Why this road
Few passes change this much in one hour. You start in the alpine forests above Kranjska Gora, pass a wooden chapel built by Russian prisoners of war during the First World War, cross the pass at 1,611 metres under bare limestone walls and then come down into a valley that feels almost Mediterranean, with the Soča shining in its gorges. All hairpins are numbered, so you always know how far you have come.
The route
- AKranjska Gora
Start in Kranjska Gora and take the road south into the forest, past the Jasna lake.
- 1Ruska kapelica
The Russian Chapel, a small wooden church in the forest, built in memory of the Russian prisoners who died building the road.
- 2Vršič
The top at 1,611 m, with huts and the limestone walls of the Julian Alps all around. On the way up, look for the face of the Heathen Maiden in the north wall of Prisojnik.
- 3Trenta
After the southern hairpins you reach the Trenta valley, with a monument to the climber Julius Kugy and the visitor centre of the Triglav National Park.
- 4Soča
A small village by the river. Nearby, the Soča runs through the narrow gorge of Velika korita, a short walk from the road.
- BBovec
The end of the drive in the wide basin of Bovec, the centre for rafting and kayaking on the Soča.
Stops worth it
A short walk from the road up to the chapel in the forest, quiet and moving.
At the top there is currently no parking (the lots are being rebuilt); park at the marked areas below the pass, or take the free summer bus. From the top, walk a few minutes towards the huts for the view over both valleys.
Light and the best time
On the climb from Kranjska Gora you drive south, so the sun is ahead of you in the middle of the day. Leave around 8:30: the forest is still fresh, the north side is in light, and you reach the Soča in the late morning when the sun stands high enough to make the water glow green in the gorges. In the afternoon the Trenta valley gets deep shade on one side and contrast is hard for photos.
June to September is the main season. In winter and often after snowfall the pass is closed, and in spring it opens when the road is clear, check before you go. Summer weekends are very busy, with the marked parking areas below the pass and at Velika korita filling up early. September is quieter and the Soča is just as green.
By vehicle
Fun, but take care: the cobbled hairpins on the north side are slippery when wet, and the road is busy in summer.
Fine for any car. Use a low gear down the south side, the hairpins are tight and steep.
Lovely open-top through the forest and down the Soča valley. Narrow in places, so take it slowly.
A hard climb from either side, especially the cobbled hairpins on the north side. Very popular in summer.
Good to know
No toll on the pass road; the Slovenian vignette is only needed on motorways. The hairpins are tight and the north side is cobbled: not a good choice with a long camper or trailer, check any vehicle restrictions before you go. Fuel up in Kranjska Gora or Bovec. There is currently no parking at the top; use the marked areas below the pass or the free summer bus. Parking at the Soča gorges often costs money in summer.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How many hairpins does the Vršič Pass have?
Fifty, all numbered: 24 on the Kranjska Gora side and 26 on the Trenta side.
How long does it take to drive the Vršič Pass?
A bit over an hour of pure driving from Kranjska Gora to Bovec. With stops at the chapel, the top and the Soča, plan half a day.
Is the Vršič Pass open in winter?
Often not: it is usually closed after snowfall and through much of the winter. Check the current status before you go.
Is the Vršič Pass difficult?
It is steep and the hairpins are tight, and the cobbled ones on the north side are slippery in rain. Drive slowly and it is fine for any car.