Visiting the Soča Valley: what to see and do
The Soča Valley is the most beautiful region in Slovenia. If you are a nature lover, this place is for you.
In this post, I put together the best things to do in the Soča Valley. This post has been years in the making because I didn’t want to give tips about things that I haven’t experienced myself.
Every year, we go to the Soča Valley at least twice to explore, so we slowly built quite an experience on the things that are really worth doing. This is the ultimate list of our favorite things to do and see in the Soča Valley – we’re sure you will find something you like!
13 Best things to do in the Soča Valley
1. Visit the Tolmin Gorge
The Tolmin Gorge is located just outside of a small town with the same name. This is one of the most tourist places in the Soča Valley but it is very worth a visit.
The Tolmin Gorge is a small loop hike of 2 km in total where you visit a beautiful gorge formed on the confluence of two rivers: Tolminka and Zadlascica rivers. The Tolmin River then flows along until it reaches the Soča River down the valley.
Even though this river has a different name, it has the same impressive turquoise color as the Soča River. The gorge gives incredible views and you will have the chance to also see a thermal spring, a hanging rock known as Bear’s Head, and the incredible Devil’s Bridge.
Tolmin Gorge is often compared to Vintgar Gorge as they are the two most famous canyons in Slovenia. I personally prefer Tolmin to Vintgar because it is emptier, so you get to enjoy nature more.
2. Boka Waterfall
The highest volume waterfall in Slovenia, Boka can be seen all the way from the road as you will be driving through the Soča Valley.
If you want to check it out up close, you can park the car right next to the bridge (there are signs indicating it) and walk to the viewpoint. The walk is very short, only 15 min from the road, and will give you a first-row seat to the spectacle that is Boka.
However, it’s important to mention that the water volume fluctuates a lot throughout the year. During the winter, there is barely any water flowing. The best month to visit Boka Waterfall is in May (and spring in general) when the water volume is high.
Boka Waterfall also gets mighty after any rainfall.
Read also: The best things to do in the Triglav National Park
3. Kozjak Waterfall: the most beautiful waterfall in the Soča Valley
Speaking of waterfalls, you cannot visit the Soča Valley without checking out Kozjak Waterfall.
This small waterfall is a hidden gem of the Triglav National Park. Located next to Kobarid, you can access it through a short and easy hike. The path starts by crossing a wooden bridge that has some of the most stunning views of the Soča River.
Once on the other side, you will have only a 15-minute walk to the waterfall. During the warm months of the year, a visit is payable and costs 5 EUR per person. During the winter, it is free.
At the end of the path, you will see the beautiful Kozjak Waterfall formed within a small cave. It has impressive green colors, making it a mesmerizing sight. Over the past few years, they have rebuilt the wooden staircase that gives you the best views of the waterfall.
Read also: Best waterfalls in Slovenia
4. Go rafting in the Soča River
The Soča River is known as one of the best places for white water rafting in the entire Balkan Peninsula, which is why this had to be featured on this list of the best things to do in the Soča Valley.
The rafting season goes from April to October, but the best months to go rafting in Soča are May and June because it is when the river is most full. More water means more adventure!
Bovec is the best city to go to if you want to go rafting in Soča. Not only most of the adventure sports companies are located there, but also the main rapids are close by.
Read also: Our experience rafting in the Soča River
5. The biggest zipline park in Europe
If water sports is not your thing, how about ziplining?
The Soča Valley is home to the biggest zipline park in Europe. We went on this adventure two years ago and I must admit – our expectations were pretty low. I just never loved ziplining much.
Boy, we were so wrong. We were so surprised, the views were incredible and the zipline was so much fun! We really recommend it if you want to do something different while in the Soča Valley.
You will be going down multiple ziplines (we went on 5 in total) crossing the Učja Gorge from side to side, with the view of the Soča Valley from a very unique angle. This is a great activity for families as you will have to go in groups.
6. Go canyoning in the Soča River
Canyoning is another very unique activity you can do in the Soča Valley.
Don’t know what canyoning is? Picture going down a section of the river through the river itself, passing on small ponds, waterfalls, slides, and parts where you need to rappel down.
Canyoning is an activity that provides fun for the entire family, as it brings out the adventurous spirit of people of all ages.
I have already done canyoning in the Soča Valley twice, the last time being last summer. We went in a group with a German family and the girls were having a blast.
Bovec and Kobarid have several options of places offering canyoning tours in the Soča Valley. I recommend going to Bovec because the town is larger, so you will have more options to choose from.
7. Other water sports in the Soča River
If none of the options above seem right for you yet, don’t worry because there are plenty of other options for water activities you can do in the Soča River.
One of the most popular is kayaking, but I strongly recommend doing it with a guided tour. The Soča River can be quite dangerous if you are caught in one of the rapids, so I don’t recommend just going down if you are not familiar with the region.
Other water sports include paddle boarding, hydrospeed, and rowing on canoes. Make sure you ask the tour agency about where to go so you are confident of the best area to enjoy the river.
8. Hike to Krn Lake
Krn Lake (or Krnsko Jezero) is one of the most beautiful places in the Soča Valley region.
The only way of reaching the lake is by doing a hike. From the river, the quickest route has almost 12 km in total. You will hike uphill until you reach a beautiful plateau where you will find a mountain hut and the Krn Lake.
From there, people can adventure on longer hut-to-hut hikes, as there are trails that continue further on. However, make sure you are properly prepared if you intend to do this.
If you are just going up until Krn Lake, you can expect to take around 6 hours in total, considering the time to stop at the top.
Krn Lake is the largest alpine lake in Slovenia. It is truly beautiful, especially during the autumn when the surrounding nature is turning colorful with shades of yellow and orange. I recommend doing this hike from June to September.
9. Drive the Vršič Pass
The Vršič Pass is the highest mountain road in this region of the Julian Alps. If you will rent a car for your trip through Slovenia, this is a road you will want to drive in.
The road is extremely scenic, connecting the Soča Valley on one side with the beautiful Lake Jasna and Kranjska Gora on the other.
As you can expect from a mountain road, it is a narrow and windy path. In fact, the hairpin turns are counted – there are 50 of them!
On the top, there is a mountain hut and a viewpoint that will give you open views over the Julian Alps and the Soča Valley below. Make sure you make a stop at the top to admire the view.
The Vršič Pass was built during World War I by Russian prisoners of war. The building process was considered very dangerous – on average one person died per day when building this path. To commemorate their sacrifices, there is a small Russian Chapel located on the side of the road when descending in the direction of Kranjska Gora.
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!
10. Go for a swim at Velika Korita
Velika Korita is one of our favorite spots in the entire Soča Valley.
The Soča River is known for its canyons and rapids, but there are not many spots where you can see them from the road. Velika Korita is one of the best places to go where you can really take in what the canyons look like.
The name “Velika Korita” means “Large Gorge” in Slovenian, and it is just as it promises. It is located next to the road. You can first see the canyon from above when crossing the bridge that leads to the canyon and then walk parallel to the river until you reach a small beach area.
This is a popular spot during the summer months. A lot of people come here to jump from the rocks and to refresh on the river.
This can be a great idea during the summer heat – but come prepared because the river water is freezing cold! The Soča River temperature never goes above 15oC.
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11. Hike the Soča Trail (or part of it)
One of the most special things about the Soča Valley is that there is a hike called the Soča Trail that follows the riverside for 25 km.
This hike can be done in one go (it should take you around 6 hours one-way) or you can do sections of it. The hike is extremely scenic and easy to do, as it is mostly flat.
The Soča Trail is well-marked, so you do not need a guide to complete it. You will see multiple signs along the way. During the summer, there are public buses that run between the main towns in the valley, so you can catch a bus to return to the starting point, depending on where you stop.
The Soča Trail is part of the Alpe-Adria Trail, a 640 km long path that passes through Austria, Slovenia, and Italy. This must be an epic adventure!
Read also: Best hikes in Slovenia
12. Go paragliding to see the Soča Valley from above
Besides everything that I already mentioned on this list, the Soča Valley is also a popular destination for paragliding.
This is an activity that mostly happens during the summer. The guides are very careful with the weather conditions as the winds can get very strong in the valley.
There are different ramps located in different mountains throughout the valley, but they all have one thing in common: the view during the flight will be astonishing.
I admit that this is the one activity on this list I haven’t yet experienced first-hand, but I had to include it here because it is said to be one of the best things to do in the Soča Valley. I will make sure to update this post once I cross this item off my bucket list.
13. Take some time to visit Kobarid
The Soča Valley is full of small villages located along the lake. Bovec, Kobarid, and Tolmin are the largest of them.
Out of these, Kobarid is the most historical one, so it is worth saving some time to check it out.
Kobarid was known as one of the most brutal frontlines in World War I. This whole region was an important battlefield and until today you can see marks of those times, whether in ruins of forts or hiding caves.
To learn more about the war times, you can visit the Kobarid Museum or go up to the Church of St Anthony which overlooks Kobarid. This church was built as a memorial for over 7000 Italian soldiers.
While you are at it, make a stop at the famous Napoleon Bridge, which is one of the best places to take pictures of the Soča River.
Other things to do in the Soča Valley (bonus ideas)
If this list was not enough, here are a few other ideas of things to do in the Soča Valley:
- Do the Mangart Saddle Hike
- Watch the jumping competition that happens annually in Kanal ob Soči
- Go check out the source of the Soča River
- Explore other waterfalls in the Soča Valley such as Virje Waterfall, Beri Waterfall, and the Šunik Water Grove
- Go for a special lunch at Hiša Franko, an award-winning restaurant by one of the most famous Slovenian chefs, Ana Roš
Do you need a car to visit the Soča Valley?
Even though there are buses in the valley during the summer months, I strongly recommend renting a car for your trip if you want to explore the Soča Valley.
The bus lines are unfortunately very limited. They will take you only to the main towns and stops, so you will have to coordinate your trip according to the schedule.
The best thing about traveling through the Soča Valley is that the road follows the river side-by-side, giving the most incredible views along the way. You can make stops, cross the multiple bridges over the river, and enjoy even the most remote locations.
Without a car, this is not possible. Also, visiting some of the natural attractions I named in this article becomes quite difficult without a car.
There are no taxi services in the valley.
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!
Read also:
How long do you need to visit the Soča Valley?
The number of days you will stay in the Soča Valley depends on what you want to see and do.
I recommend staying a minimum of 2 days in this region. On day 1 you can drive through the Soča Valley and stop along the way, visiting waterfalls and special locations. On day 2, you can do one of the tours such as rafting or canyoning, and then enjoy the afternoon exploring the river as well.
However, if you also want to go on hikes, do multiple sports activities, etc – then you should consider staying longer in the Soča Valley. If you will be traveling with a family and just want a location to spend time outdoors in nature, you can easily book a week here.
I personally have visited the Soča Valley many times throughout my life since I am from Slovenia, but I can say that it is still an adventure because every year I find new spots to explore.
The Soča Valley is my favorite region in Slovenia because the natural beauty of the landscape here is truly unmeasurable. I could easily spend a week in the Soča Valley every year and not get tired of it.
How to get to the Soča Valley?
By car: From Ljubljana, you can get to the Soča Valley from the north by crossing the Vršič Pass or through the southern part, coming from the direction of Nova Gorica. To fully explore the valley, I recommend starting from the south and moving upwards, finishing the trip with the Vršič Pass. This is an incredible road trip itinerary!
By bus: During the summer, there are regular buses connecting Kranjska Gora and Bovec, which are your best alternative for traveling to the valley. There are other regional bus lines that could be interesting to you if you want to go to other locations in the valley. You can check the bus timelines here.
Where to stay in the Soča Valley?
The best places to stay in the Soča Valley are the largest towns: Bovec, Kobarid, and Tolmin. If you want something more reserved, you can also stay in the Trenta Valley.
Bovec is the most popular place to stay within the Soča Valley because it is the town with the most infrastructure for tourists. It is where you will find the best hotels, more restaurant options, and the majority of tourist agencies.
Don’t let this description scare you – Bovec is still a very small town, it is just more equipped than the others on the list.
Recommendations of places to stay in Bovec:
- Hotel Mangart: One of the most traditional hotels in Bovec, Hotel Mangart is a staple of this small town. They offer great service and are extremely well-located.
- Gozdna Jasa Glamping: We stayed in this glamping in the summer of 2024 and it instantly became one of our favorite properties in the valley. The tents are very cozy, the location is beautiful and they serve an incredible breakfast.
- Cabino – Fresh Air Resort: Very unique one-bedroom villas, perfect for people who like unique accommodations.
Recommendations of places to stay in Kobarid:
- Hotel Hvala Superior: One of the main hotels in the city center of Kobarid, ideal for those staying for a short term in town.
- Kamp Koren Kobarid: Looking for unique accommodation? This is the place for you. Surrounded by lush nature, these small huts are perfect for a cozy adventure.
- Apartments Pri nas: Would you prefer to stay in a fully-equipped apartment? The Apartments Pri nas are ideal for couples or small families traveling together.
Read also: Best glamping experiences in Slovenia
FAQ – Popular questions about visiting the Soča Valley
Do you need to pay to visit the Soča Valley?
No. The Soča Valley is part of the Triglav National Park, whose entrance is free of charge.
However, there are specific attractions located along the valley that are charged, such as Kozjak Waterfall or the Tolmin Gorge.
What are the most beautiful waterfalls in the Soča Valley?
- Kozjak Waterfall
- Boka Waterfall
- Sunik Waterfall
Is the Soča Valley worth a visit?
Absolutely, yes! The Soča Valley is the most beautiful region in Slovenia, with landscapes you cannot find anywhere else in the world.
This region is a must-visit when traveling to Slovenia.
Can you swim in the Soča River?
Yes, definitely. However, the water is quite cold all year long – it does not go above 15oC.
Why is the Soča River so blue?
One of the most unique things about the Soča River is its color, which is a mix of blue & green, giving this very unique turquoise tone. The reason why the Soča River has this very unique color has to do with the natural environment it is in.
While the river flows, small particles of bedrock and minerals accumulate in the water, which then reflects this very unique blue/green color.
I hope this guide has helped you plan your next trip!
There are so many incredible things to do in the Soča Valley that I could have made this list 30 items long, but I wanted to put together just the activities I would truly recommend. If you have any other questions about traveling through Slovenia, feel free to leave a comment below!
More about traveling to Slovenia
Organizing your trip
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