Lake Bohinj is Slovenia’s largest lake, wild and at the same time incredibly beautiful, which makes it the perfect day trip destination for everyone. The lake is a paradise on earth with its crystal clear water, shimmering in cool shades of turquoise and green, its densely wooded shores, and the heavenly tranquility. It’s a Garden of Eden for those seeking peace and quiet, who just want to take a stroll and otherwise relax on the banks. But it’s also a paradise for those who want to work out in unspoiled nature by hiking, cycling, rowing, or stand-up paddling.
In short, Lake Bohinj, Bohinjsko Jezero in Slovenian, is the perfect place to get away from it all and become one with nature – and yourself.
The Most Beautiful Lake of Slovenia
“You’ll see, Lake Bohinj is even more beautiful than Lake Bled,” Mimi repeats for the fourth time. I’m excited because Lake Bled, which I’ve wanted to visit for ages, really didn’t disappoint. The turquoise water, lined by a lovely promenade, bordered by dense forests, from which only the top of old churches peeked out every now and then, was simply a dream. Nevertheless, after a long walk alongside this Slovenian superstar of a lake, in the early afternoon, we took a bus at Bled’s bus station that should have taken us to Bohinj in just over half an hour.
But as it happens, old ladies weren’t so quick to get out, and shortly before we reached Bohinj, dozens of school kids got on. Students of all sizes and ages tapped their tickets to the reader or laboriously dug a few coins out of their wallets for the fare. Sweet elementary school girls carrying far too big satchels that seemed to weigh quite heavy on their six-year-old backs. Lanky teenage boys who didn’t really know how to react to the driver’s humorous comments and looked for seats at the back of the bus with red cheeks and downcast eyes.
While the whole procedure takes time, it offers us day-trippers an authentic spectacle. Also, it doesn’t matter if you arrive in Bohinj a few minutes later. The lake was created about 10,000 years ago by severe erosion of a glacier and will certainly still be there when we all are long gone.
So no rush.
Shift Down a Gear
In fact, a visit to Lake Bohinj causes instant deceleration. As we get off the bus, I immediately start to snap away to capture all the incredible beauty not only in my heart, but also on my microchip. In the meantime, Mimi is checking how much it would cost if we rented bikes. Then she sees on a map that you cannot actually cycle around the entire lake. And because I’m a bit lame at the moment, we decide to just take a short walk on the eastern shore of the lake and see if we can find a suitable swimming area. As a matter of fact, you are only allowed to swim on a designated section of the eastern bank.
We set off and after about twenty minutes, we climb from the hiking trail over the roots of the trees that heavy storms uprooted last year down to the water. We spread out our small towel on a narrow spot covered with white pebbles.
I wade carefully into the water. It’s freezing cold and I’m walking on sharp pebbles. With great caution, I slowly walk further and a little deeper into the lake. The water is so cold, I definitely don’t want to trip and fall! As the water reaches to my knees, I stop and enjoy the slightly numbing effect of the chilliness on my calves. In front of me lies the crystal-clear, mirror-smooth lake, and if someone on the opposite bank didn’t get their lake house ready for summer by using noisy tools, it would really be like paradise.
But maybe noisy renovations are going on in paradise as well, what do I know?
By now I no longer feel my lower legs from the cold, hence, I carefully wade out of the water and make myself comfortable on my tiny corner of our towel. A few minutes later, I’m asleep.
Replenishment
The sun has already moved quite a bit westwards when I wake up. A small excursion boat is chugging past us at some distance. “Shall we walk a little further?”, Mimi asks. We absolutely shall. So we keep walking for another half an hour. We pass some hikers, cyclists, and many dogs. Quietness and peace lie over the lake and its banks.
This day trip is truly a cure in miniature.
Even in the crowded lakeside restaurant Kramar from where we have a million-dollar view of the entire lake, the atmosphere is so relaxed and laid-back. Even the kids lower their voices as they frolic on the lakeshore.
We order soft drinks and share an order of crispy French fries. After we filled our stomachs, we simply relish the seclusion from the world for a bit before, with a heavy heart, we set off back to the bus stop.
By no means have we enjoyed all the leisure options that Bohinj offers its visitors. We weren’t at the Savica Waterfall and we didn’t hike all the way around the lake. We didn’t go either fishing or canoeing.
Instead of floating in Bohinj’s waters, we floated in time.
It’s pretty amazing how the serenity of Lake Bohinj managed to relieve even a busybody like me of chronic FOMO for a few hours.
After all, strength seems to lie in calmness, and the journey is the goal.
The goal of your next journey, however, should definitely be Lake Bohinj.
Practical Information
Lake Bohinj is a beautiful, varied holiday destination but also the perfect destination for a day trip, for example from Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana.
During the warm months, you can swim, surf, kayak, or canoe as well as fish and even snorkel. Albeit, the waters are so clear, you can see really deep even without a snorkel.
On the southern as well as the northern shores are boathouses where you can rent boats, canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. Because of the mild breeze and the calm waters, even beginners will enjoy surfing and rowing.
There are many hiking trails with different levels of difficulty, but none of them is really challenging or even dangerous. Nevertheless, after my accident in Gran Canaria three years ago, I strongly advise against hiking solo.
However, there’s nothing wrong with simply going on a relaxing walk along the coast. The hiking trail around the like is about twelve kilometers long.
Mountain bike tours are also a great way to explore the lake. Obviously, the rules and regulations protecting the Triglav National Park must be followed. Keep in mind that cycling is not allowed on long stretches of the northern shore.
In Winter when it’s freezing cold, you can even go ice skating on the picturesque lake at times. But before you head out onto the ice, be sure to check with the locals to make sure the ice is thick enough and durable!
Then, the meadows around Bohinj are perfect for cross-country skiing and the high mountains are among the best ski areas in the Julian Alps.
How to Get There And Around
Several buses go to Bohinj every day, for example from Ljubljana. Some are direct, for other connections you have to change coaches in Bled, for example.
Also, it is absolutely stress-free to visit both lakes in a single day.
To check suitable connections, just type your starting point and the desired destination into Google Maps and the App will give you the best connection.
You can purchase tickets from the bus driver. However, keep in mind that on many buses, you can only pay in cash! A one-way trip from Ljubljana to Bohinj costs just under 9 €uros, and the ticket from Bled costs just over 3 €uros per person.
Visiting Organized
Although I’m an avid solo-travelling woman, I sometimes like to join organized tours. Not only are they a valid option to go to remote places since I’m not driving. They also allow me to enjoy the company of fellow travellers. Tour agencies like GetYourGuide* offer organized tours to Lake Bled at a reasonable price. You can choose between a comprehensive tour of Lake Bohinj* or a day trip that combines Bohinj with a visit to Lake Bled*. I introduced this world-famous inland sea in my post Day Trip Into a Fairy Tale: Lake BLED by Public Bus.
Also, here are some more great ideas of what to do when visiting Slovenia. But note that especially during high season, pre-booking online will guarantee your place at the activity of your choice*:
Where to Sleep
As I mentioned, we visited Lake Bohinj on a day trip during a long weekend in Ljubljana. This being said, I’d like to point out that this place is also perfect for a longer stay if you want to unwind and recharge by relaxing as well as engaging in various sports activities.
Booking.comThere is accommodation like for instance the Hotel Jezero* right next to the lake. However, you can also book a suitable lodging option in one of the towns and villages nearby and then get to the lake by cycling or by public bus.
On this map, you can check out various options and rates*:
Booking.comWhat to Eat
Slovenia is a small country with only around 2 million inhabitants and for these good people, their traditional foods are an important part of national identity. Apart from exquisite produce, Slovenian artisan products are sold at markets and in specialty shops. You get excellent cheese and dairy products, sausages, local wines, schnapps, and, above all, honey of the highest quality.
Kranjska Klobasa, hence, Carniolan sausage, is the most famous Slovenian staple, and you get it in excellent quality at every eatery. It is served with mustard, sour cream, and horse reddish. If a half sausage is on the menu, go for it, it will be plenty as it is actually half of a pair of two sausages.
If you’re very hungry, you can order Žganci as a side dish with the Carniolan sausage. Žganci is a so-called spoon-bread and is usually made from buckwheat flour. This gives the dish an earthy and slightly nutty flavor. One of the most typical ways to eat Žganci is with cracklings made from roasted pork fat.
Štruklji is another traditional staple. Sheets of dough are spread with various savory or sweet fillings, rolled up, and then cut into pieces. This means that Štruklji are not only delicious, but also very pretty to look at.
The most popular fillings are cottage cheese, vegetables, walnuts, and various fruits.
Especially if you are looking for a yummy snack to take with you on a day trip or just a hike, there are tons of bakeries, so-called Pekarna, selling filled puff pastry. The hearty kind is called Burek and is stuffed with different fillings like potatoes, cheese, minced meat, or vegetables. The sweet kind often contains fruit like apples or curd.
If you are into carbs, you definitely came to the right country.
Money
Since 2001, 20 European countries have paid with €uros. Slovenia joined the European Union in 2004 and became the first of the new EU countries to adopt the €uro in 2007.
The exchange rate is 1 US$ = 0,93 EUR as of July 2024, but you can check the conversion on this page.
Also, you can pay with credit cards even the smallest amount basically everywhere. However, keep in mind that bus tickets have to be paid in cash most of the time.
Language
Over the past years, Slovenia has become a popular tourist destination. Therefore, many people speak pretty decent English. Older people speak it rather if they are working in the tourist industry, but most young people have a great command of the language. Especially some of the older folks also speak German.
Nevertheless, it puts a smile on people’s faces when you can say at least thank you – hvala – and please and you’re welcome – prosim in Slovenian.
Say It Right
In this post, I’m writing out some of the Slovenian names of brands and places. You should be aware that there are letters that might not exist in other languages.
Most importantly, the letter c is never pronounced as k. It is always pronounced like the ts in Tsar. Hence street is enunciated Ulitsa, not Ulika.
Only when c is written č, it is pronounced like a ch in chachacha.
The same goes for s: written š, it’s pronounced sh. But only then.
Then, there is the letter ž which is pronounced more or less like j, but rather the French way – as in jour.
So now you know how to order your Žganci correctly: Dj-gan-tsi.
People tend to overdo it with the ch and the sh – if there is no accent, it’s a simple c, s, or z, no crackjaw there.
Map
On this map, you can see where to find all the places I’m mentioning in this post. Clicking on the slider symbol at the top left or the full-screen icon at the top right will display the whole map.
Pinnable Pictures
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