Lake Bled in Slovenia is one of those places that looks like it’s straight out of a travel brochure (or rather an Instagram or Pinterest feed today I guess). But the lake itself isn’t the only beautiful spot in this part of the world. A few miles outside the town of Bled you’ll find the Vintgar Gorge, one of the greenest places I’ve ever seen, where the turquoise waters of the Radovna River flow between the gorge’s steep rocky walls.
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In some stretches the river bubbles and swirls its way through rapids and mini waterfalls, and in others it’s so languid you can see right through to the swimming fish and the riverbed below. And if that’s not enough green there’s also the thick foliage, the trees above and the mosses and wildflowers clinging to the rocks.
The Vintgar Gorge was only discovered in 1891, but within a few years it was opened up to visitors, with a network of wooden bridges and pathways had been built so visitors could get in and explore. The paths are still there today, though they’ve been rebuilt a few times since the 1890s. The walkways twist and turn for 1600 metres, clinging to the cliffside with sheer rockfaces towering up to 100 metres above you.
The path’s a fairly easy walk though it can get busy on a sunny day. Because it winds along the cliff you never know what you’re going to come across around the next corner, from deep pools with swirling shoals of fish to patches of delicate wildflowers. At the end of the path you reach the Šum waterfall, Slovenia’s largest waterfall, set underneath the Bohinj railway bridge with a little café if you need a break.
To get back you can either retrace your steps along the cliff path, or you can walk down to the waterfall and then follow the path through the woods and back to Lake Bled. There’s also a plunge pool below the waterfall if you’re feeling brave too (though in May the water was freezing so we stuck to taking photos instead!).
The details
Vintgar Gorge is located around 4km north of Lake Bled. You can walk there from Bled which takes around three hours altogether. Otherwise there’s free parking outside or you can catch a bus from Bled’s bus station. The gorge is open daily from 8am–7pm (though it’s closed in winter as it can get dangerously slippery in snow and ice) and entry costs €5 for adults (€4 for students or €3 for children 6–15).
bojan
Sunday 1st of January 2017
Hello Lucy, I am from Slovenia. Nice you like our country. It is really very green and beautifull. you have toooo much to see. for info waterfall Šum is not our biggest. This one is quite small. check Peričnik, Boka, Savica, Rinka. ..waterfalls. see you, Bojan
Jolien Geurts
Tuesday 19th of July 2016
This is definitely one of the most beautiful places I've ever heard about. I'll add it at my 'travel bucket list' immediately, that's for sure. Also, the entrance is not expensive at all! Nice blog by the way, I will keep it in a personal list of 'blogs to follow'.
Lucy
Tuesday 19th of July 2016
Thanks – it's a really beautiful spot, I was so glad to have come across it, and to share it with everyone!
Janice & George (@SandInSuitcase)
Saturday 25th of June 2016
You're right, Vintgar Gorge is "gorgeous" :-). It kind of reminds us (a little) of Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park (Alberta, Canada). How far can you walk along the gorge? We're hearing lots of good things about Slovenia lately. We adore Croatia, but it sounds like we should put Slovenia on our "to visit" list.
Lucy
Monday 27th of June 2016
Gorgeous indeed! You can walk 1.5km through the gorge itself but the path carries on after that and you can make a big loop back to Lake Bled. Slovenia is so beautiful, I've only visited Dubrovnik in Croatia though so I think a Slovenia/Northern Croatia trip might be a plan!
Tanja
Sunday 12th of June 2016
great photos! I've been here too! and I liked it too:)
Lucy
Monday 20th of June 2016
Thanks!
thebritishberliner
Wednesday 8th of June 2016
'Looks gorgeous and so, so delightfully turquoise!
Lucy
Monday 20th of June 2016
Definitely turquoise! The colours were amazing.