Mountains, via ferratas, lakes, Postojna Cave, Piran, campsites and a little bit of acroyoga. Slovenia is a small country, but you can fit an incredible amount into just one week. Over 8 days, we travelled from the Kamnik–Savinja Alps through Lake Bohinj all the way to the Slovenian coast and back to the Julian Alps.
If you’re looking for an active summer road trip combining mountains, water, via ferratas, good food and a little spontaneity, this is an itinerary worth saving.
And the best part? The whole trip cost us approximately €499 per person.
Our Slovenia itinerary
Bratislava → Kamniška Bistrica → Cojzova Koča → Štruca → Kraljev Hrib → Bohinj → Vogar → Postojna → Piran → Mojstrana → Vršič → Jasna → Gozd Martuljek → Bratislava
Day 1 – Cojzova Koča: 1,200m of elevation gain on day one
We left Bratislava at 9:30am and headed straight to Kamniška Bistrica. We left the car at a free parking area about 500 metres past the “Dom v Kamniški Bistrici” hut and started hiking towards Cojzova Koča on Kokrsko Sedlo.
We had approximately 6 km and 1,200 m of elevation gain ahead of us.
I won’t lie – this was quite an ambitious way to say “hello, holiday!” 😄
We reached the hut around 18:30, had dinner included in our half-board, took a short walk above the hut, played cards, Mato played the guitar, and eventually ended the evening in a three-bed room.
Cojzova Koča: €38 accommodation + €23 half-board/person.
💡 TIP: If you can drive all the way to the V Koncu parking area, you can save approximately 2 km and 150 metres of elevation gain.
Day 2 – Mount Štruca and moving to the campsite
In the morning, we headed towards Štruca (approx. 2,450 m above sea level). We climbed around 700 metres of elevation gain in proper summer heat.
The terrain was rocky and covered with loose scree, with some scrambling and climbing sections along the way. We also passed the beautiful Pavle Kemperle bivouac. We skipped Grintovec, as some sections are better tackled with via ferrata equipment.
After returning to the hut, we had a drink and then started the 1,200-metre descent towards the V Koncu parking area. We covered the final section by hitchhiking with two locals.
In the evening, we arrived at Kraljev Hrib campsite.
Campsite: €7 per tent + €11 per person
Booking: not necessary, cash payment.
After the first two days, our legs had approximately 1,850 metres of elevation gain in them. They were starting to understand that this was not going to be a wellness holiday.
Day 3 – Lake Bohinj: finally, some water
In the morning, we had a buffet breakfast at the campsite for €14 and then went to cool off in the freezing river at Soteska Predaselj. If you like cold water, I can highly recommend it.
We then headed to Lake Bohinj and checked into Danica campsite.
Danica campsite: €20 per person/night + tax
System: first come, first served.
We spent the afternoon by the lake. Swimming, acroyoga, messing around in the water and, most importantly, relaxing.
In my opinion, Bohinj is one of those places you simply have to see in Slovenia. The lake is surrounded by mountains, and the scenery is so beautiful that even a random phone photo starts looking like a travel brochure.
In the evening, we had dinner at Gostilnica Štrudl in Bohinjska Bistrica for €55 for the three of us.
Day 4 – Vogar, Planina pri Jezeru and Savica Waterfall
On day four, we did approximately 9 km / 550 m of elevation gain.
We drove to Kosijev Dom (road access fee €20) and from there continued towards Vogar, which offers beautiful views over Lake Bohinj. We then continued uphill to Koča na Planini pri Jezeru.
The route took us through beautiful forest, with raspberries growing along the trail and a stunning green mountain lake.
In the afternoon, we headed to Savica Waterfall. The walk to the waterfall is short – less than a kilometre but involves around 120 metres of elevation gain via stairs.
Parking: €7
Entrance: free on the first Sunday of the month, otherwise €4.
Afterwards, we returned to Lake Bohinj and spent several more hours by the water.
💡 TIP: I wouldn’t plan a whole day around Savica Waterfall alone. It’s best combined with a hike or a swim at Lake Bohinj.
Day 5 – Postojna Cave and heading to the coast
In the morning, we made tea and porridge at the campsite and headed towards Postojna Cave.
Parking: €6
Entrance: €35/person
Tour: approximately 90 minutes
The highlight is definitely the underground train ride. Inside, the temperature is only around 10 °C, so bringing a hoodie or light jacket is a very good idea even in the middle of summer.
The cave is enormous, and the tour also includes the unique underground post office, where you can actually send a postcard.
We then wanted to stop by Predjama Castle. There was just one small problem: you can barely see it from the road. And since it was 36 °C outside, we decided not to spend any more energy on the sightseeing mission.
Lesson learned: check the map before taking the detour. 😄
In the afternoon, we continued to Piran. We left the car outside the centre, as parking there is difficult (we parked at Uncle Milan’s place – I can share the contact if needed), and got to our accommodation using a local transfer. The electric taxi costs €1 per person anywhere within Piran.
Piran Rooftop Apartments: €255 / 2 nights / 3 people
Parking: €30 / 2 nights.
In the evening, we had dinner by the sea, watched the sunset, enjoyed the view from the church and explored Piran’s nightlife.
Day 6 – Piran and the sea
After several days of hiking, we entered “today we’re not moving unless absolutely necessary” mode. Breakfast, beach, outdoor gym, acroyoga, ice cream, another beach and a walk around the town.
In the evening, we had a seafood dinner for approximately €70 for three and headed to the Piran town walls.
Entrance: €4/person.
If you’re visiting Piran, definitely don’t skip the town walls. The view over the town and the sea at sunset is absolutely worth it.
Afterwards came music, drinks and a few completely unplanned holiday encounters. With some very handsome Spanish. 😊
Day 7 – Mojstrana, via ferrata and Vršič
After the sea, we headed back into the mountains.
We stayed at Perun Lipce campsite near Mojstrana.
Price: €22/person/night
Booking: first come, first served.
We then headed for the Mojstrana via ferrata. We chose the more challenging C/D route, which took us approximately one hour.
Originally, we wanted to continue to Peričnik Waterfall and later Slemenova Špica, but a thunderstorm ruined those plans. Rain, thunder and a sudden drop in temperature are pretty good reasons not to continue towards a summit. Instead, we had lunch at Tičar Lodge and did a short hike up to Vršič.
We then crossed the Vršič Pass towards the source of the Soča River. Due to the extremely dry summer, the spring was completely dried up.
In the evening, we stopped at Lake Jasna and ended the day with dinner at the themed Magic Story restaurant – if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you definitely have to try this place.
Day 8 – Hvadnik via ferrata and the journey home
On our final day, we got up before 7:00 and headed for the last via ferrata of the trip – Hvadnik in Gozd Martuljek.
Difficulty: B/C
Ascent: approximately 1 hour
Descent: approximately 20 minutes
Parking: approx. €3 / 2.5 hours
The via ferrata runs through a beautiful canyon with waterfalls and small natural pools. Technically, it’s quite manageable and suitable even for less experienced via ferrata climbers.
After the ferrata, we returned to Lake Jasna, had one last swim, did one final acroyoga session and around noon headed back towards Bratislava.
Budget for 8 days
The total cost came to approximately €499 per person.
| Expense | €/person |
| Fuel | €40 |
| Accommodation | €227 |
| Food | €158 |
| Parking | €30 |
| Other | €44 |
| TOTAL | €499 |
What you should know before you go
🏕️ Campsites: Many campsites operate on a first come, first served basis, so booking may not always be necessary. Others, however, can be fully booked days or even weeks in advance.
💶 Cash: It’s still worth carrying some cash, especially for smaller campsites and huts.
🥾 Via ferratas: For more difficult routes, always check the difficulty rating and required equipment in advance.
🌦️ Weather: Mountain weather can change very quickly. Our plan to hike Slemenova Špica ended as soon as the first thunderstorm arrived – and that was absolutely the right decision.
🚗 Car: A road trip is a huge advantage in Slovenia. It allows you to combine completely different parts of the country without spending half your holiday travelling between them.
Verdict: Would we do it again?
Absolutely YES. No question.
In eight days, we got exactly what we want from an active road trip: mountains, via ferratas, lakes, the sea, good food, campsites, spontaneous decisions and minimal stress.
What we loved most was how easily the scenery changes. One day you’re climbing rocks in the Alps, the next you’re swimming in Lake Bohinj, and in the evening you’re eating fresh seafood in Piran. And despite seeing so much, we left with the feeling that Slovenia still has so much more to offer.
So if you’re thinking about a summer road trip that can be done for around €500 per person, I’d definitely put Slovenia high on the list.
Just remember to pack hiking boots, swimwear, a via ferrata set, sunscreen and the ability to change your plans. That last one turned out to be the most useful thing we brought with us.
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