At a glance: the best things to do in Bled
1. Hike to the Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica viewpoints
2. Take a pletna boat to Bled Island
4. Walk and swim on the western shore
5. Rent a rowboat or paddleboard
7. Try Bled cream cake at Belvedere
9. Explore Vintgar Gorge, or skip it
Things to do in Lake Bled in one day
Bled lives up to the hype, but it was a bit smelly. Lake Bled is the most famous place in Slovenia and, for many people, the reason why they decide to visit.
The lake itself is extremely blue and quite different from Bohinj. The lake is bluer, and the mountains are less dramatic. Lake Bled is a glacial lake in the Julian Alps.
There are four things that make Bled unique: the mountains, the church on Bled Island, Bled Castle, and the crystal-clear blue water.
It's one of the rare lakes that doesn't have to be improved for its blue color, thanks to its depth, cleanliness, and the light bottom of the lake, which makes it bluer. I see Bled as one of the prettiest lakes in the world.
I would spend at least 2 days, though. There is so much to do. I know you will most likely spend only a day, so I will try to plan the things to do in Bled as best as possible and give you the actually skippable attractions and those that are really worth spending money and time on.
My practical picks: for a one-day Lake Bled itinerary, combine the Ojstrica viewpoint, a pletna boat to Bled Island, and Bled Castle at golden hour. Vintgar Gorge is the first thing I would skip.
Read more from my Slovenia travel blog.
My map of the best things to do in Bled
Bled Island, Bled Castle and the Julian Alps in one frame. This is why Ojstrica is the best viewpoint over Lake Bled, and worth every minute of the photo queue
This short hike leads to the best viewpoint over Lake Bled: Ojstrica. The water was so incredibly blue, and the castle with the church is just amazing. It really is the best place to visit in Slovenia.
There is a large parking lot right at the foothills. Very expensive: €7.50 per hour.
You walk through the forest, and the walk is mostly very easy. Though in rainy weather, it could be muddy.
And as with almost everything in the Julian Alps, it's very crowded. I would go early or late at golden hour, as there was a regular traffic jam going up.
Beware: Ojstrica could be quite dangerous. On the day I was there, 2 people fell from there into the woods, and helicopters went to save them.
For an even higher view, continue up the steep forest path to Mala Osojnica (685 m), about 30 minutes uphill from the trailhead. Wear proper hiking footwear.
This is the “traffic jam” on the way up to Ojstrica above Lake Bled
I was first on the boat, so I got the front seat on our pletna to Bled Island. Get there early and claim it, the view is worth it
Bled Island and its church are a lot prettier than in pictures and a lot bigger.
The typical Lake Bled boat ride costs €20 per person, but at least the standing oarsman has to work for it. The boats are really pretty pieces of art. And you can pay by card.
This traditional wooden boat is called a pletna. We waited about 10 minutes before the boat filled up.
It took 10 minutes to get to the island, then the boat stays there for 45 minutes, and then you head back. Overall, it will take about 2 hours.
It's a surprisingly buggy island. There are worthwhile views toward the castle and Belvedere. From the pier, 99 stone steps lead up to the Church of the Assumption of Mary. Legend says that if you ring the wishing bell inside the church, your wish will come true.
The entry to the church is €12. The ticket also includes the lookout bell tower and the museum in the Provost's House. We skipped it, as churches are mostly the same inside.
The positive is also that the island wasn't badly crowded. But 45 minutes was a bit excessive.
Someone has to row to Bled Island. Not me
Top tip: If you are into it, you can get to the island in a rented rowboat. It can actually save you some money. If you’d rather not wait for the pletna to fill up, book a Lake Bled boat tour in advance and skip the guessing game on the shore.
My rating: 10/10 experience.
Bled Castle at golden hour
The castle is the absolute dominant feature of Lake Bled.
There is a fairly large parking lot in front of the castle. You don't have to hike up to the castle. The castle costs €19 per person.
The castle was mainly about really beautiful views, especially the superb views from the castle terrace café. I loved how peaceful it looks from up here, and especially how calm the swimmers and boats feel.
Most of the views are westerly oriented, so it's better to come in the morning or at golden hour. Otherwise, your pics will be rubbish.
Inside the castle, there is not much to see, so €19 seems excessive, but at the same time, it works as a barrier against crowds. There is a museum inside, which is a nice compilation of local legends and stories, which were very interesting.
The museum at Bled Castle is small, but the local legends are worth a read
The first record of the castle is from 1011. Bled Castle was held by the Bishopric of Brixen for 8 centuries. The castle itself is heavily renovated. Inside, you can find a working historic printing press.
Top tip: You can visit it as the last thing in Bled, as it closes at 8 pm, which is unusually late for Slovenia. Opening hours change with the season, so check them before you go.
My rating: 10/10. Very unique, even among the alpine castles.
Not a bad view from Bled Castle, right?
Ducks swimming in Lake Bled, with Bled Island in the background
The western shore is extremely dramatic. It's one of the best places I've seen for pictures in Slovenia. It's super pretty to see the church and castle in one sight.
I suggest you take a walk along the whole west bank of the lake. It's so pretty on the wooden boardwalk. It takes 20 to 60 minutes, and it's especially good for swimming as well.
You can also swim here, as there is a beach, and borrow a boat. The lake was surprisingly warm for Lake Bled swimming. For a designated bathing area, head to Grajsko kopališče below the castle (June to mid-September).
My rating: 10/10
Captain of my own boat on Lake Bled, at least for an hour
We rented a boat at the western tip of the lake for €25. There are different views from the water than from the coast.
I would rent a boat on this side of the lake, as the church island is significantly closer. I would do that again, but I would borrow a stand-up paddleboard. The local rowboats weren't the most comfortable.
The walk around Lake Bled is full of views like this
You can walk around the lake. I did it and enjoyed it immensely. I would do it on roller skates.
It's about a 6 km lake loop (5.7 km to be exact). From the northern side of the lake, you won't see much, as there are forests and fences. The southern side is better.
It felt like a very leisurely walk, great for kids and strollers. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours for the full loop without long stops.
Best table in Bled, if you ask me
I had to try the iconic dessert of Slovenia and Lake Bled: kremna rezina, or Bled cream cake. And what better place to try it than on the terrace of the epic Belvedere Café, with views right across to the church? It somehow reminded me of the Art Deco era and Hercule Poirot novels.
It dates back to 1953. Locals also call it kremšnita.
I am not much into desserts. And honestly, I loved it. A great summer cake. Very light pudding and cream, and not too sweet. I don't like to try these overhyped things, but this was actually well worth it.
The service is mediocre at best, but the place is so good.
Top tip: Parking is free there if you are a guest. You immediately save €7 per hour that you would pay elsewhere.
My rating: 10/10 experience and 6/10 restaurant.
It has a nice terrace garden and a good parking lot. I had a klobása (Carniolan sausage) and kremna cake. Loved it. The service was okay-ish.
The railway bridge at the end of Vintgar Gorge was my favorite part, and it’s not even natural
If you go, I would do this first. We arrived at 9:15, and the car park was huge and almost completely full.
To get to Vintgar Gorge, you've got to go by shuttle.
Top tip: You absolutely have to buy Vintgar Gorge tickets upfront if you go in season. There was no chance of buying them a week ahead.
The tickets cost €15. I was surprised that you've got to wear a helmet on the tour.
Fun fact: The gorge opened to visitors in 1893. The wooden boardwalk follows the Radovna River for 1.6 km and ends at the 13 m Šum Waterfall, the highest river waterfall in Slovenia. It's open from April to October.
Orange helmets and hairnets. Fashion week in Vintgar Gorge
It feels like a usual gorge, though with very nice, clear turquoise water. There are some really pretty spots. Maybe after 20 minutes, the gorge was over, and I was like: That's it?
It is very nice, not the level of Austrian gorges, and a bit of a logistical nuisance, but nonetheless worth the visit.
You've got to walk 4 km back to the parking lot. What a waste of time. I would not go again. You will have a lot more things to do that are actually better, and you are forced to spend 2 to 2.5 hours on a gorge that you walk through in 15 minutes.
My rating: 5/10. I wouldn't go to Bled just for Vintgar.
Not a postcard, I promise. That’s just Lake Bled
Bled lives up to the hype. Slovenia is like a 50/50 country: half of the top sights are great, and half are meh. I am happy I saw it. Some of the places are world-class, but I probably won't have to see them again. Next time I want to see the Alps, I will visit Italy or Austria. It's cheaper and significantly better.
The funny thing is that it felt like Bled used its potential to the maximum compared to Bohinj, which really didn't. For dramatic mountains and fewer crowds, pick Bohinj in Triglav National Park.
Bled or Bohinj? Why not both? They’re 30 minutes apart
Overall, you are in for a very expensive day: at least €40 for parking, €40 for kremna rezina, €19 per person for the castle, €20 per person if you go to the church by boat, and €12 per person for the church.
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At a glance: the best things to do in Bled
1. Hike to the Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica viewpoints
2. Take a pletna boat to Bled Island
4. Walk and swim on the western shore
5. Rent a rowboat or paddleboard
7. Try Bled cream cake at Belvedere
9. Explore Vintgar Gorge, or skip it
Things to do in Lake Bled in one day
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
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