Julian Alps

The basics

Lake Bled is a big draw for visitors: An islet with a serene church reflects alongside forest and mountains in its limpid waters. Many locals, however, prefer quieter Lake Bohinj. Winter sports enthusiasts head to ski resorts including Kranjska Gora, Vogel, Kanin, Cerkno, and Stari Vrh, while the Soča River offers everything from beginner-level kayaking to white-water rafting on rapids that can reach Grade IV. Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak, beckons climbers to its 9,396-foot (2,864-meter) summit.

Tour options include ski touring, paragliding, rafting, canyoning, and day trips to Lake Bled: a handful of day trips depart from Ljubljana, but Bovec in the Soča Valley is a more convenient base.

Things to know before you go

• The Julian Alps are a must for hikers, photographers, skiers, and adventure travelers.

• Even in the summer, the weather can be changeable: Hikers will need waterproof and warm layers as well as sun protection.

• Food options in the Julian Alps run the gamut from hearty farmhouse fare to top-tier dining at Hiša Franko, which has two Michelin stars.

• Bled is the best Julian Alps destination for travelers who rely on wheelchairs: there’s an accessible cable car, parts of the lakeside are wheelchair accessible, and a few sights have been adapted.

How to get there

The Julian Alps stretch from Tarvisio in northeastern Italy to near Ljubljana in Slovenia; the Slovenian side is larger and more popular, so this page focuses on it. Bovec, about an 80-mile (130-kilometer) drive northwest of Ljubljana, is a great base for exploring. Getting around by car or direct shuttle is much quicker than public buses here. If you’re arriving by plane or train, Trieste in Italy is slightly closer to Bovec than Ljubljana is.

When to get there

The Julian Alps’ ski resorts are relatively low-lying, so winter-sports aficionados should visit in January or February—but avoid the end of January and beginning of February, which is a school break. May through September brings high season, with warm, generally sunny days and cool nights, ideal for getting outdoors.

Discovering the Soča Valley

Much fought over during World War I, the Soča Valley centers on the rushing Soča River: Bovec is its adventure capital, and Kobarid its culinary capital. Highlights include the 348-foot (106-meter) Boka Waterfall and the spectacular Tolmin Gorge. History buffs will also find the Italian Charnel House (Sacrario Militare di Caporetto) very moving. Many visitors flock here for water sports, including kayaking, fishing, canyoning, white-water rafting, swimming, and stand-up paddleboarding along different stretches of the river.