Crystal clear waters, jaw-dropping Julian Alps, and Karavanke backdrops make Lake Bled in Slovenia a must-visit place.
Europe is no short of romantic places, that awe-struck visitors with their unique charm. Each country & its popular cities have distinct features, reminiscing everyone about their culture, influence and lively touristic scenes. One such country, that truly boasts the typical European love affair is – Slovenia.
Brimming with bluish-green lakes, flourishing gardens, medieval castles, and a picture-perfect postcard of a church on an islet –Slovenia is a ‘must-visit’ destination in Europe. Along with all the beautiful attractions you could see, Bled in Slovenia is a popular resort that lures many honeymooners & adventure enthusiasts to experience the country. Right from hiking, biking, and cycling activities to experiencing over-the-top romantic settings around Lake Bled – there are endless possibilities to explore the town and its surroundings.
In this guide, I’ll be covering the most beautiful attractions you could cover at Lake Bled in Slovenia. This picturesque small town has all the ingredients for a perfect getaway – so you won’t be missing out on any Slovenian experience during your trip. This article will also cover popular must-have’ experiences around Lake Bled and beyond. So at the end of your read, you’ll have a comprehensive idea of a perfect travel plan to Slovenia.
TOP THINGS TO DO AT LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA
VISIT BLED ISLAND
Probably the best experience in Bled lies in visiting its greatest attraction – the Bled Island. Known for its exquisite blue-green lake, the island of Bled sits in the middle of the lake, amongst gorgeous backdrop settings. It’s almost a sight to watch for hours and hours, as you swim or stroll around the lake. Even as you walk around, the sight to behold the centerpiece is lovely to take in from almost any vantage point.
Travel to Bled Island by rowboat: If you feel adventurous, try yourself boating up to reach the island, then you can rent a rowboat and paddle across the lake. Plenty of shops are located around the lake that rent these rowboats. Charges are as per hours, and it varies accordingly. Usually, you can expect something like €20-€22 per hour.
Also, you don’t need any sort of experience to try out row-boating. It’s pretty simple and a fun activity, although requiring some muscular strength to row out during your final stretch.
Travel to Bled Island via traditional pletna: There are traditional pletna boats that take you from the shore to the island. These boats date back to the year 1590 and can fit approx. 20 people. It’s a good alternative option if row boating isn’t your thing.
You can book tickets for these pletna boats in Milano near Vila Bled, and they cost you €12-€15 per person.
RING THE WISHING BELL
As you get closer to Bled Island, you’ll probably hear the church bell ring. There’s an old saying that whoever does ring the bell, will have their wish come true.
Once you reach Bled Island, you’ll have to walk 99 stairs to visit the Church of the Assumption. You can ring the bell, with something you love and then stroll around the church to enjoy the scenery from the island.
The ticket price to the church of Assumption is €6.
STROLL AROUND LAKE BLED
One of the best experiences you could take away from Lake Bled is simply walking around and admiring the perfect scenes. The entire circuit to walk is around 6kms, which is relatively flat. It takes around an hour and a half to complete the circuit, however with more frequent photo stops – it could take you close to two hours.
As you stroll along, you’ll find a perfect picture spot to click snaps of Lake Bled and the castle. The whole scenery changes, you come across different vantage points, unique lookout areas, and much more. Especially, the views from the south side of Lake Bled are amazingly gorgeous.
There are also several benches for visitors to sit and relax. You can always take your time to complete the circuit at your easy pace.
GO UP TO THE CASTLE
Perched on the rock high above the lake, sits the beautiful Bled Castle. This is Slovenia’s oldest castle, dating back to 1011. On your visit here, you can witness spectacular views of the lake from the terrace, or tour the museum if you’d wish.
There are also two courtyards, inter-connected, which you can access. The upper one houses a small chapel with beautiful frescoes. From here, you can soak in Lake Bled’s beauty in all its glory, sweeping across the lakeshore and ice-capped mountains.
You can also dine in here, at the Bled Castle Restaurant.
The ticket price for adults is €13 and for children aged 14 or younger €5. For more details on operational hours & group pricing, visit the official site.
EXPERIENCE PADDLE BOARDING
A fun alternative way to explore Lake Bled is to paddleboard. And what a gorgeous place to rent paddleboards and explore the lake on your own!
Even if you don’t have any prior knowledge of paddleboarding, you can still take part in this activity. Once you rent out a paddle, you’ll be followed by a brief introduction to the sup course. The activity organizer will help you stand on your own feet on the paddleboard.
Once you’re good to go, you can paddle out to the middle of the lake or along the shoreline to soak in majestic views of Bled Island. You can always jump in the water and refresh yourself!
You can check this guided activity experience here.
TAKE A HIKE TO MALA OSOJNICA
Hikes in Slovenia are really popular. They provide some absolute, stunning views of the entire town. For aerial viewpoints of Lake Bled, you can choose between two hiking trails – Ojstrica (611 meters above sea level) and Mala Osojnica (685 meters above sea level). I’d personally recommend the latter one, as it is relatively quick to reach, with a bit strenuous on the other side.
The starting path of the trail is much easier to walk upon. Even in some sections, you’ll find a wooden section of steps for climbing. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with a nice, stunning view of Lake Bled.
From the main viewpoint i.e. Mala Osojnica – the view is even more spectacular. Even if you aren’t a hike, it’s worth experiencing this trail for your first-time visit.
HEART OF BLED VIEWPOINT
Heart of Bled is one of the popular landmarks of Lake Bled in Slovenia. It’s situated on a wooden deck in a heart-shaped frame. Perfect stop-by viewpoint for romantic couples to admire the scenic lake views.
Nothing really great about this place, but just fascinates visitors to take snaps with some great background.
RELISH THE FAMOUS CREAM CAKE
If you’re in Lake Bled, then there’s one thing that you shouldn’t miss out on trying – cream cakes. These are traditional regional deserts and you could find them almost anywhere around Slovenia.
But the one that you get in Bled, is the most famous of all! All the layers of vanilla cream mixed with crispy puff pastry are worth all the calories.
The price for these cream cakes is around €4, 70.
SIP A HOT COFFEE
Warm yourself with a hot cup of coffee whilst you soak in amazing scenic views of the lake. And probably the best café to indulge in that experience – is the Café Belvedere.
It’s one of the hidden spots of Lake Bled, and not many people are aware of this place. However, being a part of the Vila Bled premises – it has now grown in popularity and visitors often find themselves snugging for a coffee and cream cake.
Often so, finding a way to Café Belvedere is challenging – but it’s worth all your efforts!
EXPERIENCES BEYOND LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA
VISIT SOTESKA VINTGAR
Vintgar Gorge is a must-visit place if you’re at Lake Bled. Although it’s not located near the lake, a 13-minute drive will be worth your trip.
Upon your arrival, you can walk the 1.5 km long trail along the Radovna River, which will take you across beautiful gorges, lush green forests, and pretty waterfalls. The trail is easy to walk upon, and won’t require much of your energy to complete the round-trip.
Give yourself 2-3 hours to visit Vintgar Gorge, as it is a busy attraction. Often, in the morning visitors pop in to explore the place. So expect a few crowd along the trail boardwalks.
The entrance fee to Vintgar Gorge is €10.
DAY TRIP TO BOHINJ
Although the beauty of Lake Bled is incomparable, Lake Bohinj is something worth checking out!
Located 26km away from Bled, the beauty of Lake Bohinj is striking enough to make you explore this place for hours and hours. From visiting the St John the Baptist Church and Zlatorog to feeling adventurous with water sports on Lake Bohinj – there’s so much to do here.
Ideally, I’d recommend you take a full-day trip to Lake Bohinj to visit this place in its entirety.
EXPLORE THE TOWN OF RADOVLJICA
Just a 10-minute drive from Lake Bled, you will find the quaint town of Radovljica. It’s a small town, with a bounty load of attractions to experience. Some of them are even from the medieval period, with their original history intact.
The biggest two highlights of Radovljica are the two museums – gingerbread and beekeeping. Both these museums are super interesting, with value-added history. A complete walkthrough of the museum will show you the whole process of honey production.
HOW TO GET TO LAKE BLED?
Lake Bled is easily accessible from every direction. Especially, the proximity to Ljubljana is just under 45-minutes. Hence, popular day trips to Lake Bled from Ljubljana are more common for all activities & experiences.
Both rental cars and taxis are available at the city center to book. You’ll even get options to reserve your car at the airport itself. If you’re simply touring Lake Bled for a single day, then check these day-trip excursions.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED IN LAKE BLED?
Ideally, one day is more than enough to explore the beauty of Lake Bled. However, with more time in your schedule, you can spare 2 or 3 days in this gorgeous city. Doing so will ensure that you also visit other beautiful areas around Lake Bled.
With an additional third day in your schedule, you can fit in Vintgar Gorge or Lake Bohinj.
ACCOMMODATION IN LAKE BLED
Lake Bled being a popular resort town in Slovenia boasts plenty of accommodation options to choose from. Ranging from budgeted stays to luxurious rooms, you can find perfect hotels according to your preference and style.
Here are a few of my recommendations –
Adora Luxury Hotel (ex Vila Istra): Situated on the waterfront area of Lake Bled, this modern luxury hotel is one of its kind. Spacious rooms, high-end amenities, and friendly staff all make your experience worthwhile.
Vila Cvetka Apartments – For budget-friendly options, Vila Cvetka is a ‘must-stay’ option at Bled. You can either choose to book the apartments or cottages from their wide variety of options.
Bled Rose Hotels – The hotel swanks beautiful rooms, and hosts great amenities within convenient walking distance to Lake Bled. Ideal for group travelers and families.
For more hotel stays and accommodation options – check this website.
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