If you were to imagine a lake in a fairy tale, chances are it would look something like Slovenia’s Lake Bled! An island with a pretty church, and a medieval castle looking down on the lake from atop a cliff. Crystal clear water so green it looks emerald in the sunshine. Framed by the mountains of the Julian Alps, topped with snow and endless hiking paths to explore. Cafes with terraces for soaking up the afternoon sun, and cosy bistros to tuck into a hearty Slovenian meal. Lake Bled is almost absurdly picturesque.
PROTECTING LAKE BLED
Slovenia is rightly proud of its gorgeous natural environment, and has sought to develop its tourism industry in a sustainable manner designed at protecting its natural beauties. Slovenia was the first country in the world to have been designated a “Green Destination of the World”.
Lake Bled has been awarded the “Gold Label” by the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, and in the 2019 Green Destinations project, Lake Bled was voted the second most sustainable development in Europe.
GETTING TO LAKE BLED
Lake Bled is a popular day trip from Ljubljana, but I would urge you to spend more time here to soak it all up.
To get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, there is an efficient public bus system. Journey times vary from around an hour to an hour and twenty. Tickets cost €6.30 one way, Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday, tickets are €2.10 one way. An open return is €12, valid for 30 days.
If travelling in your own vehicle, the drive from Ljubljana is an easy 45 minutes. Kranj and Skofja Loka make for lovely stops along the way.
There are two train stations serving Lake Bled. Bled Jezero is a short walk to the Lake, but has fewer connections. Lesce-Bled has more connections, but is further from the Lake.
There is also a direct bus route to Lake Bohinj, with departures every hour during the summer months. Tickets are €3.30 and the journey takes 35 mins. The timetable and advance ticket purchase are available online. Check out my guide to Lake Bohinj, if you want to extend your trip to visit Lake Bled’s less well known neighbour.
GETTING AROUND LAKE BLED
Visitors are asked to park in designated car parks, and make use of the walking and cycling paths, and the public transport system to get around. During peak summer months, the Bled Bus runs three lines around the Lake and surrounding area. It will also take you to Pokljuka, the start for many mountain hiking trails. You can find information on all of the transport options here.
Visitors staying in Lake Bled longer than three nights can get a free Julian Alps Card: Bled. Part of the region’s efforts to develop a sustainable tourism industry, it offers free public transportation and discounts on popular attractions. The full list of benefits can be found here. The Summer card is available from 1 June to 30 September.
There is a walking path right the way around Lake Bled. The total route is 3.7 miles/6km, and takes around an hour and a half to complete. Factor in time for a dip on a hot day!
CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARIA
Perhaps the most iconic image of Lake Bled, this pretty 17thC church sits atop Slovenia’s only natural island. It is believed that the church bell on the island grants a wish to whoever rings it.
To visit the church and ring the wishing bell, visitors need to climb 99 stone steps. It is thought to be extra special to ring the bell on your wedding day, and it is traditionally considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride up the stairs to the top!
There is no charge to visit the island, although you will need to hire a rowboat to get there (€20 for the first hour, and €10 for every subsequent hour), or travel across the lake on one of the traditional pletna boats (€18). There is a fee (€12 per adult/€5 per child) to enter the church.
BLED CASTLE
Medieval Bled Castle dominates from its position 100m above Lake Bled. Built in the 16thC, it is the oldest castle in Slovenia. The castle has a small museum, setting out the history and culture of the Lake Bled area – including the original development as Lake Bled as a tourist destination in the 19thC. The castle is also home to a cutting grown from the world’s oldest vine – 400 years old and still producing fruit!
There are three walking routes up to the castle – follow the signs towards “grad”. All are relatively steep, but short. As a “proper” medieval castle it is not very accessible – pushchairs or wheelchairs will struggle on the cobbles and up and down all the stairs. Adult entry is €17 plus parking.
BOAT TRIPS ON LAKE BLED
Pletna Boat Ride – the famous pletna boats are unique to Lake Bled. These long wooden boats, powered by a single oarsman, are similar to a gondola. In 1740, twenty two local families were given exclusive rights to ferry religious pilgrims across Lake Bled to worship on Bled Island. It is still a restricted profession today and many of the modern oarsmen descend directly from the original 22 families. Motorised boats are not permitted on the Lake.
Rowing on Lake Bled – rowing boats can be hired for €20 for the first hour, and €10 for every subsequent hour. You can rent boats on both sides of the lake. I recommend giving yourself around 2-3 hours to row out to the island and back, with time to relax and explore.
Bled is the centre of Slovenian rowing, and has hosted the World Championships four times and the World Rowing Cup regattas twice. I was part of my university rowing team and we could only have dreamed of somewhere as incredible as Lake Bled to train!
OJSTRICA VIEWPOINT
One of the most beautiful views over Lake Bled, is from the Ojstrica viewpoint. Give yourself around an hour for the hike. The path is uphill, but not especially steep. Whilst not challenging, the route is uneven, and can be slippery after wet weather. The route is well signposted, with small green markers at regular intervals.
SWIMMING IN LAKE BLED
There are a number of designated swimming spots, with pontoons. Whilst swimming is permitted all around the Lake, the local tourist board asks that visitors swim in the designated areas at Grajsko kopališče Bled, Velika Zaka, Mala Zaka to protect the Lake’s ecosystem.
In summer months, the mosquitoes are fairly keen to find someone to eat around dusk so I would recommend swimming earlier in the day!
The water quality in Lake Bled – and Slovenia as a whole – is excellent. There are multiple water fountains around Lake Bled and surrounding area, so pack a reusable water bottle.
EAT BLED CAKE!
Bled Cake – or kremsnita – is a super light custard/ cream/pastry delight. I never normally like this kind of desert but I couldn’t have eaten mountains of it!
Zima Café offers a great version and very affordable prices, but if you want to splash out head to Café Belvedere to tuck into a slice with views over Lake Bled. The original version was created by a chef at Park Hotel in 1953. The Park Hotel still offers the “original” version.
VINTGAR GORGE
If Slovenia is really beautiful, then Vintgar Gorge is really, really beautiful!
A 1.6km gorge winds its way through the Triglav National Park, not far from Lake Bled. It really feels as though you have been transported into a lush jungle, or – according to the little boy ahead of us on the way out – Jurassic Park!
There is an amazing wooden walkway, built in 1893, that criss-crosses the roaring river. It offers a perspective usually only hardcore kayakers and climbers would get to enjoy!
Entry is €10 per adult (plus parking). There are several car parks for Vintgar Gorge, most of which are not at the entrance site. A shuttle bus is included in the price of your ticket – make sure you arrive about half an hour before the entry time on your ticket. As of 2024, it is required to wear a helmet for the gorge walk. A helmet is supplied with your entry ticket.
The official website suggests the walk isn’t for children under 3, but everyone we spoke to said The Baby was very welcome if he was happy in a backpack carrier. If your child is too big to go into a backpack carrier, be aware that it is a long walk back from the end of the gorge, to the carparks. Pushchairs/strollers are not allowed.
The walk through the gorge, along the wooden walk way, is one direction. At the end of the gorge, visitors have two options. You can either return to the gorge entrance along the “Green Trail Vintgar – Sv. Katarina” (12.5km), or along the shorter “Red Trail Vintgar – Blejska Dobrava” (4.9km).
If you want to explore more of Slovenia’s beautiful gorges, check out my guide to Lake Bohinj with information on how to visit Mostnica Gorge.
WHERE TO EAT IN LAKE BLED
Gostilna Pri Planincu – classic, traditional Slovenian dishes served in generous portions. Highly recommend for a delicious dinner. Service was incredibly warm and friendly. One of the loveliest evenings out we had in Slovenia!
Cafe Belvedere at Villa Bled – Vila Bled was once the palatial summer residence of General Josip Tito, president of the former Yugoslavia. It is now a hotel, and Café Belvedere is open to non-guests in the grounds. Even just the café really gives a sense of the grandeur and excess Tito lived in. €9 for Bled Cake is truly extortionate but you are paying for the gorgeous view of the boats drifting along Lake Bled below, from the peaceful terrace. Plan to lounge here long enough to make the price seem less painful! To be fair, it was a very good Bled cake – light and airy, with less cream to custard ratio than others we tried!
Old Cellar Bled – a 500 year old cellar in the centre of Bled. Great service, extensive Slovenian wine list, serving classic dishes and traditional deserts.
Zima Café – pastry shop and café, family run since 1880. Great place to get an affordable slice of Bled Cake, or an ice cream and coffee break on a summer’s day.
Monika Poklukar – we had a superb lunch here, only a short walk from the shores of Lake Bled. All food, beer, cider and drinks is homemade and seriously excellent. Monika – who serves and cooks everything herself – is also lovely, and had some great tips for our visit!
Bled Castle Restaurant – a pricier menu, but the views are unbeatable. Menu us made up of traditional Slovenian dishes. Also one of the prettiest spots to try the famous Bled Cake.
WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE BLED
Rikli Balance Hotel – really great for family, or nature lovers looking for a place to soothe muscles after a day hiking. Given how enthusiastic the mosquitoes were whilst we visited in the summer months, I was rather glad to be a bit back from the edge of the Lake! If travelling with a family, the hotel also gives you a selection of free entry tickets for children over 4 to local attractions. A pretty good money saver if you want to visit several places. Great pool area and spa – open for booking by non guests (Živa Wellness – named after the Slovenian goodness of life).
Penzion Vila Prešeren – a beautiful 19thC villa right on the edge of Lake Bled. Six rooms and two suites available.
Adora Luxury Hotel – super comfortable beds, in an incredibly picturesque setting underneath Bled Castle. There is a beautiful terrace in the gardens, with lovely views over Lake Bled.
Hotel Triglav – old fashioned, classic comfort! Fantastic views and an in-house restaurant. Swimming pool and sauna. Close to the train station.
Slovenia is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful countries that I have visited – check out the rest of my guides to Slovenia for more inspiration to start planning your own visit.
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