Any trip to Slovenia will not be complete without a visit to Lake Bled. In today’s blog, I will be sharing with you 10 amazing things to do in Lake Bled and its surroundings. This way, once you’re there, you will only have to worry about having the time of your life!
This beautiful lake, located in the middle of the country is probably the most famous and most photographed place in Slovenia, but it is not difficult to understand why. With its clear turquoise water and a charming little island in the middle, it is just breathtaking.
Before visiting Bled, many people had warned me that it was too crowded and that it had lost its charm. Because of this, I have to admit I visited it expecting to be disappointed but I was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it was very crowded (probably because I visited in August) but it was still very pretty. And we even managed to find some peaceful areas to enjoy the lake on our own!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LAKE BLED
Lake Bled is a very famous place but here are some fun facts that you might not know about it.
- According to local folklore it was created by fairies. According to the tales, the area used to be a valley full of grass where fairies used to live and dance happily. However, shepherds used to let their sheep free in the valley so they could eat. The fairies, to protect their territory, flooded the valley and left a small island in the middle for them to live.
- The reality is that the lake was formed when the Bohijn glacier melted. However, Lake Bled has a unique characteristic which is that is not fed by any river or stream. The water in Bled comes from springs underneath it. Some of these springs are geo-thermally heated which makes the lake water not so cold and very pleasant for swimming.
- It is said that the bell in the church of Lake Bled’s island grants wishes to those who ring it.
- And speaking of Lake Bled’s island, did you know this is the only island in Slovenia?
GETTING TO LAKE BLED
Lake Bled is located in the Julian Alps, in the northwestern part of Slovenia. The lake is only 35 km away from the Ljubljana International Airport and 55 km away from Ljubljana itself. This makes it a very popular destination for a day trip from the capital of Slovenia.
Getting To Lake Bled By Car
The easiest way to reach Bled is by renting a car and driving there yourself. I always rent my cars with Rentalcars since they offer you a comparator with the best prices from different rental car companies.
Once you’ve rented your car, you just need to take the A2 highway from Ljubljana and will reach the lake in approximately 40 minutes. If you’re visiting during the summer months, it might take up to an hour since there is usually a lot of traffic once you leave the highway. Remember it is a very popular destination!
At Lake Bled there are many parkings where you can park your car. However, all of them are paying one and let me tell you, it will not be cheap. We paid 18 euros to park our car there for the whole day.
Tip: Make sure to get there early, especially during the summer months, to make sure you find a parking spot.
Getting To Lake Bled By Bus
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of renting a car and then finding a parking spot, you can also reach Lake Bled by bus. Every hour there are buses that will leave from Ljubljana Bus Station to Bled.
You can find the timetables and ticket prices on the Ljubljana Bus Station Website.
Getting To Lake Bled With A Tour
Alternatively, you can also join one of the many guided day tours that will take you from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. The options are endless. You can join a tour to just Lake Bled or combine it with some nearby destinations. Here are some options.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED TO VISIT LAKE BLED?
The most frequently asked question with every destination. How much time do I need? Well, the answer is, it depends.
Lake Bled can be visited in one day if you only want to visit the lake, the island, and the castle. Actually, most things I will mention in this blog can be done in just one day. So if you just have one day, you will for sure have a great time here.
However, I recommend spending at least one or two extra days in the area to visit some of the beautiful gems that are nearby like Lake Bohijn or the Vintgar Gorge. I will explain more about these later!
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO SLOVENIA
- Book your flights with WayAway.com
- Book your car with Rentalcars.com
- Find the best places to stay with Booking.com
- Get reliable travel insurance.
- Find the best activities to do like with Get Your Guide.
- Don’t forget to pack your Airtag to always help you locate your checked-in baggage.
- Remember to bring with you your portable battery and Insta360 Flow to capture the best photos and videos.
10 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN LAKE BLED AND NEARBY
1. Go for a walk around Lake Bled
Walking around Lake Bled is definitely a must-do activity when visiting this beautiful lake. The path that goes around the lake is approximately 6km long so normally it should take you approximately 1.5 hours to do so. But I can already guarantee you that it will take you longer since you will find yourself wanting to stop many times to take photos and admire the view. I think 2 to 3 hours is more realistic, depending on your pace and how many stops you make.
If you don’t want to walk around the whole lake, then I recommend that you at least walk along the south – west part of the lake, which was my personal favorite part.
In the map at the end of this blog, you will find the best photo spots around the lake.
2. Hike to Mala Ojstrica
Another must-do thing while in Lake Bled is to hike up to one of the several viewpoints around the lake to see it from above. Personally, I would recommend hiking to a couple of them, but if hiking is not your thing or you are short on time, then this is definitely the one to do.
The hike is not very long and it only takes 20 to 30 minutes (depending on your pace) to reach the viewpoint. However, it is a bit steep and it can get very muddy if it has rained recently. I was here in August 2023, right after the huge flooding in Slovenia and I have to say, my trail shoes were very useful.
At Ojstrica, you will find a small bench that will grant you amazing views of the lake. What makes Ojstrica special, compared to other viewpoints around the lake, is that here there is no fence around the viewpoint so you will get an unobstructed view of the lake and the island.
Tip: This is one of the most popular viewpoints in Bled so I recommend visiting here first thing in the morning unless you want to wait in line for a photo. We were here at 11 am and it was already so crowded! However, with some patience, we managed to take one of my favorite photos of our Slovenia road trip.
3. Hike to Mala Osojnica
If you have some extra time, you have to hike up to Mala Osojnica’s viewpoint. This hike is a bit longer and steeper than the previous one but the views you will get in return are also stunning.
The trail starts a little bit further than Ojstrica’s viewpoint (exact location on the map) and it is very well-marked with plenty of signs that will guide you to the viewpoint. It will take you a bit over 30 minutes to reach the viewpoint but just take your time and enjoy the view and the little hints you get of the lake in between the trees.
Closer to the viewpoint, you will find a long and steep staircase and right after it, you will find the first viewpoint with a bench where you can rest and enjoy the view. The final viewpoint is a little bit further where you will get an incredible aerial view of the lake. The trail continues all the way up to the top of Osojnica Mountain but there are no additional viewpoints of the lake.
Tip: It is also possible, instead of returning the same way you came, to take a shortcut and reach Ojstrica’s viewpoint. This is what we did to avoid us having to hike up and down twice.
4. See Lake Bled From The Water
If you want to see Lake Bled from another perspective, then you need to see it from the water. There are several options depending on your likes.
- Rent a rowing boat: This is one of the most popular activities in Bled, especially during the summer months. There are several rental boat places scattered along the lake and the average price is approximately 20€ per hour.
- Stand-Up Paddle: If you want to do it a little bit more fun, then it is also possible to rent a SUP and explore the lake on your own terms. If you have never done stand-up paddle before, it is also possible to join a guided tour in which they will teach you how to do it.
- Go for a ride in a Pletna: If you don’t want to do the rowing yourself but still want to see Bled from the water, then you have to take a ride in a Pletna. Pletna’s are larger boats (they can fit up to 20 people) with a rower in the back of the boat. The price in August 2023 was 18€ per person.
5. Visit Bled Island
Yes, Bled Island is not only a beautiful little island in the middle of the lake that you can admire from the shore, you can also visit it! To reach it, you will have to use one of the three options listed in the previous activity.
Once you are on the island, you can visit Bled Island’s Church. Inside this church, you will find a bell that is said to grant their wishes to those who ring it. Actually, if you pay attention during your boat ride, you will notice that the church bell is ringing constantly since everyone who visits the church rings it. You can check prices and opening hours to visit the church here.
Right outside the church, you will find a small cafeteria where you can indulge and taste the famous Bled Cream Cake or ice cream if you’re looking for something colder during the summer months.
To finish your visit to Lake Bled Island, make sure to walk around it to enjoy the views of the Bled Castle.
6. Ride the Toboggan at Straza Bled
If you’re traveling with kids or you are a kid at heart yourself, then you have to try the toboggan at Straza Bled. This is a 450 m toboggan track down a hill overlooking Lake Bled.
To get there you will have to ride up to the top of the hill in a chair lift and once you’re there you will speed down the hill on a toboggan while you enjoy the views of Lake Bled! But don’t worry, if you’re not an adrenaline junkie, you will be able to control the speed yourself with a lever inside the sled so you will ride as fast as you want.
The toboggan is open between the months of April and October and you can find opening hours and prices on their official website.
7. Visit Bled Castle
Another must-do thing in Lake Bled is to visit Bled Castle. Perched on the top of a cliff and overlooking the beautiful Lake Bled, this castle has over 1000 years of history. In fact, it is the oldest castle in Slovenia. It is even older than the Ljubljana Castle. Within the castle, you will be able to get amazing views of the Lake itself, tour its museum, or even go wine tasting!
Check updated opening hours and ticket prices on the Bled Castle official website.
8. Go For A Swim In Lake Bled
Yes, you’ve read this right! During the summer months, Lake Bled is a very popular destination for swimming. The water in the lake is partially geo-thermally heated which makes it not too cold for swimming.
Going for a swim in the turquoise waters of Lake Bled is the perfect way to end your day here! This is what we did after a super warm August day of visiting the area and it was just amazing!
9. Explore the nearby Vintgar Gorge
Not very far from Lake Bled (only a 10-minute drive from Bled), you can find Vintgar Gorge. A beautiful gorge with the prettiest water you have ever seen. The gorge extends for 1.6 km in which you will be able to walk on an elevated boardwalk along the Radovna River, ending in a beautiful waterfall.
Visiting the Vintgar Gorge was a very pleasant surprise. I had read many reviews that it was super crowded and disappointing so I was not so sure whether it was worth to pay the entry ticket or not. Maybe we got lucky but it was not that bad, yes there were people there but it was not so bad.
Good to know: If you’re planning on visiting the gorge, you have to know that it can only be visited in one sense. The return to the parking will be done by hiking up the canyon through the side of the canyon. This will make your tour a total of 4 km.
Check out Vintgar Gorge’s official website to get updated opening hours and ticket prices.
10. Visit the lesser known BohinJ Lake
Also not very far from Bled, a 30-minute drive, you can find BohinJ Lake. You might be thinking, ok a similar lake, but the vibe in Bohijn is completely different from Bled. Bohijn is a bigger lake and is a bit less crowded than its super famous neighbor.
Lake Bohijn is the largest lake in Slovenia and it is located within the Triglav National Park. This means that the views from the lake are just amazing with the Julian Alps as a backdrop.
MAP WITH ALL LOCATIONS
And that’s it for my blog about the 10 amazing things to do in Lake Bled. I hope you liked it and it encouraged you to visit one of the most beautiful places in Slovenia. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Happy travels!
DISCLAIMER: Did you know? This blog uses affiliate partnerships. When you click and book or make a purchase through one of my blog posts, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting The Travelling Hiker!
OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT SLOVENIA
- THE 15 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LJUBLJANA
- 10 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN LAKE BLED
- HIKING IN LAKE BLED
- EXPLORING MOSTNICA GORGE AND VOJE VALLEY
- THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN LAKE BOHINJ
- HIKING MOUNT VOGEL
- EXPLORING VINTGAR GORGE
- ONE WEEK ROAD TRIP ITINERARY IN SLOVENIA
- HIKING IN THE VRSIC PASS
- PLAN A ROAD TRIP IN SLOVENIA
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