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By Monika

Lake Bohinj, Slovenia: 11 Unmissable Attractions That Make It Special.

If you loved Lake Bled but are craving something a little quieter and more outdoorsy, let me tell you about Lake Bohinj, Slovenia.

Just a short car ride away, this stunning alpine lake feels refreshingly wild, peaceful, and far less crowded – the kind of place where you slow down without even trying.

I still remember thinking how different the vibe was compared to Bled: fewer tour buses and more locals swimming, hiking, and just soaking in the views. Still busy in the summer, but we just didn’t feel the crowds.

Let me walk you through what makes Lake Bohinj so special, the best things to do around the lake, and a few practical tips to help you plan your visit, especially if you’re looking for a more relaxed, nature-focused stop on your Slovenia itinerary.

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Where is Lake Bohinj?

Lake Bohinj is a stunning mountain lake – the largest natural lake in Slovenia.

It’s located in the north-west part of the country, in Slovenia’s one and only national park – Triglav National Park, and is surrounded by the Julian Alps.

It is located only 85 km (1 hour 15 minutes’ drive) from Ljubljana and only 30 km (30-45 minutes’ drive) from the famous Lake Bled (which happens to be on the way from Ljubljana to Lake Bohinj).

How to get to Lake Bohinj

There are three ways to get to Lake Bohinj, with driving being the easiest and most convenient, giving you the most freedom to explore the area as you wish.

The closest towns to the lake are Ribčev Laz and Stara Fužina.

By car

As you can see from the map above, it’s not far from Ljubljana or Lake Bled.

You can rent a car at Ljubljana airport or at one of the satellite offices in Ljubljana city center, near the train station and the bus terminal.

Check out great deals on car rentals through Expedia – that’s where we rented our car and got a great deal! Discover Cars is another great platform with lots of choices and discounts.

Parking near Lake Bohinj

You can park at the parking lots in Ribčev Laz or (if they are full, like they were when we came!), keep driving around the lake towards Stara Fužina and you’ll find more lots there.

Just make sure you pay for the parking! Even if the lot looks just like a large grassy field, there will either be a pay kiosk or an attendant to collect the fee.

Helpful hint: When driving from Bled to Lake Bohinj, don’t miss the double hay racks, also known as “toplarji” which are very specific just to this area! They are even recognized as part of Slovenia’s cultural heritage!

By bus

You can easily take a bus either from Ljubljana or from Bled. Get bus tickets from the convenient Omio website/app or from Ljubljana Bus Station online or at the bus stop. 

The bus ride takes about 1 hour from Bled and just under 2 hours from Ljubljana.

By train

You can hop on the train from Lesce-Bled or Ljubljana to Bohinjska Bistrica, and from there, you’ll take a local bus to get to the lake.

The train ride is very scenic – we saw the tracks when driving from Bled to Bohinj.

Things to do at Lake Bohinj

I’ll give you a list of the most popular attractions of the Lake Bohinj area. But just remember – try to allow some time just to enjoy your time and take it all in.

I didn’t make it to Bohinj during my first visit to this part of Slovenia, so I made it my mission to make time for it the second time around.

We already had a day at Bohinj planned in our itinerary, but when we didn’t get tickets to the Vintgar Gorge near Lake Bled, we immediately decided to just head over here.

What a good call that was – we totally fell in love with this place!

So much so, that after spending a good part of the day doing most of the things I’ve listed below, we returned the next day just to relax, spend some time on the water, and just be there…

1. Take a walk (or a bike ride) around Lake Bohinj

There is a path around the entire lake.

It’s 12 km (7.5 miles) long, and it will take you anywhere from 3-5  hours to complete.

However, you can just walk a part of it, either counterclockwise, from Ribčev Laz towards Stara Fužina, where you can swim and get a snack or ice cream, or clockwise, like we did, and walk all the way to Ukanc.

The path is either paved or packed gravel, and you get views of the lake, as well as some wooded areas.

On your way, you’ll pass a beautiful baroque chapel – the Church of the Holy Spirit (Cerkev Sv. Duha) – known mostly for its beautiful St. Christopher frescoes inside and the characteristic camelback-shaped roof covered with wooden shingles and a small bell tower.

According to the local legends, masses are held there to ensure a good harvest.

In Ukanc, you’ll find a campsite on your right and a path to Vogel Cable car on the left. More on both a little later in this post.

2. Visit the Goldenhorn (Zlatorog) statue

This is one of the first things you’ll pass as you start your journey around the lake clockwise.

Zlatorog is a legendary goat with golden horns killed by a young, broken-hearted hunter. Read the full story here. 

You’ll find Zlatorog perched proudly on his rock along the lake.

3. Swim in Lake Bohinj & relax at the beach

By far my favorite activity (especially the relaxing part!).

While I’m not much of a beach person, just sitting on the shore, with the lake and the mountains right in front of you, is something you don’t really get tired of.

The Bohinj beaches are not your typical sandy beaches – they are a bit more rocky or gravelly, many without specified swimming areas and lifeguards. To me, the fact that they are natural and unspoiled makes them absolutely special.

We stayed at one just next to the Bohinj Bridge, just below the main road, and quite frankly, never even noticed the cars. We loved the convenience of just climbing up a short wooden staircase and crossing the street to get food or ice cream.

But you can find more secluded areas with ease.

4. Get out on the water (paddleboard or kayak)

Another must-do! Since our first trip to Slovenia, our kids kept talking about paddleboarding on Lake Bled, but when they came to Lake Bohinj, they were thrilled that they got to do that here.

You just can’t beat the views!

And, as an added attraction, there was a paddleboarding race happening on the lake, so they got to watch that from the water.

My husband and I rented a kayak and also loved the experience.

There are many places to rent paddleboards and kayaks in the area. During the summer it’s best to make a reservation online, but if you’re not sure of how your day will go, you can just check in with the staff and if you’re willing to wait, you’ll most likely get one, especially for a short time (like an hour or so).

I personally found the rental costs very affordable – we rented from AlpinSport (they were the closest to our beach spot) and paid around €30 for 2 paddleboards and €25 for a double kayak. We rented them for 1 hour.

Helpful hint: you don’t pay extra for a life jacket but you’re not automatically given one either. If you’d like to wear one, just ask a staff member.

5. Go on a scenic boat ride across the lake

So now that you’ve made your way to the campsite, you may be thinking – do I have to walk all the way back? You can, but you don’t have to!

You can take a scenic boat ride back to the dock by the bridge area in Ribčev Laz and I highly recommend that, especially if water sports are not your thing. The views from the water are unbelievable.

It’s a short 25-minute ride and you board the boat at the dock at the Bohinj Campsite.

The campsite also has a restaurant, restrooms, a playground and a place to rent kayaks and SUPs.

When the boat comes, the attendant will let you on board and then they’ll collect the fare on the boat. You can also get the tickets online.

There are two boats – the white one is named “Zlatorog” and the wooden one “Triglavska Roža”. It’s a very comfortable and relaxing way to get back to Ribčev Laz.

6. Visit the Church of St. John the Baptist

Also known as the Cerkev Sv. Janeza Krstnika, this church is located right next to the bridge and very close to the scenic boat loading dock.

It’s a small historical medieval church with more stunning frescoes inside. There is a small entrance fee (€3.5 per adult), and you can learn more about this Bohinj landmark here.

7. Admire the views from the Bohinj Bridge

You can’t miss this stone bridge – in fact, you’ll cross it on the way from the parking lot in Stara Fužina towards the Zlartorog statue.

It crosses over the Jezernica River that drains right into Lake Bohinj and together with the Church of St. John the Baptist, compose the most recognizable image of Lake Bohinj.

8. Take the Vogel cable car ride for stunning views

I highly recommend the ride to the Vogel Viewpoint in a cable car.

You’ll end up 1000 meters above the lake, at an altitude of 1535 meters, and if you’re lucky enough to have a perfectly clear, sunny day (like we did), you’ll be treated to some truly breathtaking views of the lake, the valley below, and the Alps.

The entrance is located opposite the Bohinj Campsite.

You can either drive up to the parking area or walk up the driveway if you are strolling around the lake. If you’re travelling with a group, those who are not interested in the cable car ride can stay at the campsite – that’s what we did.

We split up – some of us stayed at the campsite to rest and the rest of our group went up.

It was an amazing 5-minute ride, and you can read all about it (and what to do once you get to the top!) in my guide to the Vogel Cable Car adventure.

The cable car runs every 30 minutes, and you can check the current prices here.

9. Hike to Savica Waterfall (Slap Savica)

This hike remains on my to-do list. We simply ran out of time to do it! All the more reason to come back to Slovenia!

This out-and-back hike takes about 30 minutes each way. You pay a small entrance fee (€4.00 per adult, with discounts for children, students and seniors) but Savica is supposed to be one of the prettiest waterfalls in Slovenia, so it’s worth it. 

I can’t wait to see it!

Learn more here.

10. Hike to Mostnica Gorge

This is another hike that I still need to complete.

It starts at the parking lot in Stara Fužina and takes you through a beautiful gorge, waterfalls and green pastures.

It also has a small fee to enter (€4.00 per adult, again with discounts for kids, students, and seniors), and you can learn more about this hike here.

11. See the Monument to the Four Brave Men

You’ll find this monument in a small park, opposite Hotel Jezero, not far from the bridge and the Church of St. Baptist.

It was created to commemorate the first hikers to summit Mt. Triglav in 1778.

Need some more excitement?

I have two bonus activities for you:

• paragliding from Vogel mountain 
• and rock climbing for all levels – check in at the Pod Skalco climbing center along the lake (see the map below for the location).

Lake Bohinj attractions map

Notice Savica Waterfall (Slap Savica), top left, and Mostnica Gorge (Korita Mostnice), top right of the map. The unmarked white dot in the middle of the route is the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Should you get the Julian Alps Card (Bohinj Tourist Card)?

Like with everything – it depends on how long you’ll be in the area and what activities you’re planning on doing.

The Julian Alps Card is a tourist card that covers the local bus, parking costs (if you choose that option), entry fees to Savica Waterfall, Mostnica Gorge and St. Baptist Church, as well as the panoramic boat ride. It also offers a discount on the Vogel cable car.

The card cost starts at €19 and you can purchase it at certain accommodations in the area or at Bohinj Tourist Office.

Learn more about the Julian Alps Card here.

The best time to visit Lake Bohinj

I’m sure both the lake and the surrounding area are beautiful in all seasons, and of course, you can ski Mt. Vogel in the winter, but in my opinion, the summer months are perfect to plan a trip to Lake Bohinj.

There is just something very special about relaxing on one of the small beaches and spending some time on the water, surrounded by the Julian Alps…

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Where to stay in Lake Bohinj

The two best-known hotels near Lake Bohinj are Hotel Jezero and Hotel Bohinj.

You can also consider staying in the nearby Bled (only a 45-minute ride away) or explore the handy map below for more Lake Bohinj accommodation options.

We stayed in Bled – we traveled with a larger group, so we rented a great apartment there and were super happy with it.

Is Lake Bohinj worth visiting? 

Lake Bohinj is 100% worth a visit!

Visiting this stunning area felt like discovering a secret spot in Slovenia, where you can just “unplug”, where, the crystal-clear water, dramatic mountains, and simple nature experiences take over and you don’t even notice the crowds.

Can you do a day tour to Lake Bohinj from Ljubljana?

Yes, it’s definitely possible to visit Lake Bohinj as a day trip from Ljubljana – you’ll just have to choose some of the activities from the list above, as you won’t be able to do them all in one day.

Want to leave the planning to someone else? Consider one of these amazing guided tours:

Nearby attractions:

• Lake Bled
• Aquapark Bohinj in Bohinjska Bistrica 

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👉 To learn about my trusted travel planning resources that help me (and will help you too!) plan trips easily and save money, read this guide: How to Plan a Trip to Europe: My Favorite Travel Resources Revealed.

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