Dear travelers,
Why Velika Planina Is One of Slovenia’s Must-Visit Spots
Our Story: It Took Me 11 Years to Finally Visit Velika Planina
I have been saying “I should go to Velika Planina” for years.
You know how that goes. It becomes one of those plans you bring up over coffee, like:
“Next weekend?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
And then… next weekend becomes next year.
So when I finally decided to go, I treated it like a full expedition. Because here’s the truth: I’m not really a hiking person.
I like the idea of hiking. The outfits? Cute. The aesthetic? Love it. The actual uphill walking? Debatable.
But I was ready. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. We planned. We checked things. I prepared myself for the hike.
What I didn’t prepare for?
Getting completely lost before we even started.
What Actually Happened
We got in the car, excited, slightly overprepared, and very confident in our ability to “just follow the signs.”
That was the first mistake.
Instead of ending up at a hiking starting point, we somehow drove to the completely wrong side of the mountain.
No dramatic moment. No wrong turn panic.
Just a slow realization that… this doesn’t look like where we’re supposed to be.
And then we saw it:
A parking lot and a cable car.
And suddenly the plan changed.
The Cable Car Option (Which We Definitely Didn’t Plan)
So, instead of hiking, we stood there for a moment and had that silent conversation:
Do we turn around and find the trail…
or do we just go with this?
We went with it. And honestly, if you’re not fully committed to hiking, this is a very real option.
How the Velika Planina Cable Car Works
If you arrive from this side (intentionally or not), here’s what you need to know:
- First, you take a gondola (cable car) up the mountain
- Then, there’s an optional chairlift that takes you even higher
- You can buy tickets for just one, or both
We chose the combined ticket.
Prices, Schedule & Things to Watch Out For
- The combined ticket was around €30 per person
- It usually runs every hour
But here’s the important part: If it’s windy, it doesn’t run.
Which means your easy plan can quickly turn into a forced hike.
So if you’re planning to rely on the cable car:
- Check the weather
- Check the schedule
- Have a backup plan
Hiking Velika Planina: What to Expect
From where we were, hiking to the top would’ve taken around 2 hours. If you’re planning to hike, do one thing we didn’t: Actually check where you’re starting from.
Velika Planina isn’t one simple viewpoint, it’s a large area, and your starting point matters more than you think.
The Part Where We Realized Something Was Off
We took the cable car, then the chairlift, got to the top… and it was nice.
Really nice. Views, fresh air, quiet.
We found a restaurant, sat down, ordered food, and for a moment it felt like:
okay, this is it.
But something was missing. You know when you’ve seen a place so many times online that you expect a certain view? Yeah… that wasn’t there.
Where Are the Famous Velika Planina Views?
The ones with:
- the clustered wooden huts
- the little paths between them
- that postcard feeling
We couldn’t find them. At first, we thought maybe we just hadn’t walked far enough.
So we checked the map.
40 minutes away.
On the other side.
Why We Missed It
Because we came up from the wrong side. Simple as that. Velika Planina isn’t just one central viewpoint—it’s a plateau with different access points, and not all of them drop you straight into the “main” area you’ve seen online.
And by the time we realized where we needed to go, we were already sitting in a restaurant, eating, slightly tired, and not particularly motivated to add another 40-minute walk.
So we didn’t.
Where You Should Actually Go
If you want that Velika Planina experience, aim for:
- The main shepherd settlement
- Tromeja (Male, Velike in Gojške planine)
And most importantly: Plan your route so you arrive closer to that area.
Practical Tips (So You Don’t Repeat Our Day)
Before you go:
- Check where you’re starting from
- Decide your route in advance
- Download offline maps
- Check the cable car schedule
- Watch the weather (wind matters)
Would I go again? Yes.
Would I do it the same way? No.
But also… I don’t mind that it didn’t go perfectly. And next time, I’ll know exactly where to go.
Also, if you’re planning your own trip (and doing it better than we did), I actually included Velika Planina in my travel journal. It has space to plan, notes, and stickers for places like this—so you can keep track of where you’ve been and where you still want to go.
Because apparently, some places take 11 years.
Truly yours,
The Creation of Us
P.S.: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
