A ten-day loop from Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, the Vršič Pass and its 50 hairpins, the Soča valley, the caves of the Karst and the Adriatic coast at Piran. The country is small and the stages short, but the electronic vignette and the parking rules at the lakes need sorting out before you leave.
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
May to September, when the Vršič Pass is open and free buses serve the pass and Bled (June to September in 2026). In winter, the Vršič is closed by snow for much of the season and winter tyres are compulsory from 15 November to 15 March.
🚗 55 km · 40 min of driving from Ljubljana
A2 motorway towards Kranj and Jesenice, exit for Lesce and Bled: vignette required as soon as you leave Ljubljana.
🚗 26 km · 25 min of driving from Bled
Sava Bohinjka valley via Bohinjska Bistrica, no motorway. Around the lake, park only in marked bays.
🚗 110 km · 2h of driving from Ribčev Laz
Via Jesenice and Kranjska Gora, then the Vršič Pass and its 50 hairpins. Barriers after Lake Jasna and before the source of the Soča.
🚗 121 km · 2h of driving from Bovec
Soča valley via Kobarid and Tolmin, then winding minor roads via Idrija. Join the A1 motorway for Postojna.
🚗 80 km · 1h10 of driving from Postojna
A1 motorway towards Koper, detour via Divača for Škocjan. Koper-Izola coastal expressway toll-free since 2026. Piran centre closed to cars.
🚗 122 km · 1h30 of driving from Piran
Ljubljana (1 night), Bled (2, with a return trip to Bohinj), Bovec (1), Postojna (1), Piran (1). Keep the Vršič and the caves, cut back on Ljubljana and the coast.
| Car hire, August | ≈ €27 a day |
|---|---|
| Car hire, January | ≈ €15 a day |
| Small car, average | ≈ €30 a day (Kayak, Sept 2026) |
| Avantcar full insurance | Excess reduced to €0 |
| Vehicle | A small car is enough. Campervans banned on the Savica road in July-August. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | Ljubljana airport (Brnik) or the city centre. It is a loop, so no one-way fee. |
| Insurance | Excess of €1,000 to €1,200 on a small car at Avantcar, blocked on a credit card. |
| Age and licence | Minimum age 18 and 12 months' driving experience at Avantcar; €10 a day under 21. |
| Borders | Italy or Croatia must be declared: €60 per rental at Avantcar, otherwise a €625 penalty. |
| Winter | Winter tyres included from 15 November to 15 March at Avantcar. |
⚠️ Check that the hire car has a valid e-vignette for its number plate (online check on evinjeta.dars.si): otherwise a €300 fine.
Any valid European Union licence is enough. Avantcar requires 12 months' driving experience. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
As in mainland Europe. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights on at all times, even in broad daylight.
More than 50 km/h over the limit: a fine of at least €400.
Zero alcohol for under-21s, drivers who have held a licence for less than 2 years and professional drivers.
Compulsory on motorways and expressways, linked to the number plate, on evinjeta.dars.si. €300 fine without a vignette.
Since 1 January 2026, the H5 and H6 sections around Koper no longer require a vignette.
Winter tyres with 3 mm of tread on all 4 wheels, or summer tyres and chains. €125 fine.
Frequent checks. Bled: €2.50 to €7.50 an hour, blue zone limited to 2 or 4 hours.
Free to drive through. Right-hand lane for the summit car park, access while spaces remain.
Compulsory on board. Phones only with a hands-free kit, on-the-spot fines.
Call the DARS assistance number; only accept a tow truck bearing the DARS logo.
≈ €1.75 a litre for petrol, €2.01 for diesel
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 514 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €60 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Prices capped by the state from 22 to 28 September 2026, excluding motorways. Motorway and expressway stations are not capped.
| 7-day e-vignette (car) | €16, valid on the chosen day and the following 6 |
|---|---|
| 1-month e-vignette | €32, for a stay of more than 7 days |
| Coastal expressway (Koper, Izola) | Free since 1 January 2026 |
| Karawanks Tunnel (from Austria) | €9 per crossing, on top of the vignette |
| Ljubljana | P+R car parks on the outskirts, with two bus tickets for 24 hours |
| Bled car parks | €2.50 to €7.50 an hour depending on the car park |
| Savica waterfall (Bohinj) | Parking €7 for 3 hours, €15 for the day, bank card only |
| Vintgar Gorge | Free P1 car park and shuttle, entry €15 per adult |
| Piran | Fornače garage €3.20 an hour and minibus for €1; driving into town €6 an hour |
| Vršič Pass | Closed by snow for much of the winter |
|---|---|
| Ukanc-Savica waterfall road | Closed to campervans from 1 July to 31 August |
| Vintgar Gorge | Open from April to October only |
| Kozjak waterfall | Entrance open from April to the end of October |
| Savica waterfall | Closed in heavy rain, snow, ice or rockfall |
Allow 10 days for this loop of 6 stages and 9 nights: Ljubljana, Bled, Bohinj, Bovec over the Vršič Pass, Postojna and Piran. With 7 days, spend just one night each in Ljubljana, Bovec, Postojna and Piran. The drives are short, often 1 to 2 hours between stages.
Yes, on all motorways and expressways. It is electronic, linked to the number plate, and sold on evinjeta.dars.si: €16 for 7 days, €32 for a month, €117.50 for a year. Without a vignette, the fine is €300. Since 2026, the coastal expressway around Koper has been toll-free.
For the car: about €245 of car hire in August (€27 a day, Kayak average), €32 for a monthly vignette, about €60 of fuel at September 2026 prices for some 500 km, plus parking at Bled, Bohinj and Piran. Entry fees: Postojna Cave €34.90, Škocjan €24 in summer, Vintgar €15.
From the snowmelt until autumn: the road is closed by snow for much of the winter. In 2026, barriers control access, the crossing is still free, the summit car park is free until the end of 2026 and a free Kranjska Gora-Bovec bus runs from 1 June to 30 September.
In Bled, only in marked bays, from €2.50 to €7.50 an hour, with frequent checks. For Vintgar, the free P1 car park then the shuttle. Piran is closed to cars: park in the Fornače garage (€3.20 an hour) and take the €1 minibus, or in the Arze garage (€2 an hour).
Yes, if the rental company allows it and you declare it. At Avantcar, crossing a border costs €60 per rental; without a declaration, the penalty is €625. The suggested loop stays in Slovenia, apart from a winter detour through Italy if the Vršič is closed.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/slovenia · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
