Boka Waterfall: one of the highest waterfalls in Slovenia
Boka Waterfall is a force of nature and a place you should definitely include on your itinerary when visiting the Soča Valley in Slovenia.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know for a visit to Boka Waterfall.
About Boka Waterfall: What makes it special
Boka Waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Slovenia, with a total height of 144 meters. The fall is divided into two different falls, the largest one being 106 meters and the second and smaller one being 36 meters.
But the most impressive thing about Boka isn’t its height, but its strength.
Boka is known as one of the strongest waterfalls in Slovenia. During the wet season (typically during the spring, after the winter defrosting happens), the water flow in Boka can achieve up to 100m3/s. This number may not mean much to you but trust me when I say it is A LOT of water.
Boka Waterfall is a powerful force of nature and it is definitely a place worth visiting.
Read also: Best things to do in the Soča Valley
Where is Boka Waterfall located
Boka is located right next to Bovec, one of the main cities in the Soča Valley. You can check here the exact location on Google Maps.
Since the waterfall is located a bit outside of the city, there are a few possible ways to get there, which I will describe below.
How to get to Boka Waterfall
Here are the best transport options:
- By car: If you will be renting a car for your trip to Slovenia, you can simply drive to the waterfall. There is a small parking right in front (location here). This parking lot is quite small so it can get full during the summer months. In that case, you might need to park in a location further away and walk to the waterfall.
- On foot: It will take you a little more than one hour to walk from Bovec to Boka Waterfall. You will walk by the road, which may not be the most pleasant thing but is the most direct route.
- By bike: Cycling is a great way of exploring the valley and it’s a great transport option to visit Boka Waterfall.
- By bus: The two nearest bus stops are Žviker or Log Čezsoški, the latter being a little closer to the waterfall.
Visiting Boka Waterfall
Boka Waterfall is so large that you can see it all the way from the road.
Even though that’s already beautiful, it is not the best view. To get to the viewpoint you see in the picture above, you need to go on a very short hike. You will see the signs indicating the start of the trail just on the left side of the bridge.
The hike is quite short. There are two viewpoint platforms, I recommend going straight to the second one because it is the absolute best view. Honestly, the first one is nothing special.
The walk will take you less than 20 minutes.
Now, let me manage your expectations a bit – the viewpoint is still quite far from the waterfall itself. It is a beautiful view and angle, but you won’t be face-to-face with the waterfall.
Things to know before visiting
- The best time to visit Boka Waterfall is during the spring because this is when the water flow is at its highest
- The water flow will also be more intense after any rainfall
- The driest part of the year is at the end of the summer when the water flow is typically at its minimum, making it a less impressive sight
- Access to the waterfall is free
- I recommend wearing proper walking footwear because the path is essentially a hiking trail (even though it is short and easy)
- Boka Waterfall sits at the edge of the protected area of the Triglav National Park which means you can actually fly the drone here. However, I recommend checking the regulations because Triglav Park is a very controlled area for drones and they might change this at any time.
Can you swim in Boka Waterfall?
No, it is not possible to swim in Boka Waterfall. The water is too strong so it is not safe.
However, it is possible to swim in the same river but downstream. After the bridge next to the parking lot, you will see that some shallow pools often get formed and it is possible to swim in those.
I honestly don’t think it is the nicest area for swimming, I would recommend you to go somewhere else in the Soča River. During the summer, these pools might not even have enough water since it is the dry season.
Want to visit more waterfalls in Slovenia?
We have many other incredible waterfalls around the country! Here are a few of them:
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Slovenia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Check out our page with curated Slovenia experiences
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Slovenia Map: Check out our custom-made Map with 290+ must-see spots!
- Slovenia itineraries: Check out our pre-made Slovenian itineraries!
- Recommended hiking gear: Check our recommendations on Amazon if you will be hiking in Slovenia!
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