Complete Guide to Visit Lake Bled in Slovenia

Lake Bled is found in the northwestern corner of Slovenia, almost 50km from the capital city Ljubljana. With its bluish-green vistas, clear water even though the lake is almost 30 meters deep, church on one side, a medieval clifftop castle, and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps as backdrops. Lake Bled should be categorized as one of the most mesmerizing places in Slovenia. This incredibly scenic and green lake has become a tourist attraction. With an island church, clifftop castle, and epic mountain backdrop, you're sure to find more than enough activities here to keep you entertained and make your tour a memorable one. In my blog, these tips for travelling to Lake Bled will tell you everything you need to know for exploring this fairytale spot. 

The best time to visit is late spring and early autumn when you'll find welcoming weather, snowcapped mountains in the distance, and a nice rich green forest. Though it stays beautiful always, in winters, due to its location near the Alps, Lake Bled brings plenty of snow with white forest and in summers there are blue skies, warm days and you can always cool off with a swim in the lake and sitting under shades of trees all over. 

How to Get to Lake Bled 

Lake Bled is 50 kilometers from the city of Ljubljana, so it is quite a manageable journey. To get to Lake Bled from Ljubljana, you have a number of options open to you.

By Car

Driving yourself around always offers the most freedom, scenery and you can stop for some photoshoot. From Ljubljana to Lake Bled is very easy and well signposted. The journey will take approximately 45 minutes without traffic. Kranj and Skofja Loka are both located on the way to Lake Bled and these indeed beautiful towns to stop in if you'd like to see more of Slovenia. Once you arrive, you can park in the large public car park outside. 

By Bus

Bus facility is available from the capital city and it will take you 1 hour to travel from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. This is no doubt one of the cheapest and easiest ways to arrive in Lake Bled, costing just 7 euros one-way. This would be the best option if you are visiting Lake Bled as a day trip from Ljubljana. It will drop you off a few hundred meters from the Lake and you will have a little beautiful walk, that is it, you are there. The Schedule and current fare can be found on their website. 

By Train 

There is also train service between Lubljana and Bled which drops passengers off at Lesce-Bled station approx. 4km southeast of Bled and takes slightly over an hour. Train schedule is available online. From the station, you can take the bus to Bled. In my opinion, it is probably better to take the bus from Lubljana instead of taking the Train. 

Things to Do in Lake Bled 

In this welcoming place, you'll have so much to do than simply looking at the lake and going for a swim. You will have a chance to explore the local nature, history, architecture, and culture that together will make this place so memorable. So, when you visit Lake Bled, these are the best things to see and do.

1. Bled Island and Church of Assumption

Most tourists arrive at Bled Island by taking Pletna which resembles a huge gondola. The round-trip costs 12€ per person and normally the entire trip takes 90 minutes, including 60 minutes of rowing around the island. The Pletnas departs from a number of locations around the lake. Another very popular method is to rent a rowing boat which costs between 10 to 15 €/hour. 

2. Walk Around

The fantastic way to start your time is of course to walk around the lake. To walk the entire lake in a circle will take between 2-3 hours, mild and healing environment will make this walk pleasing. Bled has the beauty of the mountains reflected on the lake, the sun, the serenity, and the fresh air So, you may need extra time to stop and take photos because this is going to be a photogenic location!

3. Hiking Up to the Mala Osojnica Viewpoint​

​Another fantastic way is to get a view of the lake from above, the best viewpoint is from Mala Osojnica. The hike will take around 1 hour to complete, while many staying points and allowing for some time at the top to enjoy the view. One of the thing which makes it a little heavy is a steep angle for hiking but for a gentler experience you can head towards Bled Campground and then towards the lookout.

4. Bled castle​

​Bled has some man-made built environment and one of the major landmarks you need to visit at Lake Bled is the town's epic clifftop castle. Castle also has a museum and restaurant. The castle is over 1,000 years old architecture, making it the oldest in Slovenia and a heritage site for the country's history. In the museum, you can learn about the national history, geography, and artifacts of the region, as well as what life was like here through the past and how it evolved. It will cost 11 euros for entry into the castle and museum.

5. Visit Bohinj (Triglav National Park)

Bohinj is merely 30km away from Bled and I would highly recommend to visit either by staying overnight there or a day trip from Bled. The whole area is absolutely worth visiting especially Lake Bohinj, Vintgar Gorge and Savica waterfall. There is a regular bus service between Bled and Lake Bohinj (for the bus schedule check their website) which takes around 45 minutes. 

Where to Stay in Lake Bled 

There are plenty of options to stay overnight in Bled for every price category. I stayed in an inexpensive but a very comfortable Airbnb not far from the lake with a stunning view of the castle from the balcony for less than 30€ a night. It is better to book in advance in the high season especially during the summer holidays.