Hiking Areas Slovenia
In Slovenia you'll find a wide range of hiking areas – from the Alps to the Adriatic. Our overview shows at a glance which region suits you best.
Toll note: For cars and motorhomes up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, a vignette requirement applies on motorways and expressways in Slovenia (depending on the vehicle class). More on this in the Slovenia toll guide and on the vehicle classes.
The 6 hiking areas at a glance
At a glance
Region and location
Highlights and winter
① Kamnik-Savinja Alps
Location: North
Velika Planina, Kamniška Bistrica, Logarska dolina
Winter: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
② Karawanks
Location: Border with Austria
Hochstuhl, Košuta, Mittagskogel
Winter: snowshoes or skis (depending on conditions)
③ Julian Alps
Location: Northwest
Triglav National Park, Soča Valley, Bled
Winter: skiing in Kranjska Gora
④ Pohorje
Location: Northeast (Maribor)
Lovrenc Lakes, Šumik Waterfalls
Winter: Slovenia's largest ski resort
⑤ Karst and wine region
Location: West and southwest to the Adriatic
Vipava Valley, Goriška Brda, Škocjan Caves
Winter: –
⑥ Goričko Nature Park
Location: Tri-border area in the northeast
Grad Castle, traditional orchard meadows
Winter: –
① Kamnik-Savinja Alps
Type
High plateau, valleys, alpine pastures
Highlights
Velika Planina (approx. 1,500 m, around 140 wooden huts), Orglice Waterfall (30 m), Rinka Waterfall (nearly 100 m)
Access to Velika Planina
Starting from the Kamniška Bistrica valley or by cable car
Special feature
One of Europe's largest alpine hut settlements, "Trnič" cheese
Velika Planina: Wide pastures, flower meadows and karst landscape – a destination for snowshoeing in winter.
Kamniška Bistrica: a roughly 33 km long, turquoise-green mountain river with cascades and natural pools.
Logarska dolina: one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Europe, the Okreselj cirque with rare orchid species. More in the Logarska Valley guide.
Activities: In addition to hiking and mountaineering, the region offers excellent conditions for mountain bikers, road cyclists and water sports enthusiasts; in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing invite exploration.
Tip: Anyone wanting to experience the nature of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps as comprehensively as possible should first explore the Kamniška Bistrica valley and then visit the Velika Planina high plateau.
② Karawanks (Karavanke)
Length
Around 120 km, border mountain range between Slovenia and Austria
Peaks
Hochstuhl (over 2,000 m), Košuta (approx. 10 km ridge), Mittagskogel (Kepa), Hochobir (Ojstrc, plant life)
Wildlife
Chamois, golden eagles, brown bears
Special feature
Karst landscape with dolines and caves, mountain huts, traces from the First World War
Hochstuhl: highest peak of the Karawanks, accessible from both the Slovenian and Austrian sides, with views as far as the Julian Alps.
Košuta: mountain massif around 10 km long, particularly suited to ridge hikes.
Winter: with snowshoes or skis, depending on conditions.
Please note: Find out about the route requirements in advance. Demanding trails should only be attempted by experienced hikers. Multi-day tours are possible.
③ Julian Alps
Highest point
Triglav, 2,864 m
Triglav National Park
Around 84,000 ha, Slovenia's only national park, free admission
Waters
Lake Bohinj (Slovenia's largest lake), Soča (137 km)
Getting there tip
Via the Vršič Pass
Soča Valley ("Emerald Road"): Boka, Kozjak, Virje and Beri waterfalls, Soča gorges, Tolmin Gorge. An overnight stay is recommended. More in the Soča Valley guide.
Municipality of Bled: lake with an island and 15th-century church, castle (origins in the year 1011), Vintgar Gorge. More in the Bled guide.
Triglav National Park: hiking, climbing, water sports. More in the Triglav National Park guide.
UNESCO: The park is part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve with strictly protected natural areas.
Landscape: mountains, lakes, turquoise rivers and waterfalls; also attractive in winter, for example for skiing in Kranjska Gora. Some guided tours or special offers may be subject to a fee.
Active: hiking, climbing, mountaineering, canyoning
④ Pohorje Mountains
Highest mountain
Črni Vrh, 1,543 m
Highlights
Lovrenc Lakes (more than 20 peat lakes at around 1,500 m, wooden walkway, swimming not permitted), Black Lake, Šumik Waterfalls (24 m and 9 m)
Note
Access to the Šumik Waterfalls is considered demanding: sections can be steep and slippery
Winter
Mariborsko Pohorje, Slovenia's largest ski region, the "Zlata lisica" World Cup ski race. More in our ski resorts guide
Activities: hiking and cycling on marked trails, multi-day trekking tours are also possible.
Landscape: dense forests of spruce, fir and beech, raised bogs and mountain meadows.
Recreation: thermal spas and spa towns in the surrounding area.
⑤ Karst and wine region
Sub-region
Highlight
Vipava Valley
Vineyards, springs, paragliding
Goriška Brda
"Slovenian Tuscany" with hills, olive groves and vineyards, cherry festival
Karst Plateau
Postojna Cave, Škocjan Caves (UNESCO), Lipica Stud Farm, Teran wine and Pršut
Slovenian Istria
Around 46 km of coastline with Piran, Koper and Izola
The coastal town of Piran (around 1 hour from there to parts of the region) or Ljubljana is a good starting point.
⑥ Goričko Nature Park (Krajinski park Goričko)
Location
Far northeast, tri-border area with Austria and Hungary, part of the UNESCO biosphere reserve
Getting there
Approx. 1.5 hours from Graz, up to 3 hours from Ljubljana
Highlights
Grad Castle (over 365 rooms), rare orchids, black stork, European pond turtle
Cuisine
Pumpkin seed oil, Prekmurska gibanica
Landscape: gentle, partly volcanic hills with forests, meadows and orchards, traditional orchard meadows and small ponds.
Nature: rare orchids, birds of prey such as the black stork, European pond turtle in the wetlands.
Culture: traditional villages, Grad Castle with visitor centre and exhibitions.
Cuisine: fruit, honey and local wines that can be tasted at producers or at markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most important questions about tolls on the way to the hiking areas.
Do I need a vignette for my hiking holiday in Slovenia?
Yes. As soon as you use motorways or expressways and your vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 t (e.g. car or motorhome), the vignette requirement applies in Slovenia. The digital vignette is license-plate based and can be purchased online, either valid immediately or from a chosen start date.
Does the vignette in Slovenia also apply to motorhomes?
Yes. Motorhomes up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight require a vignette. Motorhomes over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight are subject in Slovenia to a distance-based toll via the DarsGo system (OBU).
What vehicle classes are there for the Slovenian vignette?
For vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the following vignette classes apply: Class 1 (motorcycles), Class 2a (vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight and under 1.3 m at the front axle; motorhomes up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight with "SA" and fixed living installations) as well as Class 3a (vehicles under 3.5 t gross vehicle weight and over 1.3 m at the front axle). For more information, see our guide on Vehicle Classes in Slovenia.
Do I need a second vignette with a trailer?
As a general rule: If you drive a combination (car + trailer) up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the vignette for the car is sufficient. If the combination exceeds 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, a distance-based toll via DarsGo becomes due.
Are there special toll routes in Slovenia that must be paid in addition to the vignette?
Yes. Certain routes are subject to special tolls. Of particular relevance to travelers is the Karawanks Tunnel. This must be paid in addition, regardless of whether you are traveling with a vignette (up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight) or with DarsGo/OBU (over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight).
Can I purchase the digital vignette at short notice and use it immediately?
Yes. You can purchase the digital vignette online and either activate it immediately or choose a preferred date as the start of validity. It is important that the vignette is in place before using motorways and expressways; purchasing it afterwards is not possible.
Where can I find all the toll rules for traveling to the hiking areas?
A compact overview can be found in our guide to Toll in Slovenia. There you will also learn the difference between a vignette (up to 3.5 t GVW), distance-based toll (DarsGo/OBU, over 3.5 t GVW), and special toll (e.g. Karawanks Tunnel).
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!
You can find information about tolls in our guide. With the route planner you can see suitable toll products.
