A Slovenia Road Trip Through the Beautiful Vršič Pass

Why should you visit Vršič Pass, Slovenia?

Vršič Pass is a steep mountain pass that crosses the Juliana Alps of Slovenia. The Vršič Pass allows you to cross from Kranjska Gora to Trenta Valley alongside the Soča River. It is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia, making it the perfect place to start your journey to surrounding areas. We visited Vršič Pass during September on one of our road trips of Slovenia.

What you will find here

This post will tell you all about my personal experience taking Vršič Pass. We started at Kranjska Gora and travelled through Vršič Pass on our way to Idrija. This post will outline all the spots we visited and if I think they are worth a visit! For more on Slovenia, I have a whole bunch of Slovenian guides.

Take a break at Jezero Jasna

Nearby Kranjska Gora there is a gorgeous lake, Jezero Jasna (or Lake Jasna) which is the perfect pitstop for your road trip. Enjoy some stunning views of the Julian Alps, grab a coffee or an ice cream, and stretch your legs. To learn more, I wrote a whole blog post  about Jezero Jasna. 

Find the face in the mountains

Pagan Girl (Ajdovska deklica), or the Heathen Maiden, is a face in the mountain Mount Prisank (Prisojnik) created by rock fractures. 

The legend has it that the fate deity Sojenica would help hikers and transporters of goods who got stuck in snow blizzards. She foretold the destiny of a newborn in Trenta who would become a brave hunter, defeat a white chamois with golden horns (known as Goldhorn in Slovene folklore), and become rich. Other fates heard of her prophecy and decided to curse her, turning her into stone on the mountain. 

There is a specific viewing spot to see both the Prisojnikovo okno (Prisojnik window) and the Pagan Girl (Ajdovska deklica) which I’ve linked below on Google Maps:

View the Prisojnikovo okno (Prisojnik window)

Prisojnik window is located on the same mountains as the Pagan Girl mentioned above. It looks like an upside down heart and is a popular hiking spot. 

Russian Chapel

Around twelve thousand Russian POW (prisoners of war) were used as forced labourers in the 1915 construction of the Vršič Pass and the Russian Chapel is a reflection of that. The chapel is dedicated to Saint Vladimir and the lives lost during the building of the roads. To visit the chapel you will need to stop along some of the most winding roads to enter the carpark so be careful!

Take in the views from Vršič Pass

Make sure you pull over at the car park near Tičar Lodge on the Vršič Pass so you can take in the breathtaking views from the height of Vršič Pass. This is where many hikers start their hike of Vršič Pass, too.

Gasp at the beautiful Soča River

The Soča river, which runs alongside the road in Trenta Valley, has that perfect, alpine-emerald-green water that is second to none. There are many viewing spots along the Vršič Pass where you can stop and enjoy the view of the river, and plenty of bridges and walks, too. The Soča river is also a popular destination for water activities.

Stretch your legs at the Alpine Botanical Garden

If you’re looking for somewhere to stretch your legs after many twisting turns over the Vršič Pass, The Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden is a great place to stop and see some beautiful alpine flowers, too. If you’re interested in stopping here, I have a whole blog post about visiting Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden.

When is the best time to visit Vršič Pass?

Vršič Pass might be closed during winter due to snowfall so make sure that you check the news if you’re travelling on the cusp of autumn or spring. Autumn and spring are considered the best times to visit as summer can get very busy. I travelled through Vršič Pass in September and it was so busy that there were traffic jams. Please be aware that people cycle on these tiny roads so go slow and be alert and make sure you give them enough space. I also saw a cow and a couple with a dog, so be careful on the turns!

How do you get to Vršič Pass?

There is only one road from Kranjska Gora to Trenta Valley, and that is through the Vršič Pass. The whole drive takes around 1 hour with no stops and no traffic, but allow yourself plenty of time as you will want to drive carefully on the winding roads if you are not used to driving on Slovenian roads and are not from a country with similar roads. There are also so many places to explore in this area, so you should allow yourself at least half a day in my opinion.