write to the management of the park and see if I can get a permit for shooting in some places.
Triglav National Park, Slovenia (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
After some email correspondence, I found that they granted me a permit to fly only in area of infrastructure that were along main roads, so as not to disturb the quiet nature in the more remote regions. The cost was 26 Euros for them to process this and took around 10 days time. Easy as that! Please take the time to do this and don’t just fly there because no one is looking.
My first foray into the park happened to be when I was driving from Graz, Austria to Bled. My original plan was to go right to Bled, but when I saw signs for Soteska Vintgar (Vintgar Gorge), I decided to stop. Luckily, I got there 5 minutes before they stopped letting in visitors and as the last visitor to enter, it seemed like I had the whole place to myself.
This 1.6 kilometer long gorge features hiking paths and bridges along the Radovna River, often in gorgeous displays of green and blue from the nearby mosses and trees. I also went during the autumn so the fall foliage was in full effect. The journey starts by taking you along the river and eventually you will reach a point where you will see a tall waterfall, and you have the choice of taking the circle path back to the parking (Saint Catharine route) or a non-circular path that ventures you further out.
Keep in mind that the gorge is closed during the cold winter months and that 10am-1pm are the busiest times during the day. But this is the best introduction to the Triglav National Park that I can imagine.
Bohinj is a small town lying in the heart of the Julian Alps with the focal point being Lake Bohinj. A visit to this place is a must as it is significantly smaller than Bled and a bit more quieter and peaceful to explore. You can park on the periphery of the lake and walk around it from numerous walking paths. I came here just after sunrise and found it to be quite foggy, but stayed and took photos while the fog lifted.
Lake Bohinj, Triglav National Park, Slovenia (ISO 400, 47 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 s)
I specifically enjoyed having the Church of St. John the Baptist (Cerkev Svetega Janeza Krstnika v Bohinju) in my photos during that morning. This was a weekend morning and it seemed like I had the place to myself. I couldn’t believe how serene it was. I think if you have the time, you should overnight in Bled AND in Bohinj, to experience both lake areas properly.
Soča River, Triglav National Park, Slovenia (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/2000 s)
The Slap Savica (Savica Waterfall) is also situated in Bohinj and is the third most visited attraction in Slovenia. It is an ‘A’ shaped waterfall and is 78 meters high. You can get there a few days by: a) hiking on a marked trail from the Zlatorog Hotel (1 hour to falls parking), b) by car to Savica Hut, c) by bike to Savica Hut, or d) by bus (only in the summer).
Slap Peričnik, Triglav National Park, Slovenia (ISO 800, 40 mm, f/6.3, 1/80 s)
Slap Pericnik (Pericnik Waterfall) is one of those rare waterfalls that allow you to even walk behind it (just like Kvernufoss and Seljalandsfoss in Iceland). It is protected as a world natural heritage site and sits only 16 meters tall. By car, you can easily drive to the Peričnik hut which sits just 10 minutes below the waterfall itself. I managed to get here in the morning before anyone else was around to enjoy it by myself. Furthermore, amidst the fall foliage, it was an incredible site.
Jezero Jasna (‘Jezero’ meaning ‘lake’ in Slovenian) is actually not in the Triglav National Park, however sits just outside of it, hence why I have included it here. This lake is a gorgeous emerald color and sits a few kilometers away from the start of the Vrsic Pass in Triglav National Park. These two artificial lakes are few by the streams of Velika Pišnica and Mala Pišnica. There is a platform here you can fish from or take some of the most gorgeous photographs from. There is also a path that goes along the perimeter of the lake to get it from all angles.
The Vršič Pass is the road that takes you through the Triglav National Park, winding up to 1,611m, being the highest road pass in the Eastern Julian Alps. The side from Jezero Jasna is the ‘Kranjska Gora’ side and the other over the pass is called the ‘Trenta’ side (not official names but just makes it easier to navigate). If you love driving along winding roads, this is the road to be on, but use caution as it can be narrow in many spots, not to mention you are way up in elevation.
Russian Chapel, Triglav National Park, Slovenia (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/8, 1/125 s)
There are also many places to spot at on the Vrsic Pass for photo opportunities and even for a late afternoon picnic. One specific spot I found to be pretty cool was the Russian Chapel. This small building was nestled on the Kranjska Gora side of the pass. It was erected in 1917, and dedicated to St. Vladimir, built by Russian prisoners of war to honor those who died while building the Vrsic Pass. What is so interesting about the church, aside from its amazing and ornate design is that it legally belongs to the Russian Orthodox parish in Belgrade.
On the Trenta side of the pass, going downhill, you will eventually come across the Source of the Soča River. The Soca river seems to be everywhere in Triglav National Park but starts from a small subterranean lake located in a cave, that feeds the 138 kilometer long river. You will see signs for this attraction on your drive and be taken to a cabin that sits below ‘the source’.
Soča River, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 s)
From here you will have to hike 15 minutes, all uphill to see the lake and waterfall that feeds so much beauty within the park. The upper part of the trail is VERY treacherous and should only be done using proper footwear, gloves, and preferably with a partner. I did this in street clothes and was nearly terrified (also a bit dumb of me, but I am still alive). The blue-green color of the water is just so incredibly alluring. This easily turned into one of my favorite parts of the park.
Slap Boka, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1.0 s)
Slap Boka (Boka Waterfall) is the highest waterfall in Slovenia and as such, deserves to be seen. You can do one of two things to see it: 1) take the short 10 minute hike to a viewpoint that sits far away from the falls themselves, and 2) take the much longer hike to end up over the falls themselves. The 2nd option is a bit more treacherous and is a proper hike, where the first one is not challenging whatsoever. Luckily for me, I had the drone which saved me a few hours and several thousand steps to take me to the top of the falls, at least visually.
Slap Kozjak, Slovenia (ISO 100, 16 mm, f/22, 15 s)
Slap Kozjak (Kozjak Waterfall) is another landmark that is actually located just outside the confines of Triglav National Park. You can park near the Kozjak camping grounds and take a short 15 minute walk through the most enchanting forest and stream to end up in an open cavern with the green falls in front of you. There is a small fee to access the site and the entire grounds are very well kept with other hiking trails taking you around the entire area, not just to the falls. My favorite part of this short hike was the pedestrian bridge that takes you over the Soca river! Check out my photos on that in this post!
Napoleon’s Bridge sits just nearby Slap Kozjak and you will most likely have to cross it to access the waterfall. The original one which Napoleon actually built to help his troops cross the river was made of stone but was blown up by Austrian soldiers in WWI. It was reconstructed with wood and then later with iron, by the Italians. It stands to this day and still has the appeal that is commensurate with its history. Juxtaposed next to the blue waters of the Soča river, it is quite the sight to see.
Slap Virje, Slovenia (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1.3 s)
Slap Virje (Virje Waterfall) is located in the town of Pluzna and best reached by satellite navigation as the signs aren’t too easy to spot to get there. After reaching the parking area, it is only a 5 minute walk to the falls. The river Glijun feeds the waterfall from over 12 meters high, and a width of 20 meters. Depending on the season, the flow of water can experience a lot of fluctuations, and in my case, the waterfall was split into two streams. Sometimes, it can even dry up altogether. The water is also very very cold, however if you so dare, you could swim in it as well.
The Tolmin Gorges was one of my favorite places to see in Triglav. The correct name for the site is Tolminka and Zadlaščica Gorges but nonetheless it possesses natural features aptly called Dante’s Cave, Devil’s Bridge, and Bear Head. A walk through the gorge takes a good 20-30 minutes over and along the blue river below. It is similar to the area you must hike across to get to Slap Kozjak, but still worth seeing!
Near the town of Bovec sits Fort Kluže, which was built in 1472 to defend the area against the Turks. It has largely remained a property of Austria in the centuries that followed, up until 1918. It was also taken by Napoleon for a time during his campaign. Today you can visit the Fort and walk along the trails around it. It is open in the summer months and open by reservation during other times of the year.
As you make your way towards the Italian border, you will finally reach Mangart Saddle (Mangartsko sedlo). This narrow mountain pass features switchback roads with sweeping views over the Julian Alps. This is the highest lying road in Slovenia at an elevation of 2,072 meters. The pass itself is a circular one way road taking you just near the Slovenia-Italy border with a few viewpoints you can turn off at to admire the view. This cannot be overstated as driving here can be stressful and all eyes should be kept on the road in front of you, instead of the gorgeous sights around you.
And there you have it, just some sights to see in the Triglav National Park. As I mentioned before, there are plenty of other places to check out that I haven’t mentioned but this is really just the gist of it. If you have suggestions for places to see that I haven’t covered, let me know in the comments!
