Lake Bled (Slovenia) is recognized as one of the most picturesque and popular resort destinations in Europe. Locals call this resort area a true gem, and numerous visitors agree. It is always filled with vacationers who enjoy swimming in the clear azure waters in the summer and exploring the local attractions, while in the winter, they climb the mountains and go skiing. This place, hidden from the noise of the city and away from the restless civilization, is always quiet, surrounded by wooded cliffs with snow on their peaks even in the heat of the day.
The azure shores reflect one of the most significant landmarks – the majestic medieval castle of Bled, and people enjoy riding boats on the lake. This is an idyllic picture that greets all vacationers and will never disappoint, so it’s time to get ready for a journey.
General information
Prudent tourists will never deny themselves the pleasure, so before their trip, they will definitely admire the numerous photos of Lake Bled in Slovenia. Only after that, they will learn more interesting facts about it:
- It is located 500 meters above sea level.
- Here you will find clean mountain air and mild weather conditions due to the subalpine climate. This is the place with the longest season among other resorts in the Alps.
- A full-fledged vacation on Lake Bled in Slovenia allows you to spend your vacation in a leisurely observation of nature and active entertainment. However, many people appreciate this place for its numerous thermal springs, which maintain a constant temperature of 23 degrees.
- The lake has a significant area of 144 hectares.
- The reservoir is 1,380 meters wide and 2,120 meters long.
- Depth – 31 meters.
- There are always more tourists on Lake Bled than local residents, who number no more than 5,000.
- Once you find out where Lake Bled is located, you’ll definitely want to visit this famous European resort. Just 55 km separates the heart of the country from this quiet yet popular destination.
The resort’s accommodation facilities are impressive, accommodating up to 2,000 families simultaneously.
Where to stay?
Slovenia is always welcoming to visitors. Hostels, hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and even campsites are available for tourists and travelers near the Bled Castle. It will take several days to explore the sights of Bled in Slovenia. During this time, travelers can stay in the following accommodations:
- Hostel – €25–40.
- Hotel 1–2* – €60.
- 3-star hotels: €80–100.
- 4–5* hotels – €140–250.
The price range is quite large, as is the level of service in hotels in Slovenia. However, it is important to remember that this is a popular destination, so it is advisable to book rooms in advance, especially before holidays, at least a month in advance.
What to eat?
It cannot be said that a vacation with a view of the castle of Bled is so cheap. For a standard lunch on the lake you need to pay about 30-40€ by modest calculations.
The menu can vary. Here, you can order chicken risotto for €12, while seafood risotto costs €15-16. A beef steak costs €20-25, and a salad costs €10-15.
Attractions and entertainment
It is not only the natural beauty that attracts numerous tourist groups, but Lake Bled is also interesting for another reason: the sights of this place simply captivate all romantics and connoisseurs of beauty, including the famous castle.
Bled Castle
The castle is a representative of the Middle Ages, built in the 11th century. As is typical for those difficult times, it was a real citadel, fortified on all sides. This beautiful defender of those ancient times had powerful fortifications, a moat filled with water, and a drawbridge.
To this day, the castle of Bled in Slovenia preserves an old Gothic chapel, quiet and cozy. Here, various art exhibitions are displayed, and during the summer, the place becomes a real training ground for various cultural events dedicated to the Middle Ages.
The buildings are arranged around two courtyards, which are connected by a staircase. In the past, the outbuildings were located in the lower courtyard, while the residential buildings were arranged around the upper courtyard.
In the upper courtyard, there is a chapel that was built in the 16th century. It is dedicated to the bishops St. Albwin and St. Ingenuin and is decorated with illusionist frescoes. The altar is adorned with paintings of King Henry II of Germany and his wife, Kunigunde.
The castle walls are Romanesque, while the other castle buildings are of Renaissance origin.
- The cost of walking around the castle’s courtyards is 13€ for adults, 8.50€ for students, and 5€ for children under 14 years old.
- Opening hours: November-February — 8:00-18:00, April-June and September-October — 8:00-20:00, July-August — 8:00-21:00.
- Official website: http://www.blejski-grad.si/en/.
Wintgar Gorge
This place is a nice bonus for those who decide to treat themselves to a trip to the Slovenian countryside. It is another gem of the famous Lake Bled region. Here, travelers can witness the small but beautiful Radovna River as it cuts its way through the landscape. The 1,600-meter-long and up to 250-meter-deep Vintgar Gorge is located in the eastern part of the Triglav National Park.
You can walk to the gorge from the castle, but it will take about an hour (4 km). You can also take a bus for 1 euro or a shuttle for 4 euros. It is much faster to drive if you rent a car. You can rent bicycles at the local hotel or take a train that stops at Podhom station. From there, you can walk for 20 minutes, covering a distance of 1.5 km.
There are bridges along the cliffs, so you can see all the beauty from above. In some places, there are benches for people to rest on.
- Admission to the gorge costs 10 euros for adults and 2 euros for children aged 6-15.
- You can visit it from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in April-June and September, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in July-August, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in October-November.
- Official website: www.vintgar.si.
Island on Lake Bled
This is a small piece of land located right in the middle of the lake, offering a beautiful view of the castle. Paddles glide across the water, small covered boats with rows of seats on both sides, allowing visitors to reach the island.
A short trip to an unusual attraction will give you a lot of positive emotions. Sometimes, the owners of the boats even compete in speed. If you don’t want to participate in such activities, you can rent a small boat on the shore.
Summer sleigh ride
It is almost impossible to find a place on earth where such a pleasure is available. For this, a monorail is laid here, and the descent itself does not take much time. In just one minute, you will get a whole host of pleasures, and then you can pamper yourself again. Tourists who decided to ride, compare the feeling to those experienced on roller coasters.
The track is 520 meters long and has a height difference of 131 meters. The maximum speed is 40 kilometers per hour.
- The cost of one trip for adults is 10€, and 7€ for children.
- Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in October, and 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from June to September.
- Website: www.straza-bled.si.
Active recreation on Lake Bled
One of the types of active recreation can be considered as diving into the tectonic basin of the lake. However, such entertainment requires thorough preparation and is available only after passing the training. But to rent a boat, kayak and swim, everyone can. In the summer, rowing competitions are very often held here. There are also golf courses provided here, bicycles are offered for rent. Guests are offered glory on a canoe.
This is an exciting activity for those who want to see all the beauty and attractions of the area and leave a lasting impression of Lake Bled.
In winter, guests can enjoy skiing. During particularly cold periods, the lake freezes over, opening up the ice skating season.
Weather conditions
The favorable weather at Lake Bled allows guests to choose this place for recreation almost all year round, to see the sights and plan a vacation in the bosom of nature. There are no sharp temperature changes here, and therefore people of different ages come to Bled, including families with small children.
In summer, the weather is mild and warm, with an average temperature of 19-25 degrees Celsius. The unique location and proximity to thermal springs contribute to the water temperature, which can reach 25-26 degrees Celsius.
In winter, the weather is comfortable for skiing and hiking. This is also a great time to enjoy hiking or visiting local attractions. The average temperature does not drop below -2 to -5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, in any weather, you can enjoy swimming in the thermal springs in Bled, which consistently maintain a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius.
How to get there?
When deciding how to get from Ljubljana to Bled, there are several options to consider. The nearest airport is only a 35-minute drive away. However, if this option is not suitable, there are other alternatives available.
Bus
First, you should get to the stop “Ljubljana – Tivoli” and take the AlpeTour bus. Once you understand how to get to Lake Bled in Slovenia from Ljubljana, keep in mind that the municipal transport runs every hour. The journey will take a little over an hour. Tourists should get off at the Bled Union stop. The fare is 7€.
Train
At the Ljubljana station, you should wait for a regional train operated by Slovenian Railways (SŽ). This train runs every 3 hours and takes 1 hour to travel. The fare is 6.6€. The journey time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. The website is https://potniski.sz.si/en/.
Taxi
If you value a high level of comfort, you can always book a transfer from the airport directly at the hotel and enjoy a comfortable ride to the famous lake and castle. In this case, you won’t have to search for a car on your own, as you will be met at the airport with a sign. The average cost of this service is €65-85.
Rent a car
It involves not only paying for the service, but also for refueling. On average, you will need 4 liters of gasoline, which will cost between €5 and €8. The cost of renting a car will vary between €25 and €50 per day, depending on the type of car.
Lake Bled (Slovenia) welcomes several thousand tourists every year, who discover a magnificent castle, a lake, and plenty of opportunities for a full-fledged vacation. All travelers are eager to return to the azure shores once again.
