Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In summer, the easy
tourist bus
takes you right to the gorge entrance (only runs in the
of two stops: Podhom (Mon-Fri 5/day in the morning, 1/day Sat, none Sun, 15 minutes) or
SpodnjeGorje(takebusindirectionofKrnica,hourly,15minutes).FromeitherthePodhom
or the Spodnje Gorje bus stop, it's a 15-minute walk to the gorge (follow signs for
Vintgar
).
Drivers
follow signs to
Podhom,
then
Vintgar
(see walking/cycling instructions), and
park for free right at the gorge entrance.
Gorge Hike:
After buying your ticket, you'll hit the boardwalk trail (sometimes a bit
slippery) and crisscross over the most dramatic and narrow stretch, tiptoeing over several
waterfalls and marveling at the clarity of the water. Then the gorge—and the trail—flattens
out and passes under a high stone footbridge and over a scenic dam. Finally, at the end of
the gorge, you'll reach a footbridge over a plunging waterfall (next to a snack stand and
WCs). For more views, continue on five minutes downhill (following the
Pod Slap
signs),
then circle over the river again to reach a knoll, peering up at the waterfall and bridge you
just crossed.
When finished, you can simply go back the way you came, or take a prettier return to
Bled (described next).
Scenic Hike Back to Bled:
If you still have energy once you reach the end of the gorge,
consider this longer hike back with panoramic views. Behind the snack stand deep in the
gorge, find the trail marked
Pod Katarina.
You'll go uphill for 25 strenuous minutes (fol-
lowing the red-and-white circles and arrows) before cresting the hill and enjoying beautiful
views over Bled town and the region. Continue straight down the road 15 minutes to the
typical, narrow old village of Zasip, then walk (about 30 minutes) or take the bus back to
Bled.
The town of Radovljica (rah-DOH-vleet-suh, “Radol'ca” for short), perched on a plateau
abovetheSavaRiver,hasthecharmingOldTownthatBledlacks(refreshingly,italsolacks
much of Bled's summer crowds). The traffic-free core of the town, once hemmed in by a
stout wall (still faintly visible in some areas), is jammed with historic buildings that sur-
round the long, skinny main square called Linhartov trg. While Radovljica's Old Town is a
pleasantplacetostrollornurseacoffee,youcanseeitallinafewminutes.Themainreason
to visit here is to tour its small but strangely fascinating beekeeping museum—despite only
having a few rooms, it still ranks as one of Europe's biggest on the apiarian arts. Skip the
town on Mondays, when the museum is closed (and be aware that the museum has shorter
hours off-season).
