Lake Bled – a gem of the southern Alps – is truly a gorgeous trip, a placid lake, and a wonderful refreshing trip for anyone! It was still relatively quiet in June when I went and was a perfect time to get in all the activities you can find. Let me share with you the places I visited and the sights I experienced so you can plan your next unforgettable trip to beautiful Lake Bled!
Useful Links
- Vintgar Gorge Info & Tickets
- Straža Bled – Toboggan Info
- Church of the Mother of God on Lake Bled Island Info
- Castle Swimming Area Info
- The Airbnb we stayed at
- Lake Bled Slovenia Official Site
Why Visit Lake Bled?
Where do I start?! Lake Bled is as gorgeous as you’ve heard. It’s as quaint as you think. It is as active and fun as you’ve seen. There’s something for everyone at Lake Bled. Located on the eastern side of the Triglav National Park, Bled is home to a pristine alpine lake at 1500 feet elevation and even higher mountains around.
Bled is a small town on the eastern end of the lake and the central town for the entire area. There are several campground and outdoor options all around. Gliders and paragliders flew over the lake every morning. There are hikers and bikers all around. Bled is an easy hike of about 4km to Vintgar Gorge. Outdoor enthusiasts will be right at home in the Bled area.
The town and lake are beautiful and placid and if you’re looking for a quiet weekend you’ll be right at home here too. You can have morning swims then right into the central park for a relaxing morning. There are no motorized boats allowed on the lake so the quietness echoes! You really can find it all here!
Things to Do
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge was shaped by the Radovna River as it went through the mountainside over the years. It’s about a 4km hike from Bled and mostly on paved roads or trails. The gorge is beautiful and approximately 1 mile one way. The trail is one way and you must start at the entrance and then at the exit, you have to decide between a green and red trail to return to the parking lot so don’t expect a quick turnaround at the end. There is still more hiking to be had but there is an exit cafe and bathrooms if you need to recharge.
I’d recommend walking and pre-paying for a timed reservation at the start of the gorge. Parking was very full and expensive at the entrance. There was a cafe for some meals and snacks but I’d expect heavy use during July and August. It was mostly a full parking lot with just a few spots left and not a busy hike when I went at the end of June. I’d be worried about parking during the busier July and August months there.
Finally, the big payoff at the end of the hike is the very tall and picturesque Waterfall Sum. It’s right by the exit for the gorge and easily accessible down the stairs by the cafe. It has two cascades and there’s a bridge that goes right over the falls for another great view. Make sure to take the stairs and go down and check it out!
Straza Bled Summer Toboggan
The summer toboggan was an unexpected hit when we went! It was a lot of fun and I’d go back and do it again. The toboggan slope is on the south side of the lake and has a chairlift. You can also walk to the top via the hiking trail to save a few Euros. There were two people who popped out of the trail while we were up there and they let them pay and cruise down the slope.
There are a couple of different options for price and number of rides so make sure to get and pay for the options you want. We did the standard 1 ride with the chairlift and that was a great option to get the rush but there were several people doing multiple runs. There is also a great view from the top if you want to just pay the €2 to see the wide valley. It really was a fun time and I’d happily go back!
Church of the Mother of God on Lake Bled Island
The church on Bled Island was another awesome gem to visit during the trip. We took the Pletna boat. The cost was €18 for a round trip from the eastern part of the lake and the driver said he’d leave the island after approximately 45 minutes. The Pletna boat are traditional wooden boats and can fit about 15-20 people with an awning for shade and the driver uses oars on each side of the boat while they stand on the rear.
There are a few options to get to the island and swimming is one of them. Just remember no swimwear is allowed in the buildings. There is a water taxi that goes to the island on a standard schedule and is priced less than traditional boats if you want that option.
Swimming
There are a few swimming areas around the lake for taking a dip in the lake. There is a city swimming area with slides, floats, diving boards, and picnic areas and that’s where I went. It also has kayaks and row boats available for rent. Prices can be found here. It was an easy spot to get to from the town and we walked there and back and it was a fun relaxing spot right under the city’s castle.
There are a few other swimming areas on the western part of the lake that are free but they lack amenities like you’ll see at the city’s lido. Like anything, you have several options to pick from!
Where I Stayed
I stayed at an Airbnb located right by the Spar grocery store which was a wonderful coincidence. We wanted to make food and eat in most of the trip and the Airbnb and the grocery proximity made that easy. The space had a kitchen area, dinner table, sleeper couch, and bathroom on the ground floor. There were 2 bedrooms with 2 beds in each room. It worked out well for a part of 5 which we had. It was priced a little high in my opinion and was a big cost for the entire trip but it worked out well so I guess I can’t complain.
The price for adults is €10. There are several different ticket types including a pet ticket so make sure you pick the right one for you.
I went the last week of June 2023 and crowds were low. I didn’t wait for any of the activities I got tickets for. European busy time tends to be July and August and I’d expect Bled to be very busy during those months.
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