If you have heard of Slovenia, you’ve likely heard of the city of Bled. We visited in 2019 while on a road trip through Slovenia, and absolutely loved our time exploring this picturesque city! Still to this day, Slovenia is one of our favourite countries to visit. We didn’t really know what to expect before going, but we were blown away by the stunning scenery and the outdoor activities you can do there. Lake Bled was no exception, as we loved taking in the city, walking around Lake Bled itself, and enjoying the infamous Bled cake. If you are asking yourself, what is there to see in Lake Bled? Then this is the article for you!
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How to Get to Lake Bled
There are a few different ways to get to Lake Bled, as it’s not too far from the capital city of Ljubljana! While this could easily turn into a day trip if you’re short on time, I would recommend spending about 2 days in this area to not feel so rushed and to take in the beautiful scenery at your own pace!
You can get to Lake Bled by the following methods:
1. Car
2. Bus
3. Train (you’ll arrive in an adjacent small city, and will still need to take a quick bus or taxi to arrive at Lake Bled)
4. Taxi
We opted to rent a car, as we were road-tripping our way through Slovenia, and it provided the most amount of flexibility for our group of 3 travellers! We continued on past Lake Bled, onwards to Kobarid, before making our way back to Ljubljana. However, if you are just looking for a quick trip from the capital city and don’t want to worry about parking, then taking the bus is your next best choice!
We always use Rome2Rio as our planning guide to figure out our transportation methods. I highly recommend this tool, as it helps make planning a breeze!
Lake Bled: What to Do on a Short But Perfect Visit
Explore the Castle Courtyard’s
Lake Bled can not be completed without a visit to Castle Bled. It is one of the oldest castles in Slovenia and offers an incredible view of the lake itself. We arrived at Castle Bled around 12:00 pm, and it wasn’t too busy at all. It’s recommended to set aside approximately 2 hours to explore the castle, according to its website. Inside the castle is a museum, a room that holds special temporary exhibitions, a gift shop, and a cafe.
We especially loved taking in the view that the castle had of Lake Bled and found it to be the perfect backdrop to enjoy a slice of the infamous Bled cake!
Bled Castle Entrance Fee: 19 Euro (2026 Pricing)
Go for a Hike at Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge was absolutely stunning and certainly was a highlight of our trip to Bled. We ended up arranging transportation instead of driving a car to the gorge. We found this company while walking around the city of Bled. Since we had arranged transportation we had been given 2 hours to explore before meeting our driver for our ride back. Overall, we felt that this was enough time to reach one of the main waterfall areas and trek back the same way we came. At this waterfall, there was a little shop selling snack food and drinks, and there was also a washroom.
We began our trek around 9:45 am and came back to meet our driver at 11:45 am. We noticed that on our way back after 11:00 am, it got very busy. The trail that you’ll follow mostly allows for a single-file line. If you go later in the day, it will likely be too busy, and you’ll be following a line throughout your walk. I highly recommend you go as early as you can. Beat the rush and enjoy the stellar views.
This was not a guided tour, but rather direct transportation to and from the Vintgar Gorge. You have the option to get a ride back to Bled city or to the Bled Castle. As we wanted to see the castle anyway, we decided that we would get picked up from the Vintgar Gorge and taken directly to Bled Castle.
Each transportation ride costs 5 Euros per person each way. In total, we spent 10 Euros per person for transport (2019 pricing).
The entrance fee to the Vintar Gorge is 15 Euros (2026 pricing)
Can You Walk Around Lake Bled? (How Long It Takes)
You can absolutely walk around Lake Bled, and I highly recommend you do so at sunset (if you can!) Walking around Lake Bled is a beautiful sight, but at sunset it was next level! We only ended up walking around the whole lake by chance. Originally, we had planned on renting a boat to go onto the lake, but the thunderstorms said otherwise. Luckily, the rain had stopped late into the afternoon, and so we set out to explore around Lake Bled.
The lake has stunning views from many different points. The whole walk is 6 km and will take around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. It’s a great way to unwind after a day exploring and a great way to get that step count up haha.
How to Cap Off Your Day: Tasting the Famous Bled Cream Cake (Kremšnita)
A trip to Lake Bled wouldn’t quite be complete without tasting a piece of the Bled Cream Cake. You’ll be able to find it all over the city! We had it a few times while visiting the city, and especially enjoyed having it at the top of Bled Castle!
It’s a puff pastry dessert, with vanilla custard cream and whipped cream fillings. You can easily share a slice, and it was a neat dessert to try!
Final Thoughts on Visiting Lake Bled
Lake Bled still holds a special place in my heart, despite my visit being many years ago now! The views of the lake are absolutely stunning, and it’s a great place to unwind and stroll around the city! Lake Bled was a part of our road trip adventure, as we also made our way to Kobarid, Ljubljana, and a handful of stops in between.
While renting a car can be convenient, you don’t need a car in Lake Bled itself. Taking a bus from the capital city can also be a great choice depending on your travel plans! I hope that this article sheds some light on what you can do in and around Lake Bled to help you plan the most amazing visit!
