Everything you Need to Know Before Visiting Lake Bled, Slovenia – And What to Avoid
Slovenia is home to some of Europe’s most spectacular landscapes. However, it is not typically high on many tourist’s bucket lists. One of the most popular locations within Slovenia is the extraordinarily beautiful Lake Bled. With it stunning islands and surrounding mountains, it’s easy to see the appeal. If you are visiting Lake Bled for the first time, there are a few things you need to know to really enhance your visit. In this post we have put together some useful tips and local knowledge to help you prepare for your trip to Lake Bled. We have also included some advice, based on our experience, about what you might want to avoid when visiting Lake Bled, and what you can do instead.
Easily accessible from Ljubljana
If you are based in Ljubljana, and want to spend a day out of the city, then you are in luck! A visit to Lake Bled can be easily done in a day and on public transport – but more on how to get there later. The Lake is only about an hour outside of the capital. This means that most visitors to Ljubljana, and indeed locals, will take day trips up to the lake making it easily accessible.
Lake Bled is an Absolutely Stunning Location
We have visited quite few lakes and Lake Bled is definitely up there as one of the most beautiful. The gorgeous church in the centre of the lake with soaring mountains surrounding the water, makes a perfect picture. There is also the imposing Bled castle looking on from the lake corner.
You Can Easily Walk Around the Lake
The path around the lake is easy to walk. It is pretty flat all the way round and the path is concrete and smooth. We wore hiking kit as we were going a little further into the mountains, but normal shoes are totally fine for walking around the lake. It takes around an hour, depending on how often you stop for photos – this will be a lot!
Lake Bled is Not an Untouched Natural Site
This point can be either a positive or a negative, depending on how you view it. On the plus side, there are loads of amenities, especially in the summer. On the lake there are assault courses, rowing boats and paddle boards. Around the lake there are cafes, restaurants, hotels, campsites and even a small boardwalk at the top end of the lake. This means you can find whatever you need pretty easily. However, if you are going in search of wilderness, peace and tranquillity, this is maybe not the place to find it – certainly not in the summer.
Despite a lot going on around the lake, the water was still beautifully clear and we could see plenty of fish below the surface.
If you are looking to go a bit more off the beaten track, there are several hikes starting from Lake Bled that will take you off into the surrounding mountains. This will mean you manage to avoid the crowds that descend during the summer.
The Town of Bled Can Get Very Busy
In the height of summer, the crowds descend on the town of Bled and the nearby lake. There is a lot to do in the area and it is within easy reach of Ljubljana, making it a popular spot for tourists and locals. As it is a small town, the high volume of visitors is very noticeable, especially on the roads. During the off season, it is definitely a quieter place but there is still enough to see if you decide to visit then. If you are visiting Lake Bled for the first time, it is good to keep this in mind.
Arrive Early if You Plan to Visit Lake Bled
If you are visiting Lake Bled for the first time, the best way to avoid the peak season crowds is to be up with the birds and get out early. We arrived at about 07:30 and pretty much had the place to ourselves. It also meant it wasn’t too hot for us pasty Scots! We found that by around 09:30 the place had begun to get quite a bit busier.
How to Get to Lake Bled
As we mentioned, it is super easy to get to Lake Bled from Ljubljana. We have put together a comprehensive guide HERE. that includes driving and public transport options and we have included costs and links to timetables.
Parking Around the Lake
Parking at Lake Bled can be a bit of a challenge. Especially if you don’t arrive early in the morning during the summer. We saw a few places to park, mostly near the town. Carparks were around €20 for 4 hours or €30 for the day.
Don’t Miss the Taboggan
Just outside of the town there is a Taboggan run that is a must when visiting Lake Bled for the first time! This is open during the summer months as it becomes a popular place to ski during the winter. There is a chairlift that will take you to the top of the run Here, you can admire the panoramic views over the lake before you speed along the railed track that snakes down the side of the hill.
Be Prepared to Queue
During peak season, many of the restaurants, sites and activities are busy, so be prepared to queue for a while. Another great reason to arrive early at Lake Bled – to beat the queues!
Avoid Using the Horse and Cart
There are several horse and carts in the area that will offer to take you where you want to go during your visit to Lake Bled. The horses looked in fairly good condition but in the summer it is very hot and they work hard. Personally, we would avoid using them and would always chose to walk.
Where to Find the Best Photo Points at Lake Bled
This scenic location seems to have a photo opp at every turn! Here are a few of the best –
- Ojstrica – a shot 20 minute climb up will reward you will amazing views right across the lake (we did this one)
- Mala Osojnica – a slightly longer climb (maybe 30-40 minutes) you will see the lake from higher up
- The Boardwalk at the top of the lake – Razgledna Tocka
- There is a small jetty with a heart sculpture – The Heart of Bled – Blejsko Srce
- Jezro Bled – from here, you can include the castle in your shot
- Lago di Bled – for a closer look at the church on the island
What to Pack when Visiting Lake Bled
Some of these go without saying, however, we have put together a helpful list for you so you won’t forget any of the basics you might need when visiting Lake Bled and the surrounding area.
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Backpack
- Cash
- Snacks for the hike
- Water bottle (at least a litre in summer). You can fill up at a few pints on the way
- Weather appropriate clothing such as windbreaker, hiking socks, buff/hat, and fleece. Make sure to wear layers to account for the changing conditions if you plan on hiking further
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Map or downloaded GPS or map application on your phone
- Phone
- Decent camera with plenty of space for pictures of the spectacular scenery
Everything you Need to Know Before Visiting Lake Bled, Slovenia – And What to Avoid
Overall, we absolutely love visiting lakes, castles and nature, and Lake Bled was no exception. It was slightly different to how we had imagined but beautiful non the less. With this guide, we hope to make your fist visit to Lake Bled unforgettable!
More Info
Where to go next
Ready for another adventure? Why not take a look at some amazing things to do in Ljubljana.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Lake Bled or anywhere else in Slovenia? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Short on time? Save “Everything you Need to Know Before Visiting Lake Bled, Slovenia ” for later by pinning the image below.
