What to do on a rainy day in Soca Valley? This blog post has been one of the most requested, and for good reason. Finding things to do in a destination that’s best known for outdoor adventures can feel challenging, especially when rain enters the forecast. It’s also the question we hear most often from glamping guests whenever the weather prediction shows rain for more than one day.
This guide is written with the assumption that it’s pouring rain and outdoor activities simply aren’t an option. If the rain is light, we still recommend heading out for a short hike with proper footwear and rain protection. Many water activities in the Soča Valley also operate in rainy conditions, including rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and depending on water levels — canyoning. Since canyons fill up quickly during heavy rainfall, canyoning is usually the first activity to be suspended in prolonged rainy periods.
Because holidays are planned well in advance and unfortunately there’s no weather fairy to guarantee perfect conditions, it’s helpful to know your alternatives if rain does arrive during your stay in the Soča Valley.
And here’s the silver lining: rainy periods bring a major advantage. Water sources across the valley, such as the Great Soča Gorge, Boka Waterfall, Virje Waterfall, and Šunik Water Grove, become incredibly powerful and dramatic, often looking completely different compared to the drier summer months, especially August.
Imagine this: you’ve been counting down the days to finally arrive in the valley, excited to soak in its stunning landscapes and fresh mountain air. Then, during the drive, you glance at the weather app (quick tip — Google and iPhone forecasts for this region are famously unreliable). Suddenly, that excited smile turns into a worried grimace. Rainy days are predicted, your plans feel ruined, and your mind starts racing as you wonder what on earth you’re going to do instead.
Don’t worry, a rainy forecast doesn’t have to ruin your trip. Below, I’ll share five great tips to help you adjust your plans, lift your mood, and still make the most of your time in the valley.
WELLNESS
If the weather keeps you indoors, start by slowing down and enjoying the jacuzzi on the premises — a low-impact way to relax without additional travel.
For a more extensive wellness experience, Hotel Dvorec in Tolmin (around a 30-minute drive) offers saunas and massages and welcomes outside guests.
Another favorite is Hotel Špik in Kranjska Gora, known for its swimming pools, jacuzzi, and massage offerings. The drive takes about an hour, but the route itself is scenic and rewarding. If you choose to go, make the most of the trip by spending the day in the area rather than making multiple shorter drives.
You can also pair your wellness day with a relaxed, unhurried meal at one of Kranjska Gora’s local restaurants, such as Figo Gourmet, Kotnik Restaurant, or a nearby Asian eatery.
MUSEUMS
This one is probably given as a rainy day option all over the world. In 15 minutes from Bovec you can be in Kobarid and visit the amazing WW1 museum. You can get a picture of what this area went through in the occupation times and how the lives were impacted by it.
In Trenta (less than 30 minutes drive) you have a beautiful museum that presents the cultural landscape, the rich ethnological heritage, the nature and the past life in Trenta and the peculiarities of the Triglav National Park, the only national park in Slovenia.
BOARDGAMES, BOOKS AND MOVIES
Our outdoor kitchen area is covered and it offers a great place to connect with other guests, play some cards, boardgames (some of them are also provided by us) or chill in the tent with free rain sounds and watch a movie, or two.
In Tolmin you have a cinema, where you can watch movies on the big screen. Get the schedule of their screenings on this link: https://www.ksm.si/koledar-prireditev/
CULINARY
Food is THE healer for many things, including bad mood and rainy sad faces. Very close to the glamping (10 minutes walk or less than 5 minutes drive) you will get a beautiful culinary experience in Vranjes Gourmet – Hotel Boka. Their food is amazing, wine selection splendid and the friendliness that will help with other components to make your day better in an instant.
We also recommend visiting Bistro 9:45 in Bovec and Restaurant Mangart in Log pod Mangartom.
WINERIES
Slovenia is so small and versatile that it allows you to be in just one hour drive, towards Goriška Brda, in the most famous wine region in Slovenia. You can visit the wineyards, agriculture farms and buy some local products and try some wines of Slovenian origin.
ONE DAY TRIP IDEA (rainy or sunny day)
Slovenia is small and versatile but our region specifically is on the border of 3 countries – Croatia, Austria and Italy. We are a mix of all cultural mixing in the area. Therefore it is no wonder we are literally 10 min drive from first Italian border – Uccea. I am mentioning this because you can have a beautiful one day escape from Bovec to a city that is well known by masked balls, marble palaces, and echoes of empires reflected in water – name this place.
It is Venice guys! You won’t believe it BUT if you drive one hour to Udine train station, sit on the train and get out in Venice main station S. Lucia you will need to get ready for a cultural shock, you are in the middle of Venice!
The train will need 1h and 50 minutes to get you there and the same amount of time to get back. Trains drive every hour and as you can see Venice on foot you can get an amazing one day experience of Venice. It might be too short to see the Murano island and see all the hot spots BUT i most definitely recommend it myself.
Get some good pasta, tiramisu, ice cream and amazing pictures into your rainy or sunny day. There is never a don’t visit Venice day.
If it helps I will write the things we saw on this day trip we took. Have in mind we went with a 7 years old child but it is easily walkable. We took the morning train at 10am and arrived to Venice at 12:00. We had 7 amazing hours in Venice and returned back to Udine by 9:00pm. At 10:00pm we were already back home. In high season I warmly recommend to get the skip the line tickets for attractions you want to see, on tickets – Venice.
- exit the main Venice train station in Santa Lucia,
- walk to Campo San Polo,
- walk to Ponte di Rialto,
- walk to Liberia Acqua Alta,
- walk to Bridge of Sights,
- walk to Doge’s Palace,
- have amazing stop at oldest coffee place Caffee Florian,
- gondola drive to Basilica Santa Maria della Salute,
- walk to Ponte dell’Academiua,
- walk to Campo Santo Stefano,
- walk to Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo,
- have amazing lunch/dinner at La Corte 1642
- get back to train station and let the train take you back to Udine.
Rainy days in the Soča Valley don’t mean missed opportunities, they simply invite you to experience the region differently. Slower mornings, powerful waterfalls, cozy wellness moments, and quiet cultural discoveries often become the most memorable parts of a trip.
Nature here thrives on rain. Rivers swell, waterfalls roar, and the landscape takes on a dramatic beauty you won’t see on sunny days. With a little flexibility and the right mindset, a rainy forecast can turn into a chance to rest, explore locally, and reconnect — with nature and with yourself.
So pack a rain jacket, embrace the slower pace, and remember: the Soča Valley doesn’t lose its magic when it rains it simply reveals another side of it.
Useful links to plan your rainy days:
