LAKE BLED | EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The stunningly magical Lake Bled is one of the most beautiful and iconic sights of Slovenia. We spent one frosty, winters day at this dreamy place - imagine being surrounded by mountains, a Church rising from the middle of the lake, a magical Castle built upon the edge of a cliff… Lake Bled is one of the most romantic, fairytale destinations we have ever visited!
Check out our vlog below to see what we got up to during our day at Lake Bled, and keep scrolling if you would like to read more on everything you need to know for a visit here!
How To Get There
By car: Getting there by car is pretty easy, it is only a 40 minute drive out of Ljubljana and a highway takes you most of the way there. If you are only visiting Slovenia for a few days we weren't recommend hiring a car as public transport is so accessible.
By train: There are two train stations in the vicinity of Bled. The larger one is Lesce train station which has very frequent train connections to Ljubljana, however the station is located about 4.5 km from Lake Bled which means you will have to catch a bus or taxi from the train station to the lake.
The other train station is the Jezero Bled train station which is located at the north western end of the lake; from this station there are 3 km to the centre of town Bled and about 2.5 km to Bled Castle. The Bled Jezero station can be reached by train from Jezenice.
By bus: Getting to Lake Bled by bus is the best option, from about 6am to 10pm there are pretty muchhourly departures from the main bus station in Ljubljana. During winter season, there are fewer departures. As the buses are driving via the country route and stop in a lot of cities along the way, it takes around 1 hour and 10 to 20 minutes on the bus.
In Bled the bus stops a 2 minute walk to the lake, closer to the Bled castle side. Returning buses to Ljubljana are as frequent as the buses to Lake Bled, so you will have no problem doing a round trip within a day like we did. Ticket price for a one way ticket from Ljubljana to Lake Bled is about 7 Euro.
Things To Do
Visit Bled Castle
Bled Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia, located on a cliff, 130 meters above Lake Bled. If you take a walk up the castle hill you will be greeted with one of the most beautiful views of the lake and the tiny Bled Island. It is the perfect spot to grab a coffee and take in the scenery from the castle terrace.
Price: €10
Take a Boat over to Bled Island
Located on the tiny island in the middle of Lake Bled is the Assumption of Mary Church. To get there you will need to take a ride on one of the traditional wooden boats, which have been used for centuries. Once you arrive you must climb the 99 steps to the church.
They says that if you make a wish while listening to the church bells on the island, your wish will come true - so during our visit we rang that bell hard!
Pletna boat price: €14
Rowboat hire price: €10
Hike Up Ojstrica For The Best Views Of The Lake
Whatever image you saw of Lake Bled prior to arriving, it was most probably taken at Ojstrica Bled. This viewpoint is one of the most photographed parts of Bled - and that is saying something! This is a worthwhile hike for a great Instagram shot.
Talk a Stroll Right Around the Lake
You are in such a beautiful location that a simple walk around the lake is an activity in itself. It is a 6km walk to go right around the lake, with a lot of photo spots along the way. In the summer you can hire bikes which is also a great way to take in the areas beauty.
Straza Lift and slide
On the hill across from the castle, just west of the town of Bled, you will find Straza. To get there you can hike to the top or take the lift and then enjoy tobogganing down during the summer months. If you visit in the winter you can actually ski here!
What To Eat
Have A Kremsnita Cake (Cream Cake)
This is a cake worth coming all the way out here to try! The traditional cream cake, also know as Kremna Rezina, dates back to the Austro-Hungarian empire in the 18th and 19th century. It won't be very hard for you to find a slice, as basically every and any cafe and restaurant is serving this cake in Lake Bled.
Eat at Bled Castle
If you are looking for an unique dining experience with epic views than you should eat a meal while visiting Bled Castle. Also if you book your lunch or dinner in advance at the Bled Castle Restaurant, they will provide you with free entrance to Bled Castle.
Pizzaria Rustika Bled
If you are looking for a casual, tasty spot to eat than this pizzaria makes the best pizzas in the town!
Where To Stay
Although the town is small, there are plenty of small hostels and hotels available. We recommend staying at Grand Hotel Toplice if you are wanting to spend a few nights at Bled. It is quite a luxurious hotel, with breakfast included, a full spa and very spacious rooms- however the main reason is that this hotel has incredible views over the lake.
If you are doing what we did, and only spending one day at Lake Bled, than we highly recommend staying at Hotel Cubo in Ljubljana. We decided to upgrade and stay in one of their Junior Suites and it was one of the nicest rooms we have ever stayed at. The room is massive with so many windows, a comfy round bed and views of the Ljubljana Castle! Also, breakfast at the Hotel Cubo was excellent, with pancakes, eggs, omelettes all cooked to order and included in the hotel price.
A big thank you to Eurail x STA Travel for supporting Flying the Nest and making this trip possible.