As the walk gets harder and the view opens up, a mountain lodge is just around the bend, welcoming you with its genuine warmth. These unique lodges are an important part of the mountaineering experience and part of Slovenia's cultural heritage. There you can enjoy a hot meal, rest or seek shelter.
Mountain lodges were built in Slovenia at the end of the 19th century to encourage people to visit Slovenia's mountains. Over the years, lodges have developed and become an indispensable part of mountaineering.
Today, there are 177 mountain lodges and mountain shelters in Slovenia, mostly managed by alpine societies with the help of dedicated volunteers.
They are located in the higher altitude regions of the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Karavanke Mountains. They can also be found in the hills and mountains of north-eastern Slovenia, Dolenjska, Bela Krajina, Notranjska and Primorska regions, and around Ljubljana, as well as in the hills of Polhov gradec, Posavje, Škoflja Loka and Cerkno.
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At 1543 metres above sea level, the Czech Lodge (Češka koča) invites you to a true mountain paradise with its characteristic rustic look. As its name suggests, it was built by Czech mountaineers and is today a popular starting point for climbs to Mount Grintovec and other surrounding two-thousanders. Photo: Jošt Gantar
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The Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih (Triglav Lakes Lodge) is a popular destination among mountaineers. It is situated at an altitude of 1686 m above sea level, between the Double Lake and the artificial Močivec Lake, which also serves as a source of drinking water. The picturesque Mount Mala Tičarica rises above the lodge, adding to the idyllic nature of this mountain landscape. Photo: kato08/depositphotos
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The Triglav Lodge (Triglavski dom) at Kredarica is the highest mountain lodge. It is situated at 2515 metres above sea level and is a popular starting point for climbing Mount Triglav. It was constructed following the idea of Jakob Aljaž, who, with his friends, also built the famous Aljaž turret (Aljažev stolp) mountain shelter. Photo: Matjaž Vidmar
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The Mangart Pass Lodge (Koča na Mangartskem sedlu), at an altitude of 1906 metres, was transformed from a former border guardhouse situated on a vast plateau below Mount Mangart. Mount Mangart, the highest peak in the area, is a steep mountain in the immediate vicinity. Photo: Jessica Dales
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The Erjavec lodge (Erjavčeva koča) at Vršič, situated at 1527 metres above sea level, offers beautiful views and a pleasant mountain retreat. It is located on a small hill along the Vršič road, on the north side of the pass, and is accessible by car and bus from Kranjska Gora. Photo: Boris Pretnar
Everything you need to know before visiting a mountain lodge
Before visiting the mountains, check the opening hours of the mountain lodges along your planned route. Some are open all year round, others only seasonally or on certain days.
When you arrive at the lodge, it is advisable to enter your name in the lodge register. This is also important from a safety point of view, as it makes it easier for rescuers to find you in the event of an accident.
Lodge keepers are a valuable source of information. They will be happy to share current trail conditions and weather forecasts. Most lodges have electricity and water supply, heating and indoor toilets. In some lodges, Wi-Fi is also available.
It is recommended to use your own bed linen for the night. If you don't have any, you can get disposable or reusable mountain sleeping sheets from the lodge keeper for an extra charge. For some lodges it is also possible to book a bed online.
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You can regain your strength with simple but tasty and filling food. Homemade dishes such as sauerkraut and bean soup (jota), barley stew (ričet), bean stew (pasulj), buckwheat mash (ajdovi žganci), sauerkraut, sausages and various stews are often available. For dessert, there are dumplings, apple strudel or a sweet rolled pastry filled with walnuts (potica). Photo: Jošt Gantar
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After the climb up to the Češka koča at Jezersko, you can enjoy a homemade mountain snack with mountain views. Here, nature, food and peace speak their own language. Photo: Jošt Gantar
Mountains are precious and delicate environments where every step we take matters
Due to the limited natural resources and the vulnerability of nature, in mountains and mountain lodges we should act with care.
We should respect animals, nature, other visitors and the work of the lodge keepers. We should strive to use water and energy sparingly, and to maintain peace and quiet. We should always take our waste back to the valley. Let us visit the mountains with open hearts and breathe the air with full lungs.
Date: 8. July 2025
Time to read: 3 min
