By rail
Lesce-Bled station, Trains from Ljubljana, ~4 km from the lake
Europe · Slovenia
Bled, Slovenia
An island church on an Alpine lake
Getting there
By air
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU), ~35 km
Best time to visit
May to September — swimming and hiking weather
Don't miss
Lake Bled
Bled Castle
Bled Island
Vintgar Gorge
Things to do
Rowing or a pletna boat ride to the island
Walking around the lake
Hiking Vintgar Gorge
Trips to Lake Bohinj
Where to eat
What to pack
Walking shoes, swimwear, warm layer for evenings
A quieter corner
The viewpoint at Mala Osojnica, looking down on the lake and island
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bled?
May to September — swimming and hiking weather. What to pack: Walking shoes, swimwear, warm layer for evenings.
How do I get to Bled?
Fly into Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU), ~35 km.
What is there to do in Bled?
Rowing or a pletna boat ride to the island, walking around the lake, hiking Vintgar Gorge, trips to Lake Bohinj. A quieter find: The viewpoint at Mala Osojnica, looking down on the lake and island.
What should I eat in Bled?
Kremšnita cream cake, trout from the lakes and Alpine cheeses.
About Bled
- Lakeside
- Mountains
Where it is
Bled is a lakeside town in the Julian Alps in north-west Slovenia, around a glacial lake with a small island at its centre.
History
Bled is first mentioned in the early 11th century, when the German emperor granted the estate to the bishops of Brixen, and its castle stands on a cliff above the lake. In the 19th century the Swiss healer Arnold Rikli turned Bled into a health resort, and it has drawn visitors ever since.
People
Bled's people speak Slovene, and the town lives from tourism and Alpine traditions, with pletna oarsmen handing down the right to row visitors to the island through families.
Known for
- The church on Bled Island
- Bled Castle on its cliff
- Pletna boats
- Kremšnita cream cake
Did you know?
Visitors to the island church ring a bell in the hope of having a wish granted, after climbing 99 stone steps from the landing.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.