(Slap) Savica Waterfall, Slovenia: 3 Scenic Routes You Need to Know
So you’re planning a trip to Lake Bohinj in Slovenia and looking to hike to the gorgeous Slap Savica? Great idea, because it’s incredibly beautiful and actually very easy to reach!
Savica Waterfall, otherwise known as Slap Savica (Slap translates to Waterfall in Slovenian), is one of the most popular trails in Triglav National Park and one of the most gorgeous waterfalls in Slovenia. It can be reached via a short hike, but the reward is a bright blue, double waterfall. Making it a popular spot to visit.
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I visited in June 2025, and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. It’s popular, by Slovenian standards, but by European standards, I’d still say it’s fairly unknown. There’s a small sitting area at the top and a path that you can walk down to get a closer look at the waterfall. I spent about an hour just taking in how incredible Mother Nature is, and whilst there were people at the top most of the time, there were certainly moments when it was far quieter than others.
If you’re planning a trip to hike Slap Savica, then you might be wondering about the best way to reach it, how long the hike takes, and if there’s anything else to do there (except admire the gorgeous waterfall). In this post, I’ll cover all of that, and more, so that you’re fully prepared.
Keep reading to discover the best ways to reach Savica Waterfall.
If you’re planning a trip through Slovenia, then have a read of our 5-day Slovenia Itinerary, covering all of the best spots, how to travel around the country, where to stay, and when to visit. Or, if you’re planning on spending 3 days in Bohinj, then I recommend reading my 3-day Lake Bohinj itinerary, which you can read here.
Opening times of Slap Savica Waterfall
The waterfall can be visited all year round, depending on the weather conditions.
Season: Jan – Dec
Opening hours: every day, 10:00 – 16:00 or 8:00 – 20:00 (depending on the season)
Is visiting Savica Waterfall worth it?
In my opinion, without a doubt, yes. If you are visiting Lake Bohinj, then a trip to Savica Waterfall is completely worth it. It can be accessed via a short hike and has a unique appearance of being a ‘double’ waterfall, which crashes down into the emerald green lake.
I have heard that because you can’t access the pool of the waterfall, and it’s behind a barrier, others have been disappointed. I think, if you go with the understanding that you can’t swim in the waterfall or access the pools, then it’s completely worth a visit.
Where to stay when visiting Slap Savica Waterfall:
I personally recommend staying at Hotel Bohinj when visiting Bohinj. It’s a gorgeous hotel that is reasonably priced for the facilities and level of attention to detail that it has. It is on the shores of Lake Bohinj and has a spa, a gorgeous restaurant, and beautiful gardens.
I booked my stay here via Booking for the best rates.
I’ve also written a blog post reviewing each of the spots that I stayed in Bohinj, which you can read here.
Hiking to Slap Savica: Your three options
Savica Waterfall Hike – Option one: Combine Slap Savica with the Bohinj Lake Trail
This is the longest route and is actually a combination of two or three hikes, depending on which way you look at it.
By combining the two trails, you’ll end up hiking for a full day. Since the official hike to Savica Waterfall is quite short and popular with tourists, this alternative route is a great way to take in more of the lake before reaching Slap Savica. While you won’t avoid the crowds at the end, the first section of the hike is much quieter, giving you time to enjoy the scenery and admire the lake in peace.
If you opt for this trail, then you’ll start it in the centre of Bohinj, whilst you can realistically choose to walk along the east or the west side of Lake Bohinj. I would strongly recommend walking along the east side. While both sides offer gorgeous views, the east provides beautiful hiking trails through the mountains. If you opt to walk along the west, you’ll have to either walk along the road or a cycle path, with minimal views. It’s also shorter than the west for this hike.
Hike along Lake Bohinj until you reach Bohinjsko jezero; there’s a sign here, so you’ll know that you’re in the right spot.
Hiking up to Slap Savica
From here, hike inland along Stara Fuzina-Dvojno jezero for about 40 minutes to 1 hour. The hike is fairly flat the whole way and really beautiful. You’ll pass a few little waterfalls, some local houses, and mountain views the whole way. I visited in June, and the path was also covered in wildflowers, which just added to the experience.
Once you’re nearing Slap Savica Waterfall, first you’ll reach a car park, with a restaurant in it (perfect to stop for a drink on your way back – exactly what I did!) The entrance to the waterfall is just around the corner from here. The entrance costs €3 per person; however, if you have a Julian Alps Card, then the entrance is free.
It’s a proper ticket office with turnstiles, a shop, and a spot to fill your water bottle from. So don’t forget to bring one!
From here, there’s a series of steps to reach Slap Savica Waterfall. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the top. The steps are pretty well paved, but they can get busy if you visit during peak time, so just bear this in mind.
Once you reach the viewing platform, there’s a little hut with a sitting area and a path to walk down to the waterfall.
As I said, it can get busy, but I spent about an hour here, just taking in the atmosphere and the views. People seem to come and go after a fairly short amount of time, so I experienced some super busy moments and some quieter ones. If you have the time, then I recommend spending a bit of time here, enjoying it, and marvelling at how beautiful the waterfall is.
If you’re not a fan of repeating the walk the way that you came, then you can opt to walk back along the other side of the lake or catch the boat back to Bohinj, just be sure to check the boat times before – free with a Julian Alps Card.
Practical information about the Bohinj to Slap Savica hike:
Distance: 17.2 km return / 10.7 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 370 m / 1215 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out trail
Length: 5.5 to 6.5 hours total (including stopping at Savica Waterfall)
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Fee to enter: €3 per person + parking if you’re not staying nearby
Savica Waterfall Hike – Option two: Catch the boat across the lake and hike from the campsite
The second option to hiking to Savica waterfall will take you a relatively similar way as option one, just with the difference of taking the boat (or bus, if you’re not a fan of boats) across the lake.
The boat leaves from Ribčev Laz, which is located close to the bridge and the Church of St John the Baptist, and will drop you at Ukanc, which is located inside Camp Bohinj.
The boat costs €9 each way or €14 for a return journey and takes 30 minutes. The boat times depend on the season; you can check the Lake Bohinj boat times here. I LOVED my trip on the boat, and would highly recommend it.
Once you have departed the boat, you’ll be at Camp Bohinj, a sort of beach-like area. This is where the trail to Slap Savica Waterfall starts.
Taking the bus to Slap Savica
If you’re not a fan of boats, then you can also take the bus to the opposite side of the lake to begin your hike. The bus line runs daily from Ribčev Laz to Ukanc and vice versa.
From Ukanc, it’s about a one-hour walk to the parking lot near Slap Savica.
Top Tip: If you plan to visit more sights in the impressive Julian Alps or spend some time in Bohinj, then I recommend purchasing the Julian Alps card, which gives you free access and transport and entry to multiple sights in the area (including the bus, boat, and entry to Slap Savica).
Once you have departed the boat or bus, head slightly inland until you come across a sign for Zlatorog Fairy Trail, the spot is also called Most čez reko Savo.
The trail begins with one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen: bright blue water backed by majestic mountains. You’ll cross over this bridge, and your hike to Savica Waterfall continues.
From here, the trail is fairly flat and takes about one hour to complete; you’ll be following the same route as option one. Once you reach the restaurant, continue walking for a few minutes until you reach the hut to pay your entrance fee.
From here, walk up the stairs for about 20 minutes before you reach Slap Savica Waterfall.
This is the route that I opted for, and I loved it. I think adding the additional walk to the waterfall makes it feel like a real achievement. The hike is also fairly easy and really beautiful, so it’s worth the extra hour to complete it.
Practical information about the Camp Bohinj to Savica Waterfall hike:
Distance: 8.8 km return / 5.4 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 370 m / 1215 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out trail
Length: 3 hours total (including stopping at Savica Waterfall)
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Fee to enter: €3 per person to enter and €14 for the return boat
Savica Waterfall Hike – Option three: Drive to the car park and hike the final 20 minutes to Savica Waterfall
This is the most popular option to reach Savica Waterfall and the quickest. Option three involves driving to the car park near Savica Waterfall, and walking the short 20 minutes from the car park to Slap from here.
The 550-step path of approximately 1 km can be made in 20 to 25 minutes, in each direction, depending on how crowded the path is and your pace.
The car parking at Savica Waterfall costs €5 for up to 3 hours and €10 for a day ticket.
This option is great if you are travelling to Slovenia with kids, are short on time, or just want to see the Slap Savica Waterfall.
Practical information about the Savica Waterfall hike:
Distance: 1 km return / 0.62 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 132 m / 433 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out trail
Length: 1 – 1.5 hours total (including stopping at Savica Waterfall)
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Fee to enter: €3 per person to enter + parking (€5 for three hours)
Final thoughts on hiking Savica Waterfall
Savica Waterfall is a gorgeous, easily accessible waterfall. Its ‘double waterfall’ appearance and emerald green water make it a really beautiful site. As you can see, there are multiple ways to reach the waterfall. However, I recommend option two. It doesn’t take too long, and it’s a gorgeous walk the whole way. I also love the sense of achievement that you get when you reach an impressive view, having hiked there.
Discover 12 other epic things to do in Slovenia here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on visiting Slap Savica
The entrance fee for adults is €4 in high season (1 July – 31 August) and €3 off season.
Although the trail to Slap Savica includes 553 stone steps, they are not particularly steep, making the ascent manageable for most visitors.
If you opt to drive to the car park and hike from here, then it takes around 20 to 25 minutes to reach Slap Savica. However, there are two other options to reach Savica Waterfall, making the trail a lot longer. If you opt to drive as close as you can (the most popular way), then you should plan to spend a minimum of 1 hour here.
No, you cannot access the base of the waterfall as it is gated off. Swimming is prohibited for your safety.
Yes, you can bring your dog, just make sure it is on a lead on the way to the waterfall.
Yes, Savica waterfall is child-friendly. The walk from the car park is well maintained, and it’s not too long. However, as you can’t reach the base of the waterfall or swim in it, children may not find it super exciting.
