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By Monika

15 Amazing Things to Do in Bled, Slovenia: Ultimate Travel Guide.

If you’re planning a trip to Slovenia and wondering if you should include Bled in your itinerary, let me just say this – Lake Bled really is as magical as the photos make it look.

The first time I visited, I couldn’t stop staring: the emerald lake, the tiny island with its church, and a castle perched high above it all like something straight out of a fairytale.

Bled is one of those places that’s so easy to fall in love with.

You can keep your visit short and relaxed with a lakeside walk and a slice of famous Bled cream cake, or spend a few days and fill them with hikes, boat rides, and adventures around the lake.

In this guide, I’ll share the best things to do in Bled, Slovenia, plus some helpful tips from my own visits to help you decide what’s worth your time and how to make the most of your stay in this unforgettable corner of Europe.

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Where is Bled?

Bled is a tiny, charming town in north-west Slovenia, most famous for the gorgeous Lake Bled with its island, the castle towering over it, amazing views of the Julian Alps, and of course, the delicious cream cake.

It’s located about 55 km from Slovenia’s capital city – Ljubljana.

How to get to Bled, Slovenia?

If you’re arriving from another country, most likely your first stop will be Ljubljana.

From there, you have a few transportation options to choose:

Drive

You can rent a car at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport or at one of the satellite offices many car rental companies have near Ljubljana train/bus station – depending on whether you’re arriving by plane, train or bus or maybe you’ve been staying in Ljubljana.

➡️ Need a rental car? Explore Expedia Car Rentals or Discover Cars for great deals!

The drive is easy and, without traffic, takes about 40 minutes.

Keep in mind that in the busy summer months, heavy traffic can significantly slow you down, and your drive may take much longer. That’s what happened to us during one of our August visits!

Parking in Bled

Parking in Bled is not very hard to find, although it does get very busy in the summer.

Just make sure you only park in designated parking areas and pay the fee – either to the parking attendant or at the meter/kiosk.

You can refer to this detailed list and a map to see which parking lot will work best for your itinerary.

Take a bus

Just like I mentioned above, you can take the bus from the airport or from the bus station (Avtobusna Postaja Ljubljana).

From the airport the ride will take about 45 minutes and from the city center bus station it will be about an hour.

Two most popular direct bus options from the city are the GoOpti shuttle and the slightly less expensive Nomago bus.

You can also check local bus schedules (operated by Arriva Slovenia). The ride is longer (1 hr 20 minutes) but the prices are significantly lower (€ 5-6)

By train

There is no train station at the Ljubljana Airport, so to take the train, you’ll have to get to the main train station in the city (located right next to the bus station).

From here, you can take the train to one of the two train stations in Bled: Bled Jezero  or Lesce-Bled.

Once you arrive, you’ll need a short local bus or a taxi ride to get to your accommodation.

Ready to start exploring?

Best things to do in Bled

For such a small town, there are a ton of attractions to keep you busy, entertained, and totally charmed!

I’ve been there twice and still have things on my “to do in Bled” list for my next visit.

1. Walk around Lake Bled

This is such a nice way to explore the area. The path is paved with a small portion of it set up as a wooden boardwalk, so it’s easy to walk and doable for strollers and wheelchairs.

The walk is approximately 6 km long (about 3.7 miles) and you should allow at least a couple of hours to complete it.

Add more time if you plan to swim in the lake or rent a paddleboard or a kayak to break up your walk – more information on that below.

You’ll come across beaches, marinas and many spots offering amazing views of the lake and the island.

2. Take a boat ride to Bled Island

If you only do one thing in Bled it should be making your way to the iconic Bled Island (Blejski Otok).

It’s a small, picturesque island in the middle of Lake Bled, most famous for its church with the wishing bell (you can see it in the photo above).

The best way to get there is by a pletna boat – a traditional flat-bottom wooden boat with a bright fabric awning, hand-made by highly skilled local craftsmen.

It is operated by a “pletnar” – an oarsman, navigating the boat with two oars – a trade also passed down from generation to generation.

You can access the boat in a few places around the lake. When we visited, we drove and parked our car near the lakeside Hotel Park, then walked down to the water.

The boats were there, by the wooden dock, just waiting for customers.

You don’t have to make reservations; you can just show up. You pay the pletnar in cash. It was about €12-15 per person for a round trip.

When you board the boat (which can carry up to 18 passengers) you’ll be directed to which side you should sit on to keep the boat balanced. You should also stay in your seat during the ride to prevent the boat from excessive rocking.

The boat ride takes about 20 minutes and it’s very scenic.

Good to know: motor and speed boats are not allowed on the lake, so it’s very quiet with calm water and no wake.

We got 45-60 minutes to spend on the island before we had to be back to get on the same pletna boat back to the shore.

It is plenty of time to enjoy the island, however if you’d like more time to explore, you can rent a rowboat from the Pletna Boathouse and get to the island on your own.

3. Explore Bled Island (Blejski Otok)

Bled Island is the only natural island in Slovenia, and even though it’s tiny, there is a lot to do there.

The first thing you’ll have to do after arriving is to climb the steep stone staircase located by the boat dock. It has 99 stairs.

Visit the Church of the Assumption

Also known as the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake, it is the main building on the island.

You pay a small fee to enter (it was about €10 at the time of our visit, with discounts for seniors and students) and also includes access to the bell tower.

The famous wishing bell is located inside the church.

It is also a very popular place for weddings.

The custom is that the groom has to carry his bride up the 99 steps of the stone staircase before they can get married in the Bled Island church.

Ring The Wishing Bell

You find the bell in front of the altar of the church of the Assumption. The legend says that if you ring it three times, your wish will come true.

It’s worth trying, right?

Climb the bell tower

The tower is 52 meters tall. After climbing the narrow winding staircase, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the lake.

4. Try the famous Bled Cream Cake

That’s a must – no visit to Bled is complete without trying this delicious cake!

Also known as the “kremna rezina” or “Blejska kremšnita” it is sold in many places in town; however, the bakery inside the Hotel Park claims to have the original recipe for this crisp puff pastry filled with fluffy vanilla custard cream.

We tried it – it truly is amazing!

5. Take a picture in the Heart of Bled (“Blejsko Srce”)

If you’re walking around the lake, you’ll come across the “Heart of Bled” – a cute photo spot you don’t want to miss.

6. Explore Bled Castle (Blejski Grad)

We didn’t get to the castle the first time around – the unexpected pouring rain put a wrinkle in our plans. So during our second visit to Bled, we made it our first stop.

Not without a hitch – we arrived from Venice on a bus that was a few hours late and then got stuck in horrendous traffic on our way from Ljubljana, so with all those delays, we made it to the Castle, just ran out of time to visit the inside.

But just the walk there and the surroundings are worth the effort.

It does take a little bit of effort to get there – unless you drive to the parking lot near the entrance, you’ll take a path that branches out from the beach area on the lake, called Grajska plaža or Grajsko Kopalisce.

You’ll walk the uphill narrow path with some wooden steps through the wooded area and arrive near the parking lot for the Castle. It takes about 20 minutes at an easy pace.

You can buy entry tickets onsite or ahead of time online (I was told by the locals that they hardly ever sell out).

We explored the area around the castle and the awesome views fro the top, but ran out of steam and time to enter – so that’s on my to do list for next time.

But I know that there is a museum there to visit, a wine cellar, and a restaurant with a view.

Learn more about Bled Castle on the official website.

7. Hike to Ojstrica viewpoint

This hike and the next one (listed below) are still on my to do list. My visits to Bled were always a part of a bigger road trip, and somehow, I never had enough time left in the itinerary to hike to these viewpoints.

This is 45-minute hike, on a steeper side, also offering great views from the top.

8. Continue hiking to Mala Osojnica

The hike to Mala Osojnica is a continuation of the Ojstrica trail and takes an additional 20 minutes to reach. You can also hike directly to it from its own trailhead (see the attractions map below).

Just sit on one of the benches at the top for a moment to take in the amazing view of Lake Bled and the island below.

9. Go stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking on the lake

It’s an awesome experience! Since our first visit it was my kids’ “must-do”.

We didn’t get to do it on Lake Bled, as the rental places closed earlier than we thought (some were already closed at 5 pm, so keep that in mind and reach out in advance to confirm rental/opening times) but we did it on the nearby Lake Bohinj (the kids paddleboarded and my husband and I kayaked) and I can only assume it’s a similar experience.

Helpful hint: if you don’t want to go on a pletna boat to Bled Island, you can paddleboard or kayak there!

Popular places to rent paddleboards: SUP Bled – Marina (SUP rental or guided tours offered), Rent a SUP Vila Bled, and Rent a SUP on Lake Bled but if you just search “SUP rentals on Lake Bled” you’ll get many more options.

Want a unique kayaking experience? Rent a clear kayak!

10. Relax at the beach

There are three main beach areas around the lake:

• Grajsko Kopalisce (near the path for Bled Castle) with the Grajska Plaža Restaurant, a marked bathing area, restrooms, lockers and other amenities.

Open till 7:00 or 8:00 pm in the summer.

• Velika Zaka

Another large bathing area with showers, a restaurant, and a snack bar.

• Mala Zaka (where the SUP Rentals – Marina is located)

11. Explore Vintgar Gorge

Before I tell you anything else about this place, I’ll start with a hint – in the summer months, book your tickets in advance! Read below why it’s crucial!

Vintgar Gorge is considered one of the most beautiful gorges in the world.

Located in the Triglav National Park, it’s a 1600-meter-long one-way trail of wooden boardwalks that ends at the bridge towering over the Šum Waterfall.

Then you exit the park and take one of the two paths to return to the starting point – the entrance Visitor Center.

You can explore on your own or with a guided tour.

Helpful hint: you can’t drive directly to Vintgar’s Visitor Center – you have to leave your car in one of the official parking lots and take the shuttle. 

Learn everything you need to know about how to plan your visit to Vintgar Gorge on the official website. 

It’s a seasonal summer attraction, open from April to October, and gets extremely busy in the summer.

We were meeting a larger group of our family in Bled during the summer and didn’t reserve tickets in advance – you can guess what happened – we weren’t able to go!

So don’t make my mistake and buy your tickets online so you’re sure to secure your spot.

Allow at least 3 hours for the experience.

12. Try Zipline Dolinka 

For the adrenaline seekers, Bled has a treat – the longest zipline in Europe!

Soar above the Sava Dolinka River for 4 km and get your fill of excitement and breathtaking scenery.

Learn more and book your tickets here to take advantage of the “reserve now, pay later” option and very generous cancellation policy.

13. Go canyoning and (optional) rafting

More activities for adventure lovers! You can go canyoning with added optional rafting

Don the wetsuits, helmets, and harnesses and explore Slovenian rivers with a skilled guide.

14. Explore the Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

The Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle are a bit of a drive from Bled (about 1 hour to the cave) but are well worth the trip.

We visited the Postojna Cave (Postojnska Jama) on our way from Bled to Split, Croatia and it was a fantastic start to our day!

First, we boarded an underground train and then walked through a series of caves and tunnels with stalagmites, stalactites and other rock formations taking our breath away wherever we turned.

READ MORE: Visiting Postojna Cave in Slovenia – a Complete Guide for First-Time Visitors.

Predjama Castle (the largest cave castle in the world) is only a few kilometers away within the same Postojna Cave Park.

We had to get going to our next destination, so unfortunately, we had to skip the castle but I’m definitely coming back to see it.

Here is more information on how to visit Predjama Castle.

Would you like to join a hassle-free tour to visit both of these amazing locations?

Here are some great options:

15. Plan a trip to Lake Bohinj

If you love Lake Bled, you will absolutely fall in love with Lake Bohinj.

It’s stunning, surrounded by the mountains, with a walking path around the lake, many small beaches along its perimeter, a campground, and plenty of places to rent paddleboards and kayaks to enjoy the incredible views from the water.

It’s a short 45-minute drive from Bled, well worth it if you have some extra time in your itinerary.

READ MORE: Lake Bohinj, Slovenia: 11 Unmissable Attractions That Make It Special.

Map of Bled attractions

Here is a map of all the attractions I mentioned in this post to help you find them all!

How long to spend at Lake Bled

To experience all the attractions of this beautiful place, you’ll need at least 2-3 days, even more if you’d like to spend some time on the water in the summer months.

Can you see Bled highlights in one day? Yes – I did it and keep coming back, wanting to see more!

However long you spend in Bled, be prepared to fall in love!

Best time to visit Lake Bled

Bled is beautiful year-round, with the most experiences available in the summer months.

So for water and seasonal activities, I recommend braving the crowds and visiting between June and August.

For hikes and less crowed visits to the Vintgar Gorge and Postojna Park, late spring and early fall will be perfect.

Winter is fantastic for alpine and cross-country skiing and, of course, the Christmas Market! There is even a dedicated winter bus to help with transportation if you’re not a fan of winter driving in a foreign country.

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Where to stay in Bled

During both of my visits, I was with a larger group, so we chose apartments with kitchens rather than hotel rooms. We stayed at the ININ Apartments and Vila Rajska Ptica.

To stay right in the heart of Bled, with easy access to pletna boats and cream cakes, consider staying at the Hotel Park.

For lakeside views and beach access, try Hotel Triglav Bled and Vila Bled.

If you’d like a wellness center onsite, Rikli Balance Hotel is what you need.

For even more options check the map below: (zoom out for more choices)

Where to eat in Bled

You have SO MANY choices of places to eat in Bled.

As I mentioned above, both times I visited, we had kitchens, but we did eat at the Old Cellar Bled Restaurant both times we visited, and loved it.

We sat outside, enjoying the meal and the views. From there, we took off for our walk around the lake and the path to Bled Castle.

For the list of best restaurants in Bled, check out this ranking.

Is Bled worth visiting?

Absolutely! This little town is 100% worth a visit. There is so much to do, with different activities suitable for any travel style.

Wherever your itinerary takes you, please make room in it for a visit to Bled, even if it’s just a short day trip.

Lake Bled Tours

For a stress-free Lake Bled day trip from Ljubljana, choose from a variety of guided tours.

Here are some really good choices:

FAQ:

Ready to plan an amazing day in Bled?

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