Make the Most of Visiting the Beautiful Zelenci Nature Reserve

Why should you visit Zelenci Nature Reserve?

Zelenci Nature Reserve (Naravni Rezervat Zelenci) is a gorgeous wetland spanning around 15 hectares. It is located in the valley between Podkoren in Ratece, in Kranjska Gora (if you’re driving to Kranjska Gora from Italy, you’ll go past Zelenci Nature Reserve!). It is famous for its turquoise lake and it has been protected as a nature reserve since 1992.

The Zelenci Nature Reserve origin dates back to the Ice Age. The area was covered by ice until the valley was dammed and the limestone laden Korensko jezero (Lake Koren) was formed. Over time, the Lake emptied, creating the Zelenci wetland as it is known today.

What you will find here 

This post will tell you all about my experience visiting Zelenci Nature Reserve during one of my Slovenian road trips. Want to learn more about Slovenia and where to travel? I got you! My other half is Slovenian, so we visit often and have lots of helpful guides on Slovenia.

What Is there to do at Zelenci Nature Reserve?

Take an easy stroll through the Zelenci Nature Reserve forest

The stroll through the forest is an easy walk and only takes about 5 minutes until you reach the lake. I saw many locals with prams and poles here. It is nice and quiet and you can get a feel of Slovenian nature! Please be aware that this is a protected area, and you may be required to wait to enter as it is only designed to accommodate a limited number of visitors at a time. It is really important that you respect this in order to take care of this fragile landscape. Don’t be disrespectful, it is cringe af.

View the turquoise lake at Zelenci Nature Reserve

The turquoise lake is surrounded by a boardwalk with viewing platforms where you can get a good view of the mountains in the distance, too. There is also a viewing hut with expansive views. It has some steep stairs to walk up, but it is worth it!

Learn about the wetland at Zelenci Nature Reserve

This area is popular for birds who live in the wetlands and there is diverse fauna and flora that is only seen in Zelenci. There are some interesting factoids on display boards, however it is important to note that only some of these are available in English.

What are the best vegan eats near Zelenci Nature Reserve?

There is a restaurant, Gostilna Zelenci, right next to the car park where the walking path to Zelenci Nature Reserve begins. Like most traditional Slovenian restaurant diners, they don’t have specific vegan options so you would need to ask to see if they have anything on their daily menu that would meet your dietary needs. However, I did have a coffee here and they offer plant-based milks.

When is the best time to visit Zelenci Nature Reserve?

I came here first thing in the morning, around 9-10am. It wasn’t too busy, and there were just a few other families enjoying looking at the lake. The clearer the day, the better the view of the mountains, too. We went during September, and the sky was clear and the weather was mild.

How do you get to Zelenci Nature Reserve?

Zelenci Nature Reserve is only about 5 minutes via car from Kranjska Gora. You could also take the bus from Kranjska Gora to Rateče Planica and then walk (about 20 minutes). However, like most places in Slovenia I recommend you do this on a road trip/via car as most places in Slovenia aren’t really accessible by public transport.

What are the best hotels to stay in when visiting Zelenci Nature Reserve?

You can find all the available accomodation in the area on this map below: