Search
Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
SlovakiaSlovenia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican RepublicTurkey
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Osrednjeslovenska · Slovenia
Medieval town on the edge of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and, above it, the Velika Planina plateau with the wooden shepherd huts and the valley cable car.
In the photo: Kamnik, with Mali grad above the rooftops
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Kamnik is in the northern part of central Slovenia, about 25 km from Ljubljana and near the capital's airport at Brnik. The town grew in a narrow gorge of the Kamniška Bistrica River, on the medieval road that connected Ljubljana to Celje, and is first mentioned as a town in 1229. It had its own mint and was one of the centres of the Counts of Andechs, nobles from Bavaria, in Carniola.
The old centre can be explored on foot in a few hours. Šutna Street, with its narrow houses, and Glavni trg square sit around a small hill where the Mali grad remains, with a multi-level Romanesque chapel. On the other side of the railway line, Zaprice Castle houses the city museum, and on top of Mount Bergant are the ruins of Stari grad, the old castle.
To the north, the Kamniška Bistrica valley enters the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, ringed by peaks such as Grintovec. From the valley floor a cable car rises to Velika Planina, a pasture plateau above 1,600 meters. There is one of the largest preserved shepherd settlements in Europe, with low-roofed wooden huts made of shingles, where shepherds spend the summer with their livestock.
The destination combines the old town, which you can see in a morning, with an easy-day hike on the plateau. In winter, Velika Planina receives skiers and snow excursions.
This destination brings together 1 city: Kamnik.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Geodetska uprava Republike Slovenije (GURS), Register prostorskih enot, 28/02/2024, licença CC BY 4.0. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Letališče Jožeta Pučnika Ljubljana (LJU), in Brnik · 15 km to Kamnik
Kamnik is about 25 km from Ljubljana. There are trains from the capital on weekdays and frequent buses every day. Ljubljana Airport, at Brnik, is about 15 km away. For the Velika Planina cable car in the Kamniška Bistrica valley, a car is the most practical option; check if there are buses in season.
The local experience
High pastures in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, above 1,600 m, with a shepherds’ settlement of wooden huts with low roofs. You reach them by cable car from the Kamniška Bistrica valley.
A hill in the middle of the old town with the remains of an 11th‑ or 12th‑century castle and a two‑storey Romanesque chapel over a crypt, with frescoes. From the top you can see Kamnik’s roofs and the Alps.
A Renaissance mansion on a hill in the south of Kamnik’s centre, home to the intermunicipal museum, with exhibitions on the town’s history, the mint, the shepherds of Velika Planina and local industry.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From June to September the shepherds stay on Velika Planina, the Preskar hut museum is usually open, and the plateau trails are free of snow. September is quieter. In winter there is skiing and snow walks. The cable car has maintenance pauses, generally in autumn; check before you go.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
One day allows for the old town in the morning and the cable car to Velika Planina in the afternoon, with limited time on the plateau. With two days, dedicate one to Kamnik and a full day to walking among the shepherd huts. Many people do Kamnik as a day trip from Ljubljana.
In Kamnik’s old centre, near Glavni trg and Šutna Street, you can walk to the castles and to the train and bus connections to Ljubljana. If you want to see sunrise on the plateau you can sleep on Velika Planina, where some huts host guests. In the Kamniška Bistrica valley there are accommodations near the cable car.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
One day lets you see Kamnik’s old centre and take the cable car to Velika Planina. To walk at a relaxed pace among the shepherd huts, reserve a second day just for the plateau.
Yes. Kamnik is about 25 km from the capital, and the Velika Planina cable car departs from the Kamniška Bistrica valley, roughly 10 km further north. By car, both fit into one day; by public transport, check schedules in advance.
It helps. The cable car departs from the Kamniška Bistrica valley, outside the town, and public transport to there is limited. In Kamnik itself the centre is walkable.
From early summer to September, when the shepherds are on the plateau and the trails are snow-free. In winter there is skiing and snow excursions. The cable car stops for a few days each year for maintenance: confirm the calendar.
Yes. The airport at Brnik is about 15 km from Kamnik, closer than to the city centre of the capital. It’s an option for your first or last night of the trip.
