Škofja Loka is a charming countryside town in northwestern Slovenia with a well-preserved medieval historic town center. Located a short distance from Ljubljana and nestled in the foothills of the Julian Alps, it makes an excellent day-trip option from the capital city. The town is small enough that it can be visited in an hour or two but with enough things to see and do (including visiting a hilltop castle and several scenic bridges) to keep you busy for a good part of the day. Despite its obvious beauty, this gem of a town is definitely underrated as few tourists make their way here as they often prioritize more well-known destinations such as Lake Bled. To help you get the most out of your time in the area, we put together this visiting guide Best Things to See and Do in Škofja Loka (Slovenia).
Disclosure: This page (Best Things to See and Do in Radovljica (Slovenia)) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
You might also be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in Bled (Slovenia)
Best Day Trips from Bled (Slovenia)
5-Day Slovenia Road Trip Itinerary
Best Hiking and Walking Trails Near Bled (Slovenia)
Škofja Loka Location & Map
Radovljica is located in northwestern Slovenia, roughly in the middle between Bled and Ljubljana. (link to Google Maps)
How to get to Škofja Loka
By Car: Škofja Loka is a short 25-minute drive from the center of Ljubljana (26 km) and is about a 35-minute drive from Bled (40 km).
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your travels, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Slovenia.
We also highly recommend Airalo (eSIM card) for your connectivity needs when travelling abroad. Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide.
Important: All Slovenian freeways and expressways are subject to tolls. All cars, motorbikes, and camper vans must have purchased a digital vignette online when they plan to drive onto a motorway or expressway. Digital Vignettes with periods of validity of 7 days, 1 month, 6 months or 12 months are available and can be purchased from the Slowenien Vignette website. They are not prohibitively expensive — for instance, the 7-day vignette for cars costs €13.90 (2024).
By Bus: Škofja Loka has excellent bus connections with Ljubljana. For more information consult the Ljubljana bus website. The Škofja Loka bus station is located here just outside the old town.
By Train: Škofja Loka can also be reached by train from Ljubljana; however, the train station is located 3 km outside of the town center. For more information on travelling by train in the area consult the Slovenian rail website.
By Group Tour: You can also visit with this group tour from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, with a stop in Škofja Loka.
Arrival by Car & Parking:
The best car park is a short 5-minute walk from the old town square. Free 2h parking and only 50 cents for each extra hour.
About Škofja Loka
Skofja Loka was first mentioned in 973 when the lordship of Škofja Loka was granted by Emperor Otto II to the Bishops of Freising. A castle and tower were built above the town for defence purposes in the early 1200s, and Škofja Loka was first mentioned as having market rights in 1248 and town rights in 1274. Soon thereafter Škofja Loka was walled in the 14th century, but it couldn’t escape several invasions and natural disasters. After attacks from the Ottomans and several peasant revolts, large parts of the town were destroyed by the 1511 earthquake. After much of the town was rebuilt, it was destroyed by multiple fires, including in 1660 and 1698.
Despite the repeated carnage and natural disasters, Škofja Loka today has a vibrant population of about 12,000 and it is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Slovenia.
Best Things to See and Do in Škofja Loka
Selska Sora Riverfront & Capuchin Bridge
Regardless of whether you come by bus or car (both the bus station are car park are located a few steps from the Old Town, just on the opposite side of the Selska Sora River). You will have to cross one of the bridges over the river to enter Škofja Loka old town.
There are three bridges close together, and from west to east they are : Kamniti Most (Capuchin Bridge), Novi Loški Most (new pedestrian bridge), and Šeširski Most. You can ignore the last easternmost one as it’s a regular bridge for car traffic. You’ll mostly want to traverse the river via the middle one, the new pedestrian bridge because that is where you will get the best views of the stone Capuchin Bridge, Slovenia’s oldest bridge that originally dates back to the mid-14th century (in 1888 it was renovated and equipped with iron railings, and was undergoing further restoration work during our visit). In the Middle Ages, a gate and guard tower stood next to the bridge.
The views on the opposite side are beautiful as well, as are those from the Capuchin bridge.
Stroll Through the Old Town
One of the best things to do in Škofja Loka is to just slowly wander the streets of the Old Town, one of Slovenia’s best-preserved medieval centers. You will no doubt find the streets much calmer than in Ljubljana or Bled, and you are likely to see more locals than tourists here. Regardless of your schedule, you will have plenty of time to explore every corner as you could lap around the small old town in under 15 minutes. Despite its small size, you’ll be very tempted to take your time to explore every corner of the maze of narrow winding lanes, cobblestone streets and centuries-old buildings.
The Škofja Loka old town is primarily centred around 3 main squares/streets:
Cankarjev Trg (Cankarjev Square)
This is the first and smallest of the two town squares you will encounter after having crossed the Sleska Sora River. The square is backdropped by the 15th-century St Jacobs Church. The church was built in 1471 on the foundations of a smaller church, that was at least 200 years old at the time. The church has undergone several remodels over the centuries, but the current interior of the church, the altars, and the chandeliers are the work of Joze Plecnik, the Slovene architect who designed many of the architectural gems in Ljubljana. The interior is also noted for its black marble Renaissance altar.
Mestni Trg (Mestni Square)
This is Škofja Loka’s main town square (though it’s technically more of an elongated rectangle or a very wide street) and it is quite large and impressive for a town this size. In fact, it nearly runs the full length of the old town, and this is where you will find the most impressive houses and beautiful architecture. Many of the houses on Mestni Trg are named after their previous owners, are often painted in colorful shades and many of them also still feature 17th-century frescoes on their walls, such as the Old Town Hall 9 (building on the left in the first picture below).
The square also features the 18th-century Baroque Plague Pillar — erected as a token of gratitude for surviving the Great Plague, and a 19th-century stone fountain — It’s still in use today to obtain fresh drinking water from a deep well (located between the trees in the above picture).
Spodnji Trg
This street, which runs parallel to Mestni Trg, is a less lively area or town, but you will pass additional rows of colourful houses.
At the end of the street, you will find the former Granary, a stone building which was once part of the town walls.
Devil’s Bridge
The Devil’s Bridge (Hudiceva Brv) is a long wooden bridge that passes over the Poljanska Sora River and connects Škofja Loka to Puštal, a scenic little village up in the mountains east of town.
There’s an interesting information board by the bridge telling the story behind its name (Devil’s Bridge). It’s a complicated legend involving the devil, comb makers (yes the kind that you use to comb your hair) and frogs. We won’t spoil anything and let you discover the legend when you visit.
You can reach the bridge by following Spodnji Trg until it reaches the river (the street will change name before then, known as Fužinska Ulica by the time you reach the river. (link to Google Maps)
The Short Hike to Holy Cross Church
From the bridge (on the Puštal side of the river), you can make your way up a pilgrimage route (with several small chapels along the way) from the foot of Hribec Hill to Holy Cross Church.
The way up the hill is a steep but short climb up a narrow path – hiking the path upwards to the Holy Cross church takes around 10 minutes each way from the bridge.
The church, which dates from the 18th century, will likely be locked when you arrive, but the gatekeeper, Mr Bernick, lives in the house next door and is known to open up the church for visitors on request. But even if you can’t get into the church, the view itself from the church grounds makes the short climb worth it. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of Skofja Loka and its imposing castle beyond it.
Škofja Loka Castle
Speaking of the Castle, it is one of the main attractions of Škofja Loka. To reach the castle, you need to climb a series of steps that begin at the southern end of Mestni Trg.
Parts of the castle date back to the early 13th century, with residential quarters being added in the 14th century. However, the castle suffered major damage during the 1511 earthquake and has since required major restoration work. Some parts, like the original four-cornered tower, were never rebuilt.
The castle today houses the Museum of Skofja Loka, of the best-arranged museums in Slovenia, since 1959. The museum has two floors with exhibits focusing on the archeological, cultural and artistic history of Škofja Loka, in addition to a medieval farmhouse.
The museum and castle are closed on Mondays, and open all other days from 10h-18h (May-October), and 10h-17h (Nov-April). Also closed on major holidays. There is an entrance fee of €6.00 per adult, with reduced fees for children and seniors.
From the castle, you can also hike the Three Castles Path, which begins at the castle and travels a circular, forested path for about 5km, past the ruins of the Krancelj Tower and the Old Castle. The town’s tourist information center has a brochure with a map.
How Long to Spend in Škofja Loka
That’s really up to you! If you just want to enjoy a quick stroll around town, you won’t need more than half an hour. If you want to hike to the church viewpoint and visit the castle, you should probably plan for at least 3 hours.
Best Time to Visit Škofja Loka
We typically recommend visiting places during the shoulder season: there are fewer tourists, the weather is still nice and the prices tend to drop. However, for Škofja Loka we don’t think there is a bad time to visit. The castle is open year-round, and the rest of the main sites of interest aren’t seasonally dependent, and even if you can during the mid-summer high season, the town is hardly ever overrun by tourists.
Where to Stay in Škofja Loka
Most people visit Škofja Loka as a day trip, often from Bled or Ljubljana, but if you are interested in spending a night (or more) in this quaint little town, there are several great options. In fact, if you can’t decide between staying in Bled or Ljubljana, Škofja Loka might prove to be the perfect middle ground.
Boutique Hotel Loka
Other Sights and Attractions Near Škofja Loka
Radovljica
If you like the idea of small and charming medieval towns such as Škofja Loka, then you’ll love Radovljica. While Radovljica is even smaller than Škofja Loka and does not have an imposing hilltop castle, it more than makes up for it with its fun local shops, unique and quirky museums, and lively town square atmosphere.
For more information on this lovely town, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Radovljica.
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is a must-visit in our opinion for anyone who is spending more than a day in Lake Bled. The gorge itself is stunning. Wooden boardwalks follow the gorge’s walls and run for approximately 1.6 km.
The boardwalk also crosses the river on several occasions giving you spectacular vantage points to capture some of the river’s various features, including small pools, falls, and rapids.
For more information on visiting the gorge, including opening hours and access fees, check out our Vintgar Gorge Hiking and Visiting Guide.
Ljubljana
(coming soon)
Lake Bled
(coming soon)
Lake Bohinj
Coming Soon
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Škofja Loka (Slovenia) and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
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