When travelling through the wonderfully beautiful country of Slovenia there as one place we made sure to pay a visit, Vintgar Gorge on the edges of the Triglav National park. The sheer natural beauty on display here is just astounding, the emerald water flowing relentlessly down this dramatic canyon must be one of the most stunning sights we have ever seen.
What is Vintgar Gorge The 1.6 km gorge,
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What is Vintgar Gorge
The 1.6 km gorge, just 4km outside of the picturesque town of Bled, was carved by the Radovna River over thousands of years. The canyon walls are between 50 and 100 meters high along the eroded path the river has created. The emerald-like water has formed wonderful pools, rapids and calm, still sections that tourists have been coming to gaze at since 1893, when the first wooden walkways were installed. Before that, the true beauty that lay here was but a mystery to almost all!
Visiting this jaw-dropping place
I had researched this place briefly before, but to be honest, I didn’t really know too much about it. The photos I had seen looked like it was something that we really needed to do, but I never expected to be completely blown away by the place.
We decided to cycle the short distance to the gorge from Bled; it was quite a chilly day, and the rain started pretty much as soon as we had set off. But visiting Vintgar Gorge is a great activity to do on a rainy day when pretty much everything else is called off, and the lake itself has poor visibility.
As soon as we approached the gorge and heard the roaring of the water, we were pretty excited to see what was in store. The river starts out quite tame as locals stand waist-deep in the icy waters fly-fishing. Even in this section, the colour of the water looked like nothing I had ever seen before. The clarity and deep green hue just left me in awe.
From the shallower beginnings, the gorge soon opens up dramatically to reveal the true majesty of this rugged canyon. Here the wooden walkways snake their way across from one side of the gorge to another and cling to the high walls. They transport you over the top of fierce waterfalls and close to the stunning emerald waters below.
It really feels like something from a dream, the deep canyon and quiet, unspoilt atmosphere making you feel like you have stumbled across an undiscovered gem. As the walkways wind alongside the river, you are greeted with one spectacular scene after another. The water is so clear you can see right down to the bottom of the river, where fish swim and old fallen trees lie. The water is so beautiful it almost feels like an invitation to jump in!
The Vintgar Gorge was a complete revelation for us, from not knowing it existed just a day before we set out to visit it to it becoming one of the most amazing places we have ever visited. The true beauty of this place can’t even be put into words or captured by a photograph. A trip to Bled would be worth it for this alone!
How to visit for yourself
The gorge is around 4km away from Bled, but the route is quite simple and signposted. In my opinion the best way is to rent out a bike, you can explore the lake earlier on in the day and head over here for the afternoon as we did.
That way, the trip takes much less time; it can get a little hilly as you pass through a small village, but at least the ride back to Bled is fast and fun! I would give at least 2 or 3 hours for the trip and to explore the gorge.
Information for Visiting
- Adult ticket: €15
- Child ticket: €5 (up to 15 years)
- Visit duration: 2.5–3 hours
- Gorge walking distance: 1.6 km
- Full walking route: 5.7 km
Opening Hours:
- April – 31 May: 9 am – 4 pm
- 1 June – 5 July: 8 am – 5 pm
- 6 July – 30 August: 8 am – 6 pm
- 31 August – 20 September: 8 am – 4 pm
- 21 September – end of season: 9 am – 3 pm
From Lake Bled:
- Vintgar Gorge is approximately 4 km from central Bled.
- Walking takes around 50 minutes.
- A free electric shuttle operates from Bled’s Central Bus Station, approximately every 15 minutes.
- You can also cycle to the visitor centre.
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Yo, I’m Nic (they/them), one-half of The Roaming Renegades.
I’m an adventure (and halloumi) obsessed traveller with a passion for hiking mountains, exploring cities, watching Arsenal win, moshing out to Rammstein in random European fields and getting hopelessly lost on a motorbike somewhere in Asia! I am also a proud member of the LGBT+ community.
I’ve explored 80 countries, lived in Australia and New Zealand, and spent months wandering Southeast Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, all while trying to avoid growing up!
Did it work? I dunno, but my back hurts, and I still collect Pokémon cards! Who wants in?!
