If you’re looking for peaceful alpine views and charming wooden huts, then this is the best guide for a day trip to Velika Planina—and I’ve got all the details from my own visit to share with you.

We spent about 2.5 hours on this mountain shepherds plateau one afternoon while staying in Logar Valley (our first destination on a 10 day Slovenia itinerary ~ see below for entire trip).

It turned out to be one of those slow, peaceful travel moments that stays with you.

Truthfully, we both wish we would have gotten an earlier start from our Logar Valley hotel to have felt comfortable spending a few more hours up here and still have plenty of time to make a cable car ride back down easily ;0.

If you are on the fence as to whether or not this stop is worth it – I can unequivocally tell you that this is one of my husband and my’s highlights from Slovenia (does that help convince you?).

The one thing I would have changed about our Slovenia itinerary (see below) is to have visited Velika Planina immediately after picking up our rental car at the Ljubljana Airport.

While we did start our day with an early morning flight (6am!!) from Prague to Munich, it would have been nice to not backtrack back from Logar Valley for this day trip to Velika Planina (which is what we did).

This very likely affected how much time we had on the plateau – although either way, early flight or driving from Logar Valley, I guess we would have been tired and low on energy…

In a rush?

How to Get to Velika Planina

Maps

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Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers of the map and names of places included. You can click the check marks to hide or show the layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information from each point of interest.

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Renting a Car

Having our own car for the mountain exploring days of our Slovenia itinerary was so helpful.

While normally we prefer to explore European countries via train, Slovenia is just not one of those countries that makes seeing their rural areas easy to see via train.

If you’re planning to explore the mountains or more remote areas—like Lake Bled, Logar Valley, or the Julian Alps—I’d HIGHLY recommend renting a car.

We used Hertz Rental Car that we easily picked up in the terminal parking garage immediately after landing and went straight to Logar Valley.

We then returned the car back to Ljubljana Airport after our six nights in the countryside before heading into the city for the last 3 nights of our Slovenian exploring :).

Driving in the country of Slovenia (for Americans anyway) is very easy (same side of car and road :)).

If you have Google Maps and a rental car with CarPlay – you will be perfectly fine driving in this country.

I saw on multiple blog posts that an International Drivers License (from AAA) is a requirement but we were NEVER asked for this piece of paper – EVER. So part of me thinks that is a scam that AAA puts out there to get a little extra cash – but don’t hold me to that statement ;0.

However – DO NOT, I REPEAT – DO NOT, pick up your rental car if you will be making Ljubljana the first destination on your trip!!!

ALL of Old Town Ljubljana is a no vehicle zone (i.e. there is no parking in Old Town if you have a rental car). So unless you are staying outside of this area (which I also do not recommend!), a car in the city will be way more hassle than it is worth!

There are two free parking lots for the cable car – one right next to the cable car station and one across the highway. Neither seemed to fill up while we were visiting in mid-June of 2025.

Tour from Ljubljana

If renting a car in Slovenia just isn’t your thing (I get it—those mountain roads can be a little intimidating!), you can visit Velika Planina as a day trip from Ljubljana by joining a tour.

Now, full honesty—we didn’t go that route ourselves, so I can’t speak from experience on how good the tours are.

But if you’re not up for driving and still want to see those alpine huts and wide-open views, this could be a low-stress way to do it.

Just be sure to check reviews and what’s included.

Best Time of Year to Visit Velika Planina

Late spring through early fall is pure magic on the Velika Planina plateau when the mountain meadows come alive with wildflowers and the air is fresh.

While Velika Planina is open year-round, the cable car and chair lift don’t operate daily in the off-season, so it’s best to check the official schedule ahead of time on their website (use this link here).

In the summer months, they typically run daily, making it easy to reach the plateau without breaking a sweat (unless you want to hike up, of course).

Cable Car and Chairlift Tickets

When we took the Velika Planina cable car from Kamniška Bistrica, it whisked us up in just 5 minutes to the upper station at about 4,632 feet elevation.

But fair warning – if you visit in the midseason as we did – the cable car only runs every hour and thus can be quite crowded ;0.

From there, most visitors hop on the modern six‑seater Šimnovec chairlift (about 5–7 minutes) all the way to the top which is where the magic of the plateau is.

Word to the wise: don’t make our mistake!

We got off at the first chairlift stop by the Zeleni Rob inn because we thought the lift had reached full stop—but in reality, there was still about 800 feet more elevation to gain (30-40 minutes if you hiked ~ like we ended up doing) to the top station—no fun if you’re expecting to maximize your time wandering around the shepherd villages (there are actually 3 at the top of this plateau!).

In summer 2025, the combined return ticket (cable car + chairlift) is approximately $30 per adult, which gives you full convenience with no sweaty uphill slog.

Or you can opt for the cable‑only ticket (if you fancy walking that second leg… though trust me, you don’t want to) for around $28.

Tickets are not available online and are only at the ticket booth near the cable car station at the base of the mountain.

Best Tips for Exploring Velika Planina

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

No need to rush.

Sit on a rock, watch the cows, soak in the quiet.

It’s the kind of place that reminds you to breathe deeper and smile bigger.

If you can – spending an entire half day (5+ hours) here would be ideal and give you time to walk between the villages and take a break for a meal ;).

Dress for a Hike

Yes, those rocky paths and rolling meadows are picture-perfect—but they’re also uneven.

A good pair of walking shoes makes all the difference.

Also – bring layers—it can go from summer to sweater weather real fast up there.

A light jacket or sweater will let you still enjoy your visit in the case of wind or even rain.

My husband wasn’t prepared for the amount of hiking we were doing up on the plateau and says he regrets wearing his cotton t-shirt instead of a sweat-wicking exercise shirt :).

Visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows

Even the tiny chapel is cute up here.

It’s simple, peaceful, and set in the most beautiful surroundings.

A sweet stop that feels like a quiet little blessing in the middle of your day.

Read the Educational Signs

Written in Slovenian and English, the signs they provide along the educational trail are quite interesting and informative for learning about the life of shepherds on these plateaus – don’t skip them :).

Bring Water with You

While many of the shepherd’s huts sell fresh sour milk, apple strudel, and local cheeses, they surprisingly do not all have water to sell so be sure to bring your own as there is A LOT of walking when you visit this plateau.

Also – if you are lactose intolerant like we are – the dairy options are not the best for you ;0.

Stop for a Snack

Zeleni Rob Mountain Hut is the classic spot to stop—just steps from the cable car, with panoramic views and hearty local food.

Order the jota (a traditional Slovenian stew) or the buckwheat žganci if you want to eat like the locals.

And yes, a cold Union beer totally counts as hydration up here.

Another snack option is to pop into one of the huts for a taste of shepherd life—literally – but you will need cash if you stop at one of these!!!

They are the real deal and part of what makes the whole experience feel so authentic.

What to Wear in Slovenia in Summer

As I mentioned above, Velika Planina is actually a hiking destination – so be sure to dress accordingly ;).

As far as being prepared for an entire Slovenian itinerary, visiting Slovenia in summer provides for the perfect mix of mountain and city adventures, so packing smart makes all the difference.

For our time in the Alps, I wore lightweight hiking dresses and a good pair of trail shoes—nothing fancy, just practical and comfortable for those moderate hikes.

FYI – I also brought along my Camelbak from home (can’t hike without it anymore!).

Once we got to Ljubljana, I switched to easy, breezy dresses that felt great in the warmer temps (we got there right when a heat wave started!!).

Just simple pieces that helped me feel put together without overthinking it.

I always wear my favorite cooling shorties underneath to stay comfy while walking around all day—no chafing, no fuss.

And if you are traveling during summer like we did, bring along this personal fan ~ you just never know when those temps will rise to an uncomfortable level and you don’t want to ruin your trip with heat exhaustion!

Our 10 Day Slovenia Itinerary Day to Day Overview

DAY 1 | Fly San Diego to Prague on British Airways via London

DAY 2 | Arrive in Prague 5pm | Stay 5 nights at Malostranka Residences

DAY 3 | Prague: Walk around Old Town, Charles Bridge, go up Astronomical Clock tower, Dinner at Letna Beer Garden

DAY 4 | Prague: Early morning walk around Old Town, brunch at Monk, John Lennon Wall, dinner at U Fleků

DAY 5 | Prague: Bruce Springsteen concert with family & friends at Letnany Airport

DAY 6 | Prague: Prague Castle, Brunch at Restaurace Kuchyň, Strahov Monastery, Dinner at Čapadlo Summer Terrace

DAY 7 | Fly Prague to Ljubljana on Lufthansa via Munich | Pick up rental car and drive to Kamnik, Slovenia then Logar Valley | Stay 3 nights at Hotel Plesnik Logarska Dolina

DAY 8 | Logar Valley, Slovenia: Hike the Logarska Dolina Walking Trail to Rinka Waterfall

DAY 9 | Velika Planina | Overnight in Logar Valley (3rd night)

DAY 10 | Drive to Julian Alps with afternoon stop in Lake Bled | Spend 3 nights at Boutique Hotel Milka in Kranjska Gora

DAY 11 | Kranjska Gora: Walk around village, dinner at Gostilna Pri Martinu

DAY 12 | Kranjska Gora: Hike on Vrsic Pass, Lunch at Poštarski dom na Vrsicu Mountain Hut, Dinner at Erjavčeva Mountain Hut

DAY 13 | Drive to Predjama Castle, then to Ljubljana Airport to drop off rental car | Spend 3 nights in Ljubljana at Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel | Dinner at Spajza Restaurant

DAY 14 | Ljubljana: 6am photo shoot with Flytographer afterwards walk around city as it was waking up, funicular to Ljubljana Castle then walk back down to Central Market, dinner at Pop’s Burgers

DAY 15 | Ljubljana: Go inside Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and Museum, drinks at Nebotičnik rooftop cafe, Ljubljana City Museum, Dinner at Breg

DAY 16 | Ljubljana: walk to Metelkova artist district, return to Old Town and go inside Ljubljana Cathedral | 7pm flight from Ljubljana to London on British Airways | Spend 2 nights at Raffles London at the OWO

DAY 17 | London: walk to Borough Market and Queens Walk then walk across Tower Bridge, get drinks at The Ned, dinner at Ship Tavern, attend Just for One Day musical performance at Shaftesbury Theatre

DAY 18 | Fly London to San Diego on British Airways

I hope you found this post helpful in planning your day trip to Velika Planina.

Visiting Velika Planina truly feels like stepping into a slower, simpler world—one where the air is crisp, the views stretch for miles, and time doesn’t matter much at all.

If you’re craving a peaceful day surrounded by alpine beauty, charming herdsmen’s huts, and a touch of storybook magic, this is your sign to go.

It’s the kind of place that fills your soul and reminds you why we travel in the first place.

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Life is short, the world is wide.

I want to make some memories.

~Mamma Mia

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Have a wonderful day my friend! I hope something makes you smile today ;).