Lake Bled Day Trip from Ljubljana, Slovenia
Are you wondering how to take a Lake Bled day trip from Ljubljana, Slovenia?
You’re in the right place! This guide will show you how to visit beautiful Lake Bled on a day trip from Ljubljana, including how to get there, the best things to do at Lake Bled, and other important info.
Lake Bled looks like something straight out of a fairytale. This small lake is surrounding by mountain peaks, and at its center is a tiny island with a picture-perfect church, which you can visit by boat. There’s also a medieval castle towering over the lake on a hilltop, which you can also visit.
You can easily get to Lake Bled from Slovenia’s charming capital city, Ljubljana, which makes it an ideal destination for a day trip. Of course, you can always stay for longer if you have time. There’s plenty to do in and around Lake Bled to fill up at least two or three full days of adventures.
This guide will show you how to make the most of your time on a day trip, though. Let’s get into it!
Getting to Lake Bled
You have several options for getting to Lake Bled from Ljubljana. You can either rent a car and drive yourself, take the bus, or join an organized tour that includes round-trip transportation from Ljubljana.
Here’s a closer look at each of those options:
Option 1: Driving yourself
Lake Bled is located roughly 35 miles northwest of Ljubljana, so it’s a pretty easy drive. You can rent a car in Ljubljana and drive to Lake Bled in 50 minutes. Personally, I think this is a good idea if you’re planning to visit Lake Bled and the surrounding areas for several days, but not as necessary for a day trip.
If you’re only visiting the lake, you’ll most likely just park in one place for the day, and you’ll have to pay for parking. Between the cost of the rental car, gas, and parking, it’s much cheaper to take the bus.
However, if you do want to rent a car for the added flexibility or maybe because you’re splitting the costs between a group, I’d recommend checking DiscoverCars for the best deals on car rentals
Option 2: Taking the bus
When I visited Lake Bled, I got there by bus and found this to be an easy option. You can check the Ljubljana to Lake Bled bus schedule on this website to see the most updated timetables and fares.
You can buy tickets online or at the bus station (which is located right by the train station in Ljubljana) but note that you need a physical ticket. So if your buy your tickets online, you still have to go inside the bus station and get a physical ticket. If you buy your tickets in person, know that they only accept cash.
The bus takes about one hour, and you’ll want to get off at the “Bled Union” stop which is right in the town of Bled and just a five-minute walk from the lake. Tickets are cheaper on weekends for some reason (€1.90 each way) than on weekdays (€5.90 each way) so I chose to visit Lake Bled over the weekend.
Option 3: Guided tour
Another option to consider is taking a guided tour to Lake Bled. This is a good option for anyone who doesn’t want to worry about the logistics themselves, and would enjoy having the added benefit of a guide.
This highly-rated tour to Lake Bled includes transportation from Ljubljana, a knowledgeable local guide, a visit to Bled Castle, a boat ride on the lake, and some free time to explore on your own.
If you’re looking to visit more destinations near Lake Bled, this full-day tour includes free time in Lake Bled, as well as a visit to nearby Triglav National Park to see another lake and a waterfall.
Things to Do at Lake Bled
What are the best things to do at Lake Bled on a day trip? Here’s my perfect day:
Start by walking around the lake. There’s a 3.7-mile path that winds around the lake. It’s a very easy, flat walk and super scenic. Walking the whole path will take you about an hour and a half. Optionally, you can also hike up to the Ojstrica viewpoint from the path, which takes about 30 minutes to go up.
Then take a boat ride to Bled Island. You’ll see traditional wooden pletna boats all around the lake. For €18, you can take a boat ride to Bled Island at the center of the lake and then return back to the shore. If you want to go inside the church on the island (which I did not), it’s another €12 for entry.
Stop for lunch. There are many restaurants around the lake, although they can be overpriced. Note that if you’re visiting in the off-season like I was, a lot of restaurants and shops will be closed. You might want to pack a picnic lunch for your day trip and enjoy it at one of the many picnic tables by the lake.
Then visit Bled Castle. I really enjoyed Bled Castle. It’s a steep 20-minute walk uphill from town, or you can take a taxi to the entrance. The views from the castle looking down at the lake are amazing, and there are several interesting exhibits to check out, as well as a cafe. Admission is €15 for adults.
Head back to Ljubljana in the evening. Walking around the entire lake, hiking up to the Ojstrica viewpoint, taking a boat ride, having a leisurely lunch, and visiting Bled Castle will take the better part of the day. You could then have dinner in Bled, or head back to Ljubljana and have dinner there instead.
When to Visit Lake Bled
Lake Bled is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year. The most popular time to visit is in the summer. You’ll have nice weather, but you’ll also have to contend with higher crowds. I’ve heard that in June, July, and August, the walking path can be extremely crowded and it can be hard to get on a boat.
If you are visiting in the summer, I’d recommend going on a weekday instead of a weekend for lower crowds. You should also start your day trip early in the morning to avoid some of the crowds.
Spring and fall are great times to visit Lake Bled, with milder weather, fewer crowds, and beautiful scenery. Everything is in bloom in the spring, while in the fall, you can enjoy the fall foliage.
I personally visited in the winter (late November) and while I was lucky to have clear, sunny weather, it was freezing outside. I didn’t mind the cold weather, though, since I was dressed for it. Bled Castle had already decorated for Christmas when I went, which made my visit even more magical.
My only complaint about visiting in the winter is the sun sets so much earlier, giving you far less daylight hours! But regardless of what time of year you’re visiting, Lake Bled is always beautiful.
How to Take a Day Trip to Lake Bled
This guide showed you how to take a Lake Bled day trip from Ljubljana, Slovenia.
I definitely think that Lake Bled is worth a visit. I found it to be a very charming destination, and one that lived up to all of the photos I had seen of it. With its proximity to Ljubljana, it’s the perfect place to go on a day trip. If you have more time, though, I highly recommend spending at least one night here.
Enjoy your trip to Lake Bled!
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