The Vršič Pass — Slovenia's highest mountain road (1,611 m) and its 50 legendary hairpins — is changing the way it operates for the summer season. From 15 June 2026, a new traffic scheme comes into force to ease the pressure of car traffic on this fragile crossing inside Triglav National Park. Good news for travellers: crossing the pass remains free, but parking at the summit is gone and a free shuttle now links Kranjska Gora to Bovec. Here is everything you need to know before hitting the road this summer.
The short answer
- In force from 15 June 2026 (the scheme operates from 1 June to 30 September).
- Crossing stays free and unrestricted: you can still drive over the pass by car, motorbike or bicycle.
- No more parking at the summit this season: the right-hand lane, traditionally used for parking, is closed.
- Free shuttle Kranjska Gora ⇄ Bovec over the pass, with increased frequency from 26 June.
- Barriers are installed to guide, inform and count vehicles — there is no toll.
- The goal: protect the national park's alpine environment and keep through traffic flowing.
What changes on 15 June 2026
The measure is led by the DRSI (Slovenia's national road infrastructure directorate), the municipalities of Bovec and Kranjska Gora, and Triglav National Park. In practice, here is what's new for the high season:
- Control barriers at the entrance and exit of the pass: they don't charge anything, but regulate and count the flow of vehicles.
- Parking at the summit is suspended: for 2026, you can no longer park at the top of the pass. The right-hand lane, until now used for parking, is closed to ease through traffic and improve safety.
- A free shuttle links the two sides of the pass (see below).
- Some car parks are still under construction: not all the facilities will be finished when the season opens.
Keep in mind: this is not a toll, and the pass is not closing. The aim is to encourage visitors to leave their car in the valley and ride up by shuttle, as is already done at other busy alpine sites.
Can you still drive across the Vršič Pass?
Yes. Crossing remains free and unrestricted in both directions. Through traffic between the Upper Sava Valley (Kranjska Gora) and the Trenta Valley / Soča Valley is maintained. The barriers are there to inform drivers and measure visitor numbers, not to block the road. However, don't count on parking at the highest point any more: plan your photo stop differently, or leave the car down in the valley and take the shuttle up.
The free Kranjska Gora – Bovec shuttle
This is the heart of the new scheme. A free shuttle service connects Kranjska Gora to Bovec over the pass, in both directions.
- Service period: from 1 June to 30 September, covering the whole summer season.
- Increased frequency from 26 June to 31 August, at the peak of the season.
- Free of charge: the strongest argument for leaving the car in the valley and enjoying the scenery without worrying about parking.
- Stops on the Soča side: the Kršovec and Soča stops (Trenta/Bovec side) will only be fully operational from late June 2026.
Where to park in 2026
The golden rule this season: no more parking at the top of the pass. Car parks are organised lower down, on both sides, by the municipalities of Bovec and Kranjska Gora (which also set the fees and deploy information staff on the ground). Since some facilities will still be under construction when the season opens, your best bet is a valley car park followed by the shuttle ride up.
Why this new traffic scheme?
The Vršič Pass runs through one of the most sensitive areas of Triglav National Park. In peak season, the influx of cars and wild parking at the summit put pressure on a fragile high-alpine environment. The stated objective is twofold: reduce car pressure and protect the environment, while keeping the site accessible to as many people as possible through public transport. The national park proposes the measures and monitors their environmental impact; the municipalities organise transport and parking; the DRSI manages the national road.
The 2026 season calendar
- 1 – 14 June: shuttles running, site preparation and finishing works.
- 15 – 25 June: the new scheme comes into force, shuttles running.
- 26 June – 31 August: high season, shuttles at increased frequency, strict control and works still in progress.
- Until 30 September: the scheme continues to the end of the summer season.
The Vršič Pass in a nutshell
The Vršič (pronounced "vur-sheech") is Slovenia's highest road pass, topping out at 1,611 metres. Its road, nicknamed the "Russian Road" (Ruska cesta), was built during the First World War by Russian prisoners of war — hence the famous wooden Russian chapel on the northern side. With some fifty hairpins, partly cobbled, it is one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the Julian Alps. It links Kranjska Gora in the north to the wild Trenta Valley in the south, gateway to the Soča Valley. The pass is only open in the warmer months: in winter, snow makes it impassable.
Our tips for travellers
- Play along with the shuttle: leave the car in the valley (Kranjska Gora or Bovec) and ride up for free. You enjoy the scenery without any parking stress.
- Avoid the 11 am – 3 pm peak: set off early in the morning for quieter hairpins and better light on the peaks.
- Allow a full day to combine the pass with the descent into the Trenta and the upper Soča Valley.
- Not in a hurry? The Vršič is meant to be savoured: the Russian chapel, viewpoints over Prisojnik and Razor, the source of the Soča just below.
To prepare for driving in Slovenia (vignette, rules, rental), check our guide to the Slovenian highway vignette and our guide to getting around Slovenia.
Going further
The Vršič is not the only legendary road in the area: don't miss the Mangart road, the highest road in Slovenia open to cars. And if you're coming from Italy, the Predil Pass is a beautiful alternative gateway. Once you're down on the southern side, the valley can also be explored without a car — or reached by car train through the Bohinj tunnel if you'd rather skip the hairpins altogether. On the news front, also read our article on the single Soča permit 2026, the season's other big change for the valley.
Source: original article on Soča.snik (in Slovenian), 29 May 2026. We will update this article as soon as the detailed shuttle timetable and the official parking locations are published.
Cover photo: Petar Milošević (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons). Summit photo: Stephen Colebourne (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons).
Patrick Faust
French expat in Slovenia since 2004. Founder of e-Slovénie, a Slovenia travel guide. Learn more →