The Mangart Saddle, also called the Mangart Pass or Mangartsko sedlo, is the highest lying road in Slovenia. It’s a winding, white-knuckle drive through the mountainous region of northwest Slovenia. If you have nerves of steel and want to add a cool mini road trip onto your tour of Slovenia, this is a great option.
Our Experience
We drove the Mangart Saddle on a one-day road trip through Slovenia. Our day started with a drive over the Vrsic Pass, a visit to Bovec, and a walk through Tolmin Gorge. Rather than drive back to Kranjska Gora the same way, we decided to take a detour through Italy.
As we drove up route 203 from Bovec, we saw signs for the Mangart Saddle. Curious, we decided to check it out.
As soon as we turned right onto route 902, the road that leads to the Mangart Saddle, we knew we were in for an adventure. The road is extremely narrow, just wide enough for one car in most spots, and it didn’t take long until we drove on our first hairpin turns.
About 2 km into the drive there is a small ticket booth. It is here we paid the toll to continue the adventure (€5 in 2018). No turning back now!
Just past the toll booth is where the real fun begins.
For several kilometers you wind your way up through a forest. The trees and vegetation give the impression of safety since it is harder to see the drop-offs from the edge of the road.
But once you climb above the trees, this begins to really feel like an adventure. Now the views are phenomenal, the hairpin turns are a thrill, and you are hoping you don’t meet too many oncoming cars. Since the road is so narrow, it can be very difficult to squeeze past each other. And if you are the car on the edge of the road…be careful!
Meanwhile, just to really keep things interesting, a massive thunderstorm was closing in on us. Earlier in the day we drove through a wicked storm in Bovec and we weren’t too excited about being caught in one on the Mangart Saddle. Luckily, the weather held off. But the distant rumbles of thunder added to the excitement.
Once on top of the Mangart Saddle, we parked in the small parking lot and walked on a very short hiking trail for some of the most spectacular views of the day. From here, we had amazing views over the Log Koritnica Valley in Slovenia and the Lakes of Fusine in Italy.
For us, this drive up the Mangart Saddle was an unexpected surpise. Even after Tolmin Gorge, Vrsic Pass, and the beautiful Soca Valley, this was the highlight of our day. And to think that we knew nothing about the Mangart Saddle when our day started!
Since the road ends at the Mangart Saddle, you will drive down the same way you came. Driving down the road was not nearly as scary as driving up it.
The entire round-trip drive took us one hour.
Learn how to plan a road trip through the Soca Valley, the Vrsic Pass, Tolmin Gorge, and the Mangart Saddle in our article Slovenia Road Trip: Vrsic Pass, Soca Valley, and Tolmin Gorge.
About the Mangart Saddle
Topping out at 2,072 meters, the Mangart Saddle is the highest lying road in Slovenia. The Vrsic Pass, a more popular high mountain pass in Slovenia, tops out at 1611 meters.
In less than 12 km, this road climbs 980 meters and winds its way through five tunnels carved out of the rock.
The Italian army built this road in 1938 as part of its defense against the Yugoslav army.
Allow an hour to an hour and a half to do this drive. Our drive was quick because we never got caught behind a cyclist or a slower driver. However, we just may have been lucky.
To drive to the Mangart Saddle you will have to pay a toll at a ticket booth (€5 in 2018). This ticket booth is located 2 km past the point where you turn onto route 902 from route 203.
This road is extremely narrow. In many places, big blocks of concrete form a makeshift guardrail. However, there were a few places with no protection.
Occasionally, the road widens and this is a good place to pass other vehicles, if the timing works out. On the rare occasion we met an oncoming car, we did manage to squeeze past each other on the narrow road. Fortunately, on the day we did this, there was very light traffic on the Mangart Saddle (we did this drive in August).
In order to do this drive, you need to have excellent driving skills, a good head for heights, and nerves of steel. If you meet an oncoming car, you need to be prepared to reverse into a pull-off to let traffic pass. It’s rare, but it does happen.
Be prepared to share the road with cyclists and motorcyclists.
The road is closed in the winter due to snowfall and the potential for avalanches. In general, it is open from May through November, although these dates can change based on weather conditions.
Once on the Mangart Saddle, you have the option to hike or climb to the summit of Mangart Mountain. There are several routes from the top and some routes involve the use of via ferrata equipment.
Do you have plans to drive the Mangart Saddle? Comment below if you have any questions.
More Information for Your Trip to Slovenia
SLOVENIA: Discover the best of Slovenia in our Slovenia Bucket List. Plan a perfect 10 day road trip through Slovenia, visit Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, learn about the best things to do in Ljubljana, road trip through the Soca River Valley, and spend some time in Piran.
PLACES TO GO IN CROATIA: Along the Dalmatian Coast, the towns of Split, Trogir, and Dubrovnik are wonderful coastal towns to add to your Croatia itinerary. We also have information about how to visit the island of Brac, how to explore the amazing Plitvice Lakes, and visit the Istrian Peninsula.
PLACES TO GO ON THE BALKAN PENINSULA: Spend a few days exploring Dubrovnik, stroll the streets of the fairytale town of Mostar, explore Plitvice Lakes, spend a few days in Montenegro, and hike to the highest point on the Adriatic Sea, Vidova Gora. Learn how to put this all together in our Balkan Peninsula Itinerary.
EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION: For more great ideas on where to go in Europe, check out our article 30 Beautiful Places to Visit in Europe. You can also get more travel ideas in our One Week in Europe itinerary guide, which has lots of sample itineraries for your next trip to Europe.
Planning a trip to Slovenia? Read all of our articles in our Slovenia Travel Guide.
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Comments 9
We did the road end June 2023. An accident with cyclist happened, he was seriously injured, so there was a small traffic jam at the gate. But after that we did see only one car. the last 500 mtrs were blocked by an avalange and there was still snow on the road. Dress up warm, it can be cold on the summit!
Looks awesome, this drive!
Can you compare it to Million dollar road in Colorado or Moki Dugway in Utah? So I can have an idea of just how scary it might be…?
Author
We have not driven Moki Dugway yet, unfortunately. But the Million Dollar Highway is much wider and easier to drive than this road. On the drive to Mangart Saddle, there are some very tight hairpin turns with little visibility as to what is coming in the opposite direction, and no guardrails…so it is much more of a white knuckle drive than the Million Dollar Highway. But yes, it is awesome! Cheers, Julie
Hi,
where can I find some information about road opening?
There is a web site or an e-mail/phone number to call for information about road opening?
Thanks
Author
Unfortunately, I don’t know of any specific website to direct you to. You could do a Google search or check Google Maps…sometimes they will mark road closures (for example, when Going to the Sun Road (in Glacier NP) closes in autumn for snow, Google Maps will indicate the road closure). Cheers, Julie
Hi, we plan a trip to Mangart Saddle, but somewhere I read that there is no entry ban.
How far from Bovec can you drive by car?
Author
Last summer we drove from Bovec all of the way up to the Mangart Saddle (the end of the road). Cheers, Julie
Hello
Good to know the Mangart saddle drive is so interesting
I plan to do this before reading your article , now I definitely will do this unless weather not favorable. Our trip will be in late September
My plan trip is
Start at Bovec where we stay, then take this side trip to Mangart saddle and back, then through Vrsic Pass to Kranjska Gora, end at lake Bled and stay that night there
I want to ask
Is the part from Mangart into Italy and Predil Pass, back to Slovenia and Kranjska Gora good too?
If that part is good, I may plan some way to include this too
Thank you
PS read a few of your article, well done and very good information
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Author
The drive through Italy and then where you enter Slovenia near Ratece is not very interesting, in my opinion. However, I found the border between Slovenia and Italy interesting (the border near Mangart). It’s an old, deserted border station and it feels a little bit eerie. It won’t take you too long to detour here from Mangart just to see it, if you are interested. You could drive into Italy for the view over Lago del Predil, too. But that’s as far as you need to go, in my opinion, especially since you have so much to do this day. Here’s the link to the border I am referring to, just to be clear. Cheers, Julie