The Best 1-day Itinerary for Northwest Slovenia

Let’s assume you are staying in Ljubljana or Lake Bled, two of the most popular areas in Slovenia. (We recommend both destinations!) However, you also want to visit the mountainous northwestern part of the country.  As you glance at the map, you notice that there is only one road circling through that area. Hmmm, it doesn’t make sense to drive that far to see one thing, then backtrack home the same route. I guess it’s best to drive the whole loop! Well, at least that’s what we suggest. In fact, we took one day and filled our hours with the beauty of the Slovenia Alps. If you’re going to visit the northwestern part of Slovenia, we recommend stopping at the points along the way! 8:00am Pack up a picnic breakfast (plus some water and snacks for later), then hit the road. You have about an hour drive to your first stop!

9:00-10:00am | Lake Jasna Have a picnic breakfast at Lake Jasna, admiring the clear water and green mountains. It’s a small lake, so stroll around the whole thing after you eat. And of course climb up the rickety tower for views…if you dare! It definitely shakes whenever someone climbs up or down the stairs. Helpful tip: There are free bathrooms in one of the smaller buildings on the opposite side of the lake from the climbing tower. 

10:00am | Vrsic Pass Now that you’ve stretched, it’s time to get back in the car for the drive of your life! You’re going to wind up the Vrsic Pass. 50 cobblestone switchbacks await you: 24 up this side and 26 down the other side. Don’t worry, the lanes are wide enough for two cars and the roads are in good condition. Plus there are a handful of places to pull over along the way for views. In particular, make sure to stop here (keep reading).

10:20-10:30am | Russian Chapel Don’t skip the Russian WWII chapel along the way, around switchback seven or eight. There is a parking area for a dozen cars, plus free porter-potties. Walk one minute up the trail and you will see the little chapel.  When we first arrived, it wasn’t open. People were just looking at it, snapping photos, or picnicking at the nearby tables. We were walking down the trail to leave when a man showed up and unlocked the doors. On the inside were icons of a few disciples and saints. He also showed us photographs of the men who built it and the ceremonies on it’s inaugural day. Then, he let Jana pull the thick rope that rang the bell. That was so neat!

10:50-11:00am | Top of the Vrsic Pass Buffer a few minutes to stop along the way or to drive slowly (or get stuck behind cyclists). It’s worth pulling over at the top for views! If you’re lucky, there might even be a few sheep sleeping in the parking lot. 

11:15-11:30am | Swinging Bridge It only takes about fifteen minutes to drive down the remaining switchbacks, and this side didn’t offer as many views or spots to pull over. Once down, stretch your legs and take photos on a swinging bridge above the river. We recommend the one right past the 49th switchback near Cerkev Sv. Marije. There are spaces for three or four cars right next to the bridge. 

12:00-12:45pm | Bovec Continue to follow your GPS to the town of Bovec for lunch. There are plenty of places to park, and we opted to drive through town and park in a large lot just above the main square (follow parking signs).  We bought a few things from a bakery (Pekarna in trgovina Erdogan Jahaj s.p.) for lunch, and then enjoyed gelato and coffee at Slaščičarna Zekiri Alivebi s.p. Option: do a nature activity here! Bovec is the hub for mountain biking, hiking, rafting, and so much more. If you want a thrill, this is the place to find it!

1:30-2:00pm | Napoleon’s Bridge Drive to Napoleon’s Bridge!  We parked at the grocery store along the way and walked about 10 minutes downhill, but there are actually a few parking spots just beside the bridge. The water is so bright because of the limestone below. If you’re brave, find the path that leads down to the water and dip your toes in. But be careful, it’s extremely cold! 

2:15-2:30pm | Cerkev Sv. Lovrenca chapel Looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination with stunning views? A slight detour to Cerkev Sv. Lovrenca near Smast is absolutely worth it! We saw this amazing chapel from the main road and decided to find it. It wasn’t too difficult and the GPS took us straight there. The roads are narrow but sleepy. And from the top you can hear the water rustling—otherwise there is nothing but the silent sounds of nature.

3:00-4:15pm | Tolmin Gorge Hit up Tolmin Gorge for cool air on a hot day, awesome water views, light hiking, and a bit of history. Plus, it’s just GORGEous!  Fun fact: two gorges actually converge together here! Gorges are Jana’s favorite landscape, so it was extra unique to visit a place where two gorges align into one.  Plus, that narrow bridge above the water has a cool history. Locals didn’t build a bridge there until the 1950s. Before then, the villages on the other side were isolated. 

4:30-4:45pm | Tolmin Cheese Market If you love cheese, go to the Kmetijska Zadruga Tolmin market for a sampling of local cheeses!  We saw signs for this all over town but couldn’t actually find where it is. (We’ve solved your problems with our handy Google Map). But here’s a helpful tip: Drive to the back of that building and go in through that entrance. Yes, it is a grocery store. Walk to the cheese counter and ask for samples of the Tolmin cheese. 

6:00-? | Idrija dumplings End your adventurous day with some dumplings from Idrija. They are supposedly Slovenia’s national dish. Nonetheless, the traditional potato dumplings with beef and gravy are outta this world tasty…so are the chocolate dessert ones. At this point, you’re probably pretty tired. Stroll around the sleepy town for just a few minutes, or start your two hour drive back to Ljubljana or Lake Bled. Maybe you’ll be lucky and catch a stunning sunset like we did.

Follow Our Route

It would be tough for you to get lost since there is only one main road in this areas, but here’s a map so you can have a fun-filled day in Northwestern Slovenia!