If you’ve been wondering how best to spend your time at Lake Bled, look no further. After spending the most magical days here I have a list of the best things to do in Bled. And the last one might surprise you.
For advice on where to stay in Bled, including the Lake’s best half, check out this blog post.
1. Walk or cycle the perimeter of the lake
I highly recommend taking in the whole of the perimeter of Lake Bled. This way you can really get a feel for the place. If you do it early in your stay, you’ll be able to suss out the places you want to re-visit. However, I can also just tell you where the best places to eat and drink are: check out this blog post. The footpath around the lake is 3.6 miles / 5.8km long. It’s pretty flat, with the biggest elevation gain at any one point being around 20 metres. With stopping for photos, enjoying the view and exploring a few paths off to the side, I think it actually took us about 3 hours to walk around the lake.
You can hire bikes and e-bikes at different points, but most reliably at the Eastern end.
Click on the map below for the walking route around Lake Bled, and save it to your maps if you have the Footpath app!
2. Hire a rowing boat and visit Bled Island
I loved taking a little rowing boat out onto the stunning blue waters of Lake Bled. Perhaps this was influenced by the guy giving us the boat saying “Lady sits in the back”, leaving Fraser to row us around Bled Island. I’m a feminist but… I like to be the passenger princess. If none of your party fancies rowing, you can also take a manned Pletna boat out to the island.
I’d recommend hiring from the boat rental at Vila Bled, it’s the closest point to the island and it’s the cheapest rowing boat rental in Lake Bled. It costs €20 per hour, and an extra €10 per hour after that. Take the boat around the island, get off at the old stone staircase and go for a Potica cake (more like a dry bread) at the cafe on the island.
We hired our boat from RD Bled Boat and SUP hire, and it was the same price for an hour… The guy was pretty unfriendly and he wouldn’t let us take the boat for more than an hour. He suggested this was the case everywhere and you just get given enough time to row to the island, stop for half an hour and then return, but we found out that wasn’t the case when we found the hire company at Vila Bled. The companies further away from the island are more expensive because they give you more time in the boat, but it takes longer to get to the island.
3. Vintgar Gorge – an adventure from Lake Bled with optional e-bike
Vintgar Gorge is a magical place just 15 minute drive from Bled. Here, the blue Radovna river charges through as you pass over sweet wooden bridges and walkways. Even on a gloomy day, the blue river is breathtaking. Visit earlier on in the day to avoid crowds, but even at 8am you won’t have the place to yourself in the summer. Just take your time and let people pass you by as you take in the moody magic. At the end of the gorge are two different waterfalls, the second is one of Slovenia’s best waterfalls thanks to the bright blue pool beneath it.
Parking at the gorge is actually expensive – a €10 flat rate. So why not make more of an experience out of it by hiring e-bikes from Lake Bled. The entry is included in this experience through GetYourGuide. As that’s usually €10, it makes the bike hire even more of a great deal. You can pick up your bike at 9am from the the hire place and you’ll be able to take your time exploring the Slovenian countryside on the 4km ride to Vintgar gorge.
4. Soak in the history of Bled Castle
Perched atop a cliff overlooking the enchanting lake, Bled Castle is a captivating medieval fortress with panoramic views of the Julian Alps. With a history spanning centuries, it offers a glimpse into Slovenia’s rich past, featuring armor-clad halls, a charming chapel with frescoes, and an interactive printing press exhibit. Don’t miss out on an excellent meal at the castle’s restaurant, while admiring the stunning scenery. With cultural events and exhibitions enriching the experience, Bled Castle welcomes guests from 8 AM to 8 PM. Ticket prices: adults €15, children €5.
5. Sunrise Hike to Ojstrica viewpoint
Hiking to Ojstrica viewpoint is a great way to see Bled from a different perspective. You’ll see Bled island in the foreground and Bled castle behind it, with the sun coming up as you look out towards the mountains.
It’s half a mile from the Mercator car park (free before 8am) to Ojstrica viewpoint, with 110 metre steady elevation gain. The path can get quite steep and loose at times, so make sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Bring water and a flashlight if you set out in the dark. You can continue to hike up to Mala Osojnica viewpoint, another 90 metres in gain and an extra 0.4 miles, but many people prefer the view at Ojstrica.
If you do decide to head out for sunrise, try checking out the sunrise forecast before you set that alarm. I use the app Alpenglow. When we were in Bled the sunrises and sunsets weren’t that epic, but you have a better chance of seeing that golden glow if you get up high. This way the mountains around Bled don’t block as much of the sun’s rays as it sets properly behind them.
6. Lake Bled by night
At night, Bled is a really special place to be. Day trippers head back to Ljubljana, and things quieten down to a relaxed, dinner-on-the-terrace vibe. Even more special, the castle and the Island are lit up, and you can take a transparent kayak out on the lake. The kayaks are lit up and it’s like Lake Bled becomes bioluminescent as you float around the bright blue water. Check out the link below for more information on this magical experience.
7. Don’t try Bled Cream Cake
I know, I know. Everyone tells you to try Bled Cream Cake. But… it’s not that good? The caveat is that if you love vanilla and you love cream, then you might like it. But coming from someone that never picks vanilla ice cream because there are so many other new things to try, Bled Cream Cake wasn’t for me. Also it’s not a ‘cake’. Try it if you must, but I actually recommend heading to Park Cafe (the very home of the original Bled Cream Cake) and trying one of the many other patisseries they have on offer. The Park Cake is an indulgent chocolate delight that I think about often. If you don’t need a lake view while you indulge yourself, check out Confectionary Zima for much more reasonably priced cakes and patisseries. Find these and other places to eat here.
Extras
This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to earn commission without affecting the price you pay. The fact these links exist in no way affects the planned content of my post. I will never recommend experiences I haven’t done or wouldn’t love to do myself.
