Lake Bled, Slovenia: Things to Do, Travel Tips and Where to Stay

Lake Bled is one of the most popular places to visit in Slovenia because it’s beautiful and offers plenty to do. There are lots of walks around the lake, a castle, the nearby Vintgar Gorge and other attractions.

This part of Slovenia has some amazing countryside to explore, and Lake Bled is a great base for walks around the lake and in the nearby hills.

Lake Bled is also a day-trip destination because of its proximity to the capital, Ljubljana. We had a weeklong stay and enjoyed the autumn colours.

About Lake Bled in Slovenia

This part of Slovenia has some amazing countryside to explore, and Lake Bled is a great base for walks around the lake and in the nearby hills.

Things to Do in Lake Bled in Slovenia

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Lake Bled is a fantastic place for many people, from foodies, photographers and sightseers to those who are more active-minded. You can arrange activities or tours on the Viator website.

Bled Castle

Bled Castle is a popular sightseeing spot and can get busy, especially the viewpoints. This is a dog-friendly tourist attraction except for the museum on the site.

This is the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most-visited castles in Slovenia. The castle was first mentioned on 22 May 1011 in relation to Emperor Henry II. It’s all photogenic, and you can see it from a variety of angles. The castle’s buildings are arranged around two courtyards, which are connected by a staircase.

Circular Walk Around The Shore

A walk or cycle around Lake Bled is a must-do activity. There are countless views, and the ever-changing seasons create a fluid landscape. Things to see while walking around the water are the castle on the cliffs overlooking the lake and the mysterious island.

A walk around the lake is just over 4 miles and takes about 1.5 hours to complete without breaks. There are places to stop and get refreshments at various points along the lake, as well as benches to sit and take in the views.

The wooden walkways near the island are a favourite spot for photographers trying to capture the perfect shot of the island and castle in the same frame.

The jetty near the international rowing centre is also a good spot. As we stayed for 10 days, the edge of Lake Bled became a frequent place for us to walk.

Vintgar Gorge

A top thing to do in Bled if you like beautiful scenery while walking is to visit Vintgar Gorge. Vintgar Gorge is a popular attraction at the edge of the Triglav National Park and a short bus ride from town.

Its gorge has many wooden and stone walkways that enable visitors to access it. The walkways cross the gorge at various points, creating splendid views of the wild river below.

Walks & Cycle Rides in the Nearby Countryside

Hiking and cycling are popular holiday activities in the area, and you will see many walkers out and about. The best spots for both are around the lake and towards Vintgar Gorge. There are also many other hiking and mountain biking routes locally. You can find lots of suggestions on Komoot.com or plot your own point-to-point route.

The country lanes are rather nice to explore, especially near Spodnje Gorje, where there are lots of farms with splendid views across the fields.

Boat Trips to The Island or Hire a Boat

Some of the fun things to do at Lake Bled include hiring a paddleboat or paddleboard, or going on a boat trip. They charge by the hour at various points around the lake. Most boat trips stop at the island; however, if you hire one, the choice of where to go is yours. Boat trips on the lake are all unpowered and use the traditional wooden boat known as a pletna.

The island on the lake has several buildings which are very photogenic from afar. The main building on Bled Island is the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. They built the current church at the end of the 17th century, and it’s decorated with remnants of Gothic frescoes dating to around 1470. The church has a 52-metre-tall tower, and a baroque stairway leads to it.

Bled Breakfast For Some Local Food

As we were self-catering, we had a kitchen to cook in while relaxing at our place. We spotted the Bled Breakfast service, which delivers breakfast between 8 am and 9 am to your accommodation. Ours included local bread, cheese, charcuterie, yoghurt, eggs and honey.

Sunset or Sunrise Walks

Sunset and sunrise are fantastic times to see the lake and countryside, especially on clear days.

The farmland near Spodnje Gorje was perfect for the sunrise, with misty and colourful views towards the castle and mountains.

I found the best place to be at the east end of Lake Bled as the sun was setting. The sunset creates some great reflections on the lake, and the castle and island certainly enhance the views.

St Martin’s Parish Church

In addition to the church on the island in the lake, there is another dominant church: St Martin’s Parish Church. This church is on the edge of the lake between the castle and the town and overlooks the water. You can see St Martin’s Parish Church from the lakeside and the castle viewpoints.

This church is relatively young; it was built between 1903 and 1905. They built the church in the Gothic Revival style, and it is eye-pleasing. You can go inside the church and see some rather interesting frescoes.

Entry to the church was free, and the unique paintings were well worth the uphill walk. The garden of St Martin’s church also has some views of the water below.

Pokopališče Bled

An accidental find of mine while on the weekly launderette trip was Pokopališče Bled. I was hunting for a backstreet bar near the launderette to wait in and spotted the colourful gate of Pokopališče Bled and had to have a closer look. It turned out the colourful entrance was for the local graveyard.

Velika Zaka Swimming Area

At the far end, near the rowing club, is Velika Zaka, a swimming area. It’s a lovely place for a swim or paddle when doing a circular walk around the lake. I took my shoes off during my autumn visit but was a bit cold for a longer swim in the lake.

There are toilets a short walk away heading clockwise around the lake if you need to change. The grass by the beach is nice to sit on and is a great spot for taking photographs. Henry, my dog, also had a little paddle here.

Meal Out Or Drinks By The Lake

There is a choice of restaurants and bars in Bled town and on the shores of the lake. Many of these serve Slovenian cuisine and drinks. We enjoyed a few meals out; our favourite was Gostilna Fortuna, a dog-friendly place in the countryside. We found it easy to find cafes near the lake for breaks while on various walks.

Is Bled in Slovenia Dog-Friendly?

We found that the entire area around Lake Bled is very dog-friendly, except on Arriva buses. The buses are hit-or-miss for small dogs and probably zero chance with bigger dogs. There were lots of options for places to stay, including holiday homes and hotels.

Some bars and restaurants let Henry in, and they always made us welcome when we had a drink or dined out. There were also plenty of places to buy pet supplies, including DM, where Henry’s favourite food was available.

The attractions were dog-friendly too, including Vintgar Gorge, Boats to the Island and Bled Castle. The area is also top-drawer for walkies, as it is scenic everywhere.

Where To Stay?

Our prerequisites for a place to stay near Lake Bled were that it be dog-friendly, have a kitchen, and be within a 30-minute walk of a train station. Also, being at the cheaper end of the scale was important on this trip to keep within our budget. There were many dog-friendly places to choose from when searching on Booking.com.

Una Apartment in Spodnje Gorje fits the bill perfectly. It was a new apartment with all the comforts of home. They had a kitchen, a comfy lounge, a dining table and a bedroom that could sleep 4 people. Thus, it was quite spacious and a lovely place to spend time and cook meals. To reach the lake, it was a 30-minute walk downhill, and there was a bus stop nearby to Bled.

Spodnje Gorje is a small village with a small supermarket, which was ideal for picking up cooking supplies. There was also a tiny neighbourhood bar that was rather social and became a regular haunt on our holiday. 10 minutes away was a Slovenian restaurant that served great food. Gostinstvo, Jožica Štefe, s.p.

Travel Tips

Lake Bled is popular with backpackers and geared toward them. First, there are hostels in the town. We didn’t stay; however, our accommodation was ideal for people who enjoy longer stays. Other useful things in town include a laundrette and ATMs.

The town also has a variety of food shops, which help keep prices down. My preference was the Mercator stores with deli counters selling Slovenian cheese and cold meats. The large Mercator supermarket also had a rotisserie section, which was great value for a quick hot meal.

How to Get Here From or Via Ljubljana?

You can reach Lake Bled by public transport, including the dog-friendly train. We found that Bled Jezero railway station was the best option for us, as it was close to our accommodation and also the nearest to the lake. If you’re travelling without a dog, coaches go to the bus station in Bled. Alternatively, you could come from Ljubljana on an organised tour.

So Bled Jezero is an ideal place to start your adventure, and you’ll have fantastic views within minutes. You should note that the buses for getting around Bled and the nearby sights don’t allow pets; thus, allow time for longer hikes or for using expensive taxis. You can use Omio to arrange train or coach tickets to reach Lake Bled from a variety of destinations.

Is Lake Bled in Slovenia Worth Visiting?

Lake Bled is well worth visiting, as it is absolutely stunning and a fantastic place to spend time. You can scratch the surface on a day trip; however, a longer stay lets you appreciate the finer details. We found it pretty dog-friendly, making it ideal for a holiday with pets.