Cycling through the Radovna Valley is a beautiful nature experience, but also a somewhat demanding ride. Along the route, you pass through the surroundings of Bled, the Radovna Valley, and the three alpine valleys of Krma, Kot, and Vrata, all with fantastic views of the Julian Alps. The entire round trip is approximately 57 km. This is a popular cycling tour during the summer, especially among tourists renting bicycles in Bled.
I did this bike ride in mid-May. The Radovna Valley remains relatively untouched and undeveloped, which adds to its natural charm. Most of the route through the valley follows roads shared with cars, although traffic is fortunately quite light.
The Cycling Route
I started my bike ride in Radovljica, as that is where we live, but you can just as well begin and end the ride in Bled.
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Radovljica - Krnica 12 km - From Radovljica, I cycled down into the Sava Valley and then continued up towards Bled and on to Krnica. Overall, this section is mostly uphill, following a mix of dedicated cycle paths and roads shared with motor traffic.
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Krnica - Mojstrana 17 km - Most of this section has a gentle incline that you barely notice. Towards the end, there is a short but steep climb before a long descent into Mojstrana.
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Mojstrana - Žirovnica 19 km - This section follows a mix of regular roads and, before Jesenice, dedicated cycle paths. The route gradually descends, with several short but steep sections, particularly in the approach to Jesenice.
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Žirovnica - Radovljica 9 km - This section follows mostly regular roads, although traffic is generally light. The route is mostly flat, making for an easy final stretch back to Radovljica.
If you are reading this post in our app, you can tap Bicycling directions in the top-right menu to view the route.
Radovljica to Krnica Cycle route (12 km)
From Radovljica, I cycled through Lesce and then down into the Sava Valley, where there are magnificent views of the Julian Alps and the Pokljuka Plateau on the descent. From the valley, I continued up to Bled and on towards Krnica. The road from Bled to Krnica is also scenic. Radovljica is situated at an altitude of 492 metres, while the lowest point in the Sava Valley is around 418 metres. From there, the route climbs steadily to Krnica at about 630 metres, a total elevation gain of just over 200 metres. It was a bit of a challenge, but manageable.
Krnica to Mojstrana Cycle Route (17 km)
At Krnica, I turned down into the Radovna Valley. Just after the village, I crossed the Radovna River and passed a beautiful waterfall. The road then continues through pastures and forests, with wooded mountains on both sides. Along the way, you can see grazing horses and cows. The first 12 kilometres have a gentle uphill gradient.
After about 12 kilometres, I reached the Krma Valley, the first of the three alpine valleys in the Julian Alps. Here, a beautiful panorama opens up into the valley. Krma is followed by the Kot Valley, where a steep climb of around 18% begins, lasting roughly 1 to 1.5 kilometres. This is a demanding section that requires the lowest gear for most riders. The climb leads to Kosmačev Preval (Kosmačev Pass), at 845 metres above sea level. From there, a long 3-kilometre descent follows down to Mojstrana, which lies at around 650 metres above sea level.
Mojstrana
Mojstrana is a typical Slovenian alpine village located just outside Triglav National Park, at the entrance to the Vrata Valley—one of the most important valleys in the Julian Alps, with many hiking trails leading up to the surrounding peaks. The village is quieter than many other places in the Alpine region, despite its scenic setting, which seems deserving of more visitors. For this bike tour, it is the perfect place to stop for a coffee, as it is roughly halfway along the route.
Well, we may have to stop somewhere else instead.
Mojstrana to Žirovnica (19 km)
The section between Mojstrana and Žirovnica is probably the least enjoyable part of the route. The first section is good, with a dedicated cycle path all the way to Jesenice. Along the way, there are a few short but steep climbs, including sections of 17% and 15%. Low gears again!
Jesenice is an old industrial town with a history of steel production and is, unfortunately, not the most pleasant place to pass on a cycle tour. I descended along the right bank of the Sava River. Due to the narrow valley, the town stretches out in an elongated shape, and it takes several kilometres to cycle through it.
The section between Jesenice and Žirovnica unfortunately has to be cycled on a fairly busy road with a lot of traffic and no dedicated cycle path.
Žirovnice to Radovljica (9 km)
From Žirovnica, I cycled to the small village of Studenčice and then on to Lesce and finally to Radovljica. Most of this section is flat.
Type of Bicycle
If you plan to cycle this route, we recommend a mountain bike with good gearing, as the terrain includes several ascents and descents, some of which are quite steep. For a more relaxed experience, an e-bike is a good alternative.
Bike rental is widely available in both Radovljica and Bled, with plenty of options for one-day or multi-day hire. However, during the high season it can get 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.
Where to stay
Here are some places to stay along the route if you want to do this bike tour.
- Radovna Chalet - A chalet with fantastic views of the Julian Alps and the Krma and Kot valleys.
- Mountain View Glamping - Offers apartments for rent with fantstic views of Vrata Valley.
- Villas and apartments - Several villas and apartments are available for rent in Mojstrana.
- Bled Rose Hotel - A 4 star modern and stylish hotel located approximately 100 meters from the lake and just below Bled Castle.
Restaurants and cafes
Along the way, there are countless restaurants and smaller places where cyclists can stop for drinks and food, especially on the Radovljica–Mojstrana section. Below are some selected restaurants. If you just want a quick bite, you can also stop almost anywhere that looks appealing.
- Restaurant Psnak - Located in Zgornja Radovna at the entrance to the Krma Valley, this is a nice place to stop for lunch or coffee along the way—but don’t be in a hurry!
- Hotel Triglav - Hotel Triglav has a high-quality restaurant, recognized by the Michelin Guide. The menu offers creative interpretations of traditional Slovenian dishes, further refined with a modern touch. You can book a table here
- Kavarna Park - At Kavarna Park in Bled you can eat Bled’s most famous dessert, cream cake. Perfect with a coffee after a long bike ride
