Fascinating gorges to discover via wooden footbridges
Just 4 kilometres from Lake Bled, you’ll find the Vintgar Gorge. This two-hour return trip along the banks of a tumultuous river is a must on your Slovenian sightseeing programme. I recommend that you combine your visit to Lake Bled with a visit to these gorges.
For a successful visit, be sure to read the 5 practical tips at the end of the article.
Once you’ve paid the €10 entrance fee, you can explore these gorges by walking along the wooden footbridges built alongside the Radovna river. It meanders between the Hom and Boršt mountains.
- You will travel 1,600 metres through the gorge.
- At the end of the walk, you can admire a beautiful 26-metre-high waterfall.
- The return journey takes you along a magnificent 4 km panoramic path that I have indicated.
- You can also return by shuttle bus if you don’t like walking at all.
In the Vintgar Gorge, a magnificent new view awaits you at every bend
This walk through the gorge is easy and accessible to everyone: You walk either on the flat or on wooden steps (complicated with a pushchair). If the sun is out, it’s easy to take some superb photos of the crystal-clear emerald water of the Radovna.
Worth knowing: The gorges open very early in the morning, when the mist makes the place superb and mystical.
In terms of timing, allow at least 1 hour 45 minutes for the round trip. The return journey, which I recommend, takes you past the Sveta Katarina church (a beautiful panorama awaits you there – see map at bottom of article). You walk along the hillside with an unobstructed view of Triglav Park. I really like this panoramic return route, which is not usually frequented by tourists, who choose another, shorter route.
Worth knowing: The Vintgar Gorge is part of the magnificent Triglav Nature Park.
How do I get to the Vintgar Gorge?
To get to the Vintgar Gorge :
- Turn right about 500 metres before reaching Lake Bled,
- Follow the signs for Zasip, one of the pretty little villages around the lake where I recommend you stay.
- Then follow the signs for the Vintgar Gorge(Soteska Vintgar in Slovenian).
Your route in Google Maps: Click here
These gorges are very busy in summer and you might be a bit bothered by tourists if you come in high season. To visit the gorges in peace and quiet, I advise you to come shortly after they open (if the weather forecast is for sunny mornings) or a little before they close if you’re not an early riser. The gorges close at 7pm between mid-July and mid-August. Come an hour before closing time and you’ll be in the clear.
Tip: As far as possible, this Slovenian tourist attraction should be visited in very good weather, so that the water of the Radovna River takes on its incredible green colour.
Tip : In high season, I find the Gozd Martuljek gorge and waterfall even more interesting than Vintgar, as they are off the beaten track and offer a real adventure.
The Vintgar Gorge by bus
Take the free Bled-Vintgar shuttle bus, which runs in July and August. See the timetable at the Bled tourist office.
Vintgar Gorge – Opening times
The Vintgar Gorge closes in autumn and does not reopen until spring.
Itis impossible for me to give you more precise opening dates as they change every year, depending on the work that needs to be done. If you’re coming at the start of the season, be sure to give them a call to check that they are open.
| April, May | 9.00 – 17.00 |
| June | 8:00 – 18.00 |
| July, August | 7.30 – 19.00 |
| September | 8.00 – 18.00 |
| October | 9.00 – 16.00 |
Please note: During the season, you must buy your tickets in advance online if you come between 9am and 1pm. You can find them here.
Just next door, the Pokljuka Gorge is open all year round.
Further information on the Vintgar Gorge : by telephone on +386 4 572 52 66 (website) – Credit cards accepted at the ticket office since 2019 and recently also to pay for parking.
Since 2022, if you come between 9:00 and 13:00 in summer, the busiest time of the year, you must buy your tickets online here.
- Parking costs €10 (too expensive).
- The car park can be full in the mornings in high season (if possible, avoid coming between 10am and 4pm in summer).
- Parking must be paid for in cash or by card.
Entrance fees to the Vintgar Gorge
| Adult | 10€ |
| Children aged 3-15 | 5€ |
| Dog | 3€ |
Helmets: Since 2024, helmets have been compulsory to visit the gorges. An attractive orange helmet will be provided at the entrance to the gorge.
5 tips for visiting the Vintgar Gorge
“If possible, come at the opening or before 8.30 am in summer”
Reader testimonials on Secret Slovenia’s facebook and instagram :
On Instagram: “We decided to walk the Vintgar Gorge in the cool. After admiring the sunrise over Lake Bled, we arrived at 7.20am in these gorges where we enjoyed the incredible play of light. “
“Early August, this morning, 7.30 am sharp at the entrance to the Vintgar Gorge. It’s magical, you expect to see elves emerging from the mist… back at the entrance around 9am, the tourists are arriving in droves” Véronique on FB
“We went at 8am at the end of August. On the way back, people were starting to arrive” Cam_Igk on Instagram
“I can confirm, in the morning, if the weather is good, the light is crazy” Tamateemo on Instagram
“We were there mid-August when it opened and there was no one there. It was superb with the first rays of sunshine”. Celine-mdc22 on Instagram:
“Thank you! Thank you for the advice to go early to the Vintgar Gorge: at 9am, for the outward journey, happiness, few people, calm, beautiful photos hot but not too much. The return journey at 10am was hell, we couldn’t even stop, we were pushed by the crowd and there was an interminable queue at the entrance.” Elsa on Facebook – came at the beginning of August
In summer, most visitors arrive between 9am and 5pm.
Remember : In summer, come early in the morning or after 3pm, but especially not at 11am! Outside summer, come whenever you like.
If you didn’t come early in the morning because, after all, it’s the holidays and you didn’t feel like getting up early, come at the end of the day 1 hour or 45 minutes before closing time. In general, there won’t be many people around (although this will vary from day to day). This really is a tip to remember if you’re coming in August and don’t like getting up early during your holidays. In the first three weeks of August, come with the last visitors, at 5.45pm, to make sure you’re in peace (the gorges close late in July and August: always check beforehand).
The other side of the coin is that the sun doesn’t penetrate the gorges at the end of the day and no longer illuminates the crystal-clear water of the river.
For a great adventure with waterfalls, go to Gozd Martuljek. It’s free and even though your photos won’t be as good as those taken in the Vintgar Gorge, for me it’s an even more enjoyable excursion. Follow this excellent advice to build up a great holiday off the beaten track in Slovenia.
Warning: The worst time to visit these gorges is around 11am.
Note: Always avoid coming between 10am and 12.30pm throughout the year, which is the busiest time, but out of season, you can come around 2pm to enjoy the sun at its zenith and the beautiful light illuminating the water in the gorges. It will be magnificent.
Visit the gorges in fine weather
What if the weather is grey? Avoid visiting the Vintgar Gorge when the weather is bad (go to the spa if it’s raining). On a sunny day, the sunlight will turn the water emerald and the gorges more beautiful. You’ll also be able to take much better photos, making it an unforgettable experience.
Hang around at the beginning of the visit
The first half of the gorge is the most interesting.
All tourists hurry along, thinking that the visit will build to a crescendo the deeper they go into the gorge. On the contrary, the visit starts off with a bang. Remember this advice: don’t walk too fast for the first 800 metres and take all the time you need to admire these incredible gorges, to watch the movements of the roaring emerald water.
The waterfall at the end of the Vintgar Gorge
If there’s a good flow, if you’ve got good shoes and if you want more, at the very end of the tour consider descending to the foot of the last waterfall you’ll see, the one you’ll see from above the wooden footbridge. If there’s water and sun, there are some great photos to be taken of the turquoise Radovna. Here’s what it looks like in the middle of a Slovenian winter.
The panoramic walk on the way back
- Distance: 4 km
- Difference in altitude: 150 m
- Time: 1 hour
Once you have reached the end of the gorge, make your way back to the Sveta Katarina church(Cerkev Sv. Katarina in Slovene). Since 2018, it has not been possible to make the return journey through the gorge and you will have to choose between two paths to get back to the car park. Take the one I’ve indicated, as you’ll be walking with a beautiful, unobstructed view of the Bled valley and Bled castle (seen from the back).
Route to follow: You don’t have to climb into the forest at the Hom summit. Walk along the hillside, staying in the field and on the path. More precisely, from the Sveta Katarina church, head towards this viewpoint, then towards the car park at the entrance to the gorge.
Be careful in summer : if it’s sunny and over 30 degrees, the path is in full sun. There is no shade (although the absence of trees means you can enjoy some very fine views). In summer, this lack of shade is another good reason to come to the gorge early in the morning.
Rainy weather : The path becomes very slippery, so avoid it if possible or wear good hiking boots. In fact, even in dry weather, good shoes will not be useless for this visit to the gorges.
What readers thought of this panoramic walk
“We were there just before 9am at the end of August. There weren’t many people there yet, but above all we took the scenic route back ! Thank you so much for the tip! We made it back to the car park almost on our own and the view was really nice! ” Philsebal63
Map of the Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge in the rain
Ofcourse, the Vintgar Gorge is most beautiful on a bright sunny day when the turquoise water of the waterfalls is illuminated, but the gorge is not entirely to be avoided on a rainy, grey day. The atmosphere can then be transformed into a solitary exploration of a “beautiful Scottish gorge”. Solo exploration, because the tourists won’t be there.
Be careful, it’s slippery: you’ll need hiking boots for the return journey along the panoramic path (and even better, walking sticks).
Tip: If it’s raining, call to make sure the gorges are open (tel: 386 51 621 511).
Gorge equipped by real adventurers
In 1891, the mayor and the reporter were struck by the beauty of the site.
At the time, Lake Bled was already a tourist attraction. They decided to develop the gorge so that tourists could discover its beauty. They didn’t waste any time: two years later, on 26 August 1893, the Vintgar Gorge was officially opened.
What’s the restaurant at the entrance worth?
A traditional Slovenian restaurant ( gostilna Vintgar – photo above) is located at the entrance to the gorge, at the end of the car park. It’s not bad, but it’s not the best in Slovenia. If you eat there, choose the trout on the menu but it’s not the place I’d recommend eating in the area, especially as if you come for lunch, you’ll be visiting the gorges before or after and there will be too many people.
I much prefer the secret Pizzeria Bethlehem, less than 2 km away (address: Spodnje Gorje 157, Zgornje Gorje).
Tip : Don’t forget that in Slovenia, you can order a large pizza cut into two plates, a very economical solution, especially for families!
Fordirections to Pizzeria Bethlehem using Google Maps: Click here.
For a coffee or cappuccino
There are two places along the way. One located just at the end of the gorge and another on the way back, next to the church(Okrepčevalnica Jurček). Don’t forget that in Slovenia, you have to drink plenty of cappuccinos as the locals do.
The Vintgar gostilna in the photo above is also a good place to have a coffee.