Riding The Bohinj Railway: Best Scenic Train in Slovenia

For most travelers to Slovenia, the purpose of taking a train is to get from Point A to Point B. However, there is a scenic train in Slovenia that navigates through stunning landscapes, which makes the sole reason for riding the Bohinj Railway the spectacular scenery that passes by just outside your window.

The Bohinj Slovenia Railway, which was featured by Lonely Planet as one of “the best train journeys you’ve never heard of,” is just that kind of ride – a trip that proves it can be more about the journey than the destination.

After three days of hiking in Lake Bohinj, we couldn’t think of a better way to give our legs a rest than to hop aboard this scenic train in Slovenia – taking it all the way to the Italian border.

Bohinj Railway: Taking The Scenic Train in Slovenia

The Bohinj Railway extends from Jesenice, Slovenia south to the border town, with the original tracks continuing on from Nova Gorica to Trieste, Italy. The Austro-Hungarians created the train line, which was completed in 1906, to connect Trieste to Central Europe. However, after World War I, the route lost importance and the border between Italy and Slovenia (then Yugoslavia) was closed. It wasn’t until Slovenia joined the European Union in 2004 that the Bohinj Railway was revived.

Building the tracks was no easy feat, as the route traverses through the Soca Valley and follows along the Baca and Soca Rivers. Tunnels had to be blasted through mountains and water crossings had to be created. The Bohinj Tunnel, the longest on the route, runs four miles through Mount Kolba. The Solkan Bridge, a 720-foot-long stone bridge with a 280-foot arch spanning the Soca River, is the longest of its kind.

Since we were staying in Stara Fuzina near Lake Bohinj, we traveled to Bohinjska Bistrica, the closest train station on the route, to join the train journey to Nova Gorica. The roundtrip ticket for the scenic train in Slovenia – of which each segment takes about an hour and a half – costs about €12 (but is discounted 50% with the Bohinj Guest Card).

When our two-car train arrived at the station, we walked across the tracks and boarded the second car. We chose seats on the left side of the train (but later switched to the right…and then back again) and put the window down just as the train pulled away from the station. Within moments, we entered into the darkness of the 4-mile-long Bohinj Tunnel.

Once we emerged, we were treated to the spectacular vistas that were promised. We passed small Slovenian towns tucked into the hills, cut through wide, green pastures and crossed bridges straddling translucent teal water. In whichever direction we looked, we saw towering mountains, unless of course we were chugging through the middle of one in a tunnel.

Rather than sitting, I stood at the open window. The sun was warm, but the cool breeze – especially chilly when racing through the tunnels – rushed into the cabin. I alternated my time between savoring the passing scenes and taking what I hoped wouldn’t be blurry pictures, careful not to push myself too far outside of the window. When the Bohinj Railway train conductor approached me after already checking my ticket, I was certain he was going to ask me to take a seat, instead his face crinkled into a knowing smile as he asked, “Isn’t it beautiful?” Yes, yes, it is.

Along the scenic route, we made stops at 10 stations – some of which looked more like the back yards of private residences than train platforms – before arriving at the final stop, Nova Gorica. In European terms, Nova Gorica is a new city, as it was built in 1947 after World War II when the new border was created between Yugoslavia and Italy. That border divided the metropolis of Italy’s Gorizia and the once imaginary line was made very real with a new wall. What Yugoslavia gained was mostly suburbs and, in order to unify the suburbs into a city, Nova Gorica was built.

Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Our time in Nova Gorica was limited to less than an hour, but there was only one city sight we wanted to see: Trg Evrope – or Europe Square – which happens to be right outside the train station. It’s not a particularly large or decorated square and cars park right alongside it. It could easily be walked through without a second glance. The importance of the square, however, is that it is shared by both Slovenia and Italy; the border between the countries runs right through the center.

Until 2004, the wall separated the two countries; today, the wall has been replaced with just a few potted plants. As Italy and Slovenia are both part of the European Schengen Area, people can now move freely between the two countries…or better yet, stand in both countries at the same time. After snapping our two-countries-at-once photo op, we stretched our legs with a quick walk into Nova Gorica’s city center before hurrying back to the train station to make the picturesque return trip back to Bohinj.

Before You Go to Slovenia

• Don’t forget to pack a pair of lightweight and comfortable walking shoes for your trip. I (Sarah) have traveled with these shoes by Columbia and Reef. Kris prefers wearing these shoes by Merrell and Sanuk.
• We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip to Europe. Rather than relying on your phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for high quality photos. We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos) and a Canon PowerShot ELPH (which takes beautiful pictures, and is a slim and light weight budget camera).
• Be sure to get (and stay) organized for your vacation to Slovenia by using our Trip Planning Printables!
• Whether you travel with a backpack or a suitcase, you will also want a great day bag for all of your everyday travel items.
• It’s easy to get turned around in any foreign country! Make sure to have a good guidebook before arriving.
• If you haven’t already obtained insurance for your trip to Slovenia, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.

Start planning your trip to Slovenia! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing!  Want more travel planning tips? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more advice – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

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