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Little Bled, in the heart of the Slovenian Alps, offers so much to see!
Bled, despite its population of only 5,000, is a well-known town in the world of tourism. After this list of what to see in Bled you will most likely understand why there is interest in this town!
What to do in Bled: the lakefront
The Bled lakefront walk is definitely the first thing to do! Lake Bled is small but very charming: the walk around the lake is six kilometers long, so about an hour and a half of walking. There are so many scenic views of the lake, and the walk is very pleasant as all six kilometers are bike/pedestrian!
It is also possible to reach the island in the middle of the lake, which is also the only island in all of Slovenia. The cost to reach the island, characterized by the Church of the Assumption, is quite high: 18 euros, and you are allowed to stay on the island 45 minutes.
What to do in Bled: the castle and the church of St. Martin
Bled Castle is perhaps the symbol of the town. From the center of Bled one must calculate about twenty minutes to reach this castle, whose origins date back to the 11th century.
The entrance fee to the castle is expensive (15 euros) and allows you to see a blacksmith’s store, a restaurant, a wine shop, and, most importantly, a wonderful view of Lake Bled. There is, however, a panoramic view of Lake Bled also just a few steps from the entrance-this one is free!
Before arriving at the castle, ten minutes away from the center of Bled is the town’s main church: St. Martin’s Church, dating from 1905. Admission is free and the neo-Gothic church is well worth a visit!
What to do in Bled: Mount Straza
A wonderful viewpoint in Bled is Mount Straza, located 150 meters above the town. To reach Mount Straza you have to walk about half an hour. The panoramic views from the summit are amazing! Lake Bled is spectacular from Mount Straza, and, in addition, you can see some small villages in the area. Finally, from here you can perfectly admire Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia as well as a symbol of the nation (its stylized shape is featured on the flag).
There are also life trails on Straza Mountain, perfect for those who want to exercise, and there is the possibility of sledding.
What to do in Bled: scenic spots
Still speaking of scenic spots, trekkers have several choices on the western side of the lake. The most beautiful viewpoints on this side are Ojstrica and Arnold’s Heights. I personally did the second path, which was very steep in places but with truly spectacular views!
Between round trip you have to calculate about two hours to reach Ojstrica, while at least two and a half hours are required for the Arnold’s Heights trek.
What to do in Bled: bike ride
A bike ride through the villages around Bled is so worth it! Biking through the small villages around Bled is really a great experience! Mlino, Zoomie Laze, Zaborst, Kmica deserve a mention. I leave the GPS of a 45-kilometer track-I recommend it to everyone in good shape!
What to do in Bled: trip to Radovlijca
Also in the vicinity of Bled is another small town worth a visit: Radovljica. This small village is easily accessible by bus, and is only twenty minutes from Bled.
In the very small town of Radovlijca you can see the beautiful St. Peter’s Church, a beekeeping museum, and a small place to buy typical gingerbread.
What to do in Bled: Vintgar Gorge
In the summer season, the Vintgar gorges are definitely on the list of what to see in Bled. It is generally possible to visit these gorges from late April to late October, but I recommend that you check the official website. The Vintgar gorges are only four kilometers away from Bled, and can be reached by car or by bus (the free Vintgar Shuttle leaves from the Bled Rose Hotel every hour). The walk through the Vintgar Gorge allows you to appreciate the beautiful colors of the Radovna River, with various waterfalls and pools. Definitely a magical place! The walk through the Vintgar gorges is 1600 meters long (with many steps!) and takes about 45 minutes. To return to the starting point you walk through a beautiful alpine forest: the experience takes about three hours, and it is splendid!
You can see a video of Vintgar here!
IN ADDITION TO BLED YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN…
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN BLED
- Bled can be reached by bus from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. You have to calculate about 45 minutes. From Italy, the most convenient method is to use the Go Opti transfer, which connects Bled to Trieste and Venice. The cost of the transfer is about 80 euros.
- In Bled I recommend sleeping in an apartment: a very good one is Grom.
- Bled has excellent cuisine. The specialties are sausages: the most distinctive, very spicy ones are called cevapcici. The Bled cake is not to be missed: its history dates back to 1953 and is reminiscent of the local diplomat, enriched with vanilla cream and cream. Bled cake can be found in practically every cafe and restaurant in town: I recommend, however, buying it from the baker Hitri Kruhek.
- Where to eat in Bled. I ate very well at Ostarija Peglez’n, Tale of Us, Central Bled and Briksen. There is also a pizzeria, good but quite expensive: Gallus.
- There is good drinking in Bled at Bled Pub and Devil’s.
- Bled is famous for its legends. One of them tells that some fairies lived on the island of the lake, which at that time was a very grassy meadow. One day some shepherds arrived: their animals ate almost all the grass, despite the fairies’ prayers asking the shepherds to move away. During a festive evening, the two most beautiful fairies fell and hurt themselves, due to the lack of grass, which was eaten by the animals. The fairies, therefore, decided to take revenge, filling the area with water: hence Lake Bled was born.
- I recommend staying in Bled at least a couple of days, also considering a visit to the villages or Radovljica.
- I visited Bled in April during a training for a tourist agency, Intrepid. In April, the tourism season begins and ends in October. Some attractions, such as the Vintgar canyon, are still closed. In addition, the lake still has very low temperatures: in the summer months the temperature of the lake reaches 20 degrees and it is possible to bathe in the designated beaches.
