10 Unique Things to do in Lake Bled (Slovenia)
Lake Bled in Slovenia is a true natural gem and is one of the absolute highlights of the famous town of Bled. The fairytale setting that surrounds this lake is as beautiful and unique as if straight out of a travel magazine, and famous far beyond the country’s borders. One of the most amazing thigs to do is a boat ride to the Assumption of Mary Church, which is located on a tiny island in the emerald green glacial lake and is the landmark actually the landmark of the resort. In addition, there are numerous other spectacular attractions and destinations around Lake Bled, all of which make a visit to Bled an unforgettable experience.
In this travel guide, we will give you all the important info and tips about Lake Bled in Slovenia. We show you amazing pictures, the best things to do and attractions, and where to find brilliant places to stay in Bled.
Good to know!
If you are still looking for a very special accommodation, then we can recommend the Grand Hotel Toplice in a prime location on the lake, with a pool and in-house lido.
Really famous in Bled is the Bled Cream Cake, a delicious dessert that you should not miss. The Café Park, where the original Bled Creme cake is served, is fantastic.
Lake Bled is a wonderful place for having a swim in summer. In June, the Grajsko Kopališče lido opens, and the Velika Zaka beach on the north shore also invites to bathe in the lake.
Excursion to Lake Bled are also popular from Ljublijana. Really brilliant day trips can be found online at GetYourGuide.
General information about Lake Bled
Lake Bled, or Blejsko jezero, is a famous lake in the Gorenjska region in western Slovenia. It is located right near Bled, a pretty spa town from which the lake takes its name and which is also famous for its numerous thermal springs. With a length of about 2.1 kilometers and a width of up to 1.4 kilometers, the lake is not too big and can even be walked via a 6-kilometer path. Thanks to the underground warm thermal springs, the emerald-colored glacial lake has even 23° C to 25° C in summer, which promises pleasant water temperatures for bathing.
The most important attraction, and why Bled actually became so famous internationally as a tourist destination, is the picturesque little island in the lake on which the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of Mary stands. The backdrop with the islet is almost kitschy beautiful and makes this attraction one of the most photographed in Slovenia. Another highlight is the castle of Bled, which is enthroned on a rock above the lake and inspires with a fabulous view. In addition, you can also take great hikes around Bled as well as numerous excursions.
Best Thing to Do at Lake Bled
On a visit to Lake Bled you can expect beautiful attractions, plenty of exciting activities and fantastic excursion destinations. The most important things to do include a visit to the romantic church island, the Bled Castle, the spectacular viewpoints and the picturesque lakeside promenade. We have summarized the best things to do at Lake Bled for you here at a glance:
Bled Castle
Bled Castle is definitely one of the most beautiful attractions at Lake Bled. Built on a 139-meter-high rock, this fortress towers majestically over the landscape and, together with the lake, conjures up a picturesque backdrop. The history of Bled Castle dates back to 1011, which makes it the oldest castle in Slovenia. The short climb to the fortress is worth it because once you reach the top, several interesting attractions await you. Worth seeing are the castle museum, the castle chapel, the blacksmith’s workshop and also the castle print shop, where you can even print your own souvenir. The absolute highlight, however, is the castle terrace, from which you can enjoy one of the best views of Lake Bled with the church island. Moreover, a cozy café invites to linger and enjoy the scenery.
Bled Island
The most famous landmark of Bled is the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of Mary, also called the Church of the Virgin Mary. It is located on the tiny Bled Island called Blejski otok and can be reached by one of the beautiful traditional Pletna wooden boats. But before you can visit the church, you have to climb 99 steps. If you feel like it, you can then also climb the 52-meter-high bell tower and enjoy a picturesque view of Lake Bled. In any case, you should ring the wishing bell there, which, according to legend, makes all wishes come true.
Tip: In the restaurant “Poticnica” on the island you can taste Potica, a traditional Slovenian festive pastry!
Hiking around Lake Bled
A short hike, a walk or a tour by bike around Lake Bled is probably the best way to explore the most beautiful places in the area. The entire circular trail is about 6 kilometers long, and for a leisurely tour, you can plan on walking for about 2 hours. Along the promenade, there are always romantic places to enjoy the wonderful ambience of Lake Bled. Also great are the many small cafés around the lake, which invite for a stop and enjoy a piece of homemade cream slices. No matter what time of the year, whether in spring, in summer, Bled in autumn or in winter, a walk around the lake is definitely one of the best things to do!
Tip: If you love hiking, you can additionally explore the viewpoints Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica or take the path over the castle.
Boat Ride on Lake Bled
An unforgettable experience and one of the best things to do is a boat trip on Lake Bled. During a trip on the traditional wooden boats, the so called Pletna boats, you have the opportunity to visit Bled Island and the Church of St. Mary and experience the lake from its most beautiful side. There is a saying that if you haven’t taken a pletna in Bled, you haven’t really visited this place! Worthwhile and a romantic alternative is a tour by rowing boat. You can rent it for a reasonable price at the Pension Pletna and row to the church island.
Mala Osojnica & Ojstrica Viewpoint
The most beautiful view of Lake Bled can definitely be enjoyed from Mala Osojnica Viewpoint. The view of the lake, the church and the mountains is truly breathtaking. However, this popular viewpoint can only be reached via the circular hiking trail No.6, and for the ascent you should plan about 30 – 40 minutes walking time. In any case, good shoes are recommended, as the path is quite steep and in the end, 80 metal steps have to be climbed.
Tip: A little shorter but still beautiful is the hike to the Ojstrica Viewpoint. This viewpoint can be reached in about 20 minutes, and even from up there you have a fantastic panorama!
Excursions to the surroundings of Lake Bled
Not only is Lake Bled worth seeing, but also the surrounding area is absolutely charming! Rushing waterfalls, imposing mountains and spectacular gorges are just a few of the attractions nearby. Here are the best excursions you can make from Bled:
Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge is probably one of the most beautiful things to see near Bled. The breathtaking gorge is located only about 4 kilometers from Lake Bled, and a hike along the wooden footbridges through the spectacular gorge is a unique experience. Really special is the emerald-colored rushing river, which, together with the mighty rocks and the big waterfall at the end of the gorge, conjures up an almost surreal scenery.
Lake Bohinj
Beautiful and worth a trip is the Lake Bohinj. This picturesque natural attraction is located only 27 kilometers from Bled and can be reached in no time by car or bus. But not only is the lake romantic, breathtaking are also the mountains of this region. If you like, take the gondola up to the local mountain Vogel or go on exciting hikes in the Triglav National Park. Camping at Bohinj Lake is also very popular and a great option for those traveling by caravan or camper!
Savica Waterfall
Savica Waterfall is located about 35 kilometers from Bled and is definitely one of the most worth visiting waterfalls in Slovenia. You can reach it from the parking lot via a hike. After climbing over 500 stairs, you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama. Especially impressive are the turquoise blue water colors, which give this natural jewel its special appearance.
Pericnik Waterfall
The Pericnik waterfall is a real insider tip for an unforgettable excursion from Bled. This force of nature impresses with a height of over 50 meters and is an absolute highlight, especially in rainy weather. A special feature is that you can get really close to the rushing waters, and even a narrow path leads along behind the waterfall.
Where to Stay at Lake Bled
For a vacation in Bled, on Lake Bled, you’ll find a great range of accommodations. Most of the accommodations are privately run apartments, but there are also nice guesthouses, really great hotels and campsites. If you’re looking for tips on where to stay in Bled, we can give you these recommendations…It’s worth a look!
- Dream Hotel next to the Lake: The Grand Hotel Toplice is one of the best hotels on Lake Bled. Guests love the wonderful location directly on the lake, the great pool and the spa area.
- B&B with breakfast: The Penzion Mayer is a beautiful B&B in a central location and, moreover, inspires with delicious breakfast. Parking and bicycles are free of charge here.
- Apartment House at the Lake: The Lake Bled Apartments are an insider tip! The location directly on the lake is unbeatable, and also the rowing boats can be used free of charge.
- Glamping with style: The Pension & Glamping Pibernik is located about 2 kilometers from the lake and scores with amazing facilities in beautiful nature and a great pool to relax.
Find the best accommodation at Lake Bled:
Read more about Slovenia:
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Top 20 Amazing Things to Do in Slovenia
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Top 15 Amazing Things to Do in Maribor
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Piran in Slovenia: The Complete Travel Guide
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The 10 Best Beaches in Slovenia
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Soca Valley in Slovenia: 15 Best Places to Visit
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7 Comments
Such beautiful views! Did you make it to Bled island?
such a happy coincidence to capture a rainbow when you visit it. and the view looks so stunning, it totally is romantic! 🙂
one of my bucket lists is to go for a balkan tour someday, maybe for my honeymoon someday? i’m always keen to the history of ex-yugoslavia countries and this one is simply so hard to miss.
why not right?! 😉 and this one is totally on my list now!
I hosted a Slovenian on Couchsurfing a couple of years ago and it was the first time I had really learned anything about the country. Sadly I have not been able to go but I really want to visit it and Lake Bled as well. Your photos look great too!
Slovenia keeps cropping up as the new must-see travel destination. Looking at your photos I can tell why – Lake Bled is stunning and the views within the national park are awesome. I now need to figure out how to get this added into my travel plans. Happy Travels.
We may have the chance to go to Slovenia before our trip to Austria this October. We have friends there and they have been inviting for such a long time now. Lake Bled is truly gorgeous and romantic. Plus Vintgar Gorge and Peričnik Waterfall!
Have heard and read a lot about Lake Bled. Certainly very picturesque with picture postcard views! The castle looks straight out of a fairy tale. The traditional Pletna boats are beautiful! The pictures are stunning especially the Vintgar gorge and the rainbow over the lake. So well captured! Fabulous post!
Hm – Slovenia…that’s a cool idea! The castle looks just wonderful in that lake – and the picture with the rainbow is totally surreal. The nature seems quite lush, too – like I said: cool travel idea (and not so far to get to when living in Europe).