Summer vacation in Bela Krajina

Summer is just around the corner. Where will you spend your vacation? The answer is simple - in Bela Krajina. It is beautiful throughout the year, but the most beautiful is it between April and October. Therefore, we prepared some tips on what you can do during summer.

Summer starts with Jurjevanje

Summer in Bela Krajina begins June 23 on midsummer, which means the end of spring that started on St. Georg’s Day. Midsummer is where the sun is at its peak and the day is the longest, after midsummer the sun begins to lose its power and the days begin to shorten. Bonfires are lit to help the sun stay in the sky as long as possible, preserving warmth and light.
Around midsummer the oldest folklore festival Jurjevanje takes place in Bela Krajina. Since 1964, Slovenian and foreign, children's and adult folklore groups, tamburitza groups, music groups, and others have been gathering in Jurjevanjska Draga. A few years ago the multi-day festival was relocated to Črnomelj town center but was soon returned to Jurjevanjska Draga, where, according to locals, it belongs.

Is the Kolpa River always warm?

Summer temperatures can reach Bela Krajina well before the meteorological summer, but this changes from year to year due to global changes and the warming of our planet. However, we can certainly say that Bela Krajina is a very warm region, as it is enclosed on the northeast side by the Gorjanci Hills and on the northwest side by the hilly Kočevski Rog and Poljanska Gora. Most weather phenomena, like snow and thunderstorms, that come from the north are softened by the aforementioned hills, but really strong thunderstorms cannot be stopped by any hill.
The Kolpa River is also warm.
Some have the sea, we have the Kolpa River and we are best known for it in Slovenia. One of the warmest and cleanest rivers offers many activities. Upstream of the river, you can raft, downstream, where the river becomes wider and deeper, we recommend a canoe or SUP. You can just swim. Or lie next to the riverbed. The choice is yours. All we ask is that every packaging you bring with you, you also take with you. With that, the river will remain clean even after your departure.

Is the Kolpa River always warm?

No. Warm and suitable for swimming is the river only in summer, if the temperatures are high throughout the day and night. For the brave only a sunny April or May is enough. Even in summer, we cannot assure that the Kolpa River will be warm, as it has a lot of torrential tributaries, that during thunderstorms color the green Kolpa River into a coffee shade and raise the water level so that it can overflow the banks. Don't worry if you reside in camps, as they are removed from the flood areas of the Kolpa River.
Upstream is the river colder, therefore those of you who prefer colder water temperatures should head from Vinica to Stari Trg ob Kolpi. Downstream from Vinica to Primostek the water temperature can reach up to 30 degrees Celsius, as the sun warms the river.

Camps in Bela Krajina

Would you like to camp in Bela Krajina? You can choose between various camps and tent sites on multiple locations along our longest coast. Check them out on our website, spend the night in Bela Krajina, and wake up to the most beautiful morning view. If you would like to camp, but be a bit more stylish you can also choose between glamping, apartments, vineyard houses, tourist farms, or other accommodations. Some of the accommodations received the Green label, which means they are committed to sustainable business, which affects your pleasant stay.

Green destination

Since 2016 Bela Krajina has been a member of the Slovenia Green Tourism Schema under the umbrella brand Slovenia Green. The destination Bela Krajina aims for sustainable development of the destination and its tourist providers.
During your stay in Bela Krajina follow the guidelines that are not only green but useful. Here are some examples.
The water in Bela Krajina is drinkable, therefore use reusable water bottles.
If you plan to go cycling or hiking take water with you and follow the marked paths, so that you do not get lost.
Instead by car, explore Bela Krajina through cycling routes and hiking trails. If you do not bring your bicycle you can rent normal or e-bikes at the tourist providers. In the Tourist Information Centers or with the app Mobilen.si you get a monthly subscription for BiKe City Bicycle with 4 charging stations in Bela Krajina for €5. In doing so you help the destination in reducing the carbon footprint.
With short supply chains between farms and restaurants, we also reduce the carbon footprint in Bela Krajina.
Our restaurants strive to use locally produced ingredients, this is why you will be served with local ingredients grown from the restaurant’s gardens and local producers. With Tastes of Bela Krajina, we strive to use local ingredients, that can be certified with the brand Belokranjsko. With them, the restaurants prepare delicious modern dishes.

Open Doors in Bela Krajina: 6 stamps, 1 present

In case the Kolpa River is cold and has high water levels, you can discover Bela Krajina with the help of hiking, and cycling routes with various degrees of difficulty. You can choose between easy, moderate, and very difficult routes. The easy ones are suitable for families. Families can spend their day in the Adrenaline Park in Gače or the Adrenaline Park in Podzemelj, on Oton’s Adventure in the Lahinja Landscape Park, Metlika Adventure in Metlika or visit the museums in Bele Krajina. By everyone, you can collect stamps.
Tourist providers that are part of Open Doors in Bela Krajina commit you can visit them on the scheduled dates and locations without prior announcement. 26 different tourist providers are waiting for you according to the schedule, that you can see on our website. Open Doors in Bela Krajina is an excellent way to visit the tourist providers because, after 6 visits and 6 stamps, you receive a present in the Tourist Information Center.
In the Tourist Information Centers in Črnomelj, Metlika, Semič, and Belokranjski Hram in Črnomelj you can buy souvenirs and products from the brand Belokranjsko or other local products to take home a part of Bela Krajina.

Summer events in Bela Krajina

In July, after Jurjevanje, Poletni večeri (Summer Evenings) takes place in town centers. In Semič are Poletni večeri pred Kulturnim centrom (Summer Evening in front of the Cultural Center), in Črnomelj Petkovi večeri na Petrovem trgu (Friday Evening at St. Peter’s Square), in Metlika a fenomenal cultural climate happens at Metlika Castle. For 32 years the summer event Pridi zvečer na grad is full of cultural events, that occur between the walls of Metlika Castle and offer a pleasant summer ambiance.
During summer you will find firefighter feasts, that are popular in Slovenia, and in Bela Krajina. It is a fact that the first firefighting brigade was established in Bela Krajina, displayed by the Fire Fighters’ Museum in Metlika.
If you are interested in sports events join the Gače Mountain Bike Marathon through Kočevski Rog on July 13. or take part in the run Tek na Gačah on August 25.
In the last weekend of August, summer concludes in Semič with the event Zaključek poletja na Semiškem placu. The traditional Semič Wedding took place at that time, during which couples got married according to old customs. Because there are no couples that want to get married this way, the organizers needed to transform the Semič Wedding into a modern event, and so the event Zaključet poletja was born. You can still enjoy the concerts, wine tastings in the wine bar, tasting the local gastronomy, buying souvenirs from Bela Krajina providers, dancing, and having a good time.

Stay longer

Don’t stay just during the weekend. Prolong it. Do you know what happens in Bela Krajina on the third night?
Bela Krajina is also beautiful in September and October. If you do not like high temperatures, come to Bela Krajina before or after the main tourist season, as it is still picturesque. In September we start with the Autumn Tastes of Bela Krajina, the first event takes place in Camping Bela Krajina in Podzemelj. We invite you to a dinner with the most beautiful view of the Kolpa River.

Come to Bela Krajina!