Gorenjska · Slovenia

Kranj and Škofja Loka

Two medieval towns in Gorenjska, a few kilometers from Ljubljana Airport: Škofja Loka, of the bishops of Freising, and Kranj, the town of the poet Prešeren, above the Kokra gorge.

Alpine Slovenia

In the photo: Gardens and buildings of Kranj’s historic center

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Škofja Loka and Kranj lie on the Gorenjska plain, between Ljubljana and the Alps, about 12 km apart and a few kilometers from Brnik airport. Both preserve compact medieval centers and serve as either a first stop on a trip or a base for exploring the region.

In 973, Emperor Otto II granted Škofja Loka to the bishops of Freising in Bavaria, who governed the town and the surrounding valleys for about eight centuries. The name roughly means “bishop’s meadow.” The old town, walled in the 14th century and rebuilt after the 1511 earthquake, has two squares, houses with painted façades, the Capuchin stone bridge over the Selška Sora River and the castle above, housing the Loka Museum. The Škofja Loka Passion, a procession staged by the town from a text dated to the early 18th century, was the first Slovenian inscription on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, in 2016.

Kranj, the country’s fourth-largest city, occupies a promontory where the Kokra meets the Sava. The Kokra carved a gorge into the conglomerate rock just below the houses, and under the old center run tunnels opened in World War II as an air-raid shelter. France Prešeren, Slovenia’s greatest poet and the author of the national anthem’s lyrics, spent his last years there and is buried in the town; the day of his death, February 8, is the national Culture Day holiday.

Trains on the Ljubljana–Jesenice line stop at both towns, and a car lets you reach the church of Crngrob and the villages in the neighboring valleys.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Škofja Loka, Kranj.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Kranj and Škofja Loka is

Boundaries: Geodetska uprava Republike Slovenije (GURS), Register prostorskih enot, 28/02/2024, licença CC BY 4.0. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Kranj and Škofja Loka

✈ Letališče Jožeta Pučnika Ljubljana (LJU), in Brnik · 20 km to Škofja Loka

From Brnik, where Ljubljana Airport is located, it’s about 10 km to Kranj and about 20 km to Škofja Loka. Trains on the Ljubljana–Jesenice line stop at both towns; in Škofja Loka, the station is 3 km from the old town, in the Trata neighborhood. By car, the A2 motorway passes near Kranj.

Suggested arrival point: Škofja Loka

Gorenjska · Kranj and Škofja Loka Suggested arrival point

Škofja Loka

Medieval town at the confluence of the Selška Sora and Poljanska Sora rivers, ruled for almost eight centuries by the bishops of Freising. It has two squares of painted houses, the Kapucinski most, a 14th-century bridge, and a museum housed in the castle. The Passion procession, staged in some years, is on UNESCO’s list. Four km away is the church of Crngrob, with the fresco of Saint Dominic.

Gorenjska · Kranj and Škofja Loka Capital

Kranj

The country’s fourth-largest city and the largest in Gorenjska, with the old center on a promontory between the Kokra and the Sava. The poet France Prešeren lived and died there; his house is a museum. Beneath the center run 1,300 m of World War II tunnels, and beside it the Kokra flows through a gorge. The Church of St. Cantianus has a tower with a lookout.

The local experience

Things to do in Kranj and Škofja Loka

Kranj · Gorenjska · Museum

Prešeren House

House where the poet France Prešeren lived his last years and died in 1849, turned into a museum with original works, early editions and period furniture. The poet’s grave is in the Prešeren Grove, nearby.

Škofja Loka · Gorenjska · Museum

Škofja Loka Castle

Castle above the old town, first mentioned in 1215, housing the Museum of Loka, with collections of history, archaeology, ethnology, art and natural history of the Sora valleys and an exhibition about the Passion of Škofja Loka.

Kranj · Gorenjska · Church

Church of St. Cantianus

14th-century Gothic church in Kranj’s old town, the city’s largest, with a tower whose viewpoint is 40 m high, open by appointment.

Škofja Loka · Gorenjska · Bridge

Capuchin Bridge

Stone arched bridge over the Selška Sora River, built in the mid-14th century, with the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. It is considered the oldest preserved bridge in Slovenia and one of Škofja Loka’s symbols.

See 4 more places in Kranj and Škofja Loka

Škofja Loka · Gorenjska · Square

Town Square (Mestni trg) of Škofja Loka

The main square of Škofja Loka’s medieval centre, called Plac by locals, with painted façade houses including the Homan House, and the town hall. The lower street leads to Spodnji trg and the Church of Saint James.

Kranj · Gorenjska · Historical

Tunnels under the Old Town of Kranj

Network of about 1,300 m of tunnels dug in the conglomerate under the old town during World War II, used as an air-raid shelter. Today they can be visited with a guide or independently in sections open to the public.

Kranj · Gorenjska · Nature

Kokra Canyon

Canyon carved by the Kokra River in the conglomerate rock, just below the old-town houses of Kranj. A roughly 2 km circular trail descends to the river and passes beneath the promontory.

Škofja Loka · Gorenjska · Church

Church of the Annunciation, Crngrob

A medieval-origin church in the village of Crngrob, 4 km from Škofja Loka, with the Saint Dominic (Sveta nedelja) fresco painted around 1460 on the exterior wall beneath a porch.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to October, walks, the Kokra gorge and the climb to Škofja Loka Castle are more pleasant. In summer there are events in the old centers. In February, Kranj celebrates Prešeren’s Day on February 8. Winter is cold, but the museums remain open.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

One day per town is ideal: a morning in Škofja Loka, with the castle and the bridge, and a day in Kranj, with the gorge, the tunnels and Prešeren’s house. If you’re short on time, you can see the essentials of both in a single day, departing from Ljubljana.

Which city to stay in

In Kranj, the old town and the streets between it and the train station make everything walkable and are convenient for those arriving or departing via the airport. In Škofja Loka, the houses around the two squares of the medieval center are quieter. Both towns also serve as good bases to visit Bled and Ljubljana on day trips.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Kranj and Škofja Loka

Are Kranj and Škofja Loka close to Ljubljana Airport?

Yes. Kranj is about 10 km from the airport and Škofja Loka about 20 km, less than the distance to Ljubljana city center. They’re good choices for the arrival or departure night.

Can you visit Kranj and Škofja Loka in the same day?

You can, but it’s rushed. The two are on the same train line, about 12 km apart. To enter museums, descend into the Kokra gorge and visit the tunnels, two days are ideal.

Do you need a car in Kranj and Škofja Loka?

Not for the centers, which are walkable, nor to go from one town to the other, which the train covers. A car helps for the church of Crngrob and the villages in the neighboring valleys.

Are Kranj and Škofja Loka good day trips from Ljubljana?

Yes. Trains to Jesenice stop at both towns in about half an hour. In Škofja Loka, the station is in the Trata neighborhood, far from the center; a local bus connects them.

What is the Škofja Loka Passion?

It is a Passion of Christ procession staged through the town’s streets, based on a text written in the early 18th century by a Capuchin friar. It has been on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage since 2016 and is staged only in certain years: check the schedule.

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Kranj and Škofja Loka

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.