No shortage of visitors, no shortage of problems

The number of visitors has not decreased, nor have difficulties abated. Despite the implementation of a new traffic regulation on June 15, 2026, the situation on the highest Slovenian road crossing, Vršič, continues to pose challenges. Many visitors adhere to guidelines and opt for free bus connections to reduce congestion. However, incidents such as improperly parked vehicles, roadside stopping, and heavy traffic remain prevalent. The new traffic regime allows transit and access to designated parking areas within the restricted zone, though parking directly at the summit remains unavailable due to ongoing construction work. Delays were initially caused by the late arrival of the spring season and frequent violations of parking rules by drivers, which hindered progress on site. The new system was introduced with the aim of easing pressure on the area through a free bus service intended to improve accessibility for locals and tourists alike. The traffic regulations are currently being implemented in accordance with the organization of works on the construction site. According to officials in Kranjska Gora, the investor and manager of the road infrastructure is the Road Infrastructure Directorate of Slovenia, while the municipalities of Kranjska Gora and Bovec primarily collaborate with the management office. Its role includes preventing obstruction and illegal parking on regional roads and ensuring smooth and safe traffic flow. Despite these efforts, conditions during peak summer months reveal a different picture. While attempts to calm traffic have been made, the situation at higher elevations shows little improvement. During our visit, it became clear that traffic would be extremely busy. The narrow path struggles to accommodate the large number of motorhomes, buses, motorcycles, cyclists, and private cars. At one point, a bus waits for a motorhome to pass, while further up, a cyclist group is overtaken on a hairpin turn. Traffic then comes to a halt again as someone parks illegally along the roadside to take a photo of the mountain views. Additionally, many visitors are unaware that parking is not allowed at the summit, leading them to search for space to leave their vehicles. This confusion was evident even among a family from the Netherlands who returned to Vršič after ten years. They had anticipated some difficulty but were still surprised by the situation. “We didn’t know we couldn’t park at the top, so we drove forward. We didn’t think about taking the bus either,” they explained. At Erjavčeva koča, the parking lot is always full. Some visitors choose to leave their cars on the emergency lane instead. Meanwhile, Urh Podpečan from Koroška opted for a different approach, he left his car in Kranjska Gora and traveled to the crossing via organized bus transport. He was not satisfied with the new arrangement. “We left the car in Kranjska Gora, but this was terrible. One hour and a half we spent traveling by bus; it was a disaster,” he said. As a positive example, he mentioned the Logarska Dolina, where he believes the system is better organized. Nevertheless, he emphasized that visitors should respect the rules and park only where permitted. Local authorities in Kranjska Gora report that the biggest problems stem from non-compliance with temporary traffic regulations. Mayor Henrika Zupan pointed out that some visitors continue to park on the construction site and along the road despite traffic signals. “We want to encourage visitors to use the free bus service, which represents an important part of sustainable traffic planning for the area and offers additional access to the crossing without the need for personal vehicles,” she said.