Riding the Bohinj railway from the Mediterranean port city Trieste to Slovenia’s most visited attraction, Lake Bled, showcases some of the best spots in the region. Jump off in North Slovenia and explore the wonderful landscape in more detail, or continue straight to the country’s capital city Ljubljana for dinner.
Fast facts about the Bohinj Railway
What: Trieste–Jesenice line is also known as the Bohinj Railway. The line was opened in 1906 and connected Trieste to Prague.
Make it happen: I travelled with a PR Eurail Global Pass as part of my train journey from Finland to Portugal and back. I had a 2-month pass with 15 trips to make (415€). Otherwise, buy online (trenitalia.it and Slovenske zalenice) or at the stations/train attendants – some stations do not have ticket salespeople. The total cost will be around 25€.
How long does it take: The trip takes around 4 hours, so if you wish, you can continue to Ljubljana from the end station at Jesenice, and be in the capital city before dinner.
Highlights: Bay of Trieste from the heights, chucking through the craggy Karst landscape, crossing the Soča river and finally, seeing the ever-so-popular Lake Bled and reaching the Julian Alps. Crossing the world’s second-largest stone bridge Solkan.
Why train?
Riding the Bohinj Railway allows you to enjoy the views without the hassle of driving. When approaching the northern parts of Slovenia, Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps, the train stops very often, giving you the opportunity to jump on and off at the places you like to explore more. Plan beforehand: there are plenty of hiking routes here, especially around Lake Bled and Triglav National Park.
A photogenic journey
Taking the Bohinj train is easy, although there are a couple of changes along the way. But the stations are small, with only a few platforms, and your next train will be easy to spot. The small stations and graffiti-covered trains are also photogenic, don’t you think? Especially, if you are a more skilled photographer from a moving train than I am!
For more words on the trip, please read this article I wrote for The Sunday Times.
Bon voyage!
