Discover the Hidden Gems of Lake Bled: 5 Unforgettable Things to Do

If you think about Slovenia, you think about Lake Bled. This place has to be the most famous in the country. And rightfully so! Lake Bled offers breathtaking natural views and a lot of great activities! In this article, I invite you to discover the best things to do around Lake Bled that will definitely leave you in awe!

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, or simply seeking tranquility, Lake Bled has something for everyone. Take a peaceful stroll around the lake’s emerald green waters and be captivated by the fairytale-like Bled Island. For the adventurous souls, rent a kayak and paddle your way around the lake. Or explore the medieval Bled Castle perched high on a hill and immerse yourself in the fascinating stories of its past. With its mesmerizing landscapes and hidden treasures, Lake Bled will leave you longing for more!

You might also like: 6 Must-Do Things in Ljubljana for a Memorable Experience

For your information, all these pictures were taken in September & October 2023.

Some information about Lake Bled

Lake Bled is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Slovenia and that’s totally understandable why! The Lake is located in the Julian Alps of the northwestern part of Slovenia and adjoins the town of Bled. It has mixed glacial and tectonic origins and is 2.120 meters (6.960 ft) long and 1.380 meters (4.530 ft) wide. The most picturesque thing about the lake is the small island in the middle of it.

How to get to Lake Bled?

As Lake Bled is a rather popular travel destination in Slovenia, there are a lot of options to reach this location. The lake itself is 35 kilometers (22 miles) away from Ljubljana airport and 55 kilometers (34 miles) from the capital Ljubljana.

For public transportation, the bus would be a much better option as it drops you off right next to the lake. With the train, you still need to walk or pay for a taxi for the last 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), which is not worth it in my opinion.

1 | By bus

You can take the bus from Ljubljana and it will take around an hour and a half to reach Lake Bled. There are multiple buses from the capital to the lake per day. The cost of a ticket is €5.70 for an adult. The bus goes from Bus Station in Ljubljana to Bled Mlino and drops you off right next to the lake. For more information or to buy your ticket, click here.

2 | By train

There are two train stations near Lake Bled: Lesce train station and Jezero Bled train station, but they both are a bit out of the way. So, you still need to change the mode of transport to reach the lake. I would recommend taking the bus instead of the train as it’s less of a hassle.

3 | By car

The easiest way would be with the car as it only takes 45 minutes from Ljubljana. Most of the route is on a highway, until the last 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). You need to follow road E61 to the northwest towards Kranj and take the exit at Lesce. Afterwards, it’s just following all the signage to Lake Bled.

There are a lot of parking lots around Lake Bled, but we parked here. The cost of a ticket was €5 per hour, which is quite a lot, but is still better than getting a fine.

Best time to visit Lake Bled

I visited Slovenia in two different seasons: in summer and in autumn. And I would say that I loved the autumn season much more than the summer season. And the biggest reason is that it was way hotter and there were way more tourists in summer, which made it harder to take pictures and enjoy the country in general.

1 | Winter season (December - March)

Except for much colder days and a layer of snow during the winter months, if you don’t mind, this also has something very magical. And, there is a possibility to enjoy some winter sports nearby. Just keep in mind that a lot of restaurants or hotels are not open.

2 | Spring season (April - June)

This is probably the best period to visit Lake Bled as the days get longer and warmer and there are way fewer tourists. The hiking trails will also be more accessible.

3 | Summer season (June - August)

During the summer months, there are a lot more tourists, especially around Lake Bled. This makes it a lot harder to find parking spots, camping, or hotels nearby. Also, the prices rise remarkably.

4 | Fall season (September - November)

Autumn is just like Spring a good time to visit Lake Bled. Especially if you’re a fan of seeing foliage! If you decide to visit in November, the leaves will already be gone, so it’s better to come a bit earlier.

Best things to do around Lake Bled

1 | Walk around Lake Bled

The all-time best thing to do at Lake Bled is simply to wander around the lake and see it from all different angles. It’s a 6-kilometer (3.7 miles) walk on a well-maintained path. It will take between 1h30 and 2h to complete the full loop, depending on how many photo stops. This hike can be started from anywhere you want as it’s a loop! But it’s totally worth it, believe me!

2 | Visit Bled Castle

Bled Castle is a medieval castle built on a 130-meter-high cliff overlooking Lake Bled. From written historical sources, Bled Castle is the oldest Slovenian castle. It’s also the most visited one, as it’s located right next to the most visited tourist attraction.

The opening hours of the castle are between 8 AM and 6 PM from November to March. All the other months, the castle is open from 8 AM to 8 PM. The entrance price is €15 for adults and €9 for students. There are 2 paid parking lots, whereas one is closer than the other.

3 | Take a pletna to the island

There are many ways to visit the island and one of them is by a pletna, which is a traditional boat made by locals. These are typical around Lake Bled and you will see them a lot! Their origin dates back to 1590 and they are made out of a wooden flat-bottom boat.

They are designed according to the Venetian gondolas, but these are equipped with a colorful awning for all weather conditions. The pletna is controlled with a special technique, called the ‘Stehrudder‘, where the oarsman is standing and rowing at the same time.

These oarsman are called ‘pletnar‘ and are passed down from generation to generation. That’s why the profession remained in families throughout the centuries. So cool right?

There are 23 pletna’s on Lake Bled and they fit up to 18 people. The price for a return ticket is €18 for an adult and €9 for children up to 12 years. There are a few designated places around Lake Bled where you can take the pletna boat.

4 | Enjoy the sunset at Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica

The best thing to do around Lake Bled is actually hiking up to see one of the best views in Slovenia! There are actually 3 viewpoints in the area: Ojstrica, Mala Osojnica and Velika Osojnica. There are a lot of routes to get to the top and you don’t need to visit all three the viewpoints. I only did two of them. To reach the first viewpoint Ojstrica, the hike will take around 20 minutes going uphill. The other viewpoints are all 20 to 30 minutes from each other, so you can decide for yourself how many you want to see!

Length

3.2 kilometers

Duration

1h20

Height difference

207 meters

Difficulty

Easy to medium

5 | Participate at some lake activities

Besided taking the Pletna boat, there are a few other activities to experience on Lake Bled. The lake is also great to discover with a paddle board, a kayak or swimming.

You wouldn’t expect it, but the water of Lake Bled is surprisingly warm. The lake is filled with mild, thermal springs, which makes that the temperature of the water can get to 26°C (78.8°F) in the summer, making it the perfect activity during a visit!

Best things to do near Lake Bled

If you are staying near Lake Bled for a few days, it’s only logical that you want to explore nearby locations. There are so many stunning sightings around Lake Bled!

1 | Visit Vintgar Gorge

Vintgar gorge is only 10 minutes away from Lake Bled, but is also a great hike as it has some stunning sighting. The gorge is 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) long and goes all the way over wooden boardwalks. It takes around 1h30 to complete as the gorge goes one way and you have to hike back all the way back to the car park. But it’s still such a memorable hike! The entrance is €10 for an adult and €10 for a parking space.

2 | Go to Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj is a great alternative of Lake Bled. It’s only a 30 minute drive from each other. This lake is less popular than Lake Bled, which makes it perfect if you want to escape the big crowds that are definitely at Bled.

3 | Do some hikes at Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is a must if you like beautiful views and amazing hikes! This park is full of them. A few examples are: Zelenci National Reserve and Lake Jasna. Both are great natural sightings and easy to reach. You can also do some more challenging hikes.

4 | Visit the magical Planina Zajamniki

It’s a bit of a ride from Lake Bled, but it’s well worth. Planina Zajamniki is a beautiful alpine pasture on Pokljuka plateau. There are over two dozen wooden cottages stretched across this plateau, beautifully aligned with the mountains.

You can drive directly to Planina Zajamniki, but it’s a very small and unpaved road. It’s a 20 – 25 minute drive from the main road in Goreljek and you just keep going until you find a parking spot close enough.

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Travel blogger

Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!

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