Things To Do In Enchanting Lake Bled | Bliss & Adventure
Nestled in the heart of Slovenia, Bled is a spellbinding town with crystal-clear alpine waters, stunning landscapes, rich history, and an enchanting atmosphere. From fairytale-like Bled Castle perched high above Lake Bled to charming Bled Island with its mesmerizing church, and the nearby rugged Julian Alps to adventure in, this idyllic destination offers an ideal blend of beauty, culture, and adventure. This post covers the best things to do in the spellbinding alpine paradise around Lake Bled, one of the most beautiful towns in Europe.
Visit Bled Castle
Bled Castle, perched high above Lake Bled, offers breathtaking views of the lake and the Julian Alps. This castle, which is one of the oldest castles in Slovenia, dates back to the 11th century and looks like it’s right out of a fairy tale.
Although you can drive, the short, but steep walk through the woods from the lake to the castle not only provides beautiful views, it’s also how most citizens visited historically.
The trail starts on the northeast side of Lake Bled. You follow a series of steps that zig-zag up the hill to reach the top of the cliff. Since the trail is in the woods, it stays shaded on warm, sunny days.
At the castle, there are several places to admire the incredible views, with the best ones on the terraces on the lake side of the castle. There’s also a museum on castle life along with artifacts, weapons, and history, a small chapel with beautiful frescoes, and a cafe and wine cellar where you can enjoy a meal and try local wines.
The view at the castle is so beautiful, and the atmosphere so romantic, it’s a common site for weddings. In fact, there was a couple taking their bridal photos on the terrace when I was here.
To learn more about the castle as a space for a wedding visit weddinglakebled.com.
Walk Lake Bled Promenade
Walking the promenade that circles Lake Bled, which uncovers one incredible view after another of various shades of blue-green water, Bled Castle perched high above it, Bled Island, and the Julian Alps, is one of the top things to do in Bled.
The promenade is a 3.7 miles (6 km) of mostly flat trail that loops around the lake. In some places it’s a dirt path, in others it’s paved, and in some places there’s a boardwalk.
If you walk continuously, they say it takes about an hour and half. But, like me, you will probably stop many, many times to admire the views and take photos. Maybe even bring a picnic for the walk and enjoy it at one of the many benches along the path.
Visit Saint Martina Church
On your walk around the promenade, or the walk up to the castle, make a brief stop at Saint Martina Church. It may be small, but it has a lovely altar and artwork.
Alternatively, this is also a good place to stop on the way down from the castle as there’s ice cream and desserts across from it.
Visit Bled Island
Visiting Bled Island is another one of the most popular things to do in Lake Bled. This is the charming little island with the pretty white church on the west end of the lake.
There are several ways to visit, but one of the most common is to ride a traditional Pletna. These flat bottomed boats are rowed by an oarsman called a pletnarstvo, using a rowing technique called a stehrudder. A technique that has been passed down for generations.
Once you arrive, your boat will dock on the southern side of the island. Before you leave the boat, take note of which one is yours before walking up the steps to the top of island. This is where you’ll find the Church of the Assumption of Saint Mary (see below), as well as a small cafe and souvenir shop.
There are three places along the promenade around Lake Bled where you can hire a Pletna. Each is the same price, so it’s all about convenience. If you’re staying in the central part of town, the closest location is down the steps by the Casino and Information Center, across from Park Hotel. There’s also one on the west side of the lake and one in between this and the one above. These are perfect if you’re staying on the west side, or if you decide to do this on your walk around the promenade.
It also depends on how long of a boat ride you want. Obviously, the ride from farther away is longer. This could be good or bad depending on your preference.
If you want to get to the island under your own power, you can rent a kayak, a rowboat, or a stand up paddleboard. You can also swim!
Visit The Church of the Assumption
The Church of the Assumption of Saint Mary is the main attraction on Bled Island. It’s also one of the only things on the island. After you walk up the steps from your boat, you’ll see the ticket office.
The highlight of the church is ringing the Wishing Bell. The cord for it dangles right in front of the guilded altar in the church. The legend is that if you ring the bell three times your wish will be granted.
After this, you can climb the bell tower. There’s not an outdoor platform at the top, but there is a small enclosed area with some windows to see the view of the lake, the castle, and the mountains. I personally found the tower a little underwhelming, so if you’re short on time, skip this.
After leaving the church, I recommend turning to the right and taking the dirt path down and around to where the Pletnas are docked. This provides some extra viewpoints of the lake and the castle. Or, you can head back towards the dock via the cafe and souvenir shop (the way you arrived). Most Pletnas only give you 20-minutes on the island, so there really is not much time to linger.
For up to date costs and more information on the church, see www.blejskiotok.si.
Swim In Lake Bled
Lake Bled is not just stunning, it’s also perfect for swimming. Although this is an alpine lake, created partly by the Bohinj Glacier, it’s warmer than you would think as it’s fed by thermal springs. The temperature of the lake can reach up to 78°F (26°C), which is pretty comfortable.
There are several great places to swim here. You can swim directly off the coast on the western shore of the lake, or, at Grajska beach on the north side of the lake (under the castle). The latter is more organized with waterslides, outdoor swimming pools, a diving board, and swings for kids. There are also umbrellas for rent, toilets, showers, and changing rooms.
Eat Cream Cake
Cream Cake, or Kremna rezina, is a specialty in Bled and something you must try. In fact, it has ‘Protected Designation of Origin status’, or PDO, which means a ‘true’ cream cake is only available at Bled Lake. That said, they say some are also shipped to Ljubljana, so you can also find them there. They’re just fresher in Bled. And verified.
So what is cream cake? It’s a fluffy dessert made of custard and whipped cream on a golden pastry, dusted with powdered sugar. It’s actually very light and quite good!
Hike To Mala Osojnica
If you want a view of Bled Lake that’s different than the view at the castle, hike Mala Osojnica. This is a short, but steep hike to a stunning viewpoint on the west end of Bled Lake. It zig-zags up 1.1 miles (1.7 km) and 2,247’ (685 m).
The terrain is varied. It can be steep and a little slippery in some sections (especially when wet) and has wooden stairs in others. Because of this, make sure to wear good hiking shoes. And, of course, bring plenty of water.
Look for the signpost and trailhead off the southwest corner of the Bled Lake Promenade here. The webpage Mapy.cz provides a nice visual map of the trail to give you an idea.
Explore Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge, or Soteska Vintgar, is a stunning gorge fitted with a wooden walkway in Triglav National Park after it was discovered in the early 1980’s.
The gorge, which rises up to 330’ (100 m) high in some places, has been carved out by the crystal-clear Radnova River, which flows from valleys in the Julian Alps. As you walk, the river will sometimes be in the form of raging rapids, sometimes a snaking river, and sometimes tranquil green pools along the rocks.
Note that you need to wear a helmet in the gorge to provide from falling rocks. You get it at entrance when you enter.
It’s best to buy your ticket in advance at www.vintgar.si. Tickets are timed and their website is designed so you can see which time slots have the least bookings to pick a less crowded visit. There are shuttles from Bled that coordinate with your timed ticket or you can drive. See my post on Visiting Vintgar Gorge | A Nature Lover’s Paradise for full details.
This is an expeirence where you immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and one that should not be missed. The walking is easy to moderate and there’s a cafe with snacks above the waterfall at the end of the gorge.
Vintgar Gorge is about a 10-minute drive or 40-minute walk from the east side of the Bled Lake area.
Savica Waterfall
There are many waterfalls in Solvenia, but one it’s most famous is Savica Waterall. Savica is unique as it has two cascades. It has a height of about 255’ (78 m) and generally has the strongest flow in the spring. If you’re in good shape, you can hike up to the waterfall in 15 to 20 minutes.
It’s located in Triglav National Park about 40 minutes from Lake Bled. There’s a small entry fee and a fee for parking.
Hike Triglav
Triglav is the highest peak in Slovenia and the Julian Alps (which also extends into Italy) at 9,396’ (2,864 m). It’s much more than a beautiful landmark, it’s also a very important symbol of Slovene national identity and pride. There are several routes to the summit and near the top, it’s so steep it has a via ferrata.
Although the hike can be done in one day, it’s only recommended for those with 5 of 5 endurance as it requires 12-16 hours of hiking with an elevation gain from around 4,000-5,000’ (1,200-1,500 m).
Since two days are required for most people, there are huts with rooms available. Generally, you hike to one of huts the first day, then, on the second day you get up before dawn to summit before sunrise.
The Kmer Route is a popular route and considered the easiest with 1,312’ (400 m) of via ferrata. Two popular huts along this trail are Kredarica (2,515 m), also known as Kredarici or Triglavksi, and Dom Planika (2,402m). The former is used by many tour companies as it’s higher, so there’s a shorter ascent on day two. The huts are basic, with no heat, but usually offer room and board. It’s best to book your hut well in advance.
Note: you can rent the harness and helmet in places like Altitude Activities in town.
Hiking Triglav was the main reason for my visit to Slovenia, but the weather conditions did not allow the two good days I needed to hike to the peak. I had a hut booked in advance, but had to cancel it due to heavy rain. Unfortunately, the weather did not recover enough to make another booking. Ugh! It was heart breaking to not be able to hike, but I’m hopeful to return in the future.
Hike Seven Lakes
Seven Lakes is another great hiking opportunity. This trail traverses a stunning group of seven glacial lakes in Triglav National Park. I wanted to do this hike, but, like Triglav, it requires two good days to hike and there was just too much rain when I was here. Plus Triglav would have been my first choise if I could hike anything.
The trail is a 15.2 mile loop with 4,586’ of elevation gain according to AllTrails. It’s noted as difficult, taking about 9 hours to complete. The trail is very steep in areas and can be very slippery in wet conditions, so don’t hike if rain is possible. To enjoy its beauty and ensure safety, there are huts to turn this into a two day hike.
If you decide to do this hike, stop by the information center across from Park Hotel for more details on how to get here and book a hut.
Canyoneering & Rafting
Canyoneering and rafting are other incredible adventure opportunities in the Bled Lake area with many group activities to select from.
This popular tour offers canyoneering in Triglav National Park, where you can slide and jump down the canyon. You can also choose to go rafting on nearby Sava River. Or, you can choose an activity that combines both rafting and canyoneering.
Skydive in Bovec
If you’re into skydiving, Bovec, which is about an hour and a half drive west of Bled, is the place to go. Imagine jumping out of a plane over the Julian Alps. I really wanted to do this, but unfortunately, flights were cancelled due to bad weather.
To learn more, visit their website at skydivebovec or book your dive through this tour link.
Note that there is no direct public transportation between Bled and Bovec so you’ll need to rent a car for this activity.
How To Get To Bled
Fly
Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport (LJU) is the best international airport to fly into Slovenia. This is where most international flights arrive and is located about halfway between Ljubljana and Bled.
To get to Bled from the airport, which is about a 40-minute drive away, you can rent a car, ride the bus, or book a shuttle.
The bus ride from the LJU airport to Bled takes about 45 minutes. You can purchase your ticket in advance or buy it on the bus (cash only). For updates costs and schedules, visit arriva.si.
Tip: to select the LJU airport, use “Brnik/airport Ljubljana” as the location (you can also search for airport). Then select the Bled bus location closest to your accommodation.
Shuttle service Go-Opti offers rides from the LJU airport to Lake Bled for a reasonable price (note that the price is better when more than one person selected). See the link above for prices and hotels they drop at. On this site, you only need to enter LJU to find the airport.
Bus
Flixbus offers bus service to Bled from many nearby major cities including: Salzburg, Munich, Budapest, Prague, Milan, and Zagreb. See schedules and costs at flixbus.com.
Want More Of Slovenia?
The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is an enchanting city. It also has a medieval castle on a hilltop overlooking the old town, a riverside promenade with beautiful architecture and bridges to explore, interesting history, and a wonderful cafe culture.
There’s also some very captivating little towns on the west side of Slovenia on the Adriatic coast. Piran, Izola, and Koper, are three very picturesque towns with beautiful views of the sea, historic architecture, and amazing food. These towns were once part of Italy, so in addition of learning more about Slovenia, you’ll also see its many Italian influences while enjoying the sun and the sea. You’ll even hear some people speaking Italian here.
Finally, if you love horses, or have a penchant for royal history, make sure to visit Lipica, a breeding farm for the famous Lipizzaner horses founded by Archduke Charles of Austria in the 16th century.
Safe Travels!
Julie
Discover more from Gorgeous Unknown
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
2 Comments
Paula Cullison
Great travelog… It looks like Slovenia is on my list now. Thank You!!
Julie
Thanks Paula, I was pleasantly surprised!