Lake Bled: An Ultimate Guide

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Lake Bled is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Lying in the Julian Alps region of northern Slovenia, it’s framed with picturesque mountain peaks covered in snow, not far from the Austrian border. The lake is like a fairytale, with an island housing a church sitting in the middle of it, and a castle perched atop a cliff looking down on it. I was blown away by its beauty and can’t wait to share all my tips for visiting with you.

Lake side views


  1. Contents
  2. When to visit & how to get there
  3. Things to do at Lake Bled
    1. Walk the full loop around Lake Bled
    2. Hike to Ojstrica viewpoint
    3. Take a boat out to Bled island
    4. Visit Bled castle
    5. Eat traditional Bled cream cake
    6. Enjoy a wellness treatment
  4. How long is needed at Lake Bled & where to stay

Lake Bled is beautiful in all seasons, but of course it’s busiest in summer. Visitor numbers in July and August can swell so high there are no boats available and the pathways around the lake are completely clogged.

It just keeps getting more beautiful!

It’s for that reason I think April, May, September and October are ideal for a visit without the crowds. We went in early April and it wasn’t too busy at all. We traded this for few open restaurants and variable weather but got lucky with a few brief interludes of sunshine.

Getting to Lake Bled is simple. You can fly in to Ljubljana airport and hire a car (driving is very easy in Slovenia), or you could get a taxi for about EUR50. Alternatively you could fly in to Klagenfurt in Austria and drive the c.1hr to reach the lake.

A view that will never get old


There is so much to do in Lake Bled, and you could spend days walking the hiking trails in the surrounding National Park too (it’s home to Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak). Here are some of my highlights.

Walking around the whole lake is my top thing to do if you’re visiting for just a short amount of time. The full loop is only 6km and will take about 1.5hrs. It’s just SO beautiful though that you’ll need to add on probably another 1.5hrs for photos!!

My favourite view as I walked around the lake (with Bled castle up high)

The most famous viewpoint out over the lake is Ojstrica, a trail up from the bottom point of the lake. The trail is a bit of a scramble in places, but oh so worth it for the views. Just look at it!!

The INCREDIBLE views

One of my favourite things I did on my visit was to take a boat from the lake short out to the central island. The island has been a site of pilgrimage for centuries, and its easy to see why with its picturesque church. Once on the island it’s a must to ring the church bell and make a wish – apparently it’s then destined to come true.

The island coming in to view

Bled castle is built high up on the cliff side, and has been there since the 1000s! This incredible historic castle is a must see on a trip, but it’s a bit of a walk to get there and not suitable for people with mobility issues as there are a lot of steps. Once there, there’s a castle museum, a lovely little chapel and the most beautiful views out over the lake.

Amazing lake views
And views out over the mountains

You can’t come to Bled and not try its traditional cream cake. For the last 70 years it’s been a tradition in the area and oh my goodness it’s tasty.

Even better with the view

Another benefit of Bled is that it is known as a spa town, and that means it has lots of options for massages and treatments. We chose to have a couples massage at Ziva Wellness Centre right on the lake shore and also make use of their amazing pool and spas. It was a heavenly way to spend a few hours.

Spa with a view

How long to spend in Lake Bled depends on your interests. Many visit just as a day trip from Ljubljana but this means you will only have time to do a couple of things on the list above.

To cover everything in the list above and do it justice needs at least 2 full days. If you’re also interested in the nearby National Park and the wonderful hikes it has to offer then I recommend 3-4 nights in Bled as a base to explore the surrounding area.

There are lots of hotel options in Bled. We stayed right on the shore in Adora Luxury Hotel. You can read my full review HERE.

Our hotel on the lake with the castle in the background

Other options include Vila Bled (although this is not open during off season), Rikli Balance Hotel (which is home to the amazing spa we visited), and Grand Hotel Toplice which has a prime spot right on the lake.


So what do you think of Lake Bled? Would you like to visit? It was truly a magical place and I had the absolute best time exploring this truly beautiful little piece of the world. Stay safe and happy travelling!

34 responses to “Lake Bled: An Ultimate Guide”

  1. I visited Lake Bled shortly after the return of democracy, in other words at a time when there was still little documentation for visitors. I arrived unprepared on a day trip from Ljubljana and unfortunately didn’t have time to go up to the view point. Afterwards, all the Slovenians I’ve met in my life (very few, in fact) have always asked me if I’d visited Bled, which shows its cultural significance for the inhabitants of this friendly country.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That must have been a really interesting time to visit Slovenia, and that’s so interesting about the Slovenian’s referencing Lake Bled. It’s a truly wonderful place which I loved visiting.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. So beautiful! Your lovely post reminds me of our own trip to the lake (about 15 years ago?)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw I’m so glad it could bring back some happy memories 🙂

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  3. Such a well written travel guide Hannah. Hopefully I’ll make it there before too long.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I really hope you can too Marion, it’s such a beautiful place

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Wow, you visit such amazing places, Hannah! Dreamlike, indeed, with such magnificent views, and a church on the island in Bled Lake! I’ve never seen such things, before. Lovely photographs my dear friend ~ thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww thank you my friend, that’s so very kind of you to say 🙂 Lake Bled was a stunning little part of the world indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Can you imagine living in that castle? I’d be constantly glued to a window! Beautiful post, Hannah.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wouldn’t it just be absolutely crazy!!! I’d be forever looking out too 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Lake Bled looks gorgeous, especially from the Ojstrica viewpoint I’m right there with you about visiting during the shoulder seasons in the spring and fall. That’s actually my favourite time to travel. Trying a slice of that cream cake sounds like a nice reward after all that hiking.

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    1. I agree about the spring and fall being the best times to travel, they are the slots we do most of our big trips in 🙂 So glad you enjoyed Lake Bled, I think you guys would love it there with all the hiking trails and view points

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Absolutely stunning! I may just leave your post up all day on my computer and daydream about going there. I think I would need at least a few days here to really enjoy it. Great post 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww thanks Meg, that’s a lovely thing to say 🙂 I agree, it’s worth so much more than just a quick day trip!

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  8. Ruchi-Singh

    Great, Quality Content for The Ultimate Tour Guide, A lot of thanks for sharing, kindly keep with continue !!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. You’re right Hannah, it’s picture perfect! There really is so much to do. The hike looks particularly beautiful and when there’s a castle to visit, I’m all for it! But oh my, the Bled cream cake – yummy! Would I like to visit Lake Bled … after reading your post and seeing all your amazing photos … absolutely yes, I would love to!

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    1. Isn’t it just beautiful….it was one of the most unexpectedly amazing places we’ve ever visited. I’m recommending it to everyone now 🙂

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  10. It’s so so pretty! Thanks for sharing all the things to do there, I mostly just hear about people visiting for a couple hours and then leaving.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah it’s really common as a day trip, but I just think that would miss so much as there’s loads here to explore, and even better when the day crowds have left and you can do a loop of the lake in the early morning or evening light 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I’ve seen a picture of the church before, but until your post, I didn’t know much about Lake Bled. Your photos are outstanding, Hannah, and I love how you shared your experience as an itinerary. Maybe someday…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, it really is a wonderful country with so so much to offer. I adored Lake Bled, definitely worth a visit if you’re back over in Europe one day 🙂

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  12. I’m dying to visit Lake Bled, and it’s a shame I didn’t have the time to go during my brief time in Slovenia a few years ago. I’ve heard it’s worth staying at least a night or two in the area to really take it all in, and your guide is really helpful for me to start planning my trip over there soon! Glad you had a wonderful time, especially during the shoulder season (aka the perfect time to visit)!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ooo I hope you get to visit soon Rebecca, it really is beautiful and well worth a trip! Shoulder season travel is the way to go 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Lake Bled has been on my travel radar for awhile now but this post completely solidifies my need to visit! Hikes, incredible fairytale views, spas and cake!? It is my dream trip haha. I loved this post💕😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s such a beautiful place Laura, I really hope you get to go soon. It was my dream trip too 🙂

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  14. Every picture is so beautiful! Everyone who has been here keeps raving about it. I think it would be perfect before the summer crowd (maybe now?)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree, I think it’s perfect for April and May 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. […] visited the incredible Lake Bled back at the beginning of April, and whilst there I stayed at Adora Luxury Hotel for two nights. It […]

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  16. Found this post as it came up as a related post on my blog today. Yes, I was blogging about Lake Bled! The castle in fact. Like you I was blown away by the beauty of the place and the surrounding area. It was a delight to read about your visit. Just one addition: there is an easy way to get to the castle from the back there is a road into the town. We climbed up from the lake, but walked back along the road.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahh thank you, and I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Thanks so much for the tip, that’s so helpful to know (and I wish I knew before I went!!!)

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Anonymous

    Fabulous been several times to the campsite at the lakeside walking round and stopping at the cafe/bars and admiring the view and of course eating the bled cakes miss it so much now my husband has passed away great memories though one place that will always be top of my list

    Liked by 1 person

  18. […] Getting to Bled is easy, with nearby airports in Ljubljana or Klagenfurt. There’s so much to explore, so dive into this guide for a deeper look at Bled. For even more info, here’s a detailed guide to Lake Bled. […]

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  19. […] Lake Bled’s stunning attractions lets you appreciate its cultural sites and history. Walking around, you might try the famous […]

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About the author

Hi! My name is Hannah, I’m a travel blogger from the UK who fits travel around a full time (and full on) job. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and hopefully help you to find some inspiration for destinations, things to do or places to stay. Thanks for stopping by – stay safe and happy travelling.

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