My friend and I visited Lake Bled for 2 nights as part of a trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Lake Bled is a popular Instagram spot. This is because of the stunningly beautiful church on the island in the centre of the lake. The short trip out from Ljubljana is absolutely worth it. Here’s how to spend a day at Lake Bled…
Getting to Lake Bled
We traveled to Lake Bled from Ljubljana by Bus, which I thoroughly recommend. It was both easy and surprisingly cheap!
The journey by bus from Ljubljana Bus Station to Bled takes about 1 hour. Buses are regular and depart around every 30-60 minutes. We traveled on a Sunday in April and the bus was around half-empty.
You can book bus tickets online from Ljubljan Bus Station and collect just before you travel from Ljubljana bus station.
Where to stay at Lake Bled
We stayed at the Hotel Astoria Bled, which is a couple of minutes walk from the lake. It’s not the fanciest option on offer but it fit our budget and suited our needs.
We had originally planned to spend a day in Lake Bled in April 2020, which was postponed until 2022 for obvious reasons. This was the hotel we had originally booked and we trusted our former selves with the choices we made. It was still a good choice!
Some of the rooms are on the small side, but are clean and well-maintained. There isn’t a view of the lake, but our room had a view of a snow-capped mountain in the distance. We planned to spend most of our time outside at the lake, so the view wasn’t a big deal.
The staff were very friendly and helpful and assisted us with our travel back to the airport (our flight was too early in the morning to catch the bus).
Breakfast was great. There was a decent sized buffet with the usual cooked breakfast options (eggs, bacon, sausages, etc.), pastries, breads, yoghurt & granola.
You can check out the Hotel Astoria Bled on booking.com as an excellent reasonably priced option.
Walk around Lake Bled
There is a path which runs all the way around the edge of Lake Bled. This makes it very easy to walk around the whole lake and return to where you started from.
The path is pretty flat so it is an easy walk, not a hike, and there are restaurants, toilets and shops at different points.
Walking around the whole Lake is a great way to take in the views from every angle. There are a few small beaches which you can stop at for a paddle.
Hike up to the Ojstrica Bled viewing spot
If you’re not content with a flat, paved path you can take a short, steep hike up to the Ojstrica Bled viewing point.
This walk, for me, was the highlight of our day in Lake Bled. Starting from Hotel Astoria Bled you’ll find the trail about half-way round the lake.
It’s a very short hike but it satisfied my need for a bit of outdoor adventure! My travel companion isn’t hugely into steep uphill hiking, but she was keen for the view and managed with no problems.
The hike up to the viewing spot took us about 30 minutes and, although steep, has plenty of things to grab hold of to keep your balance – including metal railings in places. The path can be muddy and slippy if it has recently rained and you’ll definitely want to wear trainers or hiking boots.
There is one part that is actually metal stairs, as it’s such a steep climb. It’s not quite but almost a ladder! Easy on the way up, but feels slightly sketchy on the way down – especially if it’s at all damp.
The view from the top is absolutely worth it though, and there is a well-placed bench to rest and take in the wonderful view.
Lunch at Art Cafe
Art Cafe, Bled, is my kind of cafe. Excellent coffee, delicious freshly-squeezed juices, and tasty, well-presented healthy food.
The staff were friendly and the service was great, so we returned here a couple of times for lunch and coffee. There isn’t a lake view but the place is modern and pleasant and well worth a visit.
Try Bled Cake
If you’re keen to try Bled Cake this is a good place to order it. Bled Cake is a local sweet cream cake treat that only comes from patisseries of Lake Bled.
I can’t say I was a huge fan, as I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I love to try local delicacies and my friend enjoyed it!
Dinner at Gostilna Pri Planincu
We had a delicious dinner at Gostilna Pri Planincu. Serving a good range of traditional Slovenian food (the reason we chose this restaurant) as well as pizza and pasta, it has a cosy, friendly atmosphere.
The food and drink were great and came at a reasonable price. Thoroughly recommend!
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