Lake Bled is a beautiful mountain lake in Slovenia. There’s so much to see and do in this stunning part of the country. Here’s your ultimate guide to the top things to do in Lake Bled.
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Lake Bled is one of my favourite places in Europe. It’s a beautiful lake, nestled in the Julian Alps in North East Slovenia. A lot of people visit Lake Bled as a day trip from Ljubljana, but I recommend spending longer in Lake Bled. There’s so much to see and do and enjoy here. My ultimate guide to the top things to do in Lake Bled will show you lots of options of things to do, from adventurous activities to more relaxing options.
All of these options can be enjoyed without a car. You don’t need a car to be able to enjoy all of the best activities in Lake Bled, and also enjoy some day trips to the local area. My guide to the top things to do in Lake Bled will show you how to make the most of your trip without needing a car.
What is the best time of year to visit Lake Bled?
Lake Bled is beautiful for so much of the year. My favourite time to visit Lake Bled is the spring, in May or June. In the spring, you can get warm and sunny days, which are perfect for exploring the area.
The summer months of July and August are the busiest in Lake Bled. The weather in the summer can be very hot and sunny, so if you plan to do lots of relaxing and swimming in the lake, the summer might be the best option for you. However, the summer months in Lake Bled can have occasional heavy thunderstorms, especially in the afternoons, so make sure you’re prepared!
Winter can also be a beautiful time to visit Lake Bled. If you’re lucky, you might get a sunny day where you can see the surrounding mountains covered in snow. However, most of the top activities in Lake Bled only run in the warmer months – so if you visit Lake Bled in winter, you won’t be able to do all these things to do in Lake Bled.
Where should I stay in Lake Bled?
There are lots of hotel options in Lake Bled. The town of Bled is fairly small. So wherever you stay in the main town, you’ll be able to walk down to the lake fairly quickly.
Check out some great hotels in Lake Bled on booking.com (affiliate). For a hotel to suit a slightly lower budget, I recommend Hotel Astoria in Lake Bled (affiliate), or Hotel Savica (affiliate). Or, for a slightly more luxury option, check out the Bled Rose Hotel (affiliate).
Or, for the best hotel right on the shores of Lake Bled, check out the Grand Hotel Toplice (affiliate). This hotel has rooms with balconies overlooking the lake, and an award winning restaurant – perfect for a luxury break.
What are the top things to see and do in Lake Bled?
Lake Bled has a huge range of activities, to suit all different types of travellers. If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday, you can enjoy relaxing by the lake, and maybe take a boat trip to the pretty island in the middle of the lake. Or, if you’d like to be a bit more active, you can visit Bled Castle and walk around Lake Bled.
But there’s even more to do here as well. Adventurous travellers will be at home in Bled, with a huge range of adrenaline-filled adventures, such as white water rafting, canyoning, paragliding and zip-lining. Bled is also well connected to the rest of the region, so you can take day trips to other beautiful parts of Slovenia including Triglav National Park and Lake Bohinj.
If you’re short of time, you can take a day trip from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. I recommend this day trip to Lake Bled with Get Your Guide (affiliate), or this day trip to Lake Bled with Viator (affiliate). But there’s so much to do in Lake Bled, I think it’s worth staying here for a few days. Here are the top things to do in and around Lake Bled.
1. Walk around Lake Bled
One of the best ways to get to know Lake Bled is to walk around the lake. The lakeside path is flat and easy to follow. You can walk around the lake in about 1.5-2 hours. But it’s definitely worth taking the walk slowly, so you can stop to take in the beautiful views.
From different angles, you’ll be able to see the island on Lake Bled, with the pretty little church on the island. You’ll also be able to see Bled Castle, perched high on the rocks overlooking the lake. Lake Bled is such a beautiful, bright blue colour. It’s just lovely to walk around the lake.
2. Visit Bled Castle
Another of the top things to do in Lake Bled is to visit Bled Castle. Bled Castle is one of the iconic symbols of Lake Bled, and one of the most popular places to visit in the area. It’s a short, but fairly steep, walk up from the main town.
The best thing about Bled Castle is the view from the castle over the lake. You need to pay to go inside the castle to be able to get to the viewing area. But, for me, it was worth paying the castle entrance cost to be able to walk along the terrace with the stunning views over Lake Bled. You get an amazing view of the whole lake, including the island, as well as the mountains behind the lake as well.
You can also go inside some of the rooms at Bled Castle. There’s not a huge amount of interior rooms to explore at the castle, but it’s still nice. There’s a museum which shows more about the history of Bled Castle. Bled Castle is Slovenia’s oldest castle, dating back to the 11th century. Originally gifted to the Bishops of Brixen, it served as their residence for over 800 years and evolved architecturally from a Romanesque tower into a complex with Renaissance-style buildings and fortifications. Don’t miss the short wall walk at the castle, which gives a nice view of the castle with the lake behind.
3. Go White Water Rafting on the Soča river
If you’re looking for a more adrenaline-filled adventure while you’re visiting Lake Bled, I definitely recommend going white water rafting on the Soča river. You can easily do a white water rafting trip as a half-day trip from Lake Bled. The Soča river is a beautiful, blue/green coloured river a short distance away from Lake Bled. And what better way to enjoy the stunning river and gorge scenery than rafting down it.
I recommend joining this white water rafting trip from Lake Bled (affiliate). Or you could join this similar tour here (affiliate). I absolutely loved my time white water rafting. The afternoon started off with an excellent safety briefing, and all equipment was provided – you just needed to wear a swimming costume. And then the rafting began. We were on the water for about 1.5 hours. Some of this involved rafting. The guide sat at the back of the boat, and instructed us to paddle forwards, backwards, or right/left side only. There were some thrilling rapids, and some technical sections where the guide would be steering us around rocks – or not quite steering us around rocks, so the boat would crash into a rock!
There were also chances to jump into the river as well. It was a really hot day when I did the white water rafting, so it was lovely to jump into the cool water. There was even a time when the guide turned one of the boats upside down so it became a slide. So we could climb up the rock and slide down the boat into the water. It was so much fun! I absolutely loved the white water rafting. It wasn’t too tiring or technically difficult, so it was perfect for beginners or anyone who has just a basic level of fitness.
4. Take a day trip to Lake Bohinj
Lake Bled is well connected to other beautiful places in the region. So while you’re staying in Lake Bled, you can easily do some day trips to other places to explore more of the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park.
One of the best day trips from Lake Bled is to Lake Bohinj. You can get the bus from Lake Bled to Lake Bohinj. Buses run hourly, and cost less than 4 euros each. Ask at your hotel reception or the Bled bus station for the timetable, as it changes throughout the year depending whether it is peak or off-peak season. The bus from Bled to Bohinj is direct and takes less than an hour.
Lake Bohinj is a really beautiful lake on the edge of Triglav National Park. It’s a much quieter and less developed lake than Lake Bled. So it’s a lot more peaceful. It’s a beautiful place to come to relax by a more peaceful lake. You can also go paddleboarding on the lake. Or you can walk around the lake, or part of the way – the lake is a lot bigger than Bled so takes a lot longer to walk around. If you want to go all the way around the lake, hiring an e-bike could be the best option, so you can cycle around the lake. There’s lots of options for things to do on Lake Bohinj, and it makes the perfect day trip from Bled.
If you’d rather not take the bus to Lake Bohinj, you can join a day tour that includes a stop at Lake Bohinj. I recommend this tour from Bled to Lake Bohinj (affiliate), or this similar tour from Bled to Bohinj (affiliate).
5. Go paddle boarding on Lake Bled
For a relaxing afternoon on a sunny day in Lake Pled, you can go stand up paddle boarding on the lake. Paddle boarding on Lake Bled is the perfect option for hot and sunny afternoons, especially if it’s not windy. It’s so relaxing to just gently paddle along the lake, enjoying the beautiful blue water and mountain views all around you.
You can hire a paddle board from several places around the lake. Or you can book to go paddle boarding with a group, which guarantees that there will be availability when you want to do – I recommend booking through Get Your Guide (affiliate) or Viator (affiliate).
6. Eat traditional Slovenian food and drink Slovenian wine in Bled town
Bled town has a great selection of restaurants. You can try some traditional Slovenian food in lots of the restaurants. Make sure you try traditional Slovenian sausage, Pražen Krompir (sauteed potatoes with onions), or Goulash. Slovenia also has a strong Italian influence in its cuisine as well, with a lot of pasta dishes and amazing pizza. And no meal in Slovenia is complete without a glass of local Slovenian wine as well.
For a full guide, check out my guide to the best things to eat and drink in Slovenia.
7. Go Canyoning in nearby Jereka Canyon
Adrenaline junkies, or anyone looking for a bit of a challenge, will absolutely love Canyoning. There are lots of places you can try Canyoning near Lake Bled. So it’s the perfect half-day adventurous trip.
Canyoning involves exploring the river canyon through lots of jumping, sliding, abseiling, swimming, climbing, zip lines, and more. It’s super fun. It’s a bit of a physical challenge, but the professional guides will show you how to do everything safely and reassure you. And it’s such a sense of achievement when you get to the end!
You’ll definitely need to join a group to go Canyoning. I recommend this group Canyoning trip here (affiliate), or this similar one here (affiliate). Both of these options are great. The price involves professional guides, and also all of the equipment you’ll need – padded wetsuits, harness, helmet, and canyoning shoes. You just need to wear a swimming costume. I definitely recommend canyoning near Lake Bled if you fancy a physical challenge that’s huge amounts of fun.
8. Relax by the lake at Kranjska Gora
Another more relaxing day trip option from Lake Bled is to visit the nearby beautiful village of Kranjska Gora. This village is in Triglav National Park, surrounded by tall mountains. There’s a lake just outside the village as well, which is really pretty. It’s another lovely place to enjoy the peaceful lake and mountain scenery, just a short distance away from Lake Bled.
9. Take a traditional Pletna boat to Bled Island and ring the Wishing Bell
One of the top things to do in Lake Bled for any visitor is to take a boat trip to Bled Island. You can get the traditional Pletna boats from right next to Bled town. These traditional boats are rowed by a professional oarsman. So you don’t need to do anything except sit back and enjoy the view. It’s really impressive how the oarsman manages to row the boat and steer it so well. It takes about 20 minutes to reach Bled Island from the town on the Pletna boat.
Once you get to the island, you have 45 minutes of free time. The island is small, so that’s enough time. You can spend that time walking around and enjoying the views. Or, you can pay to go inside the church on the island. I think it’s worth paying to go inside the church. It’s a really pretty church inside. And, you’ll get the chance to ring the wishing bell – so make a wish and ring the bell!
Once your free time on the island is finished, you get back on the Pletna boat to go back to Bled town. It’s such a relaxing and lovely way of seeing the island and the lake, with great views of the castle as well.
10. Hike up to the Ojstrica viewpoint for views over Lake Bled
For the best views of Lake Bled – even better than the views from Bled Castle – you’ll need to hike up to the Ojstrica viewpoint. This viewpoint is at the far end of Lake Bled, away from the town. You’ll need to walk around the lake, and then turn up to the path to the viewpoint once you reach the end of the lake.
The path up to the Ojstrica viewpoint is steep. It’s hard work, particularly on a hot day. But the view is definitely worth it. It takes about 30 minutes to walk up to the top – but you could do it quicker if you have a good level of fitness. You can get amazing views from the viewpoint at the top. You can see across the whole of Lake Bled, including the island and the castle, and the mountains in the background.
11. Hire a rowing boat on Lake Bled
Another of the top things to do in Lake Bled if you’re looking for a relaxing or romantic activity is to hire a rowing boat on Lake Bled. There are lots of places around the lake where you can hire a rowing boat for an hour. It’s really relaxing and peaceful on a sunny day. And it’s a great way to explore the lake at your own pace, and enjoy more of the beautiful views.
12. Go paragliding over Lake Bled
If you’re still looking for more adventurous activities to do in and around Lake Bled, then you can try paragliding. Paragliding over Lake Bled is a great way to enjoy the views, while enjoying an adrenaline rush as well! You’ll have a professional instructor, but they might give you the chance to steer on your own at times as well.
If you want to try paragliding in Lake Bled, I recommend booking it here through Viator (affiliate). It’s not the cheapest of activities, but it’s an amazing experience. The memories will stay with you forever.
13. Experience the thrill of Europe’s longest zip line
For even more adrenaline and fun, you can try the Bled Zipline. This zipline is advertised as Europe’s longest zip line. You meet at the building in the centre of Bled town, and then they take you off in a minibus to the start of the zip line. You get given all of the safety equipment, including harnesses and helmets, and a detailed safety briefing. And then it’s time to enjoy the zip lines! There are 7 zip lines in total. It’s so much fun, and the mountain views are great as well. Book your zipline tour with a discount through Get Your Guide (affiliate).
14. Walk through Vintgar Gorge
Near Lake Bled is a beautiful river gorge called Vintgar Gorge. If you don’t fancy Canyoning, but you still want to see a beautiful river gorge, I recommend visiting Vintgar Gorge. There’s a walkway through the gorge, so you can see the amazing river and rocks without needing to get wet or jump off anything!
The walk through Vintgar Gorge is really special. The views are just lovely. You can visit Vintgar Gorge as part of a day tour to Triglav National Park, where you’ll get to see some other great sights as well. I recommend this tour that includes Vintgar Gorge (affiliate), or this similar tour also includes Vintgar Gorge with food tastings (affiliate).
15. Walk behind a waterfall at the Peričnik Waterfall
The best waterfall near Lake Bled is undoubtedly the Peričnik Waterfall. It’s a short drive away from Lake Bled, and is definitely worth the trip. Getting to the waterfall involves a short uphill hike from the car park. But it’s worth it once you get to the waterfall.
Peričnik Waterfall is famous as one of the waterfalls you can walk behind. It’s amazing to walk behind the waterfall and get close to the power of the water. Just make sure you have a rain jacket if you don’t want to get too wet – it can get very wet walking behind the waterfall!
You can visit Peričnik Waterfall as one of the stops on the day tours of the area from Lake Bled. Make sure you check out this tour from Lake Bled (affiliate), which includes a visit to the Peričnik Waterfall as well as other stunning scenic stops.
16. Swim to Bled Island
For any keen swimmers, it’s easily possible to swim to Bled Island. You’ll need to be a fairly confident swimmer to try this. It will generally take about 15-20 minutes of moderate-speed swimming to reach Bled Island. So only attempt this if you’re confident you can make it – the lake is very deep so there’s nowhere to rest if you get tired half way! But if you’re a confident swimmer, it can be a fun challenge. Leave from the west side of the lake for the shortest swim up to the island.
Once you get to the island, you can have a rest and look around. You’ll be able to walk up to get ice cream. However, you won’t be able to visit the church on the island if you’re just wearing your swimming costume. But you’ll still be able to see the rest of the island, and enjoy a rest before swimming back.
17. Take the Vogel Cable Car up to see the mountain views
To get high up in the mountains near Lake Bled, I recommend taking the Vogel Cable Car. The Vogel Cable Car runs from the edge of Lake Bohinj. So you can combine this cable car with your day trip to Lake Bohinj. The bus from Lake Bled to Lake Bohinj stops at the Valley Station for the Vogel Cable Car. You’ll just need to walk uphill through the car park to get to the cable car.
The Vogel Cable Car runs every half an hour. The ride doesn’t take long, and in a short amount of time you’re at the top, at 1535. The views from here are amazing, especially the views down to Lake Bohinj.
There’s more to do once you get to the top. Included in the ticket price of the cable car are two more lifts. There’s a chair lift, which takes you even higher. The views are just amazing.
And then there’s a gondola, which takes you even further on a circular route. Again, the views are stunning.
There are lots of hiking and bike trails up here as well. You can spend the whole day riding the chair lift and the gondola and doing some short hikes. Or you can do longer hikes as well. And when you want a break, there are several cafes serving delicious local treats like Apple Strudel and coffee. It’s lovely to sit and relax at one of the cafes and enjoy the views, before heading back to the cable car to go back down to Lake Bohinj.
18. Drive up the Vršič Pass (the Russian Road) and hike up to the top
If you have a car, or if you join a day trip on a minibus, you can get to another of the high points in Triglav National Park. The Vršič Pass is a mountain road that includes 50 hairpin bends – 24 on the way up, and 26 on the way down. It climbs steeply between Kranskja Gora and Bovec. It’s also known as the Russian Road, due to its history. It was built by Russian Prisoners of War during World War 1. It’s sobering to think of the suffering of the people who built this road, in appalling conditions.
The Vršič Pass climbs up to 1,611m. It’s the highest road pass in Slovenia. The views from the top are lovely. And for even better views, you can take the short hike to get to the top of the nearest mountain.
It only takes 20-30 minutes to walk up, and although it’s fairly steep uphill, it’s manageable for anyone with decent fitness levels. And the views from the top are definitely worth it.
If you’d rather not drive yourself, this day tour from Lake Bled through Viator (affiliate) includes a trip up this mountain pass, and so much more.
19. Enjoy the serenity of Zelenci Nature Reserve
Another great day trip you can do from Lake Bled is to the Zelenci Nature Reserve. This nature reserve is only a short distance from Bled. But it’s so much more peaceful than Bled town and lake. It’s a beautiful place to walk.
My favourite time of day to visit the Zelenci Nature Reserve is in the early evening. It’s a stunning place in the evening light. There are board walks that take you around the nature reserve, and you can climb a small tower for even better views over the area.
20. Relax by Lake Bled with a drink in the evening
The last of my top things to do in Lake Bled is to relax next to the lake with a drink in the evening. There are so many fun filled activities that you can enjoy around Lake Bled. But make sure you also take some time to just sit and relax and take in the moment. It can be tempting to fill your days with lots of activities. And this is great, most of the time. But sometimes, make sure you give yourself time to just sit with a drink.
There are several bars and cafes that have views of the lake. My favourite is the bar right next to the Grand Hotel Toplice, towards the edge of Lake Bled. You can enjoy a drink in a relaxed setting, with lovely views across the lake to the castle. Relax with an Aperol Spritz or a Hugo, or a glass of local Slovenian wine. It’s the perfect way to end your day of enjoy the best things to do in Lake Bled.
Hope you enjoyed my ultimate guide to the best things to do in Lake Bled! Make sure you also check out my guide to the best hotels in Lake Bled, and also my ultimate itinerary for one week in Slovenia, where you can plan your trip to Slovenia. You can also extend your trip to Lake Bled, with my guide to one day in Ljubljana, and also the best things to eat and drink in Slovenia.
