Lake Bohinj (Slovenia) – Tips + 14 best things to do + Photos

Despite being close to the famous Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj Slovenia has remained wilder and less touristy. 
It is a beautiful gem surrounded by the mountains of the Triglav National Park. If you love nature, don't miss the detour.
Below is my Guide to help you plan your visit with maps, photos and tips for the best things to do in Bohinj.  

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I think Lake Bohinj should be on every Slovenia Itinerary because:

• It is Slovenia's largest permanent lake
• It is a serene environment where you can connect with nature
• It looks quite different from one end to the other
• You can easily admire it from above thanks to the cable car
• Like many locals will tell you, it is better than Lake Bled (although that can be discussed, see after the video)

Below is a short video that should inspire you to visit Bohinj, one of the best places to visit in Slovenia:

Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj?

Wondering if you should go to Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj? Both have a lot to offer and are part of the wonders of Slovenia. So here are your options depending on what you are looking for.

• If you are doing a road trip around Slovenia - spend a couple of days at each location
• If you like hiking ---> Lake Bohinj - definitively
• If you like peace and quiet away from tourists ---> Lake Bohinj
• If you like a choice of restaurants and animation ---> Lake Bled
• If you like historical monuments and locations ---> Lake Bled
• If you like views ---> Both are phenomenal

It is really difficult to capture the majestic and peaceful feeling of Lake Bohinj in photos. But here are 3 panoramas from different locations and with different weather conditions to help you get an idea of what you can expect.
And in between I have listed a few fact to help you learn more about the Bohinj Lake.

• It is a natural glacial lake that is relatively cold (Mean annual temperature of 8.5°C and July water temperature reaching 17°C)
• The inflow comes from the West with the Savica stream, and the outflow is at the East to Sava Bohinjka
• Its elevation is 526m (1726ft) and maximum depth 45m (148ft)
• In the clear water you can find many many trouts, burbot, chub, mollusks and many other species
• In Slovene a lake is called Jezero - So its local name is Bohinjsko Jezero

Where is Lake Bohinj?

Bohinj is sometimes refered to as the lake at the end of the world, because it is niched in the heart of the Julian Alps with only one way in or out by car.

• It is located on the West Part of the Country, just South West of Bled 
• Lake Bled to Lake Bohinj East = 30 min drive
• Ljubljana to Bohinj East = 1h15 drive

Below is a map to help you locate Lake Bohinj:

• BY CAR - The easiest way to visit Lake Bohinj is to rent a car. This way you can travel around easily. Get to Bled, drive along Lake Bled and continue on 209 towards Bohinj. The road is large and in excellent condition. Easy driving. But know that carparks fill up fast in mid-Summer. Check out my guide about driving in Slovenia
• BY BUS or TRAIN - In terms of public transportation you can find busses connecting with Lake Bohinj but that really limits your movements - The closest train station is in Bohinjska Bistrica.
• BY TOUR - If you are limited in time and staying either in Ljubljana or in Bled you can book an organized tour that will take you to both the Vintgar Gorge and Lake Bohinj on the same day - check out program and Book

On the map below, you can see how Bohinj is located compared to Bled and the main Road 209 that links both of them.
Plus, I included the name of the villages around the lake:

• Bohinska Bistrica, town not on the shore of the lake
• Stara Fuzina and Ribcev Laz, villages to the East
• Ukanc, village to the West

You have 4 options in regards to choosing where to stay around Lake Bohinj:

• Stay at the East end of the Lake in the Towns of Ribcev Laz or Stara Fuzina. There is a large hotel and a great selection of guesthouses and apartments. The pros are that you have access to several restaurants and are very close to the lake. 
• Stay at the West End of Lake Bohinj in Ukanc - This is for those who don't need all the facilities and just want peace and quiet
• Stay at the bigger town Bohinja Bistrica - a little further east, this town has more facilities, but you are not right by the lake
• Stay in Lake Bled and do day trips to Lake Bohinj - after all it is only 30 minutes away by car - Check out my suggested Bled accommodations in my Lake Bled Guide.

My personal choice is to stay around Stara Fuzina so that you can enjoy the lake at sunrise and sunset. My second choice would have been Ukanc to be more isolated in nature.

Other suggestions of Lake Bohinj Hotels and Accommodations:

• GOOD VALUE FOR LOCATION - Not far from the hotel are the TD Bohinj Apartments that enjoy a fantastic location. No views but good value for price - Check out photos and availability
• HOSTEL - In the middle of the South Shore is Hostel Pod Voglom (near a bus stop, and very close to the lake) - check out photos and availability
• UKANC BOUTIQUE - Enjoy the comfort and elegance of Vila Park B&B in a beautiful garden, all you need to relax - check out photos and availability
• UKANC BUDGET - rooms and apartment 750m from the Lake's west shore  -  Check out photos and availability
• or Check out all the Best user-rated accommodations around Lake Bohinj

#1 - Driving along the South shore and stopping at the Lake Bohinj beaches

I think the best thing to do at Lake Bohinj is simply to drive around and enjoy the views from the shore.
You can do the South shore by car and stop at different views (listed with GPS coordinates in my eBook)
Or you can do it by bike.

#2 - Lake Bohinj Shore Walk 

You can walk all around the lake. It is 12km and takes 3 to 4 hours depending on how often you stop.
On the North shore, you are walking right by the lake as there are no constructions, the mountain starts climbing.
However the hike on the South shore is less enjoyable. You walk on the other side of the road. They created an elevated pathway, which is better than just walking on the road, but it is not the best for the views. Don't forget to cross the road at the carparks to enjoy views from the mid-lake beaches.

Even if the weather is not good, you should go out. The white views from Ukanc were splendid and it stopped raining right when we walked there!
I could stay hour admiring the magnificence of the scenery of Lake Bohinj.

#3 - Watching sunrise

I also recommend getting up to admire the sunrise. You won't see the very first light but when it gets over the tree line, it is serene. Plus, at this time there is nobody around 

#4 - Meet Goldhorn / Zlatorog

By the side of the lake, you can see a statue of the famous Zlatorog a.k.a Goldhorn. It is a legendary creature and icon of the Triglav National Park.
The creature, a white chamois with golden horns, is part of a fairy-tale passed down from generations. You can read the original story as written by Karel Dezman here.

The statue is located on the South East shore, not far from the bridge. But I must admit that the statue at Lake Jasna has more impressive horns!

#5 - Admire the Savica Waterfall

Another famous location around Lake Bohinj is the Savica Waterfall. It is located at the Western end, above Ukanc.
You have to pay for parking and for entrance and then climb 550 steps to reach the viewing platform.
On one side, you see the mountains and a little bit of the lake, and on the other the surprising slap Savica. It is an A-shaped waterfall that starts in the middle of the rock wall (from an underground river) and falls into an emerald pool.
It is worth the climb.

For many more photos, check out my article dedicated to the Savica Waterfall

#6 - Kayak on Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj is really great for water sports. However, as I said before, the water is quite cold except during the summer peak.
So, people enjoy it more kayaking or on boats.
I really recommend kayaking to enjoy the serenity of the area and appreciate the mountains in all directions. 

#7 - Visit St John the Baptist Church

Near the bridge at the East end of the lake, in Ribčev Laz, you can't miss the very photogenic little church. It is really charming.
It is called St John the Baptist. Take the time to enter to admire the frescoes. It dates back to before the 15th century.

#8 - Get incredible views with the Vogel Cable Car (Lake Bohinj Cable Car)

One of my favorite activities at Lake Bohinj was riding the Vogel cable car. The ride is very steep and impressive, but you get wonderful views of the whole lake and the Julian Alps. On a clear day, you can see the Triangular-shaped Triglav summit stands out above the others.
It was built in 2001 and enables you to get from 579m to 1535m elevation in just over 4 minutes. The average incline is 70%.

From there you can go hiking on the trails replacing the ski slopes in summer or you can pay extra to take the chairlift and get even higher.
However I wish they had done a better platform with the views at the top of the Bohinj cable car ride.

#9 - Lake Bohinj Hiking - Mostnica Gorge and more

Lake Bohinj is a fantastic place for hiking. There is a large choice of trails. Some easy and short or long treks to the summits of the National Park (including Triglav).
I recommend heading to the tourist office to learn more about the different trails and get a Lake Bohinj walking map.

An easy one is the Mostnica Gorge, above Stara Fuzina. It is not as fascinating as the Vintgar gorge at Lake Bled but it offers some interesting features along the way and, contrary to Vintgar, you are not stuck against other tourists on a small trail LOL.

#10 - Swimming in Lake Bohinj

I think the best way to appreciate the lake is by kayak, as I mentioned before.
However you can also swim in the Lake, depending on your level of resistance to cold. In Summer, no problems. But otherwise, it is a cold mountain lake. 

#11 - Panoramic Boat

In the Summer Season, panoramic electric boats offer sailing experiences on the lake.
If you don't feel like rowing yourself, and want some explanations with your experience, this is a great option.

#12 - Fishing

Plus, there are lots of fishes, especially trouts, so you can rent a boat and go fishing! You can obtain a permit from the tourist office.

#13 - Mini rafting on Sava Bohinjka River

For intense rafting experiences, you should head to the Soca Valley on the other side of the Julian Alps.
However, if you still want a water sport activity in Bohinj, there are opportunities for mini rafting on the river that goes from Lake Bohinj to Bohinjska Bistrica and then towards Bled.
Learn more

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