# Karst, Vipava and Brda: caves, horses and wine hills

> 3-day road trip of about 173 km (107 mi) with 8 stops, from Ljubljana to Nova Gorica. About 2 h 23 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b16-karst-vipava-brda/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 173 km (107 mi) with 8 stops, from Ljubljana to Nova Gorica. About 2 h 23 min of driving in total. West from Ljubljana to the Škocjan Caves, the Lipizzaner stud of Lipica, the Karst village of Štanjel and the wine hills of Vipava and Goriška Brda.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 173 km (107 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 23 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Ljubljana → Nova Gorica |
| Countries | Slovenia |
| Updated | June 6, 2026 |

## Route description

Take the A1 motorway south-west from Ljubljana to Divača, about 80 km; Slovenian motorways require an e-vignette for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, while heavier motorhomes pay with a DarsGo box. At the Škocjan Caves, guided tours lead through huge chambers to a bridge high above the Reka river in its underground canyon. Tours take about two hours, and it is cool inside all year.

Lipica is about 10 km west, almost on the Italian border. The stud farm has bred Lipizzaner horses since 1580, and you can see them in the paddocks, visit the museum or watch a training session on set days. Then drive north across the Karst plateau, with its stone villages and red sumac, to Štanjel, a hilltop village with a castle and the terraced Ferrari Garden.

Drop into the Vipava valley, a wide valley of vineyards and orchards known for its white wines and the bora wind that can blow hard in winter. The town of Vipava has the springs of the river at its centre and several wine cellars. Follow the valley west through Ajdovščina towards Nova Gorica, where the Solkan Bridge spans the Soča with a great stone arch.

North-west of Nova Gorica, the Goriška Brda hills are covered in vineyards and cherry orchards up to the Italian border. The walled village of Šmartno sits on a hilltop with views to the Alps; nearby Dobrovo has a castle and a large wine cellar. Brda roads are narrow and winding, fine for campervans but slow in large motorhomes. Late September brings the grape harvest.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Ljubljana** (Slovenia)
2. **Škocjan Caves** (Divača, Slovenia): A UNESCO cave system where the Reka river roars through an underground canyon crossed by a bridge high above the water. Visits are guided only and take about two hours; bring a jacket and good shoes.
3. **Lipica Stud Farm** (Lipica, Slovenia): The original home of the Lipizzaner horse, bred here since 1580, with stables, paddocks and a museum on the Karst plateau. Tours and riding displays run on set days, so check the schedule before driving over.
4. **Štanjel** (Štanjel, Slovenia): A stone Karst village climbing a hill to a castle, with narrow lanes and the terraced Ferrari Garden by architect Max Fabiani. Park below the village and walk up; views reach across to the Vipava valley.
5. **Vipava** (Slovenia)
6. **Solkan Bridge** (Solkan, Slovenia): A railway bridge from 1906 with an 85-metre stone arch over the emerald Soča, the largest stone railway arch in the world. The best view is from the riverbank path; kayakers often paddle below.
7. **Šmartno** (Šmartno, Slovenia): A walled hilltop village in the Goriška Brda wine hills, with a church, a restored defence tower and wide views over vineyards to the Alps. Park outside the walls; taste local rebula at the cellars of nearby Dobrovo.
8. **Nova Gorica** (Slovenia)

## FAQs

**How long is Karst, Vipava and Brda: caves, horses and wine hills?**
3-day road trip of about 173 km (107 mi) with 8 stops, from Ljubljana to Nova Gorica. About 2 h 23 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Karst, Vipava and Brda: caves, horses and wine hills?**
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 23 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Karst, Vipava and Brda: caves, horses and wine hills start and end?**
It starts in Ljubljana and ends in Nova Gorica.

**Which countries does Karst, Vipava and Brda: caves, horses and wine hills pass through?**
Slovenia.