Vintgar Gorge: An Easy Hike Through Slovenia’s Julian Alps

Located near the town of Bled, Vintgar Gorge is an easy hike through the fairytale-like Julian Alps. It also sits on the edge of Triglav National Park, thus offering a peek into Slovenia’s only national park for those unable to make the longer drive into the heart of Triglav.

The gorge carries the Radovna River through towering canyon walls before dropping down Šum Falls, Slovenia’s largest river waterfall. In the 1890s, wooden observation walkways were constructed along the entirety of the gorge’s 1,600-meter stretch, therefore allowing visitors to comfortably traverse Vintgar and gain a unique perspective at this natural marvel.  

Note: the walkways of Vintgar Gorge are one-way only. At the end of the 1.6 kilometer gorge, you’ll follow forested trails back a different way to the parking lot, for a roundtrip of either 4.3 km or 5.7 km, depending on which way you go. While not strenuous, be prepared for an actual hike, and dress appropriately.

Distance: 4.3 kilometers (2.67 miles) or 5.7 kilometers (3.54 miles) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 80 meters (262 feet)
Cost: €10 for adults, €7 for students and seniors, €3 for children ages 6 – 15, €1 for children 5 and younger. €10 for parking.
When to Go: Spring, summer, fall. The gorge is closed in winter. Check the official website for more info before you go.

Jump to:

• Tickets and Entry Time Slots
• Where to Park
• Exploring the Gorge
• Photo Tips
• Return Route Option #1:  Šum to Blejska Dobrava (4.3 km / 2.67 mi total)
• Return Route Option #2: Vintgar to St. Catherine (5.7 km / 3.54 mi total)

Tickets and Entry Time Slots

Tickets should be purchased online ahead of time, and will include a prompt to select a time slot for entering Vintgar Gorge. Only a certain number of tickets are issued for any given time, in order to minimize bottlenecks along the narrow walkways.

Whatever timeframe you choose, be sure to abide by it when arriving at Vintgar. Attendants are strict about limiting entry to the allotted time slot on your ticket.  

Where to Park

The road to Vintgar Gorge winds through a pleasant residential neighborhood, before dropping down into a narrow ravine. Follow the signs to the parking lot (directions here), that charges a €10 parking fee.

Aim to get there early! The lot can often fill up during busy summer months and weekends.

Alternatively, you can also take a shuttle from Bled. Check out Vintgar Shuttle for more details.

Exploring Vintgar Gorge

Once you’re ready to explore Vintgar, cross the parking lot to the entry point. You’ll scan your tickets and pass through a narrow turnstile to begin your trek into the gorge.

At first, the trail traverses alpine woodland, hugging an elevated footpath above the rushing Radovna River. Wooded railings are on hand to keep tourists from unexpected swims.

Once you reach the heart of the gorge, you’ll trade the manicured dirt footpaths for raised wooden walkways. This promenade tightly hugs the walls of the gorge, as Vintgar narrows and the Radovna roars beneath your feet. It’s a dramatic showing of nature’s force, that you’re able to safely admire from your snug vantage point out of reach of the roiling current.

Trivia: You’ll notice the water’s distinctive coloring, a milky blue so crisp it almost looks fake. This originates from fine sediments of gravel and sand, mixed with lacustrine chalk. These minute particles are suspended in the water, distorting light wavelengths and reflecting the far blue end of the color spectrum. The phenomenon typically stems from glacier melt; and while there are no longer any glaciers in the Julian Alps, the former glaciers still leave their mark on the icy blue waters of the local rivers.

The wooden boardwalk is well-maintained, and will carry you the remainder of Vintgar Gorge (1.6 kilometers, or 0.99 miles total). Take as much time as you wish, stopping to snap photos and marvel at the numerous rapids and small waterfalls along the way, as you make your way down the gorge.

Photo Tips
- Don’t forget to look behind you periodically, as you make your way down the gorge. Sometimes the best views are back towards the direction you just came from.

- Bridges crisscross the Radovna River at some of the narrowest points along the gorge. Each bridge offers a nice opportunity for a photo, with clean angles of Vintgar behind you.

At the end of the gorge, the canyon walls open up to forested hillsides, and the wooden boardwalk reverts back to manicured dirt path.

You’ll follow this trail another 0.75 kilometer/half mile or so, hugging the Radovna as it settles back to a normal mountain river, before the path starts to climb towards Šum Falls, the tallest river waterfall in Slovenia at 16 meters.

At the confluence of the 1905 stone railway bridge and modern hydroelectric dam, the river drops far beneath you as you stay elevated on the ridge above.

There is a small snack bar here, where you can rest and grab a bite to eat if needed. Otherwise, it’s time to choose your return path back to the parking lot.

Return Route Option #1:  Šum to Blejska Dobrava (4.3 km / 2.67 mi total)

Best for: forested hike (shorter and steeper)

This is the shortest of the two route options back to your car. Near Šum Falls, you’ll begin an immediate uphill through the surrounding beech forest. It’s a decent vertical ascent that can get fairly muddy after rain, but only lasts 20 minutes or so.

After cresting the ridge, the trail evens out, and continues to wind through alpine woodland but without the elevation gain. The path is fairly well-marked; follow it on, where it will eventually drop you into the neighborhoods of Blejska Dobrava that you drove through earlier today.

Follow the paved roads uphill, hooking left to the top of the hill. At the crest, turn left again. You’ll pass a few more houses at the end of town, before dropping back into forest for the final trek (approx. 1 kilometer) back to the parking lot. This last part of the trail hugs the mountains above the gorge, and can also get muddy after rain. However, it’s a serene little piece of the Julian Alps, and you’ll feel far removed from civilization until your arrival at the parking lot brings you back to reality.

Return Route Option #2: Vintgar Gorge to St. Catherine (5.7 km / 3.54 mi total)

Best for: panoramic views (longer but gentler)

This option is slightly longer, but also provides more scenic countryside along your hike back to the parking lot.

Near Šum Falls, instead of turning left to take the shorter route, you’ll turn right, following the signs to the Church of St. Catherine. While not a large structure (it’s more accurately a small chapel) the pastoral surroundings provide spectacular views of the lush valley below, framed by distant jagged mountain peaks. The views make the diversion wonderfully worthwhile, if you have the time for this longer route back to your car.

Past the church, you’ll cut due west back to the parking lot. Signposts dot the trail, with “Vintgar Parking” and directional arrows clearly labeled. Here, the footpath winds along exposed hillsides, for gorgeous views of the bucolic countryside.

Looking for more to do in the region? Check out our guide for 1—3 days in Bled and the surrounding countryside!