Lake Bled is a real life postcard. A medieval, hilltop castle overlooks an unlikely island in the middle of an emerald green lake, all surrounded by the impressive background of the Julian Alps. We couldn’t make this stuff up.
Yet, our trip this December proved that Lake Bled is even more spectacular than we imagined. There is such a variety of things to do, and we were regularly surprised by the lack of over-tourism.
A visit to Slovenia would truly not be complete without a stop in Lake Bled. Read on for our complete guide on things to see, eat, and do in the area!
How to Get to Lake Bled?
Lake Bled is less than an hour drive from Ljubljana. We rented a car from Ljubljana Airport, but you can also get to Lake Bled very easily by bus. The Central Bus Station in Ljubljana offers frequent routes, and the bus journey takes ~1 hour and 20 minutes. The cost for a return ticket is €13, and you can check departure times on their website.
Where to Stay in Lake Bled?
We stayed at the Pletna B&B, which we found on Airbnb and chose because all five rooms boast a a balcony and spectacular views of the lake.
The decor inside is a bit dated, but in a charming way. It is also located right next to a grocery store and our favorite restaurant in Bled!
Highly suggest taking advantage of the option to order breakfast to the room. For €8/person, they’ll bring you a full on feast!
Where to Eat in Lake Bled?
- Restaurant Sova – We liked Sova so much we ended up going twice during our stay in Bled! The dish presentations are oddly ornate, but the food and wine were both delicious and reasonably priced. Highly recommend the chef’s truffle soup and the seafood risotto. End the meal with the dessert board to include homemade truffle ice cream. Trust us..
- Confectionary Zima – Make sure to try the local cakes. Cremeschnitte, a puffy cream cake, is the most commonly suggested delicacy. We actually preferred Gibanica, which is made with layers of strudel, poppy, cottage cheese, nuts and apples, and topped off with powdered sugar. Yup. Best enjoyed with a coffee or a glass of wine.
- Supermarkets – One of our favorite (and wallet conscious) things to do was pick up meats, cheeses, and breads from the local grocer to bring along with us for daytime activities and hiking. Right next to the lake, and a short walk from Pletna B&B, was Mercator Mlino Bled. They have all the goodies.
- You can also go to Bled Castle Restaurant for high altitude views over the lake, but it looked a bit overpriced for our liking.
Things to Do in Lake Bled
1. Row a Boat to Bled Island
Rent a two-person row boat and paddle around Bled Island. You’ll admire the church and the island from all vantage points, making for some great photo ops. The place we stayed, Pletna B&B, had its own dock for boat rentals right outside the rooms.
Most visitors opt for the group boat tour, which is essentially just a bigger boat that carries you to and from Bled Island. While the views of Bled Island from the surrounding areas are breathtaking, we found the island itself a bit underwhelming.
2. Hike to Mala Ojstrica
This is the quintessential view of Lake Bled. The focal point is Bled Island in the center of the lake, with Bled Castle perched behind it and the Julian Alps framing the background.
From the edge of the lake, the hike takes 20 minutes or so and is 611 meters high. At the end, you’ll be rewarded with incredible scenery and even a little bench to soak it all in. Top tip: bring a warm coffee and a snack to enjoy at the top.
We woke up to snowfall one morning, so we quickly decided to make our way for Mala Ojstrica. At the lookout point, we were so surprised to have the whole area to ourselves! The snow muffled any ambient noises coming from the town below, so we enjoyed the spectacular view in complete serenity. After some coffee, and a ton of photos, it was time to head off for Mala Osojnica.
3. Hike to Mala Osojnica
From Mala Ojstrica, you can follow the signposts pointing to Mala Osojnica. The path is unmarked, but you basically carry on for 20 minutes until you reach Osojnica where you will find a bench and chain link fence. This viewpoint is slightly higher (670m) and probably just as impressive as Ojstrica. But, it’s a bit further away from the lake and has an obstructed view with the fence, making it harder to capture in photographs.
4. Visit Bled Castle
One thing we noticed in Slovenia, is that they love to build castles on the top of a hill. Bled Castle is no exception, and it definitely adds to the fairytale vibes of Lake Bled.
Similar to Bled Island, we preferred admiring Bled Castle from afar. The castle itself feels like it has been over-commercialized.
5. Walk the Lake
There is a walking path the entire way around the lake. While the views from Mala Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica are breathtaking, the views from the paths around the lake are unparalleled.
Things to Do Near Lake Bled
6. Check out Vintgar Gorge
Just a 15min drive from Lake Bled, Vintgar Gorge is located on the edge of Triglav National Park. A narrow, wooden path and emerald green water will guide you along the 1.6km walk. We used our rental car, but you can also make it to Vintgar Gorge by bike!
Upon arrival, we were disappointed to find out that the walkway was closed for the winter. However, we made the most of it by hiking our way above the Vintgar Gorge walking trail, and ending at Šum Waterfall (or Slap Šum).
Amazing views of the mountains and the bluest water you have ever seen. Yes, the water is actually that color..
7. Take a trip to Lake Bohinj
By now, you should have an idea of what makes Lake Bled so unique and coveted. Still, I would argue that Lake Bohinj was even better. The entire town feels more natural, more isolated, more…Slovenian.
Lake Bohinj, at 318 hectares, is twice the size of Lake Bled. The town of Bohinj is also nestled within Triglav National Park, which means there are amazing options for hiking nearby.
8. Explore Triglav National Park
We’ve already mentioned Vintgar Gorge and Lake Bohinj, both of which are part of Triglav National Park, but there is so much more to Slovenia’s sole national park. It is home to Mt. Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia at over 2,800 meters. The mountain is a symbol for Slovenia, even featuring on the crest of their national football team. Useless fact: Triglav means “three heads” in Slovenian.
Alternately, you could spend the day exploring various hiking trails, skiing at Vogel Ski Resort, or admiring the Savica Waterfall.
9. Gaze at Predjama Castle
We didn’t end up making it to Predjama Castle, but we wish we did. It is a medeival castle built in the mouth of a cave, surrounded by cliffs and secret tunnels. Fittingly, it holds the Guinness World Record for “largest cave castle”.
By car, it takes about 75min to get to Predjama Castle from Lake Bled.
10. Explore the wine region of Vipava Valley
Another one we didn’t make it to, Vipava Valley is certainly one for the foodies and wine drinkers. It is a hub for Slovenian wine, hospitality, and sustainability. If you want to learn more, we found this blog post quite useful and enjoyable.
By car, Vipava Valley is only 30-min from Predjama Castle (#9), so we recommend pairing these two if you end up making the trip.
Looking back, I feel silly admitting that it’s the photos of Lake Bled that convinced us to go to Slovenia. And that is because there is just so much more to this beautiful country! We look back so fondly on our trip, and I hope this guide comes in handy when you start planning yours!
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