Bled holidays

Popular holidays

Choose a holiday to Bled to dive into a picture-postcard resort with a fairytale castle, magnificent lake and luscious mountain surroundings.

Sightseeing strolls and cycles

Lake Bled is a glacier-formed, crystal blue lake on the edge of the Triglav National Park. It’s especially known its clifftop castle and island church, as well as its mild climate, thermal springs and serene natural setting. Take in the landmarks as you wander or cycle along the lakeside path – you can complete the 6km loop all the way round on foot in a couple hours. And there’s plenty of cafés en route to keep you going with coffee and the delicious local fave, kremšnita cake. Another must-do trail is at Vintgar Gorge, just outside town. The gorge-walk crosses wooden bridges and reaches different viewing platforms, taking in waterfalls, pools, river rapids and even a railway – a fab day trip for all the family.

Iconic traditions

You’re likely to see a fair few boats on Lake Bled, especially the traditional wooden Pletna boats, handed down through generations, which take people across to the island church. You can also take an electric motor boat across, which follows the same route. Weddings are a regular occurrence at the iconic Church of the Assumption of Mary of the Lake and grooms traditionally carry their bride up the 99 steps to the church before ringing the wishing bell for good luck. And if you enjoy visiting churches, there are many in and around Bled – mixing Baroque and neo-gothic styles, they are full of history and character.

All sorts of activities

Whether it’s whizzing down a mountainside on a toboggan, testing your balance on a paddle-board, or riding bumps on a white water raft, there are all sorts of fun, family-friendly activities to try from Bled. You can also go for a gander round the regular summer arts and crafts fair, where you’ll find artisan products and traditional Slovenian nik-naks to pick up as holiday souvenirs. Or if you’re wanting to get out and about slightly further afield, Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, only takes an hour to get to and is a fascinating cultural city to explore.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when in and around Bled:

• Lakeside path
• Lake bathing
• Boat trips
• Rowing boats
• Bike hire
• Castle
• Horse-drawn carriage rides
• Minigolf course
• Fishing
• Tennis courts
• Stand-up paddle-boarding
• Hiking
• Mountain biking

Popular hotels in Bled

Top things to see and do in Bled

Beaches

Lake Bled

Tranquil Lake Bled's surrounded by secluded grassy areas, perfect for lying down on a towel or dipping your feet into the water. And if you fancy getting stuck into something more active, give stand-up paddle-boarding a go – the calm, clear water's ideal for it.

Campsite beach

The campsite on the western shore of the lake has its own dedicated lido, complete with sunbeds, parasols, a bar and views of the famous Bled island and church. Just up from the campsite, there are huge stone steps that look out over the lake - an idyllic spot for catching some sun. Or sit on one of the jetties and dangle your toes into the water.

Grajska beach

Grajska beach is a designated bathing area situated just below the magnificent castle rock. The 300m-long stretch has waterslides and a jumping board. If you fancy exploring the lake from the water, you can rent a boat from the local boathouse.

Shopping

Bargain buys

There are local fruit and vegetable markets in the town centre, held every day until noon, plus a weekend flea market that opens at 10am, near the bandstand by the lake. Here you can find a range of bargain buys to take back home with you.

Mid-range buys

The best place for a bit of retail therapy is the Bled Shopping Centre, with a selection of high-street shops set over four floors. Across the road on the Cesta Svobode you'll find some more mid-range shops, including famous names like L'Occitane and Chesterfield.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

Set off for an evening walk along the promenade, before heading to a local bar or back to your hotel for a quiet drink. For a more cultural experience, some of the bars offer wine tasting sessions.

Lively evenings

There are various hotspots around Bled that are great for a lively evening. Explore the bars and you'll find DJs working their decks, locals watching sports in the sports bars, and live music too. There are even a couple of casinos in town.

Food & drink

By Lake Bled

Besides the many restaurants and cafés in the centre of town, there are various eateries dotted around Lake Bled - so if you're out for a stroll, you'll have a medley of places to stop at for lunch. Specialities include the gorgeous vanilla kremšnita cake and the beef in karst sauce with grilled polenta.

Seafood on the menu

If you're a fan of seafood, you're in the right place. The lake supplies fresh catches to the restaurants, and you can find places serving up large seafood platters, fish of the day and oysters.

Eat like royalty

Up the hill at Bled Castle is Bled Castle Restaurant, which offers breathtaking views of the lake below. The modern interiors and inventive Slovenian dishes make it a popular choice, and if you make a reservation before you go, you'll get free entry to the castle too.

Getting about

Buses

The bus station is located beside Bled Rose Hotel. You can jump on buses to Kranjska Gora and Bohinj and be at your destination in around 45 minutes. A tourist bus also runs once a day at 10am from the town centre to Bled Castle and Vintgar Gorge. During July and August, a second bus runs at 9am.

Ferries

Electric boats and non-motorised pletna boats transport visitors and locals to the island church in the middle of Lake Bled. Pletna boats depart throughout the day from various locations around the lake.

Trains

There are two stations near Bled - Lesce station is accessible by local bus, and from here you can get to Ljubljana in just under an hour. Bled-Jezero station is located on the far end of the lake and can be reached on foot. Trains from here run to Jesenice and other nearby towns every 2 hours. A tourist train also operates in Bled town centre every 45 minutes between 9am and 9pm.

On foot

Strolling around Lake Bled is the perfect way to take in this beautiful Slovenian town. Wide, pedestrianised streets also allow you to admire the authentic architecture of Bled, and maybe enjoy a cake in one of the pavement cafés.

Walking

The stunning scenery of Bled, including the iconic island church, is some of the most photographed in Slovenia – and the chance to see it up close is not one to be missed. The area is easily explored on foot, though the best place to start is with a leisurely walk around Lake Bled itself – take in the magnificent views, and stop for a drink or two along the way. There's a range of other interesting walks, from the trail to Vintgar Gorge, the climb to the ramparts of the castle, or the numerous paths through the Triglav National Park.

Around the lake

The most popular way to explore Lake Bled is, unsurprisingly, by walking around the lake. There’s a path that hugs the shore along the entire perimeter, so it couldn’t be easier to join or follow. Along the way, you can discover all that the area has to offer, from great cafés and restaurants to those incredible views of the famous island and church. To do the whole loop in one go takes a couple of hours.

Vintgar Gorge

A bit more demanding than the lakeside path, this 5km walk is well worth the effort – it leads straight to one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Bled. Book your spot then follow route 13 towards Podham and then look for signs to the gorge. Take your time along the 1.6km boardwalk through the gorge itself – there are plenty of places to stop for photos. After that, follow the forest trail on the edge of the national park for fantastic views of Bled.