Slovenia winter guide: best things to do and visit

Explore Slovenia winter with this guide! Discover its top locations: Christmas markets, frozen lakes and dreamy waterfalls!

Winter is an amazing season to travel. Fewer people have holidays, prices drop and the changing weather conditions allow for exploring destinations in a different way.

Slovenia is a beautiful country, with plenty of forests and outdoors attractions. During the winter months, snow covers the mountains and valleys, becoming a heaven for winter sports fans, off-season travellers, photographers… Most guides online cover the best things to do in Slovenia during the summer months. Some destinations (for example Vintgar Gorge), are closed during the winter months, whereas others are best enjoyed with snow and low temperatures.

This Slovenia winter guide includes season-specific activities, things that are experienced differently depending on the month or moment of the year when you visit them. Most of the locations and activities below have a dedicated post, with plenty of information. Make sure to check them!

These are the top things to do and visit in Slovenia during winter.

Slovenia Winter activities

Discover its lakes

Slovenia is full of water. Waterfalls, streams, rivers, and lakes. There are over 300 bodies of water classified as lakes in Slovenia. However, only 3 of them made it to this list. These are the 3 best lakes to explore during the winter months:

Lake Bled

I love lakes, and of course, if you visit Slovenia you have to visit one of the most famous lakes in the world, Lake Bled. During the winter months, the snow-covered peaks reflected in the quiet waters of Bled Lake create a unique landscape.

It is worth visiting the small village of Bled, enjoying its cute Christmas market and walking around the lake. Despite the freezing temperatures, the views are amazing. Hike up to the Mala Osojnica viewpoint for the best aerial panorama of the area.

If you want to take breathtaking winter photos, make sure to check my Bled Lake photography guide, and if you just want to learn more about how to visit Bled, check my Beld travel guide!

Lake Jasna

Lake Jasna, is in fact 2 lakes next to each other, near the village of Kranjska Gora, which gives its name to one of Slovenia’s most famous natural parks. During the summer months, this lake is perfect for a relaxing stroll, admiring the beautiful peaks before driving through the Vrsic pass. However, in winter, the Vrsic pass is closed. Yet, don’t miss this beautiful lake.

Being the highest lake on this list, it is also the smallest one. Thus, these are the perfect ingredients for a frozen lake. Temperatures get as low as -10 Celsius degrees during the daytime and can get really low once the sun has gone. Enjoy the snowy landscape and the famous Zlatorog, the statue of a chamois.

Unlike summertime, when there are reports of the area being so crowded that it is impossible to park in the area, you will have enough parking space and the lakes for yourself. Find out more things to do in Lake Jasna in my dedicated travel guide!

Lake Bojinh

Any Slovenia winter guide should include lake Bojinh. This lake is sometimes disregarded because of its proximity to Lake Bled. Nonetheless, it is as equal as amazing, even more in winter, as it is more likely to find snow in the area. There are many things to do around, even during the cold months. Waterfalls, hikes… but more on that later on.

This lake is the largest of the three on this list, and it is perfect for a one day trip. Don’t miss the iconic view of the church and the bridge reflected on the lake! Find out more things to do at lake Bojinh in my dedicated travel guide!

Explore Slovenia waterfalls in winter

Where there is water and lakes, there are waterfalls! For sure, winter is not the best time of the year to explore Slovenian waterfalls. Spring and Autumn, with their huge rainfalls, offer the best views. Nonetheless, there is nothing like visiting some of the waterfalls listed below with snow everywhere. One of them even gets frozen during winter!

Savica waterfall

One of the reasons why Lake Bojinh deserves a visit is the Savica waterfall (or Slap Savica in Slovenian). This easy-to-reach waterfall is one of a kind. Outside the winter season, people have to pay to get to the waterfall. Yet, due to the huge snowfalls, it is free during winter. The hike is not very demanding, and the view is amazing.

Make sure to wear hiking boots, and avoid visiting if it is snowing a lot. The road that leads to the parking area where the short hike starts can get quite dangerous. Wait for a few hours, and the road will be cleaned.

Iglica Falls

This waterfall is not worth the 5-minute hike to its base. However, the view from the upper viewpoint is much better and pays the visit. The waterfall is nice, but there are light cables and it is not easy to get a proper view. Yet, on the right side of the waterfall, there are some metal steep stairs that abruptly ascend into the mountain. After 5 minutes and multiple sets of stairs, the best view of the valley opens in front of you. Be careful with the stairs and ad the viewpoint, especially if there is snow and ice.

Pericnik Waterfall

This was, without any doubt, my favourite waterfall in Slovenia. If you have never seen a frozen waterfall, this can be a first. Of course, if it is frozen, it means that the area is quite cold. Thus, be prepared. The path of the short hike can be slippy, and in some circumstances, crampons could be useful.

Yet, make sure to enjoy the view from the 2 sides of the waterfall. During summer, the path goes behind the waterfall. During winter, because of the icicles, it is a bit more difficult to do a circular hike. Nonetheless, it can be done from the roadside in both directions. It is not a long hike, less than 15 minutes on each side.

The ice can be there, be much more impressive or be gone, it all depends on the temperatures and the month of the year. The photo below was taken at the beginning of December, so expect more ice in January, February and March.

Voje Waterfall

Hiking to this waterfall is magic. After crossing the Mostnica Gorge, follow the road that leads to the Voje hut. From there, the road goes through a valley covered in snow, with occasional small huts. A fairy tale view. At the end of the valley, there is the Voje waterfall.

This is the most remote location, and in heavy snowfall, it might be difficult to reach. Make sure to consult with locals or authorities if you doubt it. When I visited, there was a lot of snow, but it was easy to get there. Nonetheless, it is a medium-long hike, considering the few hours of sunlight that you get in winter in Slovenia.

Enjoy the Slovenian winter landscapes

There is nothing like a beautiful snowy landscape, a beautiful sunrise, or a scenic road in the mountains. Slovenia has it all, and during winter, despite the harsh conditions, there are beautiful stops everywhere.

The weather conditions might make some of them inaccessible, but these are 3 that I wanted to include in this Slovenia winter guide:

• Mala Osojnica Bled Lake viewpoint: the snowy bled lake from its highest viewpoint is a must-visit spot for anyone visiting Slovenia in winter.
• St Tomasz Church view: one of the iconic viewpoints of Slovenia, (and one of its best photography spots), changes completely during winter.
• Mostnica Gorge: on the way to the Voje waterfall, there is one of the most beautiful winter landscapes I’ve ever seen. Make sure to spend some time enjoying the beauty of the snowy forest and the running water sounds!

Discover the snowy Ljubljana

Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital and one of the cutest cities I have ever visited. No Slovenia winter guide would be complete without mentioning it. While it does not have spectacular buildings or impressive tourist attractions (although it has plenty of things to visit), its vibe is what makes it unique. During December, the Christmas Market, lights and occasional snowfalls make the city even cosier.

Hike the Ljubljana Castle, explore its old town, visit the Tivoli Park, and enjoy some typical Slovenian food. Ljubljana is the perfect place to start or finish a tour through Slovenia. Don’t miss it, especially during winter!

Try Slovenia typical food (+ winter specialities)

I am not a huge fan of the cuisine of the non-Mediterranean European countries. However, when it comes to eating this cuisine during winter, my opinion changes. Hot stews, quite a lot of meat, and unique dumplings. Moreover, the real king of winter in Slovenia (and most European countries) is the hot wine with spices. You can get it everywhere, and its smell inundates the streets of the old town.

However, if you (like me) love sweets, Slovenia has its own specialities. The famous Bled cake, a combination of puff pastry and cream, can be found everywhere around the lake and gives the name to the cake. Yet, my favourite Slovenian dish was the Gibanica. This Slovenian and Croatian dessert was the culinary hit of my trip to Slovenia. This layered cake reminds me a bit of a Strudel, but there are more layers and ingredients. Poppyseeds, cheese, puff pastry… a balanced and not as sweet as Bled cake option for the dessert lovers out there.

Practise winter sports

Slovenia is heaven for winter sports. Its location, in the alps area known as the Julian Alps, makes for a long winter season, from December until April. There are endless options, depending on what you want to practise. Besides the typical Ski and Snowboard options (there are plenty of winter resorts, some of them very high end), there are other non-so common options. For all the ski lovers, areas such as Vogel, Kranjska Gora, Bled and Krvavec are some safe bets. Check the snow conditions, and enjoy the Julian Alps!

Nordic ski, snow rackets, ice climbing… but the most spectacular winter sport that you can practise (at your own risk) in Slovenia is ski jumping. If you are lucky enough or if you plan it well, you can enjoy a European or Worldwide competition at the Planica nordic centre. It is one of the most well-known ski jumps out there, and in the right weather conditions, there are people training during the daytime. Don’t miss it!

Enjoy the snow and the Slovenian winter

Some countries are meant to be visited at a specific time of the year. Others can be enjoyed throughout the whole year. Slovenia is a mix of both. While most people choose not to visit it during winter, because of the snow, cold and lack of hiking activities, this is the main reason why you should be visiting Slovenia during winter.

Enjoy its winter landscapes, the fewer tourists, and the opportunities that this not so travelled season gives to you. Slovenia is a magnificent country to visit during winter. Don’t doubt it and discover it!

Besides this Slovenia winter guide, make sure to check all the content available on my website on the Slovenia page! Dedicated guides for photography, hikes, tips, and much more!

If you are considering visiting Slovenia in Winter, and this guide raised any questions, contact me via Instagram (@aniolvisuals) or through the contact form on this page. For professional inquiries, send me an email at hello@aniolvisuals.com.