With this honest, no-fuss day trip guide to Lake Bled, Slovenia, you will discover gorgeous views, must-do tips, and a little real talk about you can really expect with your visit.

If you’ve ever seen a picture of Lake Bled, you know it looks like something straight out of a fairytale – that little island with the church, the castle perched on the cliff, and those blue-green waters that just beg for a photo.

We popped by for half a day on our drive from the Kamnik Savinja Alps to the Julian Alps as part of our 10 day Slovenia itinerary (see full itinerary at the bottom of this post).

Honestly? It’s gorgeous, but we were happy we didn’t stay overnight – mainly because of the crowds and bigger tourist vibe we experienced more than other places we had stopped at in Slovenia at this point in our itinerary.

For us, the real magic of Slovenia was breathing in the crisp mountain air in the Slovenian Alps but Lake Bled was still the perfect pretty pit stop on the way.

In a rush?

How to Get to Lake Bled

Maps

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Rental Car and Parking in Lake Bled Area

Getting to Lake Bled from Ljubljana is a breeze—it’s only about a 45-minute drive, and honestly, Slovenia’s roads are so smooth and well-kept you might start wondering if your car’s suddenly become a luxury model.

If you’re planning to explore the mountains or more remote areas—like Lake Bled, Logar Valley, or the Julian Alps—I’d HIGHLY recommend renting a car.

We used Hertz Rental Car that we easily picked up in the terminal parking garage immediately after landing and went straight to Logar Valley.

We then returned the car back to Ljubljana Airport after our six nights in the countryside before heading into the city for the last 3 nights of our Slovenian exploring :).

Driving in the country of Slovenia (for Americans anyway) is very easy (same side of car and road :)).

If you have Google Maps and a rental car with CarPlay – you will be perfectly fine driving in this country.

I saw on multiple blog posts that an International Drivers License (from AAA) is a requirement but we were NEVER asked for this piece of paper – EVER. So part of me thinks that is a scam that AAA puts out there to get a little extra cash – but don’t hold me to that statement ;0.

However – DO NOT, I REPEAT – DO NOT, pick up your rental car if you will be making Ljubljana the first destination on your trip!!!

ALL of Old Town Ljubljana is a no vehicle zone (i.e. there is no parking in Old Town if you have a rental car). So unless you are staying outside of this area (which I also do not recommend!), a car in the city will be way more hassle than it is worth!

As far as parking in Lake Bled goes, for our visit, upon arrival we drove straight to the Bled Castle and easily found parking here.

Then after an hour and a half or so of visiting the castle, we drove to the parking lot by Kamp Bled on the other side of the lake.

Traffic getting through the small village of Lake Bled was somewhat slow going – we were there on a Saturday afternoon in June after all ;).

From here, we enjoyed walking along the lake with those magnificent views, getting gelato at Cafe Belvedere, and ending our Lake Bled day trip with a very casual dinner at the Lounge Bar by the campground entrance :).

Join a Tour from Ljubljana to Lake Bled

If driving in a new country isn’t your thing, no judgment—you can also use their rather simple train system from Ljubljana to Lesce-Bled Station, then grab a quick taxi or bus for the last 10 minutes to the lake.

Or join one of the many guided tours from Ljubljana that whisk you straight to Bled without you having to worry about a single turn.

Best Time of Year to Visit Lake Bled

If you’re wondering when to visit Lake Bled, here’s the scoop — it’s gorgeous year-round, but each season has its own vibe.

We were there on a Saturday in late June during a heatwave, and let me tell you, the place was buzzing with people swimming, paddling, and soaking up the sun (along with the 90-degree temps!).

Summer brings that lively, “let’s make a day of it” energy, while spring and fall are quieter and cooler, perfect for slow strolls and photo ops without elbowing your way to the view.

Winter? I would imagine its pure fairy tale with snow dusting the island church.

So really, it’s all about what you’re after — just know summer Saturdays can get busy, but the lake is so dreamy you won’t even mind.

Top Things to Do with Five Hours in Lake Bled

Visit Bled Castle and Eat Bled Cream Cake

Our first stop in Lake Bled was Bled Castle, perched high above the lake like it’s been keeping watch for centuries, and with excellent parking options.

It was the perfect place to get our bearings and take in those jaw-dropping views before heading back down to the lakeshore to explore.

After snapping way too many photos, we rewarded ourselves with a slice of the famous Bled Cream Cake at the castle café (because when in Bled, right?).

We spent about 1.5 hours here, which felt just right before driving down to walk along the lake.

In 2025, tickets are 15 EUR ($17.50 USD) for adults, and the castle is open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM in summer (shorter hours in winter), so you’ve got plenty of time to fit it in without rushing.

Walk Around the Lake

Okay, so here’s the thing about walking around Lake Bled—it’s gorgeous, peaceful, and every few steps you’ll want to stop and take “just one more” photo.

We started at the Kamp Bled parking lot (see map above for exact location of this lot) and strolled along the shaded path to Café Belvedere (because gelato with that view? Yes, please) before turning back—full disclosure, it was a hot day and we weren’t about to melt for the sake of bragging rights.

If you’re feeling more ambitious, the full loop is about 3.5 miles and takes roughly 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace, with plenty of spots to sit, sip, and soak in the beauty.

Rent a Boat or Get on a Pletna Boat

If you’ve seen pictures of Lake Bled, you’ve probably dreamed of rowing yourself out to that storybook island in the middle—but here’s me keeping it real: we didn’t do it.

Renting a rowboat will set you back around €20–€25 an hour, and it takes about 15–20 minutes of steady rowing (each way) to reach the island… assuming you don’t get distracted taking a million photos like I would.

There are row boat companies all along the shores of the lake for this option.

The other option is to hop on a pletna, those gorgeous wooden boats with a colorful canopy that have been ferrying people across the lake since the 16th century.

A pletna ride costs about €15 per person, fits up to 20 people, and takes about the same 15–20 minutes—but with zero arm workout.

You can catch a pletna at the dock near Bled Castle or along the lake’s main promenade.

It’s a lovely, stress-free way to soak in the views without breaking a sweat!

Hike Up to Mala Osojnica Viewpoint

The hike up to Mala Osojnica viewpoint at Lake Bled is about 1.8 miles round trip with roughly 600 feet of elevation gain, and it usually takes around an hour to get up and back down.

Sounds doable, right? But here’s the honest truth: we didn’t actually do it.

It was blazing hot, we were already wiped out from the day, and we still had a one-hour drive to Kranjska Gora ahead of us.

So, if you’re feeling fresh and up for a bit of a workout, this hike promises stunning views of Lake Bled that are totally worth it — but if you’re anything like us, sometimes it’s okay to skip and save your energy for the next adventure!

Visit Vintgar Gorge

Just a quick heads-up before you add Vintgar Gorge to your Lake Bled day trip itinerary — it’s actually not in Lake Bled itself but about a 4-mile drive outside town.

The road there is narrow, winding, and not super well marked, so don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re lost or on the wrong path for a bit.

Also, here’s the real deal: Vintgar Gorge is a ticketed and timed trail, and you have to buy your tickets in advance online (learn more and buy your tickets here) – something we didn’t know and ended up showing up at 5 pm only to find out they were sold out for the rest of the evening.

Tickets cost around $12, and the walk along the gorge usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

If you want to do both Vintgar Gorge and Lake Bled Island in one day, I’d suggest starting early or visiting the gorge first to avoid rushing, especially since the island church closes by 6 pm in the summer.

Planning ahead here will save you the frustration and help you soak in the best of both spots without feeling rushed.

What to Wear in Slovenia in Summer

Visiting Slovenia in summer provides for the perfect mix of mountain and city adventures, so packing smart makes all the difference.

For our time in the Alps, I wore lightweight hiking dresses and a good pair of trail shoes—nothing fancy, just practical and comfortable for those moderate hikes.

FYI – I also brought along my Camelbak from home (can’t hike without it anymore!).

Once we got to Ljubljana, I switched to easy, breezy dresses that felt great in the warmer temps (we got there right when a heat wave started!!).

Just simple pieces that helped me feel put together without overthinking it.

I always wear my favorite cooling shorties underneath to stay comfy while walking around all day—no chafing, no fuss.

And if you are traveling during summer like we did, bring along this personal fan ~ you just never know when those temps will rise to an uncomfortable level and you don’t want to ruin your trip with heat exhaustion!

Our Slovenia Itinerary Day to Day Overview

DAY 1 | Fly San Diego to Prague on British Airways via London

DAY 2 | Arrive in Prague 5pm | Stay 5 nights at Malostranka Residences

DAY 3 | Prague: Walk around Old Town, Charles Bridge, go up Astronomical Clock tower, Dinner at Letna Beer Garden

DAY 4 | Prague: Early morning walk around Old Town, brunch at Monk, John Lennon Wall, dinner at U Fleků

DAY 5 | Prague: Bruce Springsteen concert with family & friends at Letnany Airport

DAY 6 | Prague: Prague Castle, Brunch at Restaurace Kuchyň, Strahov Monastery, Dinner at Čapadlo Summer Terrace

DAY 7 | Fly Prague to Ljubljana on Lufthansa via Munich | Pick up rental car and drive to Kamnik, Slovenia then Logar Valley | Stay 3 nights at Hotel Plesnik Logarska Dolina

DAY 8 | Logar Valley, Slovenia: Hike the Logarska Dolina Walking Trail to Rinka Waterfall

DAY 9 | Velika Planina | Overnight in Logar Valley (3rd night)

DAY 10 | Drive to Julian Alps with afternoon stop in Lake Bled | Spend 3 nights at Boutique Hotel Milka in Kranjska Gora

DAY 11 | Kranjska Gora: Walk around village, dinner at Gostilna Pri Martinu

DAY 12 | Kranjska Gora: Hike on Vrsic Pass, Lunch at Poštarski dom na Vrsicu Mountain Hut, Dinner at Erjavčeva Mountain Hut

DAY 13 | Drive to Predjama Castle, then to Ljubljana Airport to drop off rental car | Spend 3 nights in Ljubljana at Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel | Dinner at Spajza Restaurant

DAY 14 | Ljubljana: 6am photo shoot with Flytographer afterwards walk around city as it was waking up, funicular to Ljubljana Castle then walk back down to Central Market, dinner at Pop’s Burgers

DAY 15 | Ljubljana: Go inside Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and Museum, drinks at Nebotičnik rooftop cafe, Ljubljana City Museum, Dinner at Breg

DAY 16 | Ljubljana: walk to Metelkova artist district, return to Old Town and go inside Ljubljana Cathedral | 7pm flight from Ljubljana to London on British Airways | Spend 2 nights at Raffles London at the OWO

DAY 17 | London: walk to Borough Market and Queens Walk then walk across Tower Bridge, get drinks at The Ned, dinner at Ship Tavern, attend Just for One Day musical performance at Shaftesbury Theatre

DAY 18 | Fly London to San Diego on British Airways

I hope you found this day trip guide to Lake Bled Slovenia helpful in planning your own fabulous day in this beautiful place.

It’s peaceful, pretty, and perfectly doable in a day, making it a must-see when you’re in Slovenia.

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I want to make some memories.

~Mamma Mia

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