Frequently asked questions

For our safety and the safety of other visitors, the following are not allowed in the Vintgar Gorge:

1. climbing fences and bridges,
2. waste and garbage disposal,
3. leaving marked paths,
4. plant plucking,
5. approaching the river and
6. swimming in the Vintgar Gorge and at the Šum ter waterfall
7. use of drones.

No. Fishing in the gorge is prohibited. You can find more information about fishing in the Radovna river at: https://www.ribiskekarte.si/zavod-za-ribistvo-slovenije/radovna-2https://www.ribiskekarte.si/zavod-za-ribistvo-slovenije/radovna-2

To visit the Vintgar Gorge, you need suitable hiking shoes, a helmet, which visitors can pick up at the VINTGAR Visitors Centre (with a cap we ensure high hygiene standards), and moderate physical fitness. Also, ensure you have enough time for your visit.

The entire area of ​​natural value Soteska Vintgar belongs to the protected area of ​​the Triglav National Park and the NATURA 2000 network. Help us keep the Soteska Vintgar clean and full of life for locals and future visitors. We ensure a respectful attitude towards nature and other visitors of the Vintgar Gorge. We avoid making noise and obstructing the passage of other visitors. Plants and animals can only be admired from afar. It is strictly forbidden to pluck plants – they are the most beautiful right where they are at home.

Swimming is not allowed in the Vintgar Gorge due to extremely dangerous rapids, waterfalls and sensitive biodiversity. The Vintgar Gorge is located in the protected area of ​​the Triglav National Park, where you harm nature by swimming. For swimming, we recommend well-maintained swimming pools by Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj.

Complaints can be sent to the e-mail box info@vintgar.si, and we will answer as soon as possible.

A shorter visit option is to choose the Blejska Dobrava parking lot – from where the VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus first takes you to the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, where you enter the Vintgar Gorge (which takes approximately 45 minutes), after 1.6 km you reach the waterfall You return the noise directly to your parking lot (it’s only 10 to 15 minutes of folding climbing from the exit point).

The least crowded is in spring in April and May, and in autumn in late September, October and November. In the summer months, it is least crowded in the morning when it opens and in the late afternoon. Most visitors are between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. During the winter months, the gorge is closed to visitors for safety reasons.

No. The use of drones in the national park area is restricted by the protection regime stipulated by the Triglav National Park Act, which prohibits flying aircraft.

The use of drones for filming and video recording is only allowed in areas with infrastructure and settlements. In the natural environment of the national park, drone use is permitted solely for recording documentaries and promotional films intended for promoting the park and local communities, considering the noise limitations of such devices and the flight altitude above the areas. To film within the TNP area, you need a permit.

When using drones, it is also necessary to comply with regional legislation applicable to the entire territory of Slovenia (Regulation on unmanned aircraft systems). Source: TNP.si

To visit the Vintgar Gorge, dress sporty and a little warmer than you would otherwise. It is always colder in the Vintgar Gorge than elsewhere. You will walk along the river Radovna, which radiates freshness, and in the immediate vicinity there is also coolness. It is recommended that you bring a raincoat. The weather in the Alps can be very unpredictable, rain or storms can surprise you. In case of rain, the Vintgar Gorge is still open for visits, in case of stormy phenomena, we can decide to close it for a short time.

For a visit, hiking boots or at least an open sports shoe are the most suitable. In case of rain, the path is slippery, so wear non-slip shoes (mountain or trekking shoes).

The visit is especially suitable for those who are moderately physically fit or able to walk intensively for more than two hours. The passage is not possible with children’s and wheelchairs. We do not recommend visiting children under 3 years of age.

The route through the Vintgar Gorge is one-way. After entering, you must cross the Vintgar Gorge in its entirety, as walking in the opposite direction is not possible. For all those whose intense walking gives you trouble, we recommend that you skip the walk through the Vintgar Gorge and see the main attraction at the end of the Vintgar Gorge – Slap Šum. It is accessible from the direction of Hom or Blejska Dobrava.

The temperature of the Radovna River is constant throughout the year, around 10.5°C.

It’s true, the path through the Vintgar Gorge to the Šum waterfall is one-way. At the Šum waterfall, you can choose one of two thematic routes for the return trip. You can go to Alpine Vintgaring across Hom or to Forest Vintgaring across Blejska Dobrava. Alpine Vintgaring is an experience of the cultural landscape and the heroes of the local community on the King Triglav Trail (together with the route through the Vintgar Gorge, 5.7 km). Forest Vintgaring is a walk through the forests and meadows above the Vintgar Gorge and getting to know the heroes of nature on the Path of the River of Trees (together with the route through the Vintgar Gorge 4.3 km).

It depends on the current frequency of visits to the Vintgar Gorge, your physical fitness, and stopping to admire the beauty of nature and take photos. We suggest that you take at least 3 hours for Vintgaring (experiencing the Vintgar Gorge and the Triglav National Park – i.e. for the journey through the Vintgar Gorge and returning via one of the two themed return routes, back to the Vintgar Entrance Center or the VINTGAR Shuttle Terminal).

The route is a one-way circular route and after a walk through the Vintgar Gorge, it takes you across alpine forests, pastures, and meadows. During the main tourist season (July and August), take a little more time for Vintgaring, because then the Vintgar Gorge has an increased number of visitors (although the maximum simultaneous number in the Vintgar Gorge is limited). We recommend arriving immediately upon opening, in the morning or late afternoon. Then you will encounter the least number of other visitors and save time.

For the whole experience, you need roughly 3 hours, and to that, you also need to add the arrival (to the parking lot) and the ride with the VINTGAR Shuttle to the VINTGAR Visitors Centre and the ride back after completing your journey.

The route is moderately demanding. The length depends on which of the two circular (return) thematic routes you choose.

The path of King Triglav, which leads through the Vintgar Gorge and along the slope of the Hom hill, is 5.7 km long. There are 80 steps on the way. The path offers beautiful views towards Bled and the Ljubljana basin. Because it partly runs on terrain exposed to the sun, during the summer peak, make sure you have adequate protection from the sun.

The River of Trees path, which leads through the Vintgar Gorge and along the forest path near the settlement of Blejska Dobrava, is 4.3 km long. There are a total of 296 steps on the way. It is shorter, but slightly more physically demanding because of the stairs, and mainly leads through a shady forest.

In Gorje, near the Vintgar Gorge, in addition to our snack bar at the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, we recommend the following catering providers:

• Pizzeria Bethlehem
• Restaurant Fortuna
• Vintgar Restaurant

At the exit (the Šum waterfall) next to our refreshment stand, Šum we recommend:

• Jurček snack bar (near St. Catherine’s church)
• Restaurant Jurč (Blejska Dobrava)
• Restaurant Kurej (Zasip)

In the VINTGAR Visitors Centre there is a small bistro with a terrace and local catering. Snacks from Hiša Linhart await you, one of the best and most responsible chefs in Slovenia, Uroš Štefelin, who is the recipient of a Michelin star and a green star for sustainability. Hiša Linhart sandwiches with his signature are the culinary star of the Soteska Vintgar, with many ingredients from local suppliers and homesteads in the Julian Alps. We can enjoy the vegetarian version with Tolmin cheese or the meat version with locally cured prosciutto.

There is also an opportunity for refreshments at the exit point from Vintgar, next to the waterfall Šum.

For bicycles or motorbikes, which are your ideal transport from nearby holiday resorts such as Bled, free parking is possible near the VINTGAR Visitors Centre.

From the centre of Bled, it is about 4 km or a 50-minute walk to Soteska Vintgar. Pedestrian markings lead to the VINTGAR Entrance Center. Separate footpaths or lanes for pedestrians and new sidewalks in Gorje and Podhom have already been arranged in some places for a safer route.

If you are coming to Soteska Vintgar by public bus, get off at the Central bus station Bled, near the Bled Rose Hotel. There is a regular free VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus every full hour from the Bled bus station to the VINTGAR Entrance Center (from July 1, 2024).

If you decide to visit Soteska Vintgar by train, we recommend the exit station in Podhom, where you can arrive by train from Jesenice (Jesenica-Nova Gorica line) or Bled jezero (Nova Gorica-Jesenice line). Since the station is near the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, you can simply walk between them.

Yes. Entry with dogs is allowed, but it is necessary to purchase a ticket for them. When using the VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus, the dog must be muzzled. Dogs must be kept on leashes, they must be walked behind. We recommend visiting with pets in the morning or after three o’clock in the afternoon.

With the ticket, you get a one-time entrance to the Vintgar Gorge, access to the audio guide and, in the case of arrival by car or public transport (to Bled), also free transport to the VINTGAR Visitors Centre with the VINTGAR Shuttle.

The ticket is valid for a single entry to the Vintgar Gorge on the same day. Buy your ticket online in advance and reserve your seat that way.

We sell tickets for adults, children up to 15 years old and for pets. Visiting the Vintgar Gorge is not recommended for children under 3 years of age. Buy your ticket online in advance to reserve your spot.

No. The ticket is valid for a single entry to the Vintgar Gorge on the same day in the designated time slot.

No. The Vintgar Gorge is open even when it rains. We suggest that you inquire about the weather conditions before visiting the Vintgar Gorge. It is always recommended to have a raincoat with you. The weather in the Alps can be very unpredictable.

The gorge is only closed in case of extreme weather conditions. In this case, we will refund your purchase price or provide you with a new appointment.

No. We accept euros. Payment is also possible with a payment card.

We accept Visa and Mastercard bank cards and Flik payments.

No. You can spend the night with a motorhome or other vehicle only at motor-home stops or camper stop locations or in the camp. Nearby campsites are Camping Perun (Blejska Dobrava), Camping Bled, River Camping Bled and Camping Šobec.

In parking areas that are appropriately marked.Our official parking lots are:

• VINTGAR LIP central parking lot (1)
• VINTGAR Blejska Dobrava parking lot (3)

Other parking areas are not under our management. Parking fees are listed on the website www.vintgar.si – for a car, for the duration of the visit to the Vintgar Gorge, it is EUR 5. All parking lots are intended only for visitors to the Vintgar Gorge and close two hours after the Vintgar Gorge closes.

The Vintgar Gorge is open from April to November. The exact day of opening and closing is dictated by the weather conditions and the situation in the Vintgar Gorge. Opening hours are published on our website www.vintgar.si.

The Vintgar Gorge is closed during the winter months due to dangerous conditions for visitors and necessary maintenance work.

No. The gorge is located in the area of the Triglav National Park, where navigation is restricted. In addition, the Vintgar Gorge is very unpredictable and dangerous. You can find more information about where you can sail in the Triglav National Park on the website: https://www.tnp.si/en/visiting-park/activities-and-sights/water-sports/.

No. The path is intended exclusively for walkers, therefore bicycles are prohibited. You can bring your bicycle to the immediate vicinity of the VINTGAR Visitors Centre and park it at the bicycle parking spot.

No. Due to technical reasons, wheelchair access is unfortunately not possible, as the uneven terrain, narrow paths and stairs do not allow wheelchair access.

Yes. Vintgar gorge is open during rain. We close it only in case of emergency. In case of rain, wear a raincoat and waterproof shoes that won’t slip. We do not recommend umbrellas, as they can disturb other visitors on narrow sections of the path.

Yes. The Vintgar Gorge is open all days of operation, presumably from April to November. Opening hours are published on our website www.vintgar.si. The Vintgar Gorge is only closed in case of extreme weather conditions.

No. Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, it is not possible to enter with a pram, as the uneven terrain, narrow paths, and stairs do not allow the passage of a pram.