Every year during May, the slopes of Golica and the meadows in the villages beneath the Karavanke Mountains transform into a true floral fairy tale. Sometime in mid-May—or toward the end of the month—stunning white daffodils begin to bloom. This breathtaking natural spectacle is unique and well worth seeing in person. However, it is important to prepare for your visit and hike, as in recent years it has become a major tourist attraction. Read on to find out everything you need to know if you want to see the daffodils in 2025.
When will the daffodils bloom in 2025?
The blooming of daffodils at Golica depends on weather conditions and the length of winter. Usually, these beautiful white flowers begin to bloom toward the end of May.
The Narcissus Festival 2025 will take place on weekends between May 10 and May 25:
- May 10–11
- May 17–18
- May 24–25
During this period, a rich program of cultural and entertainment activities will take place, offering visitors a unique experience of natural beauty and local tradition. Since the blooming of the daffodils is highly weather-dependent, we recommend checking the latest updates at the Jesenice Tourist Information Center (TIC) or on the event’s official website before your visit.
Currently, however, Slovenia is still experiencing winter conditions, so it is possible that the daffodils may begin to bloom later. You may decide to visit after the organized program as well, but be sure not to miss them, as the flowers fade quickly once they have bloomed.
The current conditions on Golica
How to get to the starting point of the hike?
This year, visitors will be able to reach the event venue by private transport, as organized bus transfers from the valley will not be provided. Parking will be available at specially designated areas within the village, with a full-day parking fee of 10 euros. As card payment will not be possible, visitors are kindly requested to bring sufficient cash. Payment for parking will be made at the information point, located at the bus stop at Prihodi. A special traffic regime will apply only in case of favorable weather and during the announced dates, with exceptions for local residents and owners of land and holiday properties. During the event, there will also be increased supervision by the municipal warden service.
Where can you find the most daffodils?
If you are heading out from the starting point at Planina pod Golico, choose the path “across the Suha saddle,” as this is where daffodils are most frequent, and there are also the most of them. The views are fantastic there.
Additionally, you can also find daffodils at Jekljevo saddle, Mali Golica, Jeseniška planina, and around Javorniški Rovt.
A Vibrant Cultural and Entertainment Program and the 61st Narcissus Queen Contest in Planina pod Golico
At the Pr Čop event venue in Planina pod Golico, a vibrant cultural and entertainment program will once again take place this year. We especially invite you to join us in large numbers on Saturday, May 17, 2025, when the Golica Tourist Association will host the 61st Narcissus Queen contest, enriched with a diverse accompanying program and a traditional festive celebration.
More about the hike to Golica
Starting point: Planina pod Golico (980 m)
Destination: Koča na Golici (1582 m)
Time of walking: 1 h 30 min
Difficulty: easy marked way – family friendly hike (kids aged 6 and more can hike this by themselves)
Altitude difference: 602 m
Access to starting point:
From highway Ljubljana – Jesenice we go to the exit Lipce (possible also Hrušica) and follow the road ahead in the direction of Jesenice, and there signs for Planina pod Golico point us on an ascending road (turn-off is marked and is located at health center in Jesenice). The relatively steep road soon brings us in the mentioned village, where we can in May on surrounding meadows admire blooming of daffodils. From Planina pod Golico we drive ahead to the next crossroad, where we notice numerous signposts. Here we continue right and we drive good 50 meters to the parking lot below Savske jame.
Click HERE for the map to the starting point.
Path description:
At the beginning of the parking lot, we notice the signposts, which point us to the left on an asphalt road upwards. After a short ascent, the path brings us to agrotourism Betel and behind it to a crossroad, where we continue right in the direction of Golica. After additional few minutes of walking on the road, we get to the cottage Pri Fencu. Here we need to pay attention, because only few steps further wide marked path branches off to the right, which leads on Golica.
The path ahead ascends through a shorter meadow after which we come into a pleasant shade, on which the path continues. After approximately half an hour of walking, we step on a macadam road which we follow to the right, but only to the bottom station of the cargo cableway.
From the cableway we continue in the direction of the mountain hut Koča na Golici on the path which is relatively steeply ascending through a thinner forest. After a good hour of walking, the path brings us out of the forest on unvegetated slopes from which in front of us we already see the mountain hut. And only a little ahead we come to a crossing, where we continue left (right Struška and Markljev and Pusti Rovt). This in the last part quite steep path we follow to the mountain hut.
Source: hribi.net /hike.uno
