Tolmin Gorge vs Vintgar Gorge: Which one to visit?

Slovenia has two famous gorges: Tolmin and Vintgar. They are both located within the Triglav National Park but offer quite different experiences for the visitors. Since they are essentially similar destinations, many people have doubts about whether to visit Tolmin or Vintgar Gorge during their trip to Slovenia.

We are here to help you clear that doubt. After visiting both canyons several times, we will make a summary of the experience and share our opinion at the end.

Tolmin Gorge vs Vintgar Gorge: Which one is larger?

When the comparison is based on the size, Vintgar Gorge wins as the path is 1.6 km long. During all this time, you will walk on boardwalk paths and bridges built alongside the river, so you really have the experience of exploring the gorge from within.

On the other hand, the entire loop trail on Tolmin Gorge is 2 km long, but not all of that is located along the gorge. In fact, you don’t get to walk a lot in between the canyons. There is a nice viewpoint at the end where you have incredible views of Tolmin Gorge, but you don’t really go in. The main reason for that is that Tolmin Gorge is very narrow in some parts. There isn’t space to build a boardwalk (see the image below and you will see what I mean).

Therefore, the only part where you walk by the river on Tolmin Gorge is during a short section of the trail between the confluence and the viewpoint.

Price comparison between Tolmin Gorge vs Vintgar Gorge

Now let’s talk price because this is always a decisive factor when comparing Tolmin vs Vintgar Gorge.

The entrance ticket at Vintgar Gorge has a fixed price per year. As of January 2024, the adult single ticket costs 10 €.

The price for entering the Tolmin Gorge varies based on the season. July and August are the high season months when the ticket is more expensive (10 €). During low season, an adult ticket will be only 6 €.

On top of the ticket price, you also need to add the parking. The parking at the entrance of Vintgar Gorge costs 5 € per car, while you are able to park for free if you use P2 to visit Tolmin Gorge.

Therefore, the visit to Tolmin Gorge can be quite cheaper than Vintgar Gorge.

Read more: 

• All about visiting Tolmin Gorge
• Guide to Vintgar Gorge

Tolmin Gorge vs Vintgar Gorge: Which one is more crowded?

We all know how amazing it feels to get to a natural attraction and find out you have the place all to yourself.

Popularity is one of the most important factors to determine if you will have a good time at the location or not (even if it is often overlooked by other travel guides).

It is safe to say that Vintgar Gorge is much more popular than Tolmin Gorge. It is more famous, more easily accessible, and located closer to one of Slovenia’s main attractions – Bled. Therefore, many of the tour groups and buses make a stop for a visit at Vintgar Gorge in combination with the day exploring Bled.

Read more: Bled Travel Guide – best things to see and do

If you visit Vintgar Gorge during the summer months, chances are that you will be stuck behind groups of visitors taking pictures along the boardwalk. In our opinion, its popularity is one of the biggest downsides of Vintgar Gorge because having too many people keeps you from actually enjoying the visit.

That’s not to say that Tolmin Gorge is always empty, of course not. But the number of visitors is not remotely comparable. Tolmin Gorge also gets busier during the summer months which are considered high season, but even so, it is much more pleasant to explore.

If you will be visiting during the low season (in April or November), you may not have to worry too much about this factor. But for those of you traveling during the summer, we recommend aiming for an early morning visit.

The main differences between Vintgar and Tolmin Gorges

Aside from the points mentioned above, here are some other important differences between Vintgar Gorge and Tolmin Gorge:

• The Tolmin Gorge path is a 2km loop, bringing you back to the entrance point. Vintgar Gorge path is a one-way path, you will then have to come back by yourself (there are indications of paths to follow). Overall the walk takes 2-3 hours.
• Vintgar Gorge has more interesting viewpoints of the river itself. Tolmin Gorge is beautiful, but it cannot compare to Vintgar if the main interest is to explore the river and the canyon.
• Lines are usually much shorter at Tolmin Gorge than at Vintgar Gorge.
• You can swim in the river at Tolmin Gorge but not at Vintgar Gorge.
• Tolmin Gorge has a bit more of a homestay feel, with the staff being more friendly. Since Vintgar Gorge is larger and busier, you get the feeling of a bit more streamlined system.
• Both Tolmin Gorge and Vintgar Gorge have a restaurant located right by the entrance where you can have a coffee or meal.

Tolmin Gorge vs Vintgar Gorge: Which one do we recommend?

So now that you already understand the key differences between Tolmin Gorge and Vintgar Gorge, here is our final recommendation on which one to visit:

Vintgar Gorge is the most interesting attraction and offers better views, which is what most people come for. Aim to schedule your visit preferably outside of the high season and during the morning.

Since Tolmin Gorge is located deep within the Soča Valley, it is less accessible and I don’t recommend anyone drive there only to visit the gorge.

However, if you already plan on visiting the Soča Valley during your trip, you can also add a visit to Tolmin Gorge to your itinerary. Exploring Tolmin Gorge will take only 2h so you can easily combine it with a kayaking tour in Bovec or waterfall-hunting along the Soča River.

Best time of the year to visit Tolmin Gorge and Vintgar Gorge

Since Tolmin Gorge and Vintgar Gorge are located within the same natural park and have very similar ecosystems, my recommendation will be good for both destinations.

The best times of the year to visit the Gorges are the months of May-June and September. These are considered mid-season, which means the weather is usually already nice and nature is blooming, but you won’t get the crazy crowds of July and August.

My preferred time of the year is the end of September when the fall colors start kicking in and you have a very unique landscape.

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Check out some of our favorite destinations:

• Best hikes in the Logar Valley
• Hiking to Velika Planina
• Hiking to Krn Lake (Krnsko Jezero) in Slovenia