The Savica Waterfall in Bohinj is one of the most iconic things to see in the Triglav National Park – and for good reason. This waterfall is so beautiful and at the same time so easy to access that tourists flock here to see it.
To access the waterfall, you’ll walk up 553 stairs which should take about 20-25 minutes. While it’s a good workout, it’s probably the shortest hike we’ve done in Bohinj with one of the most rewarding views.
This hike to Savica Waterfall is definitely one of the highlights in Bohinj especially if you’re limited by the amount of time you have in the area.
At the top, you get to see the power of Savica Waterfall which flows down to Bohinj Lake. Take in the views and capture a few photos before you head back down to enjoy a delicious lunch or explore more of this beautiful part of Slovenia.
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Everything you need to know about Savica Waterfall
Out of all the hikes we’ve done around Bohinj, the Savica Waterfall is probably the shortest one but also one of the prettiest ones. That’s why we recommend it to anyone who’s in Bohinj – even if you’re just here for a few hours.
Savica Waterfall is located on the far side of Bohinj Lake and you have to drive all the way around the lake and a little ways up the mountain until you reach the parking spot by the trailhead.
This is basically as far as you can drive into this valley that starts near Lake Bled and makes its way all the way to Bohinj.
This valley is formed by The Julian Alps and a little lake called Black Lake up in the Julian Alps is what flows the water down to Savica Waterfall.
As for the hike to the Savica Waterfall, there’s not a whole lot you will need to know before going and you don’t have to pack a lot for it either. Basically, you’ll need a bit of money to pay for the parking and to get to the viewpoint where you can actually see the waterfall.
To us, it seems a bit odd that you have to pay to hike some of these trails that are out in nature. That’s definitely not something we’re used to.
But from what we’ve heard they use the money to preserve the area and do maintenance on the trails. So hopefully that’s true and our money is going to a good place.
It costs a few euros to park and then it’s €3 per person to enter the main section of the Savica Waterfall.
Also read: Hiking to The Beautiful Savica Waterfall From Bohinj (Full Guide)
Practical information about the Savica Waterfall hike
Distance: 1.8 km return / 1.11 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 140 m / 459 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and out trail
Length: Little less than 1 hour (includes time to enjoy the waterfall)
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Fee to enter: €3 per person + parking
Rating: 4/5
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Savica Waterfall hike.
Picture of the beginning of the Savica Waterfall hike:
Starting at the Savica Waterfall parking lot
The trailhead is relatively easy to find because the parking lot for Savica Waterfall is at the very end of the valley road. You’ll drive past Bohinj Lake, up the mountain a little, and then you’ll see the parking lot for Savica.
At the parking lot, you’ll see a few little cabins and a restaurant (which is slightly overpriced for Slovenia but quite good). You can see the restaurant in the picture below.
We ended up having some soup after the hike and it was quite nice. It was also pouring down rain and quite cold that day so soup was perfect!
We want to remind you there is a parking fee to park at the trailhead which is a few Euros (depending on how long you park for).
You will need some cash to pay for the parking and also for the entrance to the waterfall further up the trail.
Once you’ve parked your car you’ll start hiking up the mountain for a few minutes. The trail runs parallel to the Savica River that flows in Lake Bohinj and is super easy to find and follow.
You will probably see quite a few people hiking up to the waterfall as well since this stretch is quite touristy thanks to the beauty of Savica Falls!
To be fair this first section is probably the hardest part of the whole hike. There’s a bit of elevation and the ground is a little rocky. The challenge is worth it though because the views at the end are incredible!
Enter the Entrance to Savica Waterfall
The Savica hike is short, sweet, and easy to follow. There is only one section of the trail that splits in two but it’s very obvious where to go.
There will be a little hut at the intersection where you’ll have to pay €3 per person to enter.
It’s almost like an entrance to an amusement park or something. There are metal gates and everything. It might seem a little silly but it’s their way of getting some money to help maintain the trails and preserve nature.
This section up to the waterfall has been man-made. The whole way up you walk along a staircase zig-zagging your way up the mountain.
There aren’t too many views to see during this stretch of the hike because you’re surrounded by trees but nature there is still very pretty.
It’s not long until you’re at the waterfall though… One step at a time until you reach 553! 😉
Take in the view of Savica Falls
Once you have conquered the 535 steps, you’ll finally arrive at the Savica Waterfall!
There’s a little hut you can stand in to take in the view of the falls. There are also a few stairs you can walk down to get a bit closer to the waterfall. It’s really incredible seeing (and feeling!) the waterfall this close.
Something fun we actually learnt the other day; waterfalls produce negative ions and while we stand next to the falls inhaling these negative ions into our bloodstream a biochemical reaction happens which increases our serotonin levels.
So in simple terms, chase waterfalls because they will put a smile on your face and you will be happy. It’s been working for us so far!
On a clear day, you can get some pretty awesome pictures from the hut and at the bottom of the stairs with the waterfall. We tried to get some photos there but because it was raining so much during our hike it was a little challenging!
Get some photos, inhale those negative ions, and enjoy the beauty of Savica.
Back down to the start of the hike
The Savica Waterfall hike is an in-and-out hike so there’s only one trail up and one trail down. It’s short and sweet though so you’ll be back down in no time.
The only thing you’ll have to worry about is navigating between all the people! If you want a less touristy hike in the area we recommend Vogar Viewpoint overlooking Lake Bohinj! 😉
Anyway, as you get down to the starting point of the hike you can stop at the restaurant for a quick bite to eat or a beer.
As we said though, it’s slightly overpriced and we do think there are better places to eat on the other side of Lake Bohinj! In the next section of this post, we’ve included a personal favourite as a recommendation.
That’s it for this hike! It’s not as long as some of the other ones in the area like Mostnica Gorge or the Bohinj Lake Trail that eventually connects with Savica.
Even though it’s short it’s still a bit of a hike up to get to the waterfall and experience the beauty of this awesome spot in Bohinj!
Also read: Best Bohinj Hiking Trails to Check Off Your List While in Slovenia
Enjoy a nice meal in Lake Bohinj after the hike
This is just a bonus if you’re looking for a delicious meal after the hike. Bohinj is a great place to grab a bite to eat before the trip back to Bled or Ljubljana if you’re doing this as a day trip.
We found a cozy little restaurant in Stara Fuzina that we highly recommend. The restaurant is called Gostilna in Picerija Bohinj. It’s a local restaurant that serves some awesome food at a very fair price.
The service was great and quick, and the variety of food was really nice. They make yummy homemade pizza, pasta, soups, salads, and also some more local meals. So there’s something for everyone there!
It’s a nice place to relax and have a bit to eat or a cup of coffee. In the summer, there is a huge outdoor seating area and in the cooler months, you can cozy up inside.
Sometimes the restaurants right in Bohinj get super busy and this smaller local village only a few minutes away is better to go to.
What to bring on the Savica Waterfall hike
The nice thing about Bohinj Lake Trail to Savica Waterfall is that there is a restaurant and also a bathroom next to the parking lot.
You can grab a bite to eat, fill up your water bottles (we always bring our LifeStraw bottles), and use the toilet if you need to.
Packing list for hiking in Bohinj:
- Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. It’s such a short hike though that one full water bottle should easily be enough.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Slovenia during the summer months.
- A power bank is one of the most underrated things to bring while you hike.
- Bring some snacks to enjoy during the hike or even at the waterfall viewpoint!
- It’s always nice to have hiking poles! For this specific hike hiking poles can come in pretty handy as there are lots of stairs up and down.
Where to stay near Savica Waterfall / Bohinj
We have two awesome accommodations we can recommend if you plan to stay near Lake Bohinj for a few days and hike around the Triglav National Park.
The first option is very affordable and tourist-friendly. The second is an authentic stay in Stara Fuzina which is the place where we stayed!
One of the nice things about staying near Lake Bohinj compared to Lake Bled is that it’s way less touristy. You’re also closer to a bunch of amazing hikes, and it’s likely going to be more affordable than if you were to stay in Lake Bled (although it’s very much worth it).
Hostel Pod Voglom
Hostel Pod Voglom is a hostel located right on Lake Bohinj. If you drive to the Savica Waterfall trailhead you will actually pass right by it.
Hostel Pod Voglom has everything you need to have an awesome time during your stay at Lake Bohinj!
For example, they have canoes and kayaks you can rent and take out on the lake. They also have mountain bikes you can take up and down the mountains near the hostel.
In the winter, they also have lots of fun winter experiences such as snowshoeing and sitting mono skiing!
There’s even a bus stop located right in front of the hostel so it’s super easy to get to from Lake Bled or Ljubljana if you don’t have a car.
It’s a great place to stay if you want to meet people and find some adventure friends to explore the area with.
You can book Hostel Pod Voglom right here.
Old Mill House Stara Fuzina
The Old Mill House is probably one of the coolest places we’ve ever stayed at!
It truly is an Old Mill House that has been passed down from generation to generation. There’s so much history and things to see that are connected to this house and it’s really interesting.
The owners (Maja and her husband) live upstairs and are always happy to help you with whatever you need. They will give you a full guided tour of the place and share some interesting things. They will also give you some good hiking recommendations to do in the area.
The house itself is newly renovated and very nice. You have the whole main floor to yourself and it’s really cozy. This is great if you’re two couples or a family of four travelling together since there are two bedrooms.
There’s also the smaller Old Mill House which is great for singles or a couple as it’s a one-bedroom flat.
Stara Fuzina is only a 3-4 minute drive to Lake Bohinj so it’s super close and convenient!
You can book the Old Mill House right here.
How to get from Ljubljana to Bohinj
Having a car to explore Slovenia and the Triglav Mountains is probably the easiest way to get between all the different lakes and hiking spots.
It is possible to go by bus, and actually, there is a bus directly from Ljubljana to Bohinj. But it’s just so much more convenient having a car.
Having a car makes it easy to get to the trailheads of most of the hikes. This way you can leave and go as you please without being dependent on being back at a specific time to catch a bus.
Rent a car in Ljubljana
Renting a car is by far the easiest way to get to Lake Bohinj if you’re traveling from Ljubljana. Especially since this way you don’t have to be time-dependent and can just go as you choose.
This trailhead is easy to get to even without a car but for some of the other hikes in Lake Bohinj, a car is definitely recommended.
Cars are fairly affordable to rent from the Ljubljana Airport and being able to drive will save you lots of time getting to and from all the trailheads.
We always rent cars through DiscoverCars. DiscoverCars allows you to compare the prices between different cars and rental companies. This is the easiest way to find the best deals.
You can look at different rental car options from the Ljubljana Airport here.
Taking the bus to Bohinj
You can actually take a bus directly from Ljubljana that goes through Lake Bled and then stops right next to the Savica Waterfall Trailhead.
Arriva is the main company that does these bus trips. The buses run daily and quite frequently during peak season (and less frequently during the offseason).
You can also look at all the other ways to get to Lake Bohinj here.
So even if you don’t have a car, it’s not that hard to get to Lake Bohinj. And once you’re in Bohinj you can walk directly to this trailhead!
Before you hike Savica Waterfall
Check the weather near Bohinj
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go. You don’t want to get caught in the middle of the hike during a rainstorm.
Thankfully, there’s a little shelter near the waterfall where you can search for cover if you need it. Also, you’re covered by trees for most of the hike.
You can check the weather for Lake Bohinj here.
While it’s not always 100% accurate – and since the weather changes so quickly in the mountains – at least this way you’ll have a good idea of what the weather’s going to be like throughout the hike.
Wear hiking shoes
Almost everywhere in Slovenia up in the mountains proper hiking shoes are recommended.
We wear ours on all mountain hikes we do. It makes the hike so much more enjoyable. It’s also a lot safer, especially with all the loose rocks, roots, and other things you find on the trail.
We hiked all around Lake Bohinj in early October and because of all the rain, the majority of the trails were muddy and filled with water.
When is the best time to hike Savica Waterfall?
One thing which is certain is that if you plan to visit the Savica Waterfall in the summer it’s best to start early in the day if you want to avoid the crowds.
There are multiple day trips from Ljubljana and Lake Bled that make their way to Bohinj which adds to the crowds. In general, the hike can get very busy because it is such a popular spot to visit in Bohinj.
Another option is to go later in the day during the summer and hopefully enjoy the waterfall without too many people around.
Again, the Savica Waterfall is one of the more popular hikes in the Triglav National Park so, during peak season, it might be challenging to completely avoid people.
At the end of the day, there’s not really a bad time to go explore Lake Bohinj and hike up Savica Waterfall as long as the weather seems ok for hiking. It’s still so beautiful!
You may also like…
- Hiking to the Famous Vogar Viewpoint Overlooking Lake Bohinj
- 3 Fun Bohinj Hiking Trails to Check Off Your List While in Slovenia
- Exploring the Stunning Mostnica Gorge Next to Lake Bohinj (Full Hiking Guide)
- Top 5 Bohinj Hotels For an Unforgettable Stay
- Hiking to the Velika Osojnica Viewpoint Lake Bled
Recap of the Savica Waterfall trail
The Savica Waterfall is definitely one of the most iconic spots in the Triglav National Park. Partially because it’s easy to access and partially because it’s so beautiful.
It’s a short and sweet hike that takes you up into the mountains above Lake Bohinj to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Triglav National Park.
Despite its length, there is a bit of elevation but it’s short-lived. It gives you a nice taste of what it’s like hiking up in the Slovenian mountains.
So, if you’re in Bohinj and have a few hours to enjoy the area, lace up your hiking boots, hit the trails, and prepare to be awe-struck by the natural beauty that awaits you at Savica Waterfall. Happy hiking!
If you have questions on how to get there then DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
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