Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia’s Julian Alps is one of the most beautiful gorges in the world. Nature had the wild Vintgar Gorge to itself for more than 10,000 years – since the end of the last ice age. Today the gorge is the gateway to the Triglav National Park. More than 600 species of plants can be found along the 1,600-metre path through the gorge.
The Vintgar Gorge in the Slovenian Julian Alps is one of the most beautiful gorges in the world.
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Vintgar shuttle
From the Central Parking Lot VINTGAR LIP and Main bus station Bled, there are regular free shuttles with the VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus to the VINTGAR Visitor Centre. Dogs are welcome, but must be muzzled on the VINTGAR Shuttle. Check your timeline carefully to make sure you are on time for entry, at least a few minutes before your booked entry time.
My visit
Let’s preserve nature
7 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE VISIT
CELEBRATE NATURE, PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT
Let’s book a time together when the Vintgar Gorge will leave an autograph in your heart. The gorge is desired to be visited by so many admirers that we have limited entry for the sake of nature conservation and a more primal experience.
Simultaneously limiting the number of visitors allows for a more primal experience of nature, relieving it from excessive pressure. Take enough time to visit the Vintgar Gorge, to experience it as the gateway to Triglav National Park. The visit is not time-restricted, so enjoy the views and the beauty of nature, even when you leave the Vintgar Gorge and head towards the Path of King Triglav or the River of Trees Path. On average, independent visitors spend 3 hours, but with slower exploration and breaks, it can be more.
Instead of printing a ticket on paper, we recommend using a digital ticket, which you present upon entry on your smartphone. Purchase digital tickets in advance on our website before visiting the Vintgar Gorge.
CHOOSE A MORE NATURE-FRIENDLY APPROACH
Every green decision counts. Your visit to the Vintgar Gorge is more eco-friendly with public transportation, and if you’re staying in nearby Bled, consider walking or cycling to get here.
Every destination is more enjoyable with a thoughtful journey. Why not organize a green day and travel by train as most visitors did a century ago? You can also choose to arrive by bus, where you’ll be picked up by the free VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus at the Central Bus Station in Bled. The Vintgar Gorge and the Radovna River are most pleased with cyclists, as the sound of bicycle wheels reminds them of the once vibrant mills and sawmills that contributed to the prosperity of our region. If you’re staying in Bled, you can rent a bike and ride it directly to the VINTGAR Visitors Centre.
LITTERING IN THE VINTGAR GORGE IS NOT OUR STYLE
Such majestic nature deserves our attention for everything we carry with us. Littering is not the style of responsible visitors who understand that nature empowers us if we enable it in the long run.
VWe take our trash with us or dispose of it in designated bins in front of the VINTGAR Visitors Centre. Trash bins are intentionally not placed along the path through the Vintgar Gorge, so make sure to safely store all items so that nothing falls on the path or into the river. We recommend using a refillable water bottle to reduce single-use plastic. At the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, there is a drinking fountain with clean water and refreshments, and you can also freshen up at the exit point from Vintgar, at the Refreshment Stand above the Šum Waterfall.
245 OF US AT A TIME WITH VINTGAR, LET’S GIFT OURSELVES PEACE
The most beautiful conversation during the visit to the Vintgar Gorge is with the locals and the Radovna River. If we walk in peace and with attention, without disturbing others and ourselves, we can observe the flow of life by the river.
Through careful, nature-conscious walking through the Vintgar Gorge, we discover the incredible diversity of plant and animal life, as various microclimates coexist in Vintgar. It is important to respect their laws and not throw anything into the water or the environment – no loud shouts, no throwing of stones, branches, or other objects. In Vintgar, we learn that orderliness also makes sense in human society, as we can endanger ourselves or others by overtaking or pushing. By calmly following the one-way path and avoiding moving in the opposite direction, we enable all visitors to have an equal and safe experience. Your pets are welcome, but please keep them on a leash during your visit. Please notify us in advance and obtain mandatory consent before using a drone or other recording equipment.
RESPECT THE WORLD OF THE VINTGAR GORGE AND TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
This is a world that nature has built over millennia and has allowed us to enter to visit without changing or interfering with it.
No matter how breathtaking the scenery of nature and life in the Vintgar Gorge may be, we must do everything to help it remain so for another thousand years. It is important not to disturb or feed wild animals, pick plants, or walk on unmarked paths to jeopardize the natural balance. The life of some plant species is so delicate that just a touch can damage it.
Every stone and every plant must remain exactly where they are. If you want something for a souvenir, browse through our shop, where you can find a collection of carefully selected products from local creators.
FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Our guidelines have been honed from experience and a protective attitude towards nature. We want to protect you and the Vintgar Gorge, so we urge you to take to heart everything you need to know and adhere to.
Before visiting, check the weather conditions and ensure appropriate footwear and clothing. Through the Vintgar Gorge (from the Vintgar Entry Center to the exit point at the Šum Waterfall), wearing a safety helmet is mandatory to protect you from rock erosion, which can occur despite protective nets on cliffs as it does throughout the Alpine world. We have ensured high hygiene standards, so you will always receive a fresh head covering under the helmet. During the visit, avoid leaning on safety fences and wandering off the fenced or marked paths. Swimming in the river and at the Šum Waterfall is prohibited. No photograph is worth a life. Therefore, let’s always be most attentive to our safety and the safety of fellow visitors and others.
GET TO KNOW THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF THE VINTGAR GORGE
Our local community of Gorje has lived with the Vintgar Gorge since it discovered it and realized that it must protect it. Locals have always ensured that tourist visits do not endanger the nature of Vintgar.
The local community has been linked to nature conservation since Professor Albin Belar pioneeringly proposed the protected area of the Triglav Lakes Valley. This was followed by the opening of the Vintgar railway station. Everything else is history. A few years later, we joined forces and staunchly opposed a major project to dam the Vintgar Gorge for the needs of a hydroelectric power plant (1912). Today, there is hardly a resident of Gorje who is not proud of Vintgar Gorge and does not have a family anecdote associated with the first visit. Most of the Vintgar Gorge guides, are younger or older generations of locals who will gladly share the secrets of our places with you.