Lake Bled
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Transportation and Accommodations
Getting There
The closest airport to Lake Bled would be the Ljubljana airport. Once in Ljubljana, then you need to travel about an hour from Ljubljana.
By Car
The easiest way to reach Lake Bled in Slovenia is by driving. The journey is an easy drive, mostly flat, and only takes about 45 minutes.
By Bus
Notably the cheapest way to reach Lake Bled, take the N60 bus from Ljubljana
By Train
There is not a train station in the immediate vicinity of Lake Bled. However there are two within 5 km. Jezero Bled is the closest station at about a 3km distance, but trains are less frequent to this station and only a few run per day. Lesce has a larger station with more trains per day, only located slightly further at 4.5 km. Both of these options will require you to take a taxi or bus to travel from the train station to Lake Bled.
Getting Around
Once at Lake Bled, depending on your accommodations location, the area is not too large. If staying along the Lake, you may not have a reason to venture far at all. Thus, you can choose to run or walk around the lake to explore.
For those who would like to adventure a bit more, you can rent bikes to see more of the area or take a taxi to your destinations.
If you are wishing to use Lake Bled as a homebase, but explore more of the surrounding area, then you will need another form of transportation. Consider renting bikes to get out and explore, taking a taxi to an area to hike, or using your own car to adventure away from the Lake.
Accommodations
Vila Bled
This hotel is the place to stay on Lake Bled, although not necessarily for a luxurious experience. The hotel is very nice, but it is also protected and therefore cannot be fully renovated. The house is a historical monument in that it was an important home to a prior Yugosloavic leader, Tito. Many important meetings were held here and it was used as a main residence for the leader. Today, the hotel sits in a prime location along the lake with stunning views of the small island and surrounding area.
Things to do and see
Row boat to the island
The little island in the middle of Lake Bled is the only island in Slovenia! You can rent little row boats or take a boat with a skipper who will do the work for you to reach the island. The island is very small, but you can climb to the base of the church and grab a gelato before getting back in the boat and onto the lake. There are approximately 100 steps up to the church from the base. Men will carry their bride up the stairs as part of an old tradition to test the man's fit for the woman.
Bled Castle
The castle sits above the lake and provides nice panoramic views of the surrounding area. You can see Triglav as well as different mountains and enjoy a nice view of Lake Bled. The castle has a restaurant so consider booking a table here for an evening dinner, enjoying the views in daylight and then watching the sunset.
Lake Bohinj
Located a 30 minute drive from Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj is in the Bohinj valley of the Julian Alps. With stunning views, small towns, cafes and restaurants in the area, it is well worth a visit to the Lake and surrounding area.
For those who enjoy being active, and more specifically enjoy a good bike ride, consider taking the day to cycle to Lake Bohinj.
Daytrip to Kranjska Gora
Kranjska Gora is a ski town in the northwestern part of Slovenia. The alpine resort draws in visitors in the winter months, but is not to be missed in summer months as well. There are nice bike trails around the town, and great restaurants to sit down and enjoy a meal outside on a nice summer day.
Triglav National Park
The national park is named after the mountain with three peaks (Triglav). The area offers lots of hiking trails and stunning scenery. You can even summit some of the peaks if you are up for a bit of via ferrata (hiking with cables).
Soca Valley
Named for the River Soca, a beautiful emerald river flowing through the valley, the valley is a beautiful travel destination in Slovenia. From mountains to gorges to waterfalls, there's a lot to explore in this area of Slovenia.
Food and Drinks
Restaurants
Vila Bled
Lake Bled
The hotel is known for being the former Slovenian presidential residence and sits right along Lake Bled. Take a journey back in time and enjoy a meal in this historical location.
Bled Castle Restaurant
Lake Bled
Sitting above Lake Bled inside the castle which provides a beautiful view of the surrounding area, the Bled Castle restaurant serves typical Slovenian dishes. Book a dinner up here or stop by for a coffee or drink during the day and enjoy the view. This is a unique spot to enjoy a meal so be sure to book before your visit.
Kunstelj 1873
Radovljica
Found in the little medieval town of Radovljica with nice views of the mountains, this restaurant offers a nice local meal. The town itself is nice for a coffee or lunch stop in if driving or cycling through the area.
Cheese Farm
Lake Bohinj
Farming is a big part of the Slovenian culture. When in the area of Lake Bohinj, experience a meal at a local cheese farm.
Okrepcevalnica Lacni Kekec
Kranjska Gora
Enjoy incredible barbecue in Kranjska Gora. The grill here is tasty and provides quite a meal to enjoy at the base of the mountain. On a sunny day in the summer, it's perfect for lunch and a drink, while in the winter it's an excellent spot to enjoy a bite to eat or drink after a day on the mountain.
Other Notes
Duration
Two to three nights in Lake Bled is a nice amount of time. It allows you to explore the lake itself and surrounding area. For those who enjoy being active, there are plenty of options in the area to get out and hike, cycle, or run. With two to three nights, you can adventure to surrounding area to visit places in Soca Valley, around Lake Bohinj and even over to Kranjska Gora.
Language
Although the official language is Slovenian, we met a lot of people who did speak English, Nevertheless, as Slovenia is not as frequented by tourists, this is definitely not a guarantee.
Navigation
Transportation and Accommodations
Things to do and see
Food and Drinks