Lake Bled: a first-timer's guide to Slovenia's island lake

Why go

Few places look so much like their photographs. The lake is small enough to walk around in about two hours, the water is warm enough to swim in summer, and the mountains rise just beyond. Bled has been a resort since the nineteenth century, so it is easy to visit, with plenty of places to stay and eat.

Top things to do

Take a **pletna**, the traditional wooden boat rowed by a standing oarsman, to **Bled Island**. Climb the ninety nine steps to the **Church of the Assumption** and ring the wishing bell. You can also rent a rowing boat and row yourself across.

**Bled Castle**, one of the oldest in Slovenia, sits on a cliff above the lake. Inside are a small museum, a printing workshop, a wine cellar and terraces with the best views in town. Walk up through the woods or take the road.

Walk the **lakeside path** all the way round, and for the classic view climb to **Ojstrica** or the higher **Mala Osojnica** viewpoints above the western shore. The trail is short but steep, with steps and roots, so wear proper shoes. Sunrise up here is unforgettable.

Try the **kremšnita**, Bled's cream cake of custard and cream between thin pastry, ideally on the terrace where it was popularised. In winter, the lake area becomes a cosy base for skating and nearby skiing.

Day trips

Just north, **Vintgar Gorge** follows wooden walkways above a clear river through a narrow canyon. It runs on a one way route with timed tickets in busy months, so book ahead and check the season on the official site. **Lake Bohinj** is half an hour away by bus. **Radovljica**, with its old town and beekeeping museum, and the **Pokljuka** plateau for forest walks and cross country skiing are close too.

Where to stay

The **lakeside hotels** and the streets around the bus station put you within a walk of everything. For a quieter stay, look at guesthouses in **Zasip**, **Bohinjska Bela** or **Radovljica**. Summer weekends fill early, so book well ahead for July and August.

Getting there and around

Buses from Ljubljana run frequently to Bled bus station by the lake. The train station called **Lesce Bled** is a few kilometres away, with local buses into town, while **Bled Jezero** station on the scenic Bohinj line sits above the western shore. Parking near the lake is limited and pricey in summer, so arriving by bus is easier. Around the lake, walk, cycle or ride the tourist train.

Practical tips

The single best piece of advice for Bled is to start early. By ten in the morning in July and August, tour coaches arrive, the pletna queue grows and the lakeside path fills. Sunrise at Ojstrica, a swim before breakfast and the island before the crowds make for a completely different experience. Parking is limited and charged near the lake, so arrive by bus where you can. The castle and island each charge entry, and the pletna fare is separate; check current prices on the official sites. Weather changes quickly here, and summer storms roll in off the mountains in the afternoon. In winter, Bled is peaceful, with snow on the castle and fewer visitors, and the lake occasionally freezes at the edges.