With so many options in Lake Bled, it can be hard to pick the right accommodation for your Slovenian adventure. You might think that just having a view of the lake is all that matters – but I disagree. After spending time at Lake Bled, walking the entire perimeter of the blue water, staying in different places and really getting a feel for the place, I can tell you which areas are the best to spend the night, and give you my list of the best hotels in those locations too! Note that we’re sticking with places with excellent views of the lake – you might find beautiful hotels a little further from the lake shore, but excellent views are kind of what I’m all about, so I had to stay true!
My recommendations are basically split into two areas, one marked in green and one in orange on the below map. Once you’ve figured out where to stay, make sure you check out the best things to do in Bled!
And don’t forget to check out where to get a drink or a meal with a view in Bled too!
Eastern and Northern Half of Lake Bled
Without a doubt, our favourite ‘half’ of Lake Bled is the Eastern and Northern side of the lake. At this part, the main road veers away from the lake edge and you are left with a really peaceful, park-like atmosphere. You might get views of Lake Bled from other hotels and Air BnBs around the Western and Southern parts, but the road really interrupts that lakeside feeling. Staying up at the Eastern end also connects you with Bled town, letting you pick from more food options, visit more shops on foot, and find local bakeries and budget restaurants. Check out the map below for a detailed outline of these two areas.
- There is a more pedestrian feeling to this half of the lake
- There are lots of places to grab a drink or a meal right on the water, without the road running between you.
- Great views of Bled Castle and the island from the right points
Accommodation in Bled – Northern and Eastern half
If timing and budget allows and you have the option to stay in our favourite half of the lake, then here are our favourite spots to stay (summer prices):
Hotel Park – Around £200 – £220 per night for a lake view room with balcony and breakfast.
We stayed at the newly renovated Hotel Park and had the most beautiful time staying in a room on the 3rd floor overlooking the lake with a beautiful view of Bled Castle and St Martina Parish Church, with the island and the Assumption of Maria Church in the distance. At night, the castle is lit up and it’s beautiful watching the world go by from your balcony. We stayed half board, and the breakfast was great. However as a vegetarian I wouldn’t recommend including dinner in your stay. We would both choose to eat out elsewhere, perhaps al fresco along the lakeside.
Grand Hotel Toplice – Around £325 for a lake view room with balcony and breakfast. (£220 no lake view)
With an older fashioned grand-style, think dark wood, neutral wallpapers and gold hued bed spreads. Grand Hotel Toplice is closer to the water than Hotel Park (which sits behind Park Cafe). If you vibe with this style of decor and can handle the hike in price, then it might be worth it for the direct water frontage.
Private beach house on Lake Bled – around £500 per night (much lower in Autumn – Winter, around £250)
Having spent hours searching the booking sites, our number one pick if budget allowed would be this private lake house right on the edge of the water – it’s in a private estate that we walked past during our full circle of the lake and it looks like it would blow all other places out of the water. There are actually very few properties in this part of the lake, so it would feel really secluded and luxurious. It’s close enough to the island for great views of the church, but the castle would be out of sight. If that link doesn’t work, try them on AirBnB
Budget Air BnB pick – Apartma Ana – Around £80 per night
No lake view, but in the right part of town and super spacious and modern.
Western and Southern Side of the Lake
Even when you can look past the road, or find a spot that gets it behind you, we just think there are nicer vibes down at the Eastern end of the lake. It’s like being in a park and has such a good feel to it. However, you might want to pick this area for other reasons:
- The island with the Assumption of Maria church is at the Western end of the lake. This makes getting to it by boat much quicker.
- The views of the island from your hotel will be much better. However, the view of the castle will be further away.
- Some accommodation options might be cheaper and have better availability
Lake Bled Hotels – Western and Southern side
Vila Bled – Around £250 per night for a balcony and lake view, breakfast included.
Vila Bled is the exception to the rule here, as the road runs behind the Vila and not in front of it on the lake side. We’re still not as keen on the area in general as the road runs along the lake before and after Vila Bled, but this grand hotel would be a great pick if you end up in this part of the lake. We’d happily stay here, the place is grand and the rooms are simple, bright and clean, complete with parquet floors, which always get our vote.
Hotel Starkl – £171 for a lake view room, but upgrade to a balcony if you can!
This small, recently renovated hotel is right on the road, but on the other side of the road is the lake, so if you can set your sights a little further out then you’ll be happy in this highly reviewed spot.
Adora Luxury Hotel – £325 – £514 depending on the suite.
For a boutique hotel vibe, check out Adora Luxury Hotel. Decorated in a bougie and individual style and with only 7 suites to choose from. Probably one of the most unique hotels around Lake Bled.
Sovica house – an entire house for around £250 a night
If you need space for more than two people, then this house might be a good option for you. It’s got amazing views of the lake, with the road running behind it so that’s a bonus. It’s got a certain vintage style to the interiors, but it’s kind of cute. It would also be budget friendly if you were splitting the costs with whoever takes the second bedroom.
Conclusion
That rounds up my advice on where to stay around Lake Bled. I wish I’d known I would dislike half of the lake, so I wanted to share the information to help. If you end up staying at any of these hotel recommendations, I would love to hear about it!
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.
