Lake Bled in Slovenia competes with the country's capital as the main tourist destination. The lake is extraordinary and is surrounded by mountains and hills, with an island in the middle where there is a church that you can visit by boat. To visit Lake Bled, you can do so by car, but also by bus or train.
No wonder so many tourists flock there to admire this body of water. It couldn't be any other way, as the natural scenery of the Julian Alps - as a backdrop - is complemented by forests, panoramic views, relaxing hiking spots and, of course, the emerald waters of Lake Bled.
Firstly, it's quite simple and cheap to visit Lake Bled from Ljubljana in just one day. However, in my opinion, if you extend your visit to Lake Bled for longer I'm sure you'll fall in love with this Slovenian lake at first sight. You'll want to extend your stay and visit again Ljubljana a day or two later.
If you return to the capital early, you'll regret not staying overnight and not being able to witness the tranquillity that only nighttime brings - when the huge tourist buses disappear, the sun falls over the Julian Alps, the stars come out, the town lights come on and Bled is transformed into a magical place.
Complete guide to visiting Lake Bled
Day 1
Walk around Lake Bled
In a guide to visiting Lake Bled, in Slovenia, I suggest you start with a gentle walk around the lake, beginning near the tourist information center. Walk clockwise, following a pedestrian path parallel to the road. Further ahead, you’ll reach a dirt trail, then continue along a wooden boardwalk.
The views are much better until you reach the walkway, as you can see the mountains, the castle and the Church of the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), on the island in the centre of Lake Bled. The northern part of the walk is less photogenic, it's already covered by trees and you won't see the castle above Lake Bled either.
If you go all the way around the lake, the distance is around six kilometres and, in a relaxed manner, you should complete the perimeter in around two hours. If you do this walk in the morning, you'll see Lake Bled at its best, as the still waters reflect the landscape and the island in the centre of the lake.
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Viewpoints and panoramic views
The Mala Osojnica viewpoint is one of the most popular for getting the most recognisable view of Lake Bled. The climb up to 685 metres is not easy, nor is it recommended for anyone who is not in good physical shape. In addition, there are places where it becomes dangerous, as the terrain has collapsed and you have to walk on a steel cable.
This is the classic viewpoint of Lake Bled, often seen on postcards and promotional images. There are several places to start this walk, but the easiest is the one I indicate here. You can also start near the campsite, but that will make for a longer walk. The route takes about an hour to reach the top of the hill. Other viewpoints include Mala Ojstrica and Velika Osojnica, the latter being the highest point at 756 meters altitude.
Alternatively, if you want to enjoy a pleasant view of Lake Bled without the dangers and physical effort, walk around the lake (as mentioned earlier) and when you see signs for Cafe Belvedere and Vila Bled, climb the stairs, order a coffee, and enjoy the fantastic views.
Another way to explore Lake Bled is to rent a boat and calmly row around the lake. You can also choose to visit the island and make a wish. This is a ritual for many visitors who ring the bell while making their wishes. The trip on a pletna, the traditional gondola, costs about €15.
Lake Bled Castle
Entry to the castle is not cheap (11€) and with so many panoramic viewpoints from which you can enjoy the magnificent Slovenian lake without paying, I decided not to visit the castle. Not least because, I was told, the items in the castle museum can also be seen in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, for much less money.
Eating at Lake Bled
Don't think there's a mistake in the title of this section. But after so much physical exercise, you need to recover your energy. And it may be an exaggeration, but one of the reasons to visit Lake Bled is to try some local delicacies, with particular emphasis on cakes, such as the popular Bled Cream Cake (kremna rezina), o Potica or the Prekmurska gibanica - my favourite.
Visit the Slascicarna Zima café/pastry shop, where I tried the best cakes at the best price, and you can even order them to take home. The price for a slice of Bled Cream Cake is €3.30, the Prekmurska gibanica €3.50 and the Potica 2,50€. Unless you're very greedy, a slice of any of these is more than enough for two people.
Don't forget to try the local sausages (Kranjska Klobasa). It's the best-known Slovenian food and was even protected in 2015.
Day 2
Vintgar Gorge
This is one of the most popular places to visit during a trip to the Lake Bled region in Slovenia. A round-trip ticket should cost around €10, but you will also need to pay another €10 for entrance to the gorge. Alternatively, you can walk from the town of Bled or rent a bicycle.
Lake Bohinj
On this route to visit Lake Bled, there is time to leave Bled and visit other places in the surrounding area. One of the places I highly recommend is Lake Bohinj, in the Triglav National Park. If you have a car, it's quite easy to get there, as it's only 32 kilometres from Lake Bled to Lake Bohinj. The latter is also located in the middle of the mountains and is just as beautiful (or more so) as Bled.
You can walk for about an hour to get a panoramic view. When you arrive in Bohinj, cross the stone bridge next to the imposing church and continue for about 10 minutes until you find another small bridge on the right.
There you will find signposts to enter the forest and begin the ascent. Once inside the forest, the directions aren’t very clear, but if you stay attentive, you will reach your destination. See this map for more details to reach the panoramic viewpoint Peč.
Around the lake, there is also a waterfall you can visit: Savica. It’s not particularly thrilling, but if you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit—though you will have to pay the €3 entrance fee, of course.
Transport to Lake Bohinj
There is a local bus (one per hour) that takes about half an hour between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. The first bus of the day leaves at 7.15am and for the next few hours, until the end of the day, 20 minutes after the hour (8.20am, 9.20am, 10.20am, etc). At Lake Bohinj, ask at the tourist information office for the timetable as it's not signposted, but there's at least one every hour.
Extra information: I visited Lake Bled as part of my long journey, by train, From Portugal to Macau.
Extra information
Additional tip for Lake Bled
Around the lake there are drinking water fountains where you can drink or fill up your bottle. Another piece of advice is not to waste time (or money) in the restaurant next to the campsite, as the food is dispensable. The wine is good, but nothing more.
Parking along Lake Bled is impossible. There are half a dozen spaces and they are almost always full. Leave your car at the hotel, in the town - where you'll have to pay - or travel by public transport. In Bled you'll find plenty of restaurants, cafés, ATMs and even a casino.
Save time (and money)
If you want to immerse yourself even more in the local culture or optimise your time, check out the experiences and guided tours. This is ideal for those who want to explore leisurely but save time and money. Some tours even visit Lake Bled, Lake Bohin and the Savica Waterfall.
When to visit Lake Bled
There isn't really a bad time to visit Lake Bled, although the best time is during spring and autumn. That is, between April and October. However, I would avoid the summer months, as the crowds are enormous and take the fun out of this fantastic Slovenian location. In winter, despite the cold, you can see Lake Bled transformed and painted white - if it has snowed.
Whatever time of year you visit Lake Bled, I suggest you kick your laziness to the curb and wake up at sunrise or shortly afterwards to admire the lake's fantastic scenery. Take a raincoat, as the area is characteristically unpredictable and it can rain at any time of year.
How to get to Lake Bled - transport
I arrived at Lake Bled, or to be more precise, Lesce Bled from Zurich on a night train.
If you fly to Ljubljana - Slovenia's beautiful capital - you can then easily reach Lake Bled. You can use Skyscanner to search for the best flight.
There are daily regular trains from Ljubljana. The train journey between Ljubljana and Lesce Bled takes between 45 and 60 minutes, with departures from 4.35 in the morning. The price is around €5 per journey. When you arrive in Lesce Bled you'll need to take a local bus to Lake Bled, which takes 10 minutes. The bus ticket costs €1.30 from Lesce to Lake Bled.
If you want to get to Lake Bled (Bled Jezero) by train, enter this name as your destination. However, there are no direct trains and you'll have to change. The journey will take almost two hours, so I recommend the first option if you're travelling from Ljubljana.
There are also regular buses from the capital to Bled, but you'll pay more than on the train and you'll probably have less comfort and worse views.
Hire a car
If you have your own car, it's much easier. Choose to hire a car with Discovercars. This site allows you to compare prices and, in many cases, you can cancel the rental free of charge up to 48 hours before departure.
The best way, however, to explore Lake Bled and the surrounding Triglav National Park, for example, is to hire a car.
Hotel on Lake Bled
If you don't book a hotel on Lake Bled in advance you could have problems, as this is a very popular area. That's what happened to me, as most of the establishments were full - and I didn't visit during the high season.
In my opinion, I made the right choice. I stayed in Lesce Bled, about 5 kilometres from Bled, and this brought me some benefits. Firstly, I had access to cheaper accommodation.
Secondly, there's more peace and quiet, thirdly you can savour local food in cheaper restaurants and, finally, you'll have more contact with the local population. If you stay at hostel 1A Adventure you'll get a discount at an excellent local restaurant.
I stayed very well at the 1A Adventure hostel, with private rooms from 35€. The staff are fantastic, there's a small bar and a large common room on the premises. In addition, the hostel takes you free of charge to Lake Bled and also brings you back at the end of the day. Alternatively, if you don't want to return at the times of the shuttle from the hostel, you can take a local bus to Lake Bled. The ticket costs €1.30 each way.
If you choose a hotel near Lake Bled, you'll pay more, but you'll be a very short distance from the shores of the lake. For example, the Vila Alpina, is a renovated, modern accommodation that has everything you need for a comfortable night or two. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, TV, fridge and kettle, as well as garden views.
Also in the same contemporary style, the Pr Klaudiji Guest House Bled presents itself as an excellent alternative. You can hire bicycles and enjoy the views from the rooms while resting on comfortable beds. There is also a restaurant in the hotel.
With a more conservative style and a little cheaper, Penzion Kaps. It's just a few metres from the lake and the bus station.
In the refinement sector, the Villa Bled, will be a great option. Situated on the shores of Lake Bled, with a garden, Vila Bled was the holiday residence of former Yugoslav president Tito. As well as good views, it also has a spa and free Wi-Fi.
- Hostel 1A Adventure (8.6)
- Vila Alpina (9.1)
- Pr Klaudiji Guest House Bled (9.2)
- Penzion Kaps (9.6)
- Villa Bled (8.9)
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