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2 Days At Lake Bled: The Complete Guide
Lake Bled is a picture perfect bucket list location and one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist destinations. Its fairytale scenery, alpine panoramas and calming effect draw half a million people annually to the area.
It’s a perfect weekend getaway for any season. 2 days at Lake Bled is enough time to explore, experience and absorb the romantic atmosphere.
Lined with dense forest, the sapphire blue waters of Lake Bled surround a 15th century gothic church perched on a rocky island; with the 16th Bled Century Castle overlooking.
With visitors travelling from all over the world to experience the enchanting scenery for themselves, you’d expect the lakeside to be packed. Surprisingly it’s not actually the case! We visited during peak summer season, there weren’t any large crowds and it still felt peaceful and idyllic.
Nestled in the Julian Alps, with Triglav National Park on it’s doorstep, it’s easy to fit 2 days in Lake Bled into a week exploring Northern Slovenia.
We’ve created a 2 day itinerary, including top tips for sights, hikes and food. There are also some suggestions of how you could extend your stay and top sights in the surrounding area. Hopefully this will inspire you to book your own Slovenian adventure!
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How many days should I spend at Lake Bled?
Two to three days at Lake Bled is enough time to immerse yourself in it’s beauty and history without running out of things to do. Bled is a small town but it’s the scenery that draws people there.
Unless you plan on exploring further afield such as Triglav National Park, you won’t need any longer.
Where should I stay at Lake Bled?
Accommodation options in Lake Bled are vast, and if you have a car or are willing to catch a bus then options will increase. As it’s popular with both tourists and locals, it’s worth booking in advance as places can book up fast.
For ease, we stayed in the main town and within short walking distance to Lake Bled, below we’ve listed a few options for various budgets and included some places we stayed further out.
Best Accommodation in Lake Bled
£££
Hotel Toplice – 5 Star
- Situated on the banks of Lake Bled.
- Only 5 star hotel in Lake Bled, from Prince Charles through to Donald Trump have stay here.
- Private beach, thermal pool and spa.
- Balcony with views of the lake available.
Vila Bled – 4 Star
- Situated on the banks of Lake Bled and away from the main road and town.
- Luxurious fifties décor, it was one of President Tito’s favoured residences.
- Boat hire and tennis court free four guests.
- Balcony with views of the lake available.
££
Hotel Lovec – 4 Star
- It’s within 2 minute walking distance of the lake, shops and restaurants.
- Balcony with views of the lake available.
- Swimming pool, sauna and steam room.
Vila Alpina – 3 Star
- 20 minute walk into town and 5 minute to the lake.
- Cosy alpine cabin feel to the rooms.
- Away from the busy town and streets.
- Balcony’s available.
£
Pension Zaka – B&B
- Short walk to the Lake – 1 min walk.
- Olympic Swimming Pool next door
- It is on the opposite side of the lake to the main town, but there are still some restaurants and bars.
- Balcony with views of the lake available.
Bled Hostel – Hostel
- Budget friendly, with good reviews
- 10 minute walk to the Lake and close to town and restaurants.
Further afield:
Bohinj Eco Hotel – 4 Star
- 20 minute drive to Lake Bled
- Free entry to Aquapark next door
- At the edge of Triglav National Park with views of the Julian Alps, balcony’s with mountain views available.
Hotel Gasperin – 3 Star
- 25 minute drive to Lake Bled
- Located in Triglav National Park, balcony’s with mountain views available.
- 5 minute walk from Ribčev Laz town and Bohinj Lake.
Getting to Lake Bled
Getting around Slovenia isn’t difficult, from the Capital, Ljubljana there are lots of buses to the smaller towns.
Once in the smaller towns, especially mountainous areas, you need to really plan your days around public transport as, in the off-peak season especially, they are few and far between. We did get the buses, but on a few occasions when catching the bus to the start of the hike and we ended up waiting over an hour.
Top Tip: Google doesn’t have local bus timetables here so check on the bus operators website directly, with your hotel concierge or the local tourist information office.
If you are planning to hire a car, this will make life a lot easier, but it does come at the added expense.
Below we’ve listed the different methods of transport
Train
From Ljubljana you can catch a train to Bled Jezero which is a short walk from the lake and takes around 1 hour 45 minutes. An alternative route would be to catch a train to Lesce then a bus from there to Lake Bled which would take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Both routes will cost around €5-12 pp.
Bus
From Ljubljana there are direct buses to Lake Bled leaving from the central bus station in the capital. A ticket will cost between €4-6 pp and the journey takes around 1 hour. They stop in several places around Lake Bled but the most popular stop is the Lake Bled Bus Station, just outside of the town.
In summer, they run fairly regularly at least once an hour, whilst in off season it’s only a few times a day. So plan ahead if you’re going in the winter months.
Taxi
If you would rather travel in private transport a taxi will be more costly but quicker, taking around 35 minutes. It’s a much more expensive option costing approx €80-100 from central Ljubljana to Lake Bled.
Car
A direct and quick option, taking around 35 minutes from central Ljubljana to Lake Bled. Parking in Lake Bled is a premium, so make sure to plan this in advance if you do decide to hire a car. The benefit of this transport is that you can then visit the surrounding areas such a Triglav National Park.
2 Days at Lake Bled | Itinerary
2 Days at Lake Bled is just enough to absorb the panoramic scenery, taste the local cuisine and see the top sights.
Our 2 day Lake Bled Itinerary below includes top tourist attractions along with food recommendations and top tips.
Day 1
AM
Row a boat on Lake Bled
Explore Bled Island
Visit St Mary’s Church
PM
Taste Bled Cream Cake
Walk around Lake Bled
Dinner at Oštarija Peglez’n
Transport
€20
Food & Drink
€35
Extras
€6
Row a boat on Lake Bled
You can get to Bled Island by various methods of transport; Pletna Boat (like a bus on water), paddle board, swimming and rowing boat. After reading lots of reviews online, we decided to row to the island. It was definitely the best choice, we couldn’t stop laughing and it was a great way to see the Lake.
We rented our boat for €20 for 1 hour from RD Bled Boat & SUP Rental after reading good reviews about the price and availability of the boats. You really don’t need more than an hour unless you plan on spending a while on the Island. It took us around 15 minutes to get to and from the Island (with a few stops for pictures). If you do want longer you can add 1 hour onto the rental for only €10.
When you arrive at the island just tie up your boat/kayak/paddleboard and head off to explore!
If you would prefer to sit back and enjoy the ride to the island, you can hire a Pletna boat. These hold around 20 people and charge approx. €12 per person. A negative of this is that they will determine when you leave and also where in the Lake you go, but it is more relaxing and less physically demanding.
Top Tip: Get up early and head straight to the boat rental place to avoid any queues. If you arrive late morning you’ll most likely have to queue for a boat for around 30 minutes.
Explore Bled Island
As the only island in Slovenia, Bled Island is well known all over the world for it’s picture perfect setting, size and history.
At less than an acre in size, there are only a few paths so it doesn’t take long to explore and is perfect to squeeze into 2 days at Lake Bled.
It’s 15th century Gothic Church, the famous 99 stone steps combined with it’s rich history dating back to 8th Century B.C draw visitors from all over the world.
Top Tip: There is a café on the island with toilets, these are charged if you are not a customer so bring coins!
Visit St Mary’s Church
The Assumption of Mary, Pilgrimage Church, or as it’s most commonly know by St Mary’s Church, is a 15th Century Gothic Church on Bled Island. Sitting atop the famous 99 stone steps, the church although hidden in between the islands greenery, has endless lake views.
Fun Fact: There is a local tradition in Bled that a groom has to carry the bride up the 99 steps if they want to get married in the church on the island.
From the waters edge you can climb the steps, passing a café and reaching the Church and it’s iconic Bell Tower, which is featured in many postcards and photos.
Also built in the 15th century the Bell Tower is a top sight on the island and many go in to ring the well-known “wishing bell“, in hope their wishes will come true. At 54 meters high, the tower has three bells, survived two earthquakes and a lighting strike. You can hear the calming ringing of the bells from across the lake, and may even awake to the peaceful sound first thing in the morning.
If you want to go into the church it costs €6 per adult, we decided not to go inside but a lot of people do recommend it.
Fun Fact: The ledged of the Wishing Bell is that around 500 years ago a widow had a bell made in memory of her husband. The bell was being transported across Lake Bled, when a storm struck, sinking the boat, the crew and the bell. In their memory the Pope consecrated a new bell which was placed in the church. So now, when you ring the bell, you are honouring the Virgin Mary and so your wish should come true.
Taste Bled Cream Cake
Try a Bled Cream Cake, officially it’s called a Cremeschitte, but locally it’s known as Bled Cream Cake. The slice, first created in 1953 is made up of a thin and delicate pastry combined with a thick layers of vanilla custard and cream.
You can buy it in most cafes and restaurants in the town but we visited ‘Park Restaurant and Café’ for the ‘Original’ Bled Cream Cake. The Café also has lakeside tables and panoramic views of Bled Island and Castle so is great even just for a coffee.
Fun Fact: You can tell an original Bled Cream Cake as when you place it on the plate, the entire cream cake must sway back and forth.
Walk Around Lake Bled
Having filled up on Bled Cream Cake, why not take a leisurely stroll around the impossibly blue lake.
A round trip will take you around an hour and a half to complete, and is roughly 6 km long. The circuit is very easy to follow and almost completely flat, so it’s wheelchair, pushchair and bike friendly.
Swim In the Lake
Whilst strolling around the lake, why not stop for a paddle or swim. The water is so inviting and refreshing, we went for a paddle and had to go back the next day with our swimsuits!
Supposedly the mineral-rich waters of the lake have healing powers and many visit Lake Bled for this reason.
Dinner at Oštarija Peglez’n
This restaurant came highly recommended to us by a local friend. The restaurant is tucked under it’s canopy just off the main road in the town. It has a homely and welcoming environment with very cute décor. They served a mixture of Italian and Mediterranean dishes all of which look delicious!
We had a Seafood Risotto which was huge, it’s a great sharer for a couple too, and a Grilled Meat Platter which was incredible.
Day 2
AM
Mala Osojnica Viewpoint
Souvenir shop and stroll around town
PM
Visit Bled Castle
Dinner at Vila Preseren
Transport
€0
Food & Drink
€35
Extras
€13
Top Tip: To avoid crowds and get the viewpoint to yourself, arrive as early as possible
Visit Mala Osojnica viewpoint
Rewarding you with breath-taking panoramic views of the vivid blue lake and the alps beyond, this hike is definitely worth the sweat!
Starting on the far side of the lake, a wooden sign marks the trailhead next to a bench, (GPS Coordinates: 46°21’31.7″N 14°05’07.5″E). The hike will take you around 1 hour round trip (for 1 viewpoint) and 2.5 hours if you do all 3 viewpoints.
Steeply climbing up through the forest, the beginning of the path weaves through the dense tree canopy. With a mixture of wooden steps and wire cables you gradually zig zag up the muddy hillside.
Once you reach the steep metal staircase you are on the last push up to Mala Osojnica. At the top of the staircase there’s a bench with a stunning view of the lake. Continue up past this point, many people mistake this as the viewpoint, it’s around 4 minutes further up the trail.
When you reach a fenced area with an information board you have reached the first viewpoint!
Depending on time, you can continue up to two further viewpoints, Velika Osojnica and Mala Ojstrica. We turned back after the first one due to time constraints but many also say that Mala Osojnica is the best of the three anyway.
Top Tip: Wear sturdy hiking shoes, either grippy trainers or hiking boots as the path is uneven and slippy. We saw people in flip flops, which we couldn’t believe, they were really struggling to stay upright without twisting an ankle.
Castle
Perched high above Lake Bled it looks like something from a fairy-tale. The medieval castle dates back to the 11th-century and can be visited for a fee of €13 per adult.
From the Castle terrace you have a stunning view of Lake Bled and Bled Island as well as the surrounding mountains of the Julian Alps.
There’s a museum, restaurant, café, toilets, wine tasting experience and gift shop at the Castle. We’d recommend setting aside a few hours to explore the Castle and Museum.
Vila Preseren
A great spot for dinner or lunch, with the tables outside looking onto the deep blue waters it’s very relaxing. They even have live music in the evenings sometimes which makes it extra special.
We had a Tiger Prawn, Sesame & Mango Salad (which came with lots of big and juicy prawns) and the Pan Fried Octopus, Shrimp and Squid. Both were delicious and we would definitely recommend trying fish dish with them.
FAQ's
Our 2 days at Lake Bled itinerary has hopefully inspired you to take the leap and explore somewhere new. You might still have a few unanswered questions and that’s ok! We’ve got you covered, listed below are some of the most common FAQ’s
Is Lake Bled expensive to visit?
In short, Lake Bled is expensive, but in comparison to other European Countries, Slovenia is fairly cheap.
A beer in a restaurant will cost around €4-5 and a three course meal in a mid range restaurant may cost you around €30-40 pp.
It’s possible to eat fairly cheap in Cafés if you have things like toasted sandwiches. You can also opt not to pay for any excursions or additional activities. For example you could just walk up to the Castle and not go in, or walk up to the viewpoints and around the Lake rather than hire a boat to the island.
For 2 Days a Lake Bled you really don’t have to spend a lot, the biggest spend is most likely going to be Accommodation.
How much money should I take for 2 Days at Lake Bled?
The amount of money you should take to Lake Bled will depend on your lifestyle and needs.
For 2 days at Lake Bled, the above itinerary costs €99 pp excluding; accommodation, breakfast, lunch and any extra drinks and snacks throughout the day. Take into account how often you might want to eat, attractions you’ll visit and if you plan on buying any souvenirs whilst you’re there.
Somewhere between €80-120 a day should be enough to cover food, drink and transport. It may also cover attraction costs if you plan ahead and eat cheap. For any gifts or souvenirs make sure to add this onto your daily budget.
What's the best month to visit Lake Bled?
Spring (March, April, May) – A great time to visit to avoid crowds and save money, it is still popular during this time but nowhere near as busy as summer. Some places may still be closed as it’s the start of the season. Temperature highs of between 13-23C.
Summer (June, July, August) – In Summer, Bled is hot, sunny and vividly green. It’s arguably the best time of year to experience all the lake has to offer as everything will be open during this time and usually for longer hours too. It’s also the best time if you would like to swim in the lake as the waters temperature is very inviting. Temperature highs of around 26-29C.
Autumn (September, October, November) – Another good time to visit to avoid crowds, although it will still be popular during this time it won’t be as busy as the summer months. A stunning time to visit for photos if you want to see all the leaves changing colour around the lake. Temperature highs of between 12-23C.
Winter (December, January, February) – If you’re lucky to get snow and ice, the lake will look extra magical and there may even be the opportunity to ski nearby. It’s important to note though that some restaurants, cafes and shops may be closed over the colder months so it’s worth checking these before you go. Temperature highs of around 7C and lows of -2C.
Things to do near Lake Bled?
Located on the edge of Slovenia’s only National Park there are an abundance of outdoor activities and sights around Lake Bled. For those more into city breaks, the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is only an hour away by bus and is full of history and traditional Slovenian restaurants.
Triglav National Park
Triglav National Park is Slovenia’s only National Park and is named after the country’s highest mountain, Mount Triglav (2864 m). The park became a protected area in 1924 and it’s not surprising with its roaring waterfalls, chiselled gorges, turquoise lakes, alpine meadows and rugged mountains.
If you’re a keen hiker looking for your next challenge, this is a great way to explore one of Europe’s lesser known mountain ranges.
Vintgar Gorge
A magical and whimsical waterfall and peaceful walk along boardwalks as they wind their way through this carved gorge above the Radovna River. The enchanting landscape is one of the biggest attractions in the area and is fairly easy to walk and get to.
It costs €10 per adult and €5 to park for cars. It’s around 10-15 minutes from Lake Bled by car or there is a bus from Bled that runs a few times a day in summer.
Lake Bohinj
Breathtakingly beautiful, the clear blue waters of Lake Bohinj are nestled among the mountains in Triglav National Park. Many Slovenians own holiday homes here too. With a variety of activities there’s something for everyone; paddle boarding, swimming, hiking and kayaking.
Fancy spending 2 days at Lake Bled? We hope our itinerary had inspired you to book your own Slovenian adventure.
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Eve and Nick