Where to stay in Bohinj, village by village

The Julian Alps Card: Bohinj

The Julian Alps Card for Bohinj is, to me, the most practical reason to choose one place over another. Only guests of Tourism Bohinj partners staying at least two nights can buy it, at tourist offices and some accommodation. It covers buses throughout Bohinj, trains, the panoramic boat and entry to the Savica waterfall, the Mostnica gorge, the three museums and St John’s church, and the parking version lets you leave the car in any marked car park except at Savica. Prices are on the Bohinj page.

Tourism Bohinj also asks guests to leave their car with their host for the stay and use public transport or a bike. The card makes that easy.

Ribčev Laz and Stara Fužina, the best area

If it’s your first time in Bohinj, I’d base myself here. Ribčev Laz sits at the eastern end of Lake Bohinj, with St John’s church, the boat landing and the Fužina Bay bathing area. Stara Fužina, a little higher up, has the Mostnica gorge, the Alpine Dairy Museum and the Peč viewpoint, and is the best base for walking. Both villages have a tourist office.

Ukanc, for Vogel and Savica

Ukanc is the quietest corner. It has the bottom station of the Vogel cable car, Camp Bohinj, with the panoramic boat landing inside the site, and the path to the Savica waterfall, an hour’s walk from Hotel Zlatorog. In summer there’s a bathing area too. It suits people after nature who don’t mind relying a bit more on the bus or boat to reach Ribčev Laz.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Bohinj before prices climb.

Bohinjska Bistrica, if you arrive by train

Bohinjska Bistrica is the practical base, with the Bohinj railway station, the car train through the tunnel, museums and services. For motorhomes it’s one of the few options, as they may only stay overnight at the station car park, Senožeta in Srednja vas and the Danica and Bohinj campsites.

Treats and standout places

For a treat, Villa Muhr is the former hunting lodge King Alexander of Yugoslavia liked to use, by the lake, with four suites and a gourmet restaurant, and the tourist board lists it among Slovenia’s Michelin Key accommodations. The Michelin selection also includes Hotel Bohinj and Alpik Chalets. On its Bohinj page the tourist board also highlights Camp Danica, Bohinj Eco Hotel, Soklič tourist farm, Rooms Ravnik, House Pr’ Pristavc and Bohinj River House. If you’d prefer thermal water to a wild lake, neighbouring Bled has hotels with pools fed by its lake’s springs.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Bohinj and choose by the reviews.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Bohinj before prices climb.