Visit the Lake Bled in Slovenia

There are many activities to do and things to see at Lake Bled. Spending a day is not enough to discover all the secrets of Lake Bled. We even recommend spending at least one night to enjoy it to the fullest.

Due to a lack of time and rather changeable weather, we were unfortunately only able to enjoy Lake Bled for one morning at sunrise. We nevertheless list the must-sees to do and see during a day or stay at Lake Bled (hoping to enjoy them during a future trip 😇)

We woke up around 4am to reach Lake Bled and observe the sunrise from the famous Ojstrica viewpoint. After parking the car at the campsite parking, we took the path that leads us to the panorama over Lake Bled. Illuminated by the light of our phones (we had forgotten our headlamps at the hotel), we kept a good pace to reach the top before the sun. In less than 20 minutes, we reached the summit and discovered the panorama over Lake Bled, its church, and the Julian Alps in the background.

The landscape is a true living painting with the sky transitioning from rose violet to much warmer tones as the sun rises. The highlight of the show arrives when the sun's rays appear behind the mountains and illuminate Lake Bled. A truly timeless moment, which we are not likely to forget (despite the group of Germans who joined us in the meantime and were enjoying their alcoholic coffee while talking loudly).

After more than 2 hours observing the sunrise, we get back to the car. If you wish, you can continue the hike to reach, a little further, two other viewpoints over Lake Bled: Velika Ojstrica and Mala Ojstrica.

We recommend going to the Ojstrica viewpoint for sunset to see the Bled lake church well lit from the viewpoints above.
 

The hike to access the different viewpoints is slightly hilly. There is even a section with some ropes to hold onto. We advise you to go there with good shoes and don't forget your headlamp to properly light the trails if you go there for sunrise or sunset.

The castle of Bled overlooks the lake from its cliff. Built in the 11th century, it is possible to visit it and enjoy the view it offers of Lake Bled. Entrance is paid and we have read on various blogs that the place remains very touristy. There are other viewpoints offering a more beautiful view of Lake Bled and which are free to access.

Bled Island or Blejski Otok in Slovenian is an island located on Lake Bled, it is also the only island in Slovenia. It houses in its center the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is famous for its photogenic and unusual aspect it brings to Lake Bled. It is also the tourist emblem of Slovenia that is found on postcards, guides or travel magazines.

Bled Island is accessible by boat, rowboat, paddleboard or swimming for the most athletic. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to walk the 99 steps that lead you to the Church of the Assumption, to ring the wishing bell or to walk around the island and discover the buildings hidden in the vegetation.

The Church of the Assumption, Baroque style, was built in the 17th century and is associated with many legends, including that of the submerged bell.

Walking around is undoubtedly the best way to enjoy Lake Bled. The walk is 6 kilometers and can be completed in ± 1 hour, excluding photo breaks.

During the warm season, don't forget to bring your swimsuit! There are several areas where swimming is permitted at Lake Bled and the water temperature can reach up to 25°C in summer. For a comfortable and paid option: the castle beach and the rowing club or the campsite beach for a free option.

The easiest way to get to Lake Bled is by car.

We left Brussels with our own car for a road trip to discover the must-see spots of Central Europe. It was natural that we went to Lake Bled by car. This allowed us to get up early to see the sun rise over Bled and to visit the surroundings like Lake Bohinj and the Pokljuka Gorges with complete freedom.

Parking regulations are strict and mostly paid for visiting Bled. This is undoubtedly the downside of visiting Lake Bled by car. Parking along the lake (even for a few minutes to take a photo) is prohibited and you must park in a designated parking space.

There are 3 free parking spots for visiting Lake Bled, but these are further from the lake shore. The closest is the Bétin parking which is approximately 20 minutes walk from Lake Bled.

Some paid parking areas have time limits. The best option is to park at the train station parking which has a daily rate of €10 and is less than 10 minutes walk from the lake shore.

⚠️ We have not tested any of these parking areas; it is best to check on-site if parking is permitted.

We haven't tried getting to Lake Bled by public transport. We're providing all the information because we think it's a good alternative to driving. Don't hesitate to share your experience in the comments if you've travelled to Lake Bled by train or bus, it could certainly be helpful to other travellers.

Lake Bled is easily accessible by Bus from the capital Ljubljana. From the Ljubljana bus station, it will take approximately 1h20 to reach Lake Bled. The bus stop in Bled is in the center of the village and only a 5-minute walk from the lake shore.

Bled is also accessible by bus from many major European cities such as Prague, Budapest, Zagreb, or Milan thanks to Flixbus.

It is also possible to travel to Bled by train. There are 2 train stations in Bled:

• Lesce-Bled station: It is located 4km from Bled town center. You will need to take a bus to reach the city center.
• Bled Jezero station: it is located 1.5km from Bled town center. The city center is easily accessible on foot or by bus if you wish. In summer, shuttles are available.

This is where we end our article on Lake Bled. Although it's a tourist destination, Lake Bled is, for us, a must-see during a trip to Slovenia. We hope our article has taken you on a journey and will be useful for your next trip to Slovenia. 🇸🇮

Feel free to share your recommendations and feedback in the comments.