A walk around Lake Bohinj

Walk around Lake Bohinj in Triglav National Park

Julian Alps crown jewel in Triglav National Park 

Lake Bohinj is the largest natural lake in Slovenia. Lake Bohinj is located in the Julian Alps in Triglav National Park. Lake holds so much water that it can completely cover the entire surface of Slovenia! A walk around Lake Bohinj will give you an amazing sense of the grandiose of the Lake Bohinj.

First hand experience walking around Bohinj Lake

A walk around Lake Bohinj: After an overwhelming amount of delicious food we devoured at an amazing breakfast at Sunrose 7 the first question we asked our lovely host was: “Can you walk around Lake Bohinj?” She smiled back and confirmed. We came across an article about a nation-wide frost a couple of years back and following the frost the eight-toothed bark beetle entirely devastated many parts of the Triglav National Park forests, including areas in Bohinj and even around the Lake. Luckily the consequences had already largely been remedied.

We had bikes with us and therefore cycled to get to the trailhead and left them close to the Lake in Ribčev Laz. Parking is available close to the Lake (fees apply), but it is advisable to use public transportation or soft mobility such as bus or bikes. In Bohinj the Julian Alps Card: Bohinj is being actively promoted and was sold to us by the hotel. It includes includes free bus, free boat ride and so much more, please do check Julian Alps mobility card section below amazing breakfast

Morning was clear and cold as we started early to beat the crowds. We wanted to enjoy fresh alpine air before it would get too warm for our liking. We decided to walk around Lake Bohinj counterclockwise, starting in the small village called Ribčev Laz.

Crossing the renowned bridge that spans across the famous river Sava Bohinjka, we saw fishermen prepare nearby. Sava Bohinjka is a prime location for fly fishing Slovenia. It’s an incredibly beautiful setting for fly fishing in Bohinj, as the Sava Bohinjka river is home to a large rainbow trout, brown trout and even large Danube salmon.

Next, Church of St. John the Baptist greets us just before leaving the paved road for the next 8 km. The Church was built in 13th century and is one of the most remarkable of Bohinj heritage sights. St. John the Baptist features one of the oldest frescoes in Slovenia. Next to the church, archaeological findings, dating back to the times between 1st to the 5th century, have been discovered.

Bohinj Lake Slovenia

Trail around Lake Bohinj continues along a grove and passes by the only two lakeside properties on its entire northern side of the shoreline, whereas other Lake Bohinj Villas are non-existent here due to different strict regulations. This is also by far the most popular area close to the lake in all seasons, because parking is nearby and it is very easily accessible in general. This is also one of the best Lake bohinj swimming spots, that tends to get very crowded, especially in August on weekends.

All the way along the northern shoreline, small but sweet Lake Bohinj swimming spots emerge partly hidden with green foliage, offering privacy and intimacy for late afternoon skinny dipping in the Lake. Away from the crowds in the serenity of the alpine glacial Lake Bohinj, surrounded by the Julian Alps, we enjoyed the singing of the birds, the numerous reflections on the lake surface and as the winds picked up, so did the rustling of the leaves and branches.

Slovenia is known for its pristine and intact nature with clear waters, and especially so in Triglav National Park. Conveniently placed along the path, a spring of water greets us on our journey around the lake to fill up the bottle with fresh alpine spring water to drink and enjoy. And a walk around Bohinj Lake has plenty of little springs!

About a half of the way through, a magnificent lake vista emerges. With big rocky outcrop overlooking the lake, this might just be the most popular instagram spot at Lake Bohinj. With views of the entire Lake and Bohinj-Tolmin mountain ridge and the Julian Alps, it is a sight to behold. This amazing Bohinj viewpoint is equipped with a wooden table and benches for you to enjoy the views and snack in comfort, should your tummy desire.

The continuation of beautiful hiking around lake bohinj passes by an abandoned fish farm on the shore, always just meters from the water. Soon a view towards Vogel emerges, as cable car Bohinj climbs seemingly vertical slopes, overlooking the lake. This last stretch of the northern side of the lake slowly turns southwest as we pass a wooden chapel and a couple of huts, before finally reaching Ukanc.

Ukanc, Bohinj, is a a small settlement on the west side of the lake. It is said that the name Ukanc is derived from the “in the end”, as this literally means the valley ends here, closed off with steep slopes of the Julian Alps Mountains and it marks the about the middle spot of the Walk around Bohinj Lake.

A path takes us along the shoreline to the cobblestone beach outcrop, which we reckon must be another best instagram spot in Bohinj. This is a place to suck in the amazing views and admire nature’s craft mixing clear waters of the river and the lake. Continuing upstream we get to the wooden bridge that crosses the Savica river.

Passing through neatly organised village of Ukanc, we also pass by the ruins of the former hotels and the only Lake Bohinj Campsite - Bohinj Camping Camp Zlatorog. 

Boat Ride Bohinjsko Jezero

The south side of the Lake tends to be less popular, but still beautiful. The trail of Walk around Lake Bohinj follows a wooden path, that runs along the road and shoreline. The distance to the lake water tends to be a bit longer, but we could still admire the views of the Lake here and there through the foliage. Orientation is dead easy. And as it is elsewhere on a walk around Lake Bohinj, markings are easily seen and followed.

We passed by a Hostel which also operates the nearby Adrenaline Park in Bohinj. This is the home for the spanning ropes and plethora of water activities at Lake Bohinj. Another interesting heritage sight of Bohinj is en route: Cerkev Svetega Duha (Church of the holy spirit). A small Baroque church covered with wooden shingle roof. Built in 1743, archives show another church was in the same spot at least 300 years earlier.

Our walk around the lake is nearing the end, as we see St. John the Baptist ridge appear ever larger. On the right side, a beautiful climbing area “Pod Skalco” emerges. This was actually the place where stones were acquired for the building of the Bohinj Railway Tunnel from 1902-1906. It is also a place with bars, ice-cream shop, boat rental and a another popular photo spot with the Zlatorog statue overlooking the Lake. Boat ride from Camp Zlatorog ends/starts here as well. 

Steps away from the starting point, we take another look at the entire walk around Lake Bohinj we just finished, happy to have seen all the beautiful scenery. We rode our bikes back to Bohinjska Bistrica, where we were surprised with an amazing afternoon snack back at Sunrose 7. We relaxed in wellness Bohinj for the remainder of the afternoon before going out for delicious dinner and wine tasting with friends who’d been cycling around Pokljuka.  

Lake facts and figures

Lake Bohinj holds enough water to completely cover the entire Slovenia

• Lake water is entirely restored three times per year.

• At the end of the last glacial period, Lake Bohinj was about 18 metres higher, extending all the way to the village of Stara Fužina.

• Only one tenth of Lake Bohinj is shallower than 10 metres, and as much as 80 % is deeper than 20 metres, with 20 % even deeper than 40 metres.

• Lake Bohinj holds enough water to completely cover the entire Slovenia

• Lake Bohinj is home to 65 algae species, 8 mollusc species and 5 fish species.

• Jezernica, the second shortest river in Slovenia, flows from Lake Bohinj, and after it joins the Mostnica river (100 metres from the bridge), it is called the Sava Bohinjka.

Accommodation

Getting to the Lake

Parking around Lake Bohinj can be tricky in summer months and should generally be avoided altogether. Staying at Sunrose 7, the bus stop is right across the street and staying for at least 2 nights, you get the The Julian Alps Card, so bus rides are free. You won't have to hassle with searching for parking spot and wait in traffic jams, but rather enjoy the nature and do something good for the environment by using the public transport. A great alternative is bike rental in Bohinj, widely available both at hotel and Bohinjska Bistrica.

Best hikes

Trail around Lake Bohinj takes you on an amazing journey following a path around lake Bohinj. Hiking around Lake Bohinj goes in either direction, but our recommendation is to follow it counter clockwise. This way, as the time passes, you will have the best light for the amazing views, with sun shining upon entire coastline for you to enjoy.

The distance around Lake Bohinj on foot following the trail is about 12 km. It takes anywhere from 2-5 hours and up to an entire day, depending on your pace and pauses, and swims in between. Trail around Lake Bohinj is entirely flat, with only a couple of meters of ascent and descent along the entire length. 

Things to do

Lake Bohinj is located deep within the Julian Alps in Triglav National Alps in the north west of Slovenia. Along its entire coastline, numerous small spots are available for you to enjoy in privacy and pamper yourself in the fresh, crystal clear waters. 

Apart from hiking, a run around Lake Bohinj is also popular. The trail is predominantly on gravel, with only a few sections of dirt. The northwestern part of the Lake offers the most privacy as it is the furthest away from the crowds and more popular spots.

Camping

Camping around Lake Bohinj is strictly prohibited. A campsite Zlatorog is available on the northeast side as you arrive to Ukanc and sits on the shoreline. Campsite Bohinj is usually open for the summer season from May to September. Lake Bohinj in Slovenia only has this campsite available on the shoreline and is thus very popular in the summer months, with peak season in July/August.

Weather

Lake Bohinj Weather in the summer season ranges from predominantly pleasant to rather hot, especially in the recent years. As it is in the alpine, sun should be avoided during midday or sunscreen lotion applied accordingly. Lake Bohinj Webcam is available here. Sometimes, before the weather turns foul, bugs an become quite annoying.

Bohinj from Ljubljana in a day

Lake Bohinj From Ljubljana in a day is a popular option amongst tourists staying in Ljubljana or other areas, and though Bohinj it is a perfectly fitted day trip, we recommend staying overnight. Lake Bohinj Accommodation options are plentiful and having an extra day or two will make your Triglav National Park visit more worthwhile, for sure. 

Where to stay near Lake Bohinj depends on your preference and budget. Bohinj Hotels are available in the range of 3* to 4* superior, with the seemingly best Bohinj Hotel being Bohinj ECO Hotel 5 km from Lake Bohinj in Bohinjska Bistrica, which also features Aquapark & Wellness Bohinj. This is an especially perfect Lake Bohinj accommodation with kids.

Best day hikes around Lake Bohinj include hiking around Lake Bohinj, a visit of Slap Savica, a cable car to Vogel, a hike up to Vogar vista point and paraglider launch site and many more. Please see Lake Bohinj attractions for more.

The Julian Alps Card

Promotion of soft mobility with free admission to most Lake Bohinj Attractions

• Free admission to Savica Waterfall and  Mostnica Gorge

• Free ride with the panoramic boat on Lake Bohinj

• Free admissions to all Museums in Bohinj

• Free summer Hop-on, hop-off bus rides to Pokljuka

• Free bus rides around Bohinj with travel agency Arriva Alpetour

• Free additional shuttles in the summer season

• Free parking at most of the Bohinj car parks

• Free one-way or return tickets for train rides

• Free use of the entry-exit points on Lake Bohinj and Sava Bohinjka