I am a fan of this Gorge which is part of the Triglav National Park – it has beautiful sights and is relaxing to walk along the 1.6km long wooden pathways that winds itself following the Radovna River flow with huge boulders on both sides. It is also cooling as gorges are and the emerald waters make me want to take endless pictures of the same things at different angles. Tip:It is not open year round – so its best to check the opening times. Luckily I have a link 🙂 The trail takes about an hour to complete.
Getting there
It is about 4km away from Bled , so walking is a possibility – or an hourly bus option.
I have never taken the bus there but these are some information I have collected for a colleague who wanted to visit with the bus. Destinations are Bled-Podhom-Zasip or Bled-Gorje-Krnica. Best thing is to ask the driver to make sure you are on the right bus to Vintgar Gorge. He will most likely tell you where to get off. The thing is the bus does not stop directly at the entrance of the Gorge which is Spodnje Gorje. It is still a further 15 minute walk , this means 15 minutes of possibility to get lost. Asking around does help. So if your travel buddy is the sort who refuses to ask for directions, just take the bull by the horns and ask on your own.
There is also a shuttle transfer run by Mamut , they have a store near to the bus station in Bled – but its best to check when they have it from their page here.
By Car from Bled – head towards Podhom then look for ‘Soteska Vintgar’ or ‘Blejski Vintgar’ the signs are mainly in Slovene language. There is free parking space near to the admission center, which is actually a hut.
Seeing Vintgar Gorge
Firstly , if you did not arrive by car, then Congratulations! – the hardest part of the Gorge experience is finding it! When we arrived which was about noon – the queue was really long at the ticket office, so we decided to start with coffee instead. This also enabled the use of the toilet/wash room(WC) before starting. *Tip: There are toilets at the beginning and the end of the trail but nothing in the middle.
I have heard that early in the morning and late afternoon are good times to avoid a real crowd. The platforms are narrow so when its crowded you inadvertently get hurried along.
There are also places to stop and test the waters, at your own risk of course! and Yes! the water feels as cold as it looks.
Nearing the end of the track, there is a stone railway bridge with the water drop down below.
After this, you come to another admission hut with toilet possibilities and ice cream and snacks rest stop. You can follow the signs and continue on to the Sum Waterfall.
Summary –
If you are around this area, I would recommend a visit – its a pretty , relaxing Gorge which gives a calm end to any hectic trip.
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Slovenia is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen and Vintgar Gorge proves that yet again. From all I understand this place is kind of difficult to reach, so I’m surprised to see you found a long line for the tickets. Probably it’s very famous among the locals.
How beautiful! It does look quite beautiful from the pictures so I can see why there was a long line. The water did look quite cold. I also love that gorgeous stone bridge, what a pretty place!
I am a little scared of heights. But this looks so gorgeous. The trail has been crafted with so much care. The gorges in India are off the human track, some can be done on your own but only natives dare as they are so nimble. I love nature trails like these, fingers crossed and I shall do it one day.
Such a pity that I missed Vintgar Gorge on my trip to Lake Bled last year. The Radovna River looks so green and beautiful. The stone railway bridge looks gorgerous as well. I’d love to stop by the coffee shop to get a coffee and enjoy the calm atmosphere.
Vintgar Gorge seems like a great place in Slovenia. It seems like it is living up to its hidden gem status as it is difficult to find. I love how peaceful it looks. I hope I can visit this place whenever I go to Slovenia. It’s in my bucket list now!
Happy to know that there is a brief nice coffee stop. We went out on a trip last weekend only to find out that we can’t find a decent place to eat or get refreshments. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience.
Surely Vintgar Gorge is beautiful! I like the greens surrounding the water. The trail also looks enjoyable and lots of beautiful spots along the way. A cup of hot coffee sounds good to end the hike.
Vintar gorge seems like an ideal place for a family outing. The emerald waters definitely looks pleasing and glad that you also mentioned some tips in your vivid descriptions.Surely, a handy guide for visitors. BTW, that old stone bridge looks beautiful 🙂
I’m so happy that you pointed out some place to visit near Lake Bled. When I hear about Slovenia I constantly hear about Lake Bled, but want to experience other cities in the country as well. This looks like an ideal option. I love how Vintgar Gorge incorporates the town’s culture and natural beauty all in one stop. The river strolls through town, which is the perfect backdrop for all the quaint, local restaurants. After feasting on local cuisine you get to enjoy the impeccable view. Definitely sounds like an itinerary I’d love to recreate someday!