nechjosh

I have written earlier and received advice on our planned trip- 5 70 years olds-with a car. We start in Venice-3 nights; 4 nights in Lake Bohhinj; 2 nights Ljubliana; 3 nights Plitvice and 6 nights in Nova Gorica. Can anybody suggest the main highlights in Bled-Bohinj. For the Croatia-Slovenia second half-we will leave Plitvice early on the third day and stop in Rijeka on the way. Then one day the krizma jama caves-the long tour-is that difficult? One day in Goriska Brda renting bicycles and perhaps one day in Grado. Can anybody recommend the thermal springs there? We have to fly from Venice-so we are in a good area to see another site for a day. Any suggestions? Thanks for any suggestions. We will be arriving in venice on June 8th. Getting excited.

kja

IMO, the highlight of Bohinj was simply seeing it. FWIW, an hour or so were enough for me. ;-)

In Bled, the castle, the island, and nearby Vintgar Gorge are among the things that most people would, I think, consider the highlights. A day or two should be enough for those sites.

For other options, and for other information about the area, please get (or at least consult) a good guidebook. I thought the Rough Guide particularly useful.

Why Rijeka???

rtt0921

Bohinj is a great base for walking and hiking and you can easily visit Bled from it. I think 4 nights is good given your interests - a day in Bled, a day in Bohinj and a day spent hiking. The nearby town of Radovljica is picturesque and features an interesting beekeeping museum. When going to Ljubljana, do a detour via Kropa, Jamnik and Skofja Loka, a very scenic less-trafficked route.

The lake isn't the only highlight in Bohinj, other highlights include taking the cable car up to Mt Vogel and visiting the Savica waterfall. Mostnica Gorge is a lovely place to visit, too, but if you'll be visitiing Vintgar in Bled you might not want to visit another gorge. Above all, though, Bohinj is a hiker's paradise. There are all sorts of trails there and many hikes into the depths of Triglav National Park start in Bohinj, as well.

While in Bohinj, I personally enjoy a day in the woods of Pokljuka, which offers many easy hiking opportunities. All the trailheads there are at a high elevation, so it doesn't take long to get really high up - for example the hike to Visevnik, a 2050m mountain that offers one of the more "iconic" views of Mt Triglav is a 700-meter ascent from Rudno Polje on Pokljuka, a 2-hour hike. If you're looking for something flatter, a walk from Rudno Polje to Uskovnica pasture is lovely, too.

In the area, there's even a route that visits all the highland pastures that produce cheese - the Bohinj Cheese Route. It's a long one and is not meant to be done in one go, but you could certainly visit one pasture to get some authentic homemade cheese. There are many walking opportunities from the cable car on Vogel, too, as well as down in the valley itself. You could also walk around the lake or rent bicycles and cycle along the Bohinj cycling path, etc.

rtt0921

By the way, I hope you're not staying in Nova Gorica proper. While the countryside in that region is beautiful, Nova Gorica itself is a dull post-war town, a result of the changing borders after WW2. If you want to stay in a historical (larger) town instead of the countryside, stay across the border in Gorizia.

neckervd

I suppose you will visit friends at Gorica/Gorizia/Goerz. Otherwise you wouldn't certainly not pass twice through this city (the first time on you Venice - Bohinj journey and then a full week at the and of your trip)

neckervd

BTW: I suppose you will visit the Krizma caves on your way from Plitvice via E 71 - E 65 - E 61 - 32 - 213 - 212- E 61 - H 4 to Gorica and not as a day trip from Gorica.

nechjosh

Thanks for all your advice. I wiull integrate the information. We are staying outside of Nova Gorica in Bukovika. Have your heard of it? We are arriving and leaving from Venice and that is why we chose to stay near the border.The ideas around Bohinj sound great. Kja-I chose Rijeka besause it is on the route that Google gave for traveling from Plitvice to Nova Gorica. How about a thermal spa in the area. Is Piran suitable? Thanks again.

mnag

Bohinj is beautiful and serene. There is an ancient church accessed by the old stone bridge. And do not miss the cable car up Mt Vogel....views are spectacular. One of the highlights of our trip to Slovenia.

kja

Now that I understand that you are the hikers (I didn’t look up your prior posts), you might want to consider walking (yes, I know that’s not hiking) the Lungomare west of Rijeka. It extends from Lovran (at it’s western end) for about 12 kilometers through Opatia to (I think) Volosko. Many people stay in Opatia, which I found too party-hearty for my tastes (although some of the villas there, including the Villa Angiolina, are lovely). I stayed in Lovran, which I enjoyed, although it was, when I visited, a bit past its prime. It’s a lovely walk, and if you want, you can take a bus back to your destination. I believe these towns also offer access to the hiking trails of Mount Ucka, but I can’t swear to that. Otherwise, I’ve not heard anyone comment on reasons to visit Rijeka itself.

@ rtt0921: AWESOME info!

PolSmit

Mt Ucka offers the best hiking in the region, you can easily access it from any town or village on Opatija Riviera.

nechjosh

Thanks kja and polsmit. Do you know about a preferable-thermal spa in Trieste area(not part of hotel)

rtt0921

There are few, if any, thermal springs around Trieste and in Western Slovenia in general. Include a day or two in Eastern Slovenia if you wish to visit a thermal spa - Rogaska Slatina or Terme Olimia in Podcetrtek are both lovely, in their own way. The former is an old world spa town, while the latter has a striking contemporary architecture, both are located on thermal springs. The medieval town of Ptuj also has a thermal spa, the Terme Ptuj.

nechjosh

One more question-does anybody know when and if the Vrsic Pass will be opening?
Thanks

rtt0921

The Vrsic Pass is already open. There are some roadworks on a section of the road north of the pass throughout the 2017 season that will affect traffic, but closures will only last up to one hour through most of the year, the rest of the time there will be alternating one-way traffic. Later in autumn, specifically from September 18, 2017 until the winter closure, the road will be completely closed to traffic Mon-Thu 8-17 (8am-5pm) and Fridays 8-15 (8am-3pm).

nechjosh

Thanks again for clarfying