Lake Bled is an absolute must-visit and we were surprised how much we loved it. It’s the perfect place for a long weekend with plenty to do in the local area. What’s more, it’s the ideal jumping off point for a longer holiday, with plenty of activities and tours to the local attractions and landmarks running directly from Bled itself. Find out everything you need to know about travelling to Lake Bled below, and let me know if you have any questions!
Language
Slovenian is spoken throughout the whole of the country, but as Lake Bled is such a tourist hotspot, English is widely spoken by staff at hotels, restaurants and activities. However, learning a few easy phrases is polite and shows gratitude to our Slovenian hosts:
- Hello: Zdravo (Za-dra-vo)
- Please: Prosim (Pro-sim)
- Thankyou : Hvala (H-va-la. Often sounds just like ‘Vala’). If you learn one thing, let it be this.
- Good Afternoon: Dober dan (we heard staff at supermarkets and other counters use this a lot)
Is Lake Bled Expensive?
Obviously this depends on your budget, so here are some cost indications for you. These prices are based on venues with a view, you can get things cheaper if you head into town a little.
Food and drink
- Union lager beer – €5 for 300ml
- Aperol Spritz – €6
- Bled Cream Cake – €6 – 7 euros. Similar for other patisseries.
- A sandwich from a bar – €7 euros
- A main meal in a mid range restaurant: Around €20 – 25 euros
- A pizza from a pizzeria, around €14
- If you’re on a budget, head to the supermarkets. You can grab a slice of pizza which is the size of a quarter of an 11 inch pizza for €1.30 . Bureks are an excellent lunch option, including spinach and cottage cheese (nicer than it sounds) wrapped in a filo pastry roll. The groceries are generally a bit cheaper than you’d expect to find in a lot of other European countries. Grab some food and head down to the lake to eat it!
Hotels and accommodation
- For a room with a view in the best part of Bled during high season, you’re looking at around €230 a night. Head further down this article for some recommendations.
- If you’re on a budget, check Air BnB. You can get nice apartments for 2 people for €90 a night. Plus others for a bit less depending on the quality and location.
Activities
- Hiring a rowing boat on Lake Bled starts at €20 an hour – find out more about that here, whilst a Pletna boat ride out to the island is about €18 return per person.
- Entry fees to attractions like Bled Castle and Vintgar Gorge are around €10-15 per person.
- Bike hire for the day can be around €30 per person, and bigger day trips will vary in price. Check some options out in the activities section below or in this article.
How to get to Bled
1. By Tour
If you prefer a guided and hassle-free experience, joining a tour to Lake Bled might be a suitable choice. Many tour companies offer day trips from Ljubljana and other nearby cities, providing transportation and a knowledgeable guide to enhance your experience. Check the links below for some well-reviewed options.
2. By Car:
If you prefer a road trip and the freedom to explore the Slovenian countryside, driving to Lake Bled is an excellent option. The road network in Slovenia is well-maintained, and driving allows you to discover charming towns and picturesque landscapes along the way.
From Ljubljana, you can reach Lake Bled in around 40 minutes. Be sure to book in advance as prices are hiked when availability is lower closer to the date. Our car hire was around €30 per day. You can get good deals by checking prices through Skyscanner, but be sure to check all of the rental conditions when you’re booking and consider checking the rental companies reviews on Trustpilot.
We chose this option when we were in a Slovenia, and did an amazing road trip around Triglav National Park.
3. By Air:
If you’re coming directly from Ljubljana Airport, it is located about 36 kilometers southeast of the lake. Several major airlines operate direct flights to Ljubljana from various European cities, making it convenient for visitors coming from abroad.
Upon arrival at the airport, you have several options to reach Lake Bled. You can rent a car, organise an airport shuttle through your hotel or a private company, or get public transport. There’s a coach service straight from the airport to Lake Bled which takes 40 minutes, and cost £50 one way when I looked. This may not run throughout the whole year, so make sure you check and book in advance. If you divert into Ljubljana city first you’ll have more regular transport options which will be cheaper.
4. By Train:
Traveling by train is a scenic and eco-friendly option, especially if you’re already in Europe or the neighboring countries. Slovenia has an efficient and well-connected railway network.
The railway station Lesce-Bled is located along the railway line Oste (Münich – Salzburg – Villach – Ljubljana – Belgrade – Istanbul – Athens). The railway station is 4 km away from the centre of Bled. Bled can be reached by bus (the Bled bus station is on the opposite side of the railway station), taxi or on foot taking an asphalted road intended for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Bled Jezero railway station lies along the railway line Villach – Jesenice – Nova Gorica – Koper or Gorizia (Italy). It is just 1.5 km away from the centre of Bled and you can walk there, take a taxi or ride the tourist train. During summertime shuttle buses and hop-on hop-off buses also stop at the station.
Train schedule https://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/ or https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml ali https://www.thetrainline.com/.
5. By Bus:
Buses are a popular mode of transport within Slovenia and provide a cost-effective means of reaching Lake Bled. The main bus station in Ljubljana, located near the city center, offers regular services to Bled. The journey takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic and stops.
Bled is connected with regular bus lines with the immediate surroundings and all larger cities of Slovenia. There are regular bus rides from Ljubljana going through Kranj and Radovljica. Buses also operate from the direction of Bohinj and Jesenice.
The central Bled bus station is located on the north-east part of the lake, 3 minutes walking distance from the lake, at the cross-section of the roads Cesta svobode and Grajska cesta. The Bled Union bus station is located at the entrance to Bled, 5 minutes walking distance from the lake. Bus schedule: https://www.ap-ljubljana.si/en/ or https://arriva.si/en/.
The operator FlixBus provides long-distance bus services to Bled. FlixBus will also take to some of Europe’s major cities: Salzburg, Munich, Budapest, Prague, Milan, Zagreb and many others.
Regardless of how you choose to get to Lake Bled, make sure to check the latest travel updates and schedules for transportation options to plan your journey accordingly.
When to visit Lake Bled
It has to be said the Lake Bled is beautiful any time of year. But if you can pick any time of year, then it’ll depend on your priorities:
For bright blue water, the most activities and swimming in the lake: Summer
Whilst Summer is undoubtedly the busiest time of year, it’s also when the lake will be the brightest blue, and when water temperatures will be the most pleasant for swimming. All of the cafes, bars and tour activities will be running. Additionally, this period offers a vibrant atmosphere with various events, festivals, and outdoor concerts taking place.
For peace and quiet and some cheaper accommodation options: Winter
For travelers interested in magical snowy landscapes, visiting Lake Bled during the winter months (December to February) offers a unique charm, with opportunities for picturesque views of the lake with the snow-capped mountains in the background. The lake won’t appear as fluorescent blue as it does in Summer, but you’ll find beauty at Lake Bled regardless. The Lake rarely freezes over, and Bled gets the most snow in January and February. Accommodation prices are also substantially lower.
For a middle ground: Spring and Autumn
For those seeking a more tranquil experience and favorable weather, the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are ideal. During these months, the weather is still pleasant (but likely to be changeable) the landscape is adorned with blooming flowers or colorful foliage, and the tourist numbers are relatively lower. If you visit Bled in Autumn, try to come before the leaves fall from the trees.
We visited in the first half of June just before peak summer, and Bled was bustling with people enjoying the lake, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Tables with a view were always available and we didn’t have to wait for activities like boat rental. We could see that just a few days after our stay, prices at hotels were increasing. If you don’t need absolute peace and quiet, I’d really recommend early June as a great time to come. The surrounding fields and mountains were full of wildflowers and the weather was good almost every day.
Where to Stay in Bled, Slovenia
In our opinion there’s a better half of Lake Bled, and you can find out all about that here. Our top 3 picks for accommodation in Bled are below, and they’re all close to the best cafes and restaurants, and all have absolutely stunning views of the lake.
- Private beach house on Lake Bled – around £500 per night (much lower in Autumn – Winter, around £250)
- Hotel Park – Around £200 – £220 per night for a lake view room with balcony and breakfast.
- Grand Hotel Toplice – Around £325 for a lake view room with balcony and breakfast. (£220 no lake view)
What to do in Lake Bled
Check out this in depth article about what to do in Lake Bled, including one recommendation that might surprise you! A few of our top picks from that article are:
- Taking a rowing boat out on the lake. It’s 20 euros for an hour, and we’ve got tips on which place to hire your boat from in the above article.
- Walking the footpath surrounding the lake, and stopping at the best cafes with a view.
Where to eat and drink in Bled
You and I both know you can check tripadvisor for the best reviewed places in Bled. But what it won’t do is tell you exactly which ones provide great food and drinks at the same time as having a breathtaking view of the very thing you’ve come to see – Lake Bled! In my opinion, if you’ve come all the way here, you don’t then want to be eating your dinner with a view of the road. So check my run down of the best food and drinks with the BEST views in Bled here.
Our top pick for excellent food whilst gazing at a stupendous view would be Bled Castle’s very own restaurant. Seriously, the views are to die for and the food is inventive and beautifully presented, with options for vegetarians too.
This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to earn commission to help run this blog, 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.
