Bohinj, the lake valley inside Triglav National Park

Bohinj, a valley of 24 villages

The municipality covers 333.8 square kilometres and has 5,216 residents. It spreads across the Upper and Lower Bohinj valleys, the Pokljuka plateau, the lake basin and the Nomenj valley. More than 60% of it lies within Triglav National Park, and all of it is part of Natura 2000 and the Julian Alps biosphere reserve.

For a visitor, four names matter. Bohinjska Bistrica, the largest village, with the Bohinj railway station and two museums. Ribčev Laz, at the eastern tip of the lake, by the church and the bridge. Stara Fužina, a stone’s throw from the lake, with the Mostnica gorge and the Alpine Dairy Museum. And Ukanc, at the far end, starting point for the Vogel cable car and the path to the Savica waterfall.

The lake and St John’s church

Lake Bohinj is Slovenia’s largest permanent natural lake, 4.1 km long and up to 45 metres deep, holding almost a hundred million cubic metres of water. On the eastern shore, next to the bridge at Ribčev Laz, St John the Baptist’s church predates 1300 and has Gothic frescoes full of oddities such as angels baring their teeth and a white devil whispering to Cain.

Two electric panoramic boats cross the lake between Ribčev Laz and Ukanc, and in summer there are bathing areas at Fužina Bay and Ukanc. The rest of what to do on the water is on the lake’s own page.

Savica, Mostnica and Vogel

The Savica waterfall drops 78 metres in an A shape at the head of the valley, fed by water from the Triglav lakes. You drive or take the summer bus to the car park and then follow a path with plenty of steps. The Mostnica gorge at Stara Fužina is another easy outing, with the Devil’s Bridge, crystal-clear pools and, at the end of the Voje valley, a 21-metre waterfall.

The Vogel cable car climbs more than a thousand metres above the lake to 1,535 metres at Rjava skala, with Triglav straight ahead. In October 2026 it is closed for maintenance, expected until 1 December 2026, so check its website before counting on it.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Bohinj for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Mountains, cheese and tradition

Bohinj is mountain country. It has more than 300 km of marked trails, the Bohinj Mountain Trail and part of the Via Alpina, and it’s one of the classic starting points for Triglav. The first ascent of the summit was made by four Bohinj men on 26 August 1778, backed by the industrialist Žiga Zois, who also had the Devil’s Bridge built to bring iron down from the mines. For a viewpoint without much effort, Peč sits at 720 metres, roughly twenty minutes’ easy walk above Stara Fužina.

The other great trademark is cheese. Mohant, strong in smell and taste, has European Protected Designation of Origin, and high-pasture farming, recorded since the 13th century, is explained at the Alpine Dairy Museum. Every year in May and June the International Wild Flower Festival runs for fourteen days, and in autumn the Cow’s Ball celebrates the herds coming down from the mountains. The Bohinjsko, From Bohinj, label guarantees where dishes and products come from.

Getting around and where to stay

Bohinj takes mobility seriously. You may only park in marked car parks, bikes have been banned from the north shore since 2021 and in summer shuttles run to the trailheads. For visitors the key is the Julian Alps Card for Bohinj, sold with at least two nights’ stay at a Tourism Bohinj partner and covering buses, trains, the panoramic boat and entry fees. From Bled, the journey is explained in Bled to Bohinj.

The weather turns quickly. Tourism Bohinj quotes a local saying that in Bohinj the rain has babies, so pack an umbrella, a waterproof and waterproof shoes even if the forecast looks good. When it comes to a bed, the lake gives you the dawn walk, while Bohinjska Bistrica gives you the railway and more services.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Bohinj on GetYourGuide.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Bohinj for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.