Slovenia
The must visit dog friendly spots in Slovenia
Slovenia is one of those countries that instantly sweeps you off your feet, peaceful, insanely beautiful, and incredibly dog-friendly. I spent a week there in autumn with my huskies, Dunya and Zade, and the landscapes were at their absolute peak: colourful forests, clear rivers, and beautiful mountain views. We did a mix of hikes, from climbing a mountain to following turquoise gorges, each completely different from the last. It’s a country with a lot of variety in a small area, easy to explore with dogs, and a place I’d return to without hesitation.
The ultimate guide to Slovenia | dog friendly hikes & spots to visit
Zelenci Nature Reserve
Zelenci Nature Reserve is one of those places that immediately feels calm and untouched. After a short, easy walk from the parking area through a quiet forest, the trees suddenly open up to reveal the vivid turquoise lake, a view that feels almost unreal. The reserve is peaceful and simple, with a wooden lookout tower that gives an even better perspective over the water and surrounding landscape. It’s the perfect quick stop if you’re driving from Italy or Austria toward Bled: nothing complicated, just a beautiful, easy walk to a stunning spot that’s absolutely worth the detour.
Bled
Bled is a great place to explore with your dog, especially if you enjoy relaxed walks with beautiful views. The path around the lake is easy and scenic, with plenty of spots to stop, take photos, or let your dog sniff around. The walk up to Bled Castle is also really enjoyable, a bit of a climb, but the view over the lake and the island is absolutely worth it. The town itself is small and easy to wander through, making it perfect for spending half a day exploring, enjoying the scenery, and soaking in the atmosphere. We spent a few hours here to have some lunch and walk around and it was perfect.
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is one of those places that fully lives up to the hype and it’s a great adventure to do with your dog. You do need to pay an entry fee (€15 per person and €3 per dog), but this includes free parking and a shuttle bus to the start of the trail. The walk through the gorge takes around three hours if you stop often for photos and you will, because the water and cliffs are unbelievably beautiful. You’re given a helmet for the first part of the route, as the path can be narrow with low rocks overhead, and the entire section through the gorge is one-way. At the end you hand in your helmet and return via a forest trail, which is also really scenic with some lovely viewpoints. If you’re visiting in high season, make sure to reserve a time slot online in advance. We visited in October and it wasn’t crowded at all. Just a perfect, peaceful walk surrounded by nature.
Peričnik Waterfall
This is a breathtaking spot to visit with your dog, especially in autumn when the forest and river feel extra magical. In high season, you can’t park right at the start of the trail, so we played it safe and left our car a bit further down the road, walking through a beautiful forest path to reach the beginning of the waterfall trail. It only takes about five minutes to get to the first viewpoint from the start point of the trail, but I highly recommend continuing up the path to go behind the waterfall itself, you’ll get a little wet, but it’s absolutely worth it for the incredible experience. We did see a few people park directly at the waterfall, but even with the extra walk, this was such a stunning and peaceful adventure to do with dogs.
Mostnica Gorge & Voje Waterfall
This is an incredibly beautiful and surprisingly easy adventure to do with your dog. Make sure to bring some cash (around €3) for the entry, as cards aren’t accepted here, the same goes for the restaurant you’ll pass along the way. The hike takes about three hours and starts with a gorgeous trail along the emerald coloured gorge before opening up into a wide, peaceful valley where you might encounter farm animals right on the path. This valley is absolutely stunning with all the small farm houses and a perfect spot to take some photos. At the end, you’ll reach the stunning Voje Waterfall. On the way back you can choose to walk a slightly different path, so you're walking a loop.
Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is absolutely breathtaking, especially in autumn when the trees explode with colour and the still water mirrors the whole scene like a painting. It’s the perfect place to wander around with your dog, and in summer it becomes an amazing spot for swimming, with several areas where dogs are welcome to take a dip too. Since it’s so close to Mostnica Gorge, it’s super easy to combine both into one perfect day out. Whether you’re exploring the shoreline or snapping photos of your dog with the mountains and reflections behind them, it sure feels magical
Logar Valley
Logar Valley truly deserves its title as Slovenia’s most beautiful valley, it’s absolutely breathtaking from the moment you enter. The entrance fee is €10 per car, and right at the start we were greeted by a small group of highland cows, which made the experience even more magical. There are plenty of short and longer hikes to choose from, so you can easily spend an entire afternoon exploring the forests, meadows, and mountain views (which is exactly what we did). With a couple of cozy restaurants scattered through the valley, it’s the perfect place to take your dog, enjoy nature, and soak up one of Slovenia’s most iconic landscapes.
Rinka waterfall hike
This waterfall sits at the very end of Logar Valley, and it’s an absolute must-see when you’re in the area. The walk to the bottom takes only about 15 minutes, but we spontaneously decided to continue the full hike to the top, a steep route with roughly 300 meters of elevation gain over less than 2.5 km in total (up and down). It was absolutely worth the effort: the views over the valley are incredible, and there’s even a little bridge that leads you right over the waterfall. Just make sure your dog is a confident climber, as some sections require proper mountain-goat skills to scramble over bigger rocks. Due to a landslide we couldn’t do the loop, so we returned via the same path and honestly, with those views, we didn’t mind one bit.
Mount Visevnik hike
Mount Viševnik was one of the most incredible hikes we did, easily a favourite, but definitely not an easy one. The trail is very steep right from the moment you pass the ski lift, and with almost 800 meters of elevation gain over less than 9 km, it really demands solid stamina. Once you get higher, the views become absolutely unbelievable, and reaching the top feels like stepping into another world. We walked along the ridge for a bit before descending on the left side so we could cross a beautiful valley, which turned out to be a perfect ending to the hike. The weather here can change quickly, so make sure you’re well prepared, but if you are, this hike rewards you with some of the most stunning scenery in Slovenia. It took us around 4,5 hours to finish including breaks we took along the way.
The best dog friendly cafes & restaurants in Slovenia
Gostilna Pri Planincu, Bled
Gostilna Pri Planincu in Bled is a wonderfully cozy and dog-friendly spot we stumbled upon during our time in Slovenia. With its spacious outdoor seating area, it’s perfect for relaxing with your dog after exploring the lake or nearby trails. The staff were incredibly welcoming and made sure the dogs felt right at home, which immediately set a warm tone. The menu is hearty and comforting, featuring a mix of Eastern European dishes and classic Slovenian favorites, and the service was genuinely great.
Gostilna Apartmaji Prevozi Psnak, Triglav National Park
Gostilna Apartmaji Prevozi Psnak in Triglav National Park has a completely different charm, the kind that feels like stepping into someone’s home in the best possible way. Run by an elderly couple, everything here is truly homemade, from the hearty stews to the comforting traditional dishes that warm you right up after a hike. The service can be a little slower when it’s busy, simply because everything is prepared with care, but the wait is absolutely worth it. Inside, it’s wonderfully cozy, while outside you get beautiful views of the surrounding hills. It’s also perfectly located between Vintgar Gorge and the Peričnik Waterfall, making it the ideal stop for a delicious meal between these two hikes.
Planinska koca na Vojah, Stara Fužina
Planinska koča na Vojah is the perfect little mountain hut to stop at when you’re hiking the Mostnica Gorge and Voje Waterfall route. We stopped here on our way back for some hearty Slovenian comfort food, and it was exactly what we needed after a few hours on the trail. Just make sure to bring cash, as they don’t accept cards. The atmosphere is simple, cozy, and welcoming, and dogs are happily allowed inside.
Snack bar Pod Brezo, Lake Bohinj
Snack Bar Pod Brezo is a perfect little stop right next to Lake Bohinj, ideal for grabbing a snack, a refreshing drink, or their amazing iced coffee (highly recommend!). The atmosphere is super relaxed, with plenty of outdoor seating where you can enjoy the lake views. We also tried the famous Bled cake here, a local delicacy that’s sweet, creamy, very filling, and absolutely delicious. The staff were genuinely kind to the dogs, giving them lots of attention and even a few cookies, making it an extra lovely place to take a break.
Dom Planincev Logarska Dolina, Logar Valley
Dom Planincev Logarska Dolina, nestled in the heart of the Logar Valley, offers absolutely stunning views all around. Since we visited in the off-season, the meal options were limited, but we went for the goulash and it was delicious, hearty, flavourful, and generously portioned. The atmosphere was super relaxed, with friendly staff who made both us and the dogs feel completely welcome.
Gostilna Zatrnik-Pr.Jagru
After our hike up Mount Visevnik, we stopped by Gostilna Zatrnik-Pr. Jagru for a well-deserved lunch. The dogs were more than welcome inside, which made it super easy to relax after the hike. Outside, they were smoking some meat, and the aroma was absolutely mouthwatering. The staff were friendly, the menu delicious, and the hot chocolate was pure melted chocolate, a real treat!
Dog-friendly stays in Slovenia
Dog friendly apartment in Slovenia in a small town close to Lake Bohinj and Bled.
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