Complete guide for visiting Peričnik Waterfall, in Slovenia
Slovenia is known for its nature, but no other waterfall in this country compares to Slap Peričnik. This is one of the most unique and impressive locations in Slovenia, and a location we always make sure to include in the itinerary whenever someone comes to visit us in Ljubljana. In this guide, you will find all the information needed for visiting Peričnik waterfall in 2026: the price, parking, and how is the hike.
Where is Peričnik waterfall located?
Peričnik waterfall is located in the Triglav National Park, the only national park in Slovenia. Geographically, Peričnik waterfall is part of the municipality of Mojstrana, but it is easily accessible from more visited Slovenian destinations such as Bled and Kranjska Gora.
Here is a map to help you get a better picture of where Peričnik fall is located.
Peričnik waterfall actually consists of two different falls, an upper one called Zgornji slap which is 16m high, and a lower one called Spodnji slap, which is 52m high. When we talk about Peričnik waterfall, we usually refer to both of them together as one main fall.
How to get to Peričnik waterfall?
There are two ways of getting to Peričnik waterfall – by car or by bus.
Getting to Peričnik waterfall by car
Parking at Peričnik was recently forbidden. So if you are arriving by car, the best option is to park your vehicle in Mojstrana, where they have organised P+R parkings, and public transport in the summer season.
Do you need to rent a car for your trip?
We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!
Getting to Peričnik waterfall by bus
If you do not have a car available, you can still visit Slap Peričnik using the local mountain bus lines that only run during high season. If this is your case, we highly recommend staying at Kranjska Gora or Mojstrana, as these are the cities where the bus lines are available (preferably Kranjska Gora as it is a larger city).
To go from Kranjska Gora to Slap Peričnik, you will need to take a free bus to Vrata Valley. The bus runs only in the high season. In 2025, it operated between 14th June and 15th September, so we can expect similar dates in 2026. The first bus leaves at 4 am. Recently, they also added an electric van running between the Slovenian Alpine museum and Peričnik waterfall. The van runs from 25th June to 31st August daily between 9 am and 4 pm.
For more information regarding the routes and timetables, please check the Kranjska Gora website.
Parking at Peričnik waterfall
Important update – since 2025, parking at Koča pri Peričniku is not allowed anymore. It was explicitly forbidden during the summer months, so we are yet to see if this will be extended into the shoulder season as well. Hence, we are leaving the text below.
One of the best things about visiting Peričnik waterfall in Slovenia is that it can be an attraction for the entire family, as this waterfall is very easily accessible.
The parking is located right in front of the Peričnik waterfall, next to a mountain hut called Koča pri Peričniku. This parking gets quite full during the summer, so I recommend arriving early if you can. The last time we were there in the summer of 2024, the parking got full before 10 am, and the security guy was advising people to park further down the road.
The good thing is that people don’t usually stay all day long visiting Peričnik waterfall, so the turnover is quite fast.
Price for parking at Peričnik waterfall hut – 5 EUR for 2 hours (you shouldn’t need more than that) and you need to buy the ticket inside the hut once you arrive.
Hiking to Peričnik waterfall
The hike to Peričnik waterfall is divided into two sections:
- Hike to the lower section of Peričnik waterfall: around 10 min long, easy level
- Hike to the upper section of Peričnik waterfall: an additional 15 min, marked as a difficult trail
Hike to the lower section of Slap Peričnik waterfall
From the parking lot itself, you will already be able to see the main fall of Slap Peričnik at a distance. The hike to reach the lower Peričnik waterfall from the parking lot is very short and easy; it takes only 10 minutes. The start of the hike is well-marked and is located on the left side of the bridge, where you can see the waterfall.
Note: There is another unofficial hiking path that will also lead to the Peričnik waterfall that starts in front of the hut. We recommend going through the official path, which is easier to follow and more accessible.
The hike is well-marked, with a few wooden steps and a handrail to help you along the way. It is a little steep and may be very slippery after heavy rain or during the winter. In only 10 minutes, you will already reach the bottom of the Peričnik waterfall.
One of the things that make the visit to Peričnik waterfall so special is that you are able to not only see the fall from the front but also walk behind it and have a whole new perspective of the fall and the valley. Make sure you wear appropriate hiking shoes before going on this path behind Slap Peričnik Fall to avoid the risk of slipping.
Hike to the upper section of Slap Peričnik waterfall
To continue towards the upper Peričnik fall, come back to the viewpoint you were before passing behind the fall and you will see the signs that point to the start of this trail.
This part of the hike has been closed for several years but when we were there in the summer of 2024, it was finally open again so I believe they rechecked the trail conditions. However, from this point on, the trail is marked as difficult so go at your own risk.
The upper Peričnik fall is beautiful but much less impressive than the lower part with its 52 m fall. If you have a limited amount of time, I would just go to the lower fall since it is the best part.
Hiking Gear recommendation
Check out our favorite hiking gear and essentials which we always bring with us.
Prices and opening hours of Peričnik waterfall
Visiting Peričnik waterfall in Slovenia is entirely free, aside from paying for the parking or bus ticket to get there.
Since the access is fully open, you are able to visit Peričnik waterfall at any time, throughout most of the year. However, when you come during winter, the path behind the waterfall may be closed because it gets really slippery and dangerous.
If you get there out of season or during very early hours, you may not even have to pay for parking if the hut isn’t yet working!
Visiting Peričnik waterfall during the winter vs summer
The experience of visiting Peričnik waterfall during the high season (summer) can be quite different from visiting it during the low season (winter). Here are a few key differences you can expect:
- The path behind the fall is usually closed during winter for safety reasons
- Depending on the weather, you may find most of the fall and the cave frozen during the winter
- The road leading to Peričnik waterfall may be closed in Mojstrana, 2,5km away. To reach the waterfall, you will have to walk – but the hike is beautiful!
- The Koča pri Peričniku hut is usually only open during the high season
This being said, there is one big benefit of visiting Peričnik waterfall during the low season: you will probably have the place entirely to yourself! We have visited Slap Peričnik in March a few times, while there was a rough snow season around Slovenia, and had the place all to ourselves which was magical.
If you decide to visit Peričnik waterfall during the low season, we urge you to wear appropriate walking shoes because it is very likely you will find ice on the trail.
Read also: Most beautiful waterfalls in Slovenia
Where to stay near Peričnik waterfall?
The best options of places to stay for visiting Peričnik waterfall are Bled or Kranjska Gora. Even though Mojstrana is the closest city, we usually recommend the previous two options because they are larger destinations where you will have more infrastructure and other interesting attractions to see.
Driving from either Bled or Kranjska Gora to Peričnik waterfall takes only 30 minutes.
Our top recommendations for places to stay in Bled:
- Adora Luxury Hotel: This place is exactly what it says in its name: an amazing luxury hotel. It is a bit on the pricey side, but definitely worth it. With a beautiful interior, amazing views, close proximity to the lake, and private parking, this place checks out all the boxes that make for a great hotel.
- Apartment Galerija: This nicely furnished apartment can host up to 4 adults and offers a terrace, mountain views, and private parking. It is located within walking distance of the lake.
- Pension & Glamping Pibernik: If you are up for a different type of stay, we definitely recommend Glamping Pibernik. It is set up in a forest, approximately 2km away from the lake, and is a great place to rest after an adventurous day.
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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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