A Guide to the Beautiful Zelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia
Nestled in the north-west of Slovenia lies Zelenci Nature Reserve, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it natural paradise overlooking the Triglav Mountains.
Here’s our complete guide to the reserve, with all the essential information you’ll need for your own visit.
Sir Humphry Davy, a Cornish naturalist, said of his visit to northwestern Slovenia in the 19th century, “The valley of the Save, with its cataracts and lakes, particularly struck me. I have seen nothing so beautiful in Europe”.
While we might debate the last point (Dolomites, we’re looking at you!), Sir Humphry did have a point. During our autumn road trip through Slovenia, we discovered that the surrounds of Kranjska Gora, including the beautiful Lake Jasna, the towering Julian Alps, or the winding Vršič Pass, really do provide some of the most breathtaking views in the country.
Also nestled in Kranjska Gora’s surroundings is the pretty little Zelenci Nature Reserve, a wetland area in the valley that stretches between Podkoren and Italy.
Surrounded by the vast peaks of the Julian Alps, Zelenci is famous for its small boardwalk and observation tower with views over the crystal clear green spring waters of the wetlands, and the limestone peaks of the Ponce mountain range.
Want to see this beauty for yourself? Here’s our guide to the beautiful Zelenci Nature Reserve, a perfect side trip from Kranjska Gora or Lake Bled.
OUR GUIDE TO ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE, KRANJSKA GORA
ABOUT ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE
Declared a nature reserve in 1992 because of its incredible natural and geological beauty, Zelenci Nature reserve is a must-visit for travellers to Slovenia.
Set on 15 hectares of pristine Slovenian wilderness, the reserve is famous for its emerald green lake, a natural spring that’s seeped through layers of sedimentary rock from the underground Nadiza creek below. In fact, the entire reserve is named for lake’s colour; Zelenci is green in Slovenian.
But the nature reserve is far more than just its famous lake.
Bordered by the forested Vitranc and Karavanks woodlands, the Zelenci reserve has a number of walkways and hiking paths that crisscross the varied landscape. To the east of the reserve is the Drni moorland, which measures around 1.2km long by 150m wide, and houses a huge array of flora and fauna (including snakes, so be careful).
WHERE IS ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE?
So where in Slovenia is this beautiful natural paradise located?
You’ll find Zelenci nestled in the leafy edges of the Triglav National Park in northwest Slovenia, 4.5km outside of the town of Kranjska Gora and close to where Austria, Italy and Slovenia intersect.
The reserve itself is located just off the main #202 road, which makes it a perfect pitstop on the way to other adventures in the area (you probably don’t need more than about half an hour here to soak up all the beauty).
HOW TO GET TO ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE
Zelenci is actually super easy to visit - it’s located just off the #202 road from Kranjska Gora to Italy.
If you’re travelling from Kranjska Gora via car, head west along the #202 for 4.5km, passing the small town of Podkoren before arriving at the destination on your left. There is ample parking space.
Alternatively, it’s possible to walk from Kranjska Gora to Zelenci which takes around 1 - 1.5 hours depending on which route you take. We’d suggest taking the pathway to Podkoren which follows the Sava river before crossing a small boardwalk to enter Zelenci Nature Reserve.
Public transport is not the best option as there’s no stop close to Zelenci. You’d need to catch the bus from Kranjska Gora and either need to hop off in Podkoren or Rateče, and walk 15 minutes to the reserve.
READ NEXT | our complete 7-day slovenia road trip guide
THE EMERALD LAKE OF ZELENCI
The pièce de résistance of Zelenci nature reserve is, obviously the crystal clear emerald lake.
The green-blue hues mirror the soaring limestone peaks in the distance, while the pristine waters provide refuge to an array of aquatic life, including huge trout, which can be seen swimming calmly below the surface. The lake is adorned with ferns and reeds teeming with birds and birdsong.
Even in winter, when everything else is frozen white, the 5 degree temperature keeps the lake visible.
A moment spent here is a moment of pure solitude, and it's a place of such natural beauty that the landscapes will stick in your memory forever.
There is an observation tower that overlooks the lake and which provides incredible views over across to the Julian Alps, as well as information on the reserve itself.
The lake is a 5 minute walk east from the carpark.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE?
We visited Zelenci Nature Reserve in autumn, which for us was an incredible experience.
The skies were clear and blue, the trees burnt orange, and the blue-green lake still, providing some incredible photography opportunities. It also meant the summer crowds were nowhere to be seen (the 7am arrival might have also had something to do with that!), so we had the reserve almost to ourselves.
Therefore, we recommend visiting Zelenci (and Slovenia itself) during either spring, when the mountains are still snow-topped, or autumn, when the colours turn golden.
One thing we definitely recommend though, is to arrive early in the morning or during weekdays.
Not only will you have the place to yourself, you’ll also be treated to a glorious sunrise to boot.
SLOVENIA TRIP ESSENTIALS
WHERE TO STAY IN KRANJSKA GORA
We stayed in this comfortable apartment which included a kitchen near the centre of Kranjska Gora. Perfect for those on a budget, it’s a short walk into town, and had all the amenities you need.
COST| €
BOOK | Check prices or book here
Alternatively, if you’re after a little more comfort, the Best Western Kranjska Gora is a slightly more upmarket alternative close to town.
COST | €€
BOOK | Check prices or book here
Or, find the best deals on Slovenia accommodation here
CAR HIRE IN SLOVENIA
We’d recommend hiring a small all-wheel drive / SUV in Ljubljana, the gateway to your Slovenia road trip.
We use Rentalcars.com to book our rental cars, which is an aggregator of all the major car hire companies.
BOOK | Search for car rental options in Ljubljana here
STUNNING SLOVENIA | 14 incredible things to see and do in slovenia
TRAVEL INSURANCE | STAY SAFE IN SLOVENIA
If you can't afford travel insurance, you really can't afford to travel. As the current global situation has taught many people, things can go wrong anywhere in the world - and insurance is often the only way of mitigating any issues with minimal expense or stress for you.
Here are our recommendations, based on 8+ years of full-time travel:
FOR TRAVELLERS | HeyMondo - Comprehensive travel + medical insurance, an app with 24-hour medical support, and no out-of-pocket fees.
*The Common Wanderer readers get 5% off your policy by booking through our link here.
FOR DIGITAL NOMADS | SafetyWing - Comprehensive travel & medical, and policies for digital nomads, and can be purchased while already abroad.
CAR INSURANCE | Insurance4CarHire - a great annual car insurance policy
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PLANNING A TRIP TO SLOVENIA SOON?
Check our these essential posts to help you have the best Slovenia trip ever:
THE BEST OF SLOVENIA | 14 incredible things to see and do in Slovenia, the best things to do in Lake Bled, How to visit the Logar Valley
SLOVENIA ROAD TRIP | Our essential 7-day Slovenia road trip itinerary
VRSIC PASS | Our guide to Slovenia’s highest mountain pass
ZELENCI NATURE RESERVE | A quick guide to beautiful Zelenci
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Read our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT. Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and your friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO-FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
EXPLORE THE BEST OF SLOVENIA WITH THESE POSTS!
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That, and you're officially a legend.
