Surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Julian Alps near Slovenia’s border with Italy, Bovec is a charming town that is a hub for adventure sports. It’s on the doorstep of Slovenia’s only national park and the turquoise waters of the Soča River, with everything from rafting to hiking, mountain biking and canyoning on offer.
Things to do in Bovec
If you want to get your adrenaline pumping, join a whitewater rafting adventure along the magnificent Soča River. There are regular stops to swim in its stunning, turquoise waters. Canyoning is also popular along the tributaries of the Soča River, with a chance to slide, jump and clamber down waterfalls as high as 45 metres.
Sprawling across 840 square kilometres east of Bovec is Triglav National Park, which centres around the highest peak in the Julian Alps, Mount Triglav. It’s not only the largest protected area in Slovenia but also the country’s sole national park. Follow one of the hiking trails that lead to the Savica and Pericnik waterfalls and cross the vertigo-inducing Devil’s Bridge spanning a plunging alpine gorge.
Trenches and bunkers from World War I are protected within the Ravelnik Open-Air Museum, which illustrates what life was like on the front line for the Austro-Hungarian Army during the Battles of the Isonzo. You can follow the short walking trail that leads through the forest to explore the remains on your own or opt for a guided tour with a uniformed soldier from the Društvo 1313.
Getting around Bovec
Bovec is just under two hours’ drive from Ljubljana and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses are the main means of getting to Bovec and the centre of town is compact enough to explore on foot.