Visiting Tolmin Gorge - Everything You Need To Know
Tolmin Gorge in Slovenia is a stunning natural attraction featuring cascading rivers, imposing canyon walls and the most beautiful views in Slovenia.
Found at the southerlymost point of Triglav National Park, visiting Tolmin Gorge has become a bucket-list activity for many visitors to Slovenia, and this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
We begin by answering some FAQs about visiting Tolmin Gorge before highlighting all of the best things to see during your visit.
We finish the article by providing some of the best tips for visiting Tolmin Gorge, including where to park and why you need to keep hold of your entrance ticket throughout your visit.
So, let’s dive into: Visiting Tolmin Gorge - Everything you need to know
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Tolmin Gorge Visit at a Glance
Highlights: Devil’s Bridge; Thermal Spring; Bear’s Head
Best time to visit: April-May
Ticket Prices: Adult (€8.00); Children (€4.00)
Best activity nearby: Half-day Rafting Tour on Soča River
Tolmin Gorge - a highlight of the Soča Valley
Visiting Tolmin Gorge - everything you need to know
FAQs about visiting Tolmin Gorge
Before visiting Tolmin Gorge, you may have a number of different questions. So, we have decided to start the article by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Tolmin Gorge.
What is Tolmin Gorge?
Let’s start with the basics; before visiting Tolmin Gorge, it is best to get some background information on what it actually is.
Tolmin Gorge is approximately 200m in length and about 60 metres deep and exists due to the erosion of the rock caused by the Tolminska River.
The gorge is around 5-10m wide, and while this doesn’t make it incredibly wide, the narrowness of the gorge actually helps to create the sense that the cavern walls are collapsing in on you - it really is quite dramatic. As a significant site in Triglav National Park, it is easily one of the most beautiful places in Slovenia!
Is visiting Tolmin Gorge worth it?
100% - Tolmin Gorge is worth visiting. It is undoubtedly one of the most stunning places to visit in the Soča Valley, and it is sure to be the highlight of any Slovenia Itinerary. Tolmin Gorge is well-known as one of the best ex-Yugoslavia destinations in the Balkans, it is certainly worth a visit.
Oftentimes, we begrudge paying money to see natural sites because they should be allowed to be free to the public, but in this circumstance, we can whole-heartedly assure you that visiting Tolmin Gorge is certainly worth the admission fee.
Visiting the beautiful Tolmin Gorge
When is the best time to visit Tolmin Gorge?
The best time of year to visit Tolim Gorge is around April-May, when the water levels are at their highest, and the crowds are still relatively manageable.
Remember that Tolmin Gorge is one of the best places to visit in the Western Balkans, so in the summer, tour buses regularly visit Tolmin Gorge, and there are many people around, not to mention anything of the heat.
We visited in mid-May and despite being hot, the lack of crowds meant we could freely wander to all areas of Tolmin Gorge without anybody getting in the way.
Note: Tolmin Gorge is closed to visitors during the winter months (typically October - mid-March)
Where is Tolmin Gorge and how to get there?
Tolmin Gorge is found in the most southerly point of Triglav National Park, in the Julian Alps, Slovenia. Triglav National Park is a perfect place to try camping in Slovenia and is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best ways to get to Triglav National Park from some popular spots in Slovenia:
From Ljubljana - 2 hours drive along the 102 road until you reach the mountains.
From Piran - 2 hours drive along the H4 and 103 roads.
From Bled - 1hr 45min drive along the 209 and 403 roads.
Alternatively, Tolmin Gorge is only 20 minutes by car from the popular town of Kobarid - the town is often used as a base for many visitors to the Soča Valley region of Slovenia so we would recommend staying in Kobarid if you planning to visit the rest of the region.
Tolmin Gorge - the Southerly most point of Triglav National Park
How much does it cost to visit Tolmin Gorge?
The rough prices for visiting Tolmin Gorge are as follows:
Adults - €8.00
Children (6-15) - €4.00
Children (0-5) - €1.00
Students - €6.00
Family ticket (2 adults/ 2 children) - €20.00
Tolmin Gorge + Javorca Church - €10.00
How much time do you need to explore Tolmin Gorge?
It is best to expect you’ll need between 2 and 3 hours to explore Tolmin Gorge fully. Although the gorge itself could be walked in a matter of moments, there are a number of different trails, bridges and sites that lead from the main Gorge and you are going to want to see each and every one of them.
There are quite a few sets of steps down into the canyon, and unfortunately, what goes down must come up again. So if you prefer to take hiking slowly, then 3 hours should be plenty. If, like us, you prefer to hike briskly, then we’d say you’ll be fine to spend 2 hours at Tolmin Gorge.
Best things to see in Tolmin Gorge
When visiting Tolim Gorge, it is important to know all of the best things you can see. Thankfully, the paid area of the gorge is actually relatively small so you can easily see all of the main sights in a matter of hours.
There is a very simple, well-marked, gravel trail that takes you around Tolmin Gorge, and you are provided with a map when you buy your entry ticket, so it is very straightforward to navigate your way around.
We were taken by surprise as to how close to one another all the elements of Tolmin Gorge were.
Thermal Spring
At one end of the gravel trail lies one of the best things to see when visiting Tolim Gorge - the thermal hot spring is found underneath a small cave that can be seen during times of low water levels.
The thermal spring has an average temperature between 18.8°C and 20.8°C, which is significantly warmer than the main river source, which lies somewhere between 5°C and 9°C throughout the year.
Thermal Spring inside Tolmin Gorge
Devil’s Bridge
Once you’ve made your way into Tolim Gorge and you are down at river level, you are greeted by the Devil’s Bridge. Locals built it during the construction of the Bohinj railroad and it was initially entirely made from wood.
It was later replaced by a steel construction during the Italian Occupation of Slovenia. Interestingly, ‘Devil’s Bridge’ is a common name for bridges in Slovenia that cross over dangerous hollows or river passages.
Devil's Bridge - Tolmin Gorge
Confluence of the 2 rivers (Tolminka and Zadlaščica)
As you initially pass the entrance to Tolmin Gorge and make your way down the gravel steps, you will notice two rivers merging together - this is the confluence of Tolminka and Zadlaščica and is one of the best things to see in Tolmin.
As well as being a beautiful spectacle, the confluence is the only point in Slovenia where 2 rivers that have formed separate valleys meet. On top of this, the meeting point also happens to be the lowest point in the entire Triglav National Park (180m above sea level).
Confluence of the 2 Rivers
Bear’s Head
After you pass the confluence of the two rivers, the gravel trail forks to the right until you reach one of the most important parts of Tolmin Gorge.
As the gorge narrows, you will notice a giant boulder stuck in between cavern walls, suspended high above the onrushing water. Rumour has it that the boulder has been stuck there for as long as any written record shows, and nobody knows when it first got lodged there.
The boulder has been nicknamed ‘Bear’s head’ because as moss and grass grow on the rock, it resembles a hairy bear’s head.
Bear’s Head - Tolmin Gorge
Panorama Bridge
The final element of Tolmin Gorge that you will encounter (if you take the recommended route around the Gorge) is the Panorama Bridge. As the name suggests, this bridge provides spectacular views of Tolmin from high above the gorge.
To reach the panorama bridge you must follow the gravel path up a number of steps until you are fully out of the gorge. You then follow the public road until you reach the bridge. The views really are quite special!
View from the Panorama Bridge
Tips for visiting Tolmin Gorge
Park in Parking Lot 2 and walk to the main entrance (only extra 10 mins) - parking at the main entrance (parking lot 1) costs €3/h, and given the fact that you have to pay for entry and will likely need at least 3 hours parking, it can get quite costly. Instead, do what we did, park in Parking Lot 2, and walk to the main entrance from there. It is only a short 10-minute walk, and the parking is absolutely free.
Tolmin Gorge Car Park 2
Keep hold of your ticket as you will need it throughout your visit - Tolmin Gorge is a pay-to-enter tourist attraction that lies in the middle of many hiking trails. There is only one place to pay for entry (the main entrance), so a few times during your visit, you will be required to scan your entry ticket to gain access to another section of the Gorge. This is to avoid people walking along the trails and entering the gorge for free.
To access this bridge, you will need to rescan your entry ticket to Tolmin Gorge
Wear sturdy footwear - despite Tolmin Gorge being relatively small, it is important to wear appropriate footwear because the trail is made of loose gravel and you can easily lose your footing.
Arrive early - as with any tourist attraction, it is important to arrive early to Tolmin Gorge to avoid the crowds and get the place to yourself. This is especially true during the summer when there are a number of tourist buses flocking to the area.
You can cool off in the water - though you aren’t allowed to swim in the water exactly, especially given how fast-flowing it is, you are able to get to the water’s edge during your visit to Tolmin Gorge and cool down if you need to.
Looking for another great hike in the area? The Kozjak Waterfall Hike is one of the Soča Valley’s most beautiful short hikes. We visited Kozjak Waterfall and Tolmin Gorge in the same day and it was marvellous!
There we have it, folks, a comprehensive guide to visiting the beautiful Tolmin Gorge. Buried deep in the Julian Alps, Tolmin Gorge is undeniably one of the most picturesque places in the Soča Valley and is certainly worthy of a place on your 7 day Slovenia Itinerary.
