How to Spend a Weekend in Bled, Slovenia

Bled is the most popular place in Slovenia, everybody wants to visit it because it's so fairytale-like with its tiny island (with a church) on a lake. It's really a beautiful destination to consider when visiting the country. I put together some key information in this travel guide, like when to visit, where to stay and what to do.

When to Visit?
Bled is highly touristy during summer, so I don't recommend visiting from June to September. The prices are also much higher in that season. I was there on 1st October and the prices dropped slightly but they were still high. Remember that you pay for everything you do in Bled - from expensive parking to boat rides, castle fees, drinks, food, etc.

Where to Stay?
I would recommend staying in Bohinj and not in Bled because it's calmer and the accommodation prices are much lower. Besides, Bohinj is a great next stop after visiting Bled.

What to do?
Visit Blejski vintgar (Vintgar Gorge)
Vintgar Gorge was first on our list because we wanted to avoid the crowds. We were there first thing when it opened (check the opening times on their website because they do change because of the seasons or due to weather) and there were only a couple people, so we had a calm walk through the gorge. The path is easy to follow and lasts about 20 minutes, then you have a path around the gorge and through the pastures. The whole walk should last you less than an hour. I have a whole post about the gorge here.

Visit Bled Castle
Second on our list was Bled Castle. If you are on a budget, I would skip going into the castle because it's quite expensive and you really don't see much more than just outside of the castle. Inside there are also more tourists, meaning you can't even get a decent photo. The entrance fee is 17€ per person.

Visit the Bled Island and Ring the Bell of Wishes in the Church
Rent a boat yourself or join a group and visit the famous Bled Island. Usually, the price per person is 15€+ for a ride there and back. On the island, you can walk around the island and ring the bell of wishes in the church. Again, there is an entrance fee but I'm not sure how much. You have about half an hour, maybe to get a drink and then they take you back to the mainland.

Check out the most beautiful viewpoints over  Bled Lake
Take some time and hike to some of the amazing viewpoints over Bled Lake. The most popular one is Ojstrica and this is where most of the photos from Lake Bled are taken. You can also check out other viewpoints, like Mala and Velika Osojnica or Straža. There are quite a few hiking points with amazing views over the Bled Lake, I recommend googling them and checking which ones would be the best for you.

Day Trip to Bohinj
Bohinj is only about half an hour car drive away from Bled and you need to check it out if you are in that part of the country. There are a lot of hiking trails, shorter and longer. I will do a whole post about Bohinj, but one thing that you need to see is Savica Waterfall.

What else to do?
I recommend walking around the lake Bled, which takes about an hour and a half. You can admire the lake, go swimming, and stop by the photo spots on the way or even rent a boat. You can also try the famous Bled dessert - Bled cream cake (or Kremšnita, as we call it). It's made of puff pastry, egg cream, and a layer of cream. I'm not a big fan of it but I recommend you try it when in Bled. If you like some adrenalin-filled stuff, you can also try summer tobogganing on the Straža ski slope, experience the longest zipline in Europe, and see the pristine nature from above.

Have you ever visited Bled or Slovenia? Thank you for reading!