Lake Bled, Slovenia: 3 Days in the Iconic Alpine Playground

Lake Bled, nestled in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, is a mountain paradise in any season. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, and hiking in the summer, and skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.

While it’s possible to squeeze this centuries-old resort town into one day, we recommend taking at least 2 – 3 days to experience its full charm. 

The following guide prioritizes the “must see” attractions for those with only 1 day in Bled, with additional ideas for travelers with more time in the area. 

Jump to:

• Day 1: Lake Bled Highlights
  • Orient Yourself in Bled (the town)
  • Hike the Hill to Bled Castle
  • Boat Out to Bled Island
  • Get the Iconic Photo

• Day 2: Explore the Natural Side of Bled
  • Vintgar Gorge
  • Enjoy the Great Outdoors
  • Indulge in Slovenia’s Lesser-Known Wines and Regional Dishes

• Day 3: Triglav National Park

Day 1: Lake Bled Highlights

Orient Yourself in Bled Proper

Located on the northeast side of the lake, Bled is entirely walkable, with miles of promenades and trails lining the lake. Here you’ll find most of the area’s restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Park in any one of the town’s public lots, then grab a coffee or a bite to eat, and stroll the waterfront, soaking up your first views of this pristine alpine playground.

Hike Up the Hill to Bled Castle

From town, it’s a quick, energizing hike up to 1,000-year-old Bled Castle, located on the high promontory above Bled.

The property is not large and can easily be toured in an hour. However, it provides a fascinating snapshot into the region’s millennia-old history, and affords some stunning bird’s-eye views of the surrounding countryside. You’ll see Lake Bled laid out at your feet, while on the back side of the castle are the Julian Alps, rising high above the rolling hills dotted with villages.

While at Bled Castle, you’ll find both permanent and rotating exhibits on the local history dating back to Mesolithic times. You can climb the castle walls, watch printing demonstrations on its replica Gutenberg press, sample local wines in the castle cellar, and more. View the Bled Castle website for more details.

Boat out to Lake Bled Island and Visit the Church of the Assumption of Mary

Bled Island itself is small, with not much to see beyond the iconic church. So if you’re pressed for time and need to lighten your itinerary, this is the stop we’d recommend skipping.

But for many visitors, it’s still a worthwhile jaunt. The boat ride is an adventure in itself, transporting you in one of the traditional flatbottomed wooden boats that have been used in Bled for ages.

Once you arrive on the island, you’ll climb the stone steps to the Church of the Assumption of Mary, the same path that religious pilgrims have taken for centuries. Beyond the church, you can also explore the tranquil grounds, ring the famous Wishing Bell, and treat yourself to some traditional Slovenian pastries (poticas). Learn more at the official Bled Island website.

Get the Iconic Photo of Lake Bled

No trip to Bled is complete without the famous photo of Bled Island from the lakeshore. The best views are from the west side of the lake looking east. Therefore, it’s best to grab a picture in the afternoon, when the island isn’t backlit by the rising sun.

Park at the public parking lot (directions here) and walk out to Bled Lake. Raised wooden boardwalks parallel the lake for hundreds of meters, thus allowing you to capture the scene from many different angles.

A few of the better photo viewpoints are located here and here.

Day 2: Explore the Natural Side of Bled

Much of Bled’s appeal lies in its postcard-perfect alpine scenery. If you have the time, give yourself a day to indulge in the natural side. You can soak up the crisp mountain air during the day, and savor the land’s rich harvests at night.

Vintgar Gorge

Vintgar Gorge is located just a quick 10-minute drive from Bled. It carries the Radovna River through towering canyon walls and down Šum Falls, Slovenia’s largest river waterfall. Vintgar also sits on the edge of Slovenia’s only national park, and is a great peek into Triglav for those unable to make a longer drive into the heart of the park.

Check out our guide to Vintgar Gorge for a more in-depth summary of this fun, family-friendly hike.

Note: Vintgar Gorge closes in the winter months. Check the official website for more info before you go.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Bled is an adventure wonderland by any season. Choose from any of the following activities, depending on the time of year you visit:

• Swimming: the lake often gets up to 22°C (71°F) during the summer months, making it ideal for a cool dip. There are three designated public beaches around the lakeshore: Grajsko Kopališče, Mala Zaka, or Velika Zaka.

• Paddle Boarding: with calm waters, Bled is the perfect playground for beginner and intermediate paddle boarders. You can rent boards at SUP Bled, Velika Zaka, RD Bled, and others.

• Hiking: the most famous trail is Mala Osojnica, which climbs nearly 180 meters (600 ft.) in just over half a mile, for one of the best views of Lake Bled below. If you want extra mileage, the longer Velika Osojnica also arrives at the same vantage point, at 4.7 km (2.9 miles) roundtrip. For those looking for a flat hike, there’s the Lake Bled loop. It travels the entire circumference of the lake for 5.95 km (3.7 miles).

• Biking: the same Lake Bled Loop is ideal for biking, with many local outfitters offering both regular and e-bike rentals. You can rent at either of the tourist info centers, as well as Mamut, 3glav, Polka Dot Cycling, and more.

• Winter activities: Mountain adventures include alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more. Check out Bled Tourism’s official page for more details, including a winter shuttle that will transport you where you want to go.

Indulge in Slovenia’s Lesser-Known Wines and Regional Dishes

Wines

Slovenians are inordinately proud of their wines, for good reason. They’re crisp, rich, and not as well-known as other European varietals, which makes tasting a uniquely local experience.

The local wine bar, Vinoteka Zdravlijica, has a great outdoor patio on which to sit and sample local whites, reds, and the regional Slovenian orange wine. For a more structured experience, head to Wine Tasting Bled, where you’ll be guided through a 7-part tasting in a 100-year-old cellar.

If you’d rather just savor a bottle over a local meal, we found wine bar and restaurant Sova to have a superb wine list to pair with their Slovenian specialty dishes. They have 36 varietals, and willing staff will be happy to help select your drink of choice.

Food

For a reasonably priced foray into Slovenian cuisine, the above-mentioned Sova is a great option. The menu features local pastas, risottos, fish, and meat dishes, many of which lean heavily into truffles, the regional treasure. We found the Istrian pasta with black truffles, and oven-baked octopus with truffles, to be particularly good.

If you’re looking for a more expensive treat, Restavracija 1906 (inside the Hotel Triglav) offers an authentic peek into how Bled tourists dined 100 years ago. The Michelin Guide restaurant features 3- to 8-course dinners, with the same selection of dishes that were served in 1923. It makes a fun evening that’s a step back in time to the refined, old-world glamor of Bled of yore.

Day 3: Triglav National Park

No trip to Bled feels truly complete without visiting Triglav National Park. It’s the country’s only national park, and home to namesake Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. Depending on which part of the park you visit, the drive is just 30–60 minutes from Bled and makes a great day trip.

To experience the heart of the park with limited time, we recommend driving to Vrsic Pass (directions here), a 60-minute drive from Bled. Vrsic is the highest pass in Slovenia, sitting at 1,611 meters (5,285 feet). Along the way you’ll pass bucolic mountain towns, dramatic alpine vistas, and even a quaint Russian orthodox chapel erected by the WWI POWs who built the road you’re driving on.

At the summit of Vrsic Pass are numerous trailheads, leading off to trails of varying distance. The hike to Slemenova Špica is very popular, with a moderate 5.7 km roundtrip (3.5 miles) offering up jaw-dropping panoramas of the surrounding mountaintops. The trail begins across from the main parking lot and is well-marked with bright orange signage.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite from the crisp mountain air, the cozy refugio at the top of Vrsic Pass serves hearty meals that are a welcome treat.

Check out the park’s official website to learn more.