Why should you visit Idrija Slovenia?
Idrija is a popular tourist location in Slovenia due to its geopark, mining and bobbin lacemaking history. It is on the western side of Slovenia, so if you’re doing a road trip from Italy it is a great place to stop. We travelled through Idrija during our road trip from Kranjska Gora to Škofja Loka via Soča Valley.
What you will find here
This post will tell you all about what I did in Idrija that I thought was a must-see! This is based on my own experience, and includes a little bit of nature, history, and culture! If you’re interested in seeing more of Slovenia, make sure you check out all of my Slovenia guides.
- Why should you visit Idrija Slovenia?
- What Is there to do in Idrija?
- What are the best vegan eats in Idrija?
- When is the best time to visit Idrija?
- How do you get to Idrija?
- What are the best hotels to stay in when visiting Idrija?
- Is it worth a visit to Idrija?
- Pin This To Keep It As A Resource!
- Best places to book your trip
- Thanks for reading!
What Is there to do in Idrija?
Explore Gewerkenegg Castle
Gewerkenegg Castle, or Grad Gewerkenegg (‘the mine’s castle’) in Slovenian, is the main castle located in the centre of Idrija. As a labyrinth of shafts and tunnels grew under the town of Idrija, between 1522 and 1533 the Gewerkenegg Castle was created. It was built for storage of mercury deposits from the mines, and is now a museum.
You can stroll through the grounds of the castle without visiting the museum, but it is a good way to learn about the German connection to the town and look at some beautiful art.
Learn about Idrija lace
There are many boutiques in the town centre selling lace crafts and goods, but we also visited the Idrija Lace School. The Idrija Lace School is the oldest continuously operating lace school in the world and lacework from Idrija is part of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
You can find classes, examples of lacework by students, and a shop on site if you’d like to purchase a range of lace crafts and goods. I highly recommend you check this place out if you’re visiting Idrija!
View the beautiful Divje Jezero
Divje Jezero, or ‘wild lake’ in English, is a beautiful yet mysterious lake just outside of Idrija. There is a small staircase if you would like to view it from above, or you can follow the short path to the left side of the lake. The source of the water is unknown and hasn’t been fully explored yet which makes this a little eerie. Please note you cannot swim at Divje Jezero. It is also a small but well-preserved piece of nature so make sure you treat it with respect. If you would like to learn more about this wild lake, I have a whole blog about visiting Divje Jezero.
Visit the town of Spodnja Idrija
Spodnja Idrija is a small town just outside of Idrija. We stayed here at the Kendov Dvorec Relais & Châteaux. It sits right on the bank of the Idrijca River, and has some beautiful views around the town. There is a stunning chapel (like with most small towns in Slovenia!) located in the centre.
View the Brus Klavze Water Barrier
The Belca or Brus Klavze Water Barrier (Beline ali Brusove Klavze) is located on the Belca creek and was used to float wood for the Idrija mercury mines. You can visit this location via car or by hiking and it is a UNESCO heritage site that is a little bit off the beaten path. If you would like to learn more about the history of the Brus Klavze Water Barrier, how it works, and how to get there, I have a blog post all about the Brus Klavze Water Barrier.
Walk the natural history trail along Rake
The Rake water channel in Idrija (Naravoslovna Učna pot ob Rakah) runs along the Idrijca River and is one of the popular hiking and cycling trails in Idrija. It is a completely flat and well-worn track that makes for a leisurely way to explore the area. Like the Brus Klavze Water Barrier, this water channel was created to support the mercury mines of Idrija.
You can follow the Vodnikova Ulica path along the Rake Water Channel from the town of Idrija all the way to the Divje Jezero parking lot (where you’ll find the entrance to Divje Jezero on the opposite side of the road), which takes about 45 minutes one-way. Please keep in mind that you will need to cross a suspension bridge to cross the Idrijca River to get to the Divje Jezero parking lot which probably doesn’t matter to most people but they scare me!
What are the best vegan eats in Idrija?
Like most medium to small Slovenian towns, Idrija is not very vegan-friendly. There is no vegan restaurant or cafe here, however they do have a supermarket that stocks the usual goods you’ll find in Slovenia (Slovenian supermarkets usually have a decent range of vegan options).
It is important to note that the local cuisine, Idrijski žlikrofi (traditional type of Slovenian dumplings that is supposed to resemble Napoleon’s hat) is traditionally vegetarian as it is made with eggs however it is often served with meat. Like with most traditional cuisines, every place has their own special recipe and sometimes eggs aren’t used, so it is worth asking if they can make it for you.
When is the best time to visit Idrija?
We went to Idrija late September during our road trip to the north-western side of Slovenia. This was a great time to visit as it was nice and warm all day, but other mild seasons like spring (March-May) and autumn (Oct-Dec) would also be a great time to visit. Don’t worry too much about the time of day, as this isn’t too busy of a town and you don’t have to fight for a carpark or line up anywhere.
How do you get to Idrija?
Idrija is about an hour drive or by train from Ljubljana, and about an hour from the border with Italy (Gorizia). Idrija has regular trains to Ljubljana, so it is easily reached by public transport.
What are the best hotels to stay in when visiting Idrija?
You can find available hotels in the area here:
Best places to book your trip
Did you love this post? By booking through these links, you can support me at no additional cost for you. Your support helps me write honest guides and helpful posts!
🖤 Book a hotel with Booking.com (this is my favourite website to book hotels)
🖤 Get an e-sim for your trip with Airalo
🖤 Book experiences with Viator.com
🖤 Book experiences with GetYourGuide.com
🖤 Book a car with Rentalcars.com
🖤 Book lounge access for your airport with Priority Pass (I’m an airport lounge girlie)
VERDICT
Is it worth a visit to Idrija?
I think if you’re going to visit any of the towns in this area, Idrija is the best option. There are many trade schools in the nearby area and you’ll see lots of students hanging out at the cafes and it really feels a little more lively than some of the other towns in the area. You can learn alot about traditional crafts like lace work as well as the historical impacts like mining because Idrija has put in a lot of work to keep the culture alive here. It just feels like the sort of town you wouldn’t want to miss as a tourist!
Thanks for reading!
I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re on Instagram, you can find me over here: @apicturesquelife or youtube: @apicturesquelife and I’d be happy to connect!
xoxo,
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