Triglav National Park is the biggest National Park in Slovenia, and it’s definitely my top location to visit in Slovenia.

It’s not as famous as Lake Bled, but the amount of beautiful landscapes you can encounter while hiking in it is just insane.

 

 

Where is Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is located in the North-West of Slovenia, close to the Italian and Austrian borders. The park was named after the Triglav Mountain, the tallest mountain in Slovenia, sitting at 2864 meters. The National Park is huge, and makes up 4% of the total area of Slovenia; for that reason, you might want to plan your trip there correctly (here are 22 things to do in the Slovenian Alps).

 

To get to Triglav National Park, it’s a short drive from the capital: a bit less than 1 hour. You can book an hotel in the area if you want to avoid any driving in the morning before going hiking in the park, but you can totally drive straight from Ljubljana.

 

map of trip from ljubljana to triglav national park slovenia

 

As I stated previously, the park itself is pretty big. If you want to have the full experience, you need at least 2 days in the park: I recommend planning a 2-day hike, and sleeping at the Triglav Summit Lodge after the first day. You can click here to check all the info you need about accommodations within the Slovenian Alps.

 

lake ledvica the kidney lake

 

What can you see in Triglav National Park

Inside Triglav National Park, you can find the Valley of the Seven Lakes. As the name goes, there are 7 lakes in the valley, and you can see them all with one hike. You will however have to sleep in the mountains at the end of the hike, in one of the many huts, and go back down the next day. Don’t worry though, if you’re not ready to take on this 2 days-hike, you can still reach the first lakes and go back within a day.

 

For your information, the 7 lakes hike is 26km long, with a total elevation of 1,200 meters, and takes around 10 hours to complete.

 
forest views in Triglav Slovenia

 

The hike starts off with a very steep trail, where you climb very fast along the face of the mountain on a serpentine path. After the climb, you reach the first lake, Crno Jezero (Black Lake), 1,294 meters high. This is a very nice spot to stop and chill, grab a bite, and swim in the refreshing water.

 

swimming in crno jezero the black lake

 

Want to discover more amazing locations? Read these travel stories by clicking on the links below:

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If you keep going the trail, you will reach the Triglav Lakes hut, a nice lodge located in front of the Dvojno Jezero (Double Lake), at 1676 meters high. The hut offers a nice place to rest, with chairs and long chairs, and of course, cold drinks. We enjoyed a couple cold beers for half an hour, refilled our water bottles, then made our way to the last part of the trip.

After the Triglav Lakes Hut, we reached one of the most beautiful mountain lakes I’ve ever seen, Veliko jezero (the Big Lake), also named Lake Ledvica (translates as the Kidney Lake, because of how its shape ressembles a kidney) . This huge lake, located at 1,838 meters high, was absolutely breathtaking during summer. The colors were something I had never witnessed before, and I had so much fun flying the drone above it.

 

Lake Ledvica from a drone

 

After I flew the drone for a bit, while some of my mates were swimming in the lake, we headed to Prehodavci mountain hut, just above the Prehodavci Pass, where we would spend the night. The hut is 2071 meters high, and has 39 beds in the main hut, plus 16 beds in the secondary wooden hut, that is actually an ex military bunker!

 

prehodavci mountain hut

 

If you sleep in the mountain, this is the perfect occasion for stargazing. I couldn’t sleep at night in the wooden hut due to allergies, so I went outside to breath some fresh air, and was absolutely awe-struck by how clearly you could see the stars up here.

 

stargazing in Triglav National Park

 

In Triglav National Park, there is also a lot of wildlife. Don’t be surprised if you come across some local animals while hiking in the area! Among the animals you can see, you can find chamois, ibex, red deers, brown bears, and lynxes, plus several species of birds, including the golden eagle.

 

What you need to know before going to Triglav National Park

As you’ve probably understood by now, Triglav National Park is my favorite location in Slovenia, and it was one of the most incredible adventure I’ve been one. If you plan to visit the area, whether for a day, or to tackle the 2-days hike, make sure you prepare yourself properly for the trip. Here is some general information you need to know before heading to Triglav National Park:

  • Plan your trip beforehand
  • Download an offline maps of the location in Google Maps
  • Bring a paper map (always reliable)
  • Carry enough water for the hike (2 waters bottle per person)
  • Remember to take and use sunscreen
  • Book the mountain hut in advance if you plan to sleep in the mountains. If you prefer camping, don’t forget to check how to camp in Triglav. 
  • Wear proper hiking shoes and gear
  • If going in winter, bring crampons and ice axes
  • Pack your sunglasses, as the sun reflecting in the lakes can really damage your eyes
  • Bring cash to pay for drinks/food in the mountain huts
  • Carry your own toilet paper roll
  • There is a $10 fee to access the mountain road
  • Parking is around $10/day (you can’t park outside of designated parking areas)
  • If you have general allergies (pollen, dust), take pills with you as you will probably be highly allergic in the wooden hut (I know I was)

 

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the incredible views you’ll have during your time in Triglav National Park

If you want more detailed guides about Slovenia, you can read the other detailed articles I have written about this beautiful country by clicking on the links below:

30 photos to inspire you to visit Triglav National Park

Find out amazing things to do in Slovenia