Bohinj Lake Cycling

In mid-May, I cycled from Radovljica to Lake Bohinj. Irina and I had previously cycled together to Bohinjska Bistrica along the cycle path through the valley. This time, I chose a different route over the Pokljuka Plateau, which turned out to be a much tougher challenge. The effort was well worth it, however. The descent from the plateau to Lake Bohinj takes you through incredibly beautiful landscapes, passing several picturesque villages and offering fantastic views down into the valley where the lake is located. The climb may be demanding, but the scenery more than makes up for it.

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The Cycling Route

I started my bike ride in Radovljica, as that is where we live, but you could just as easily begin and end the ride in Bled. My route consisted of the following sections, covering a total distance of 80 kilometres.

1. Radovljica - Pokljuka 21 km - From Radovljica, I cycled down into the Sava Valley before continuing towards Bled and on to Krnica. From Krnica, the road climbs steeply to the Pokljuka Plateau. This section is almost entirely uphill, with an elevation gain of nearly 800 metres. Good stamina is essential for this part of the ride.

2. Pokljuka - Bohinj Lake 23 km - The first part of this section is relatively flat as it crosses the Pokljuka Plateau. From there, the route descends towards Lake Bohinj. Along the way, you are treated to spectacular views of the Bohinj glacial valley.

3. Bohinj Lake - Bohinjska Bistrica 7 km - Most of this section follows the Sava Bohinjka River along a gentle downhill gradient. It is a beautiful and relaxing ride on a very well-maintained cycle path.

4. Bohinjska Bistrica - Radovljica (29 km) - From Bohinjska Bistrica to Bled, I cycled along the newly built cycle path that follows the Sava Bohinjka River. Instead of cycling home through Bled, I chose to take the back roads along the river.

If you are reading this post in our app, you can tap Bicycling directions in the top-right menu to view my route.

Radovljica to Pokljuka Cycle Route (21 km)

The first part of the cycle path runs from Radovljica through the neighbouring town of Lesce and then descends into the valley where the Sava River flows. The path then climbs again towards the town of Bled. Initially, the cycle path shares the road through Lesce, but it soon separates and continues independently from the main road.

Radovljica is located at an altitude of approximately 490 metres, while Bled lies at around 475 metres. The lowest point of the route is in the Sava River valley, at an altitude of approximately 430 metres.

Through Bled, you cycle along smaller streets as the main road is closed to bicycle traffic. The cycle path towards Pokljuka bypasses the town, and this section is relatively flat. After a few kilometres, the route starts climbing again, and for several kilometres before reaching the village of Krnica, you ascend to an altitude of around 650 metres.

At Krnica, the real challenge begins. Here, the winding road up to the Pokljuka Plateau starts. The climb to the top is about 10 kilometres long, rising from an altitude of 650 metres to 1,250 metres. Some sections have gradients of 12% and 18%, so using low gears is essential.

The Pokljuka Plateau is largely forested, so the views are limited. However, on the way up, there is a beautiful view down into the Radovna Valley.

Pokljuka to Bohinj Lake Route (23 km)

The first part of the road climbs onto the Pokljuka Plateau through a beautiful coniferous forest. After a few kilometres, the road starts descending, and the elevation gained on the way up is gradually lost again. It is a wonderful feeling to let the bike roll downhill. Lake Bohinj is located at an altitude of 530 metres, meaning the descent is approximately 700 metres in total.

After about 10 kilometres, when you emerge from the forest, a fantastic view opens up over the Lake Bohinj valley, a deep glacial valley surrounded by mountains. Along the way, I passed several picturesque villages with names such as Jereka, Bohinjska Češnjica and Stara Fužina. This section alone makes the effort of cycling up to the Pokljuka Plateau worthwhile. It is a truly spectacular part of the route, with fantastic views down into the valley.

Bohinj Lake

Lake Bohinj is Slovenia’s largest natural lake. It is an alpine lake, just like Lake Bled, but it has a different character as it is located deeper in the alpine landscape, making it more secluded and less touristy. That said, there are still many visitors and plenty of activities available.

Lake Bohinj is a glacial lake that was originally formed by tectonic movements in the area. Its final shape was carved by the Bohinj Glacier, which disappeared around 10,000 years ago as the climate changed. The glacier left behind moraines and the deep basin that today forms Lake Bohinj.

The lake’s main source of water comes from the last lake in the Triglav Lakes Valley, located below Mount Triglav. At the opposite end, water flows out through the Jezernica Creek, which later becomes the Sava Bohinjka River.

You can read more about Lake Bohinj in our dedicated blog post.

Bohinj Lake to Bohinjska Bistrica Route (7 km)

From Lake Bohinj, you cycle along the Sava Bohinjka River. The cycle path is of very good quality and provides an easy ride. It is about 7 kilometres to the town of Bohinjska Bistrica. This is a gentle section with a slight downhill gradient and very few climbs. Bohinjska Bistrica is located at an altitude of 516 metres.

Bohinjska Bistrica to Radovljica Route (29 km)

The cycle path from Bohinjska Bistrica to Bled is probably the best in Slovenia. The route follows the Sava Bohinjka River through a beautiful valley towards Bled. There are some small climbs and descents, but the first 10 kilometres gradually descend to an altitude of 483 metres, where the valley is also at its narrowest. At this point, there is only enough space for the railway line, the cycle path and the Sava Bohinjka River.

This section of the route is described in more detail in our Bohinjska Bistrica cycling blog post. The difference now is that the cycle path has been fully completed, so you no longer have to cycle a few kilometres on the road.

From here, the trail climbs towards the beautiful village of Bohinjska Bela. Most of the route follows regular roads that fortunately have very little traffic. Along the way, you pass farms, grazing animals and beautiful landscapes.

From Bohinjska Bela, I chose to follow the cycle path along the Sava Bohinjka River. Large parts of this route are on gravel roads shared with cars. The distance is approximately 8 kilometres.

The Sava Bohinjka River flows into the Sava River just before the village of Lancovo. Here, I crossed the river and cycled the final stretch up to the old town centre of Radovljica. This was the last steep climb of the tour.

Type of Bicycle

If you plan to cycle this route, we recommend using a mountain bike with good gearing, as there are several ascents and descents, and some of the slopes are quite steep. If you prefer a more relaxed experience, an e-bike is a good alternative.

In Radovljica and Bled, there are plenty of places where you can rent bikes for one or more days. During the high season, it can get quite busy, so we recommend booking in advance. Below is a list of bike rental providers.

• Extreme Vital - A bike shop and rental company offering high-quality bikes, located a few hundred meters from our apartment in Radovljica. You can also call +386 4 515 77 12 to reserve your bike.
• Polka Dot Cycling - A large bicycle rental company located at the shopping centre just outside Bled. You can book via their websiteor call +386 31 54 49 59 or email info@polkadot.si to reserve a bike.
• AB Bike - A bike rental company located on the southwest side of the lake. Book via their website, email info@ab-bike.si or call +386 40 219 415.

In addition to the rental companies listed above, there are many other bike rental providers in Bled. However, be sure to check that the bikes are in good condition before renting.

Where to stay

Here are some excellent places to stay near Lake Bohinj and Bohinjska Bistrica.

• Hiša Križaj - Individually furnished, high-quality apartments in a prime location on the outskirts of Bohinjska Bistrica.
• Boutique Hotel Sunrose 7 - Located in Bohinjska Bistrica, approximately 6km away from Lake Bohinj.
• Hotel Bohinj - Located in Ribčev Laz, just a short distance from the lake.
• Villas and apartments - Many residents and owners of villas and apartments rent them out during the tourist season, and most of these properties are of a high standard.

Restaurants and cafes

Here are some places to eat near Lake Bohinj and Bohinjska Bistrica.

• Restaurant Štrudl - A very traditional Slovenian restaurant in a traditional style serving traditional Slovenian food from the region. A welcoming place to eat. You can email them at dunja.trost@gmail.com or call them at +386 41 541 877 to reserve a table.
• Danica Guesthouse - A restaurant with high ambitions that serves traditional dishes from the Bohinj area. You can email them at info@camp-danica.si or call them at +386 71 888 887 to reserve a table.
• Restaurant Majer’ca - Mentioned in the Michelin Guide, this restaurant focuses on alpine flavors, heritage, and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. You can reserve a table by emailing info@majerca.si or calling +386(0) 40 249 352.
• Foksner - If you’re looking for fantastic hamburgers and quality meat, this is the place to go!