Is Slovenia the next country on your European itinerary? If the answer is no, maybe you should reconsider. Lake Bled, located in the north-west of the country, was one of the most naturally beautiful places we have visited, and a trip highlight so far! A combination of stunning nature, a lack of ‘over-touristifying’ (not a word I know), and a range of activities to suit all types of travel lovers makes Lake Bled a wonderful holiday destination.
A few of our Lake Bled highlights included:
Hiring a row boat to explore the lake and bled island
This was a unique experience, and a whole lot of fun. Hiring one of the small row boats from the many vendors scattered around the lake, we ventured out to Bled Island. The iconic island is very recognisable in photos of Lake Bled, and can be visited by little ferry boats, man powered ‘gondolas’, stand up paddle boards or the row boat like we chose. The cost is €20 for the first hour and €10 every hour after that. You’ll likely need between 2-3 hours to get out to the island and back allowing time to relax pending your rowing proficiency. This was a highlight and definitely something we’d recommend to consider.
hike up to ojstrica to get a stunning lake bled view
Hiking to get a view overlooking Lake Bled should definitely be one of the key things you look to do during your stay. There are a few main view points close to the island, with the Ojstrica view point delivering the best view (in our opinion) of the lake and the castle. The hike is quite short (~30-40mins from the base, or ~1 hour from the main town) however has quite a lot of incline making it a moderate difficulty. The effort is worth it, delivering one of the best views of our trip so far. The Julian Alps surround the lake and would likely deliver even more stunning views, something we are both keen to check out next time we visit.
have a swim in the lake
This is season/weather dependant, but if it’s warm enough, jump into the fresh waters of Lake Bled for a swim. We loved our little dips into this blue waters of Lake Bled. There are a number of designated swimming areas (e.g. beaches and pontoons), however you can also jump in off multiple other areas around the lake, even finding your own little ‘private beaches’.
SOME GOOD FOOD
We visited a few of the local restaurants, and while some are very ‘touristy’ and go against our thoughts on how to choose a good restaurant in Europe (see here), there a few excellent places you need to try!
1. Ostarija Peglez’n: located on the edge of the main town, this restaurant has good food and a cute outdoor area. Be prepared to wait (a good sign for restaurants in Europe), or book in advance, but it’s worth it. We ordered some house wine and seafood and weren’t disappointed.
2. Gostilna Murka: we visited this authentic Slovenia restaurant and found the food and the location to be excellent. Situated right near the church (or our accommodation, Old Parish House), this serves a variety of local dishes. Weekends have better food as the place is busier, so keep this in mind when you visit.
One to try:
A trip to Lake Bled wouldn’t be complete without trying the famous Slovenian dessert Kremna rezina, also known as ‘Kremsnita’. Essentially an oversized vanilla slice, it makes for an excellent post hike treat!
a run around lake bled
We love to run through new cities, parks and along the coast of places we visit. Lake Bled was one of the more scenic runs we have had on our travels. The flat loop around the lake is around 6kms. You will be treated to exceptional views the whole way around. If running isn’t your thing, hire a bike for a great little ride around.
What we missed?
We had a 3 day stay in Lake Bled, and after having our flight delay, it became 2 days and 3 nights. These delays, combined with our desire to have some time just relaxing and enjoying ourselves, meant we didn’t get to everything. Positively, we have already decided to come back on a future trip! We sadly missed heading up to the second lake, Lake Bohinj, which received rave reviews from some our friends. If blessed with further time in Bled we would also have visited Vintgar Gorge, which looks stunning. Additionally, in a future trip we would love to spend some time hiking and exploring the Julian Alps that surround Lake Bled. Comment below if you think we missed anything around Lake Bled!
Lake Bled Highlights & Drone Footage
Where we stayed in Lake Bled
We stayed at the Old Parish House, situated in a perfect location 5 minutes out of the town, right near some good restaurants, and a 1-2 minute walk to the lake. The rooms were a good size, the WiFi was fast, the breakfast was excellent, and there’s parking if you need it. Take a look at the Old Parish House here!
A few other options that look beautiful are:
Want so check out other accommodation in Lake Bled?
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WANT TO SEE MORE TRAVEL MEMORIES?
Check out further highlights from our time in the Europe! Take a look!
Want to see more drone shots? Check them out here!
Keen to hear our thoughts on how to choose a good restaurant in Europe? Have a look here!
Keen to take a look at further travel memories and advice? Take a look here!
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