Lake Bled: An Ultimate Guide
Lake Bled is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Lying in the Julian Alps region of northern Slovenia, it’s framed with picturesque mountain peaks covered in snow, not far from the Austrian border. The lake is like a fairytale, with an island housing a church sitting in the middle of it, and a castle perched atop a cliff looking down on it. I was blown away by its beauty and can’t wait to share all my tips for visiting with you.
When to visit & how to get there
Lake Bled is beautiful in all seasons, but of course it’s busiest in summer. Visitor numbers in July and August can swell so high there are no boats available and the pathways around the lake are completely clogged.
It’s for that reason I think April, May, September and October are ideal for a visit without the crowds. We went in early April and it wasn’t too busy at all. We traded this for few open restaurants and variable weather but got lucky with a few brief interludes of sunshine.
Getting to Lake Bled is simple. You can fly in to Ljubljana airport and hire a car (driving is very easy in Slovenia), or you could get a taxi for about EUR50. Alternatively you could fly in to Klagenfurt in Austria and drive the c.1hr to reach the lake.
Things to do at Lake Bled
There is so much to do in Lake Bled, and you could spend days walking the hiking trails in the surrounding National Park too (it’s home to Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak). Here are some of my highlights.
Walk the full loop around Lake Bled
Walking around the whole lake is my top thing to do if you’re visiting for just a short amount of time. The full loop is only 6km and will take about 1.5hrs. It’s just SO beautiful though that you’ll need to add on probably another 1.5hrs for photos!!
Hike to Ojstrica viewpoint
The most famous viewpoint out over the lake is Ojstrica, a trail up from the bottom point of the lake. The trail is a bit of a scramble in places, but oh so worth it for the views. Just look at it!!
Take a boat out to Bled island
One of my favourite things I did on my visit was to take a boat from the lake short out to the central island. The island has been a site of pilgrimage for centuries, and its easy to see why with its picturesque church. Once on the island it’s a must to ring the church bell and make a wish – apparently it’s then destined to come true.
Visit Bled castle
Bled castle is built high up on the cliff side, and has been there since the 1000s! This incredible historic castle is a must see on a trip, but it’s a bit of a walk to get there and not suitable for people with mobility issues as there are a lot of steps. Once there, there’s a castle museum, a lovely little chapel and the most beautiful views out over the lake.
Eat traditional Bled cream cake
You can’t come to Bled and not try its traditional cream cake. For the last 70 years it’s been a tradition in the area and oh my goodness it’s tasty.
Enjoy a wellness treatment
Another benefit of Bled is that it is known as a spa town, and that means it has lots of options for massages and treatments. We chose to have a couples massage at Ziva Wellness Centre right on the lake shore and also make use of their amazing pool and spas. It was a heavenly way to spend a few hours.
How long is needed at Lake Bled & where to stay
How long to spend in Lake Bled depends on your interests. Many visit just as a day trip from Ljubljana but this means you will only have time to do a couple of things on the list above.
To cover everything in the list above and do it justice needs at least 2 full days. If you’re also interested in the nearby National Park and the wonderful hikes it has to offer then I recommend 3-4 nights in Bled as a base to explore the surrounding area.
There are lots of hotel options in Bled. We stayed right on the shore in Adora Luxury Hotel.
Other options include Vila Bled (although this is not open during off season), Rikli Balance Hotel (which is home to the amazing spa we visited), and Grand Hotel Toplice which has a prime spot right on the lake.
