If you are reading this post, it's because you have probably seen the idyllic postcard photos of Lake Bled, Slovenia and is probably on your bucket list. The blue-green waters of the lake with the island in the middle are straight out of a fairy tale. These are, in fact, the most iconic tourist sites in of all Slovenia. It is also the perfect day trip from the Capital, Ljubljana.

Is Lake Bled worth visiting? Yes! Visit now before mass tourism gets to the town. It is the perfect one day adventure in Slovenia,

To enjoy this destination to the maximum, leave your car in the parking lot and enjoy this natural wonder on foot. Here are all the best things to do in Lake Bled.

A little about Bled

This picturesque little town nestled in the Slovenian Alps origins can be traced back centuries, with evidence of human settlement dating back to prehistoric times. However, it wasn't until the 11th century that Bled truly began to flourish when the Bishops of Brixen built a castle atop the rocky cliff overlooking Lake Bled. Over the centuries, the castle evolved from a defensive stronghold to a luxurious residence for noble families, leaving behind a rich tapestry of architectural styles and historical significance.

As time marched on, Bled transformed into a renowned health resort in the 19th century, attracting European aristocrats seeking the healing powers of its thermal springs. The town's reputation as a wellness destination flourished, with grand hotels and elegant villas springing up along the lakeshore. Additionally, the island in the middle of Lake Bled, home to the charming Church of the Assumption, became a pilgrimage site and a symbol of Bled's spiritual heritage. Today, Bled is one of the most important tourist destinations in the country.

Here is the travel guide to all the things to do in Bled (with the total cost of all the activities). Get ready this will be a full day of activities!

The Lake & its Activities

The best and most beautiful Bled’s attraction is, of course, the lake.

Take a hike

There is a 6km trail that snakes around the entire Lake Bled, perfect to walk or bike around. Walking the entire trail takes around 1 or 2 hours to complete. The path is very pleasant and you have several points in the area where you can sit and enjoy the lake. You can also do this trail by bike, you will find plenty of places to rent a bike.

There are two hills that offer stunning panoramic views of Lake Bled, the island, and the surrounding Julian Alps. The Ojstrica viewpoint is the lower viewpoint and the hike is relatively short, it takes around 20 minutes to get to the viewpoint. Mala Osojnica is the higher viewpoint. The hike is very steep and it takes 45 minutes to one hour round trip.

If you want to do more hiking, worry not, there are 15 hike trails to choose from in total.

Swim & other watersports

You must be wondering if you can swim in these beautiful waters. Well yes, you can! The water is warm as it is thermal water and it can go up to 23 °C  during Summer. So bring your bathing suit! There is one public beach, Grajsko kopališče, and it costs around 8.00 € for the whole day. If you’re a sporty one, you can swim to Bled Island but if you want to enter the Church, you need to bring clothes.

You can also take a traditional wooden Pletna boat or rent a rowboat and row out to Bled Island.

There are also other sports such as kayaking, standing paddle board or discovering the underwaters by diving into the lake. The entire hike takes 45 minutes to one-hour round trip. You do not need hiking shoes although a sturdy pair of shoes like running shoes are recommended.

The Bled Castle

When you thought that this place could not be more Disney-like, well let me tell you that there is a castle.

Perhaps one of the best viewpoints of the Bled Lake, the castle is perched 100m on a mountain that oversees the picturesque town. It is one of the oldest castles in the country. In fact, the castle dates back to the 11th century. The towers, the ramparts and moats are part of its architectural design. The castle is now a museum. Visitors can explore the castle's well-preserved interior, which houses a museum offering insight into the area's cultural heritage dating back to ancient times including exhibits on medieval weaponry, castle life, and the geological formation of Lake Bled. However, the highlight of the Bled Castle is its panoramic vistas, offering sweeping views over the emerald-green lake, the charming island with its iconic church, and the rugged peaks of the Julian Alps looming in the distance.

While visiting the castle, you can have lunch or eat the famous Bled Cream Cake while enjoying the breathtaking views from the terrasse. Bled's famous cream cake, known locally as "kremšnita" consists of layers of flaky pastry, vanilla custard, whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

You can also have a nice lunch or dinner at the Bled Castle Restaurant. The restaurant serves traditional Slovene dishes with a modern twist. Unfortunately, we did not get to eat there but. international restaurant guide Falstaff awarded the restaurant one fork. Or you can go wine tasting in the wine cellar as part of an organized group tour.

The entrance to the castle costs 11 Euros.

If you like castles Predjama Castle is only 1-hour drive away.

The island

The tear-shaped island is symbolized by the gothic church that reins over it. The tiny island is only 2 km by 1.4km. The only thing on the island is a Church of the Assumption and a small museum, the Provost's House. The baroque church dates back to the 17th century.

While on the island you will hear an incessant bell ringing. This is because visitors ring “the wishing bell”.

2 main legends surround the island. The first legend is that the island was once a temple for a Slavic goddess Živa and that in the years of Christian conversion, this pagan religion was lost. It is believed that if you ring the bell, you will have good luck, This second legend says that whoever rings the bell, gives honour to the Virgin Mary and gets his wish come true.

To ring the bell you need to climb 99 steps to get into the church’s bell tower. The museum also has a small cafe that serves a traditional Slovenian cake that is different from the Bled Cream Cake. I found this a little odd, why won’t they serve the local specialty?

The price for entrance to both of these attractions is 6 Euros.

How to get to the island?

There are several options to get to the island.  As for the first one, you can row your own boat to the island. Be warned that the lake has a little current so it might be hard or time-consuming to arrive at the island. The cost of this boat depends on the number of persons and ranges from €10 to €17.

The other options are either to board a traditional Pletna, which is similar to a gondola, which costs around 14 euros per person for the round trip. Their origins date back to 1590 and they can seat up to 18 people. The "pletnar", the boat navigator, is passed down from generation to generation. The Pletna boat ride to Bled Island takes 20 minutes one way. You can find pletna boats near Hotel Park, in Mlino near Vila Bled and near Rowing centre.

There is also an electric boat which costs about 11 Euros per person for the round trip. There are no other boats allowed in the lake in an effort to conserve the waters as pristine as possible. The two latter options have strict schedules and will leave you on the island for around 45 min to 1 hour. I found that waiting for an hour on the island was a little long.

Beyond Bled

Bled can be a great hub for other destinations.

Lake Bled is located in the heart of the Julian Alps and offers several hiking trails. The most popular hike is Mala Osijnica due to its fantastic views which show the lake and the island from 645 metres above.

Take the time to enjoy what surrounds this beautiful lake. The other well-known attraction is Lake Bohinj which is nestled among the mountains. You can embark on the Triglav National Park tour. Lake Bohinj lies in Triglav National Park and there are plenty of hiking trails. This lake is much less crowded and its natural beauty is also spectacular.

You can also go to the medieval town of Radovljica, or the picturesque village of Škofja Loka to further explore the beauty and culture of Slovenia's countryside. You can also explore Vintgar Gorge, located just a short drive from Bled. Walk along wooden walkways that meander through the gorge, offering stunning views of the Radovna River and its cascading waterfalls. Another option could be visiting the Postojna Cave which is the second-longest cave system in the country.

Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit these other destinations.

I have collected more than 20 day trip options from Ljubljana if you need a little inspiration to plan your trip.

Where to stay?

If you wish to stay a few days you can stay in different hotels or a beautiful treehouse only 5min away. Other popular options are the Grand Hotel Toplice or Vila Bled. The latter was the summer residence of Tito, the leader of former Yugoslavia. This is an upscale hotel with fine cuisine. There is also a pavilion with a cafe that was designed by Jože Plečnik (the main architect of Ljubljana.. The pavilion has beautiful views of the lake.

Since the 19th century, the town has been known to be a wellness center. So why not book a hotel with a spa? If you have the budget, why not treat yourself to a massage, sauna session, or thermal water therapy for the ultimate relaxation experience? There are a total of 7 establishments dedicated to wellness and relaxation.

Bled is undoubtedly beautiful. However, I did feel like it was on the edge of becoming some kind of a tourist trap. I wish I had taken the time to go hiking or swimming ( I didn’t know we could swim) instead of going to the island. I also found that it was a little expensive to do the main attractions. If you are two people and you wish to go to the church on the island, visit the castle and eat the cake, you will need to budget around 70 Euros. This is without counting the parking or the transportation fees.

My suggestion will be to carefully decide what you wish to do and plan accordingly so you don’t feel disappointed. However, visiting Lake Bled should still be one of the destinations to add to your European bucket list.

Practical Information & travel tips

WHEN TO GO

Slovenia has 4 seasons, so it all depends on which season you prefer to travel and the things that you like to do. Summer is great because you can go to the beach and enjoy the lakes. Fall must be beautiful with all the colours in the many national parks. Slovenia is also a great place to enjoy winter and do lots of winter sports. We visited Lake Bled in the summertime. If you are going in summer, I would suggest going early as it might get crowded as the day advances.

How to get to Bled

You have several options to arrive at Bled. We stopped at Bled as part of our 10-day Slovenia road trip. Getting by car is the easiest way. It takes around 45 minutes to get there from Ljubljana.

You can also choose to get into the town by bus. There's at least one bus going every hour from Ljubljana. The trip takes a little more than an hour. The last option is to travel by train. The town has two stations at Bled — Lesce-Bled and Bled Jezero. Both stations are around 4 kilometres from the city centre. It is recommended you take a taxi to reach your final destination in Bled. W

SAFETY

The country is extremely safe! However, do exercise the usual precautions

TAP WATER

You can drink your tap water. So ditch your plastic bottle and fill your reusable bottle wherever you want! Remember that in Europe you have to pay for your water at restaurants, so you better not forget your water bottle!

POWER

Slovenia uses the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. The plugs are characterized by two or three round pins in a row. They use plugs Type F, C and E.

CURRENCY

Slovenia has been using the Euro (€) since 2004.

Are you planning a trip to Lake Bled soon? Let me know in the comments below!

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Disclaimer: We enjoyed the visit to the castle as guests of the Bled tourism board. A big thank you! All opinions are my own. 

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