Things to do in Bled
It is difficult to write anything about Bled that has not already been written on the Internet. And that’s why I won’t try to do anything like that in the paragraphs below, I want to present and approach both the cultural and especially the natural attractions of our tourist pearl in the most pleasant and reader-friendly way possible to all visitors of the Vnaravo website and blog. Let’s see the things we will do and see in Bled.
In Bled, we will get to know the most visited and well-known attractions, such as the lake itself, the island, the castle and the vineyard, as well as those that are a little less known, such as the Pokljuška gorge, the Iglica waterfall, the Kreda lake, and we will also go to the most beautiful viewpoints with a view of a fairy-tale lake with an island.
What to do and see around lake Bled
- Lake Bled and the path around the lake
- Bled island
- Bled Castle
- Bled Vintgar Gorge
- Hills in the vicinity of Bled
- Iglica waterfall and Bohinjska Bela
- Pokljuka gorge
- Lake Kreda
- Ribno
- The cave under Babji zob
If you are looking for more ideas in this part of Gorenjska, I suggest you look at the articles with titles Where to go in Bohinj, Where to the hills from Bohinj and Kranjska gora.
1. Lake Bled and the path around the lake
If I learned correctly, Lake Bled is the warmest Alpine lake. On hot summer days, it reaches a temperature of up to 26°C (on the surface), and it maintains a temperature suitable for swimming (18°C) even until the end of October. In cold winters, the lake freezes and is a real paradise for all lovers of ice skating and activities on the ice. With an area of 1.45 square kilometers, this is the 2nd largest permanent natural lake in Slovenia. It is slightly more than 2 kilometers long and almost 1400 meters wide. Its depth, in the deepest part, exceeds 30 meters. Of course, the lake is also suitable for swimming and other joys on and in the water.
| Hike around Lake Bled | Basic information |
|---|---|
| Path length | 7 km |
| Hike time | 1 ura 15 min |
| The difficulty of the route | a walk |
| The starting point | somewhere by the lake |
| Parking fee | yes |
| Recommended footwear | sports shoes |
| Suitable for a dog | yes |
Lake Bled is probably the most visited lake of all Slovenian lakes. Despite the fact that the path around the lake is about 7 kilometers long and the average hiker spends a good hour on it, a large number of people go to Bled precisely with the intention of going around this pearl of the Gorenje region.
The walking path is mostly paved, but part of the path is sandy. There will be two slight climbs along the way, but otherwise the path is flat and easy. It is also suitable for families with strollers. Along the way, you will pass many bars, where you can refresh yourself with various delicacies, quench your thirst, or simply enjoy the view of the lake and a good coffee.
2. Bled island
The island of Bled is, at least as far as I know, the only natural island in Slovenia. It is composed of limestone rocks and is the result of an active glacier and a river that once flowed past it. The island has an area of 820 square meters and rises 18 meters above the surface of the lake. The island has been protected as a monument of national importance since 1999.
You can go to the island in several ways, for many the easiest and certainly the cheapest is in your own direction. You only need to know that officially swimming to the island is prohibited. A more traditional way of visiting is by Pletna, a vessel known only in Bled. The history of this traditional Bled boat dates back to the 12th century. The Pletna is a vessel 7 meters long and 2 meters wide, and it can transport up to 18 people, but if you want to go a little faster, you can also use an electrically powered wooden boat. Driving to the island will cost you €12 if you choose an electric drive and €15 for a manual drive (wheel drive).
The island of Bled is best known for the mighty stone staircase, the wishing bell and the church. Otherwise, there are several other buildings on the island. Visiting the lake is free, but if you want to climb the observation tower or see some of the other things on the island, you will have to pay a few €.
3. Bled Castle
Bled as a city is one of the oldest in Slovenia, as it was first mentioned in 1004. The history of the castle also coincides with this mention. In its more than 1,000-year history, the castle has changed many owners and also countries. Today, Bled Castle is one of the biggest tourist attractions in our country and is regularly visited by many tourists from all over the world.
I haven’t been to the castle building for a very long time (since childhood), so I won’t write about it, but I will still mention that there is a museum in the castle and when I see it, I will write more about it.
Otherwise, you can also read a little more about the climb to the castle hill in the article that talks about the climbs with wonderful views around Lake Bled.
4. Bled Vintgar Gorge
With each subsequent subtitle, the phrase “one of the biggest Tutistic attractions” or “the most visited” comes to the “end of my tongue”… But that’s just the way it is when we talk about Bled and the most visited attractions that surround it.
Bled Vintgar Gorge is certainly the most visited gorge in Slovenia, it is about 1,600 meters long and you will need about an hour and a half to see it and return to the starting point. The gorge through which the river Radovna flows ends with the largest river waterfall in Slovenia, known as Šum.
Read more about this natural gem in the article about Bled Vintgar Gorge.
5. Hills in the vicinity of Bled
With the explosion of social networks more than a decade ago, the visibility of the scenic peaks in the vicinity of Bled also increased significantly. In particular, the path leading to Ojstrica and Osojnica has become a real little “pilgrimage” path, and for a nice photo without unwanted people on it, you sometimes have to line up…
Otherwise, in the vicinity of Bled, there are quite a few beautiful viewing peaks where you can enjoy the view of the fairy-tale lake. All my suggestions for climbs where you can take the most beautiful photos of Lake Bled can be found in the article entitled Hills in the vicinity of Bled.
Otherwise, Stol and Begunjščica conjure up a beautiful view of Lake Bled.
6. Iglica waterfall and Bohinjska Bela
Every year I drive to Bohinj at least 5 times, but until 2020 I never turned off the main road into the village of Bohinjska Bela, it’s incredible. Recently, however, I visited it again and got to know its climbing areas, the Iglica waterfall and the wonderful views from the walls above Iglica.
Of course, you can get to Bohinjska Bela by car, but a bike is also a great idea, especially if you have the opportunity to drive to Bled (or even better to Ribno) by car and then explore its surroundings right from your bike. The third option is to come to Bohinjska Bela by train.
The climbing walls in Iglica are impossible not to see from the main road between Bled and Bohinjska Bistrica. But when you are in the village, the walls become even more formidable. It somehow looks as if the earth has hit here and moved about 30 meters lower.
Although the Iglica waterfall is a rather high waterfall, as it measures 24 meters, the Suha stream is very similar to its name (dry), so the view of it is much less impressive than the view of one of the water waterfalls of the same height. But the scenery of Iglica is an exception. There is a small body of water under the waterfall, where it is unfortunately forbidden to cool off. The water is not very cold, so it would certainly be nice to refresh after a strenuous climb.
The Iglica climbing area is about 30 meters high and is one of the most popular and high-quality climbing areas in our country. You can climb to the top of the climbing area using almost new stairs, the use of which is otherwise at your own risk. At the top, we have the opportunity to enjoy wonderful views in both directions of the Sava Bohinjka valley from 2 viewpoints. Of course, the view of the village under our feet is extremely beautiful, and Galetovec, which is on the left bank of the Sava (Pokljuka) and Babji zob (Jelovica) on the other bank of the river, are also very beautiful.
In addition to the waterfall and the climbing area, Bohinjska Bela is also interesting as a starting point for the climb to Galetovec, an indistinct peak on the edge of the Pokljuka plateau, which offers us beautiful views towards Bled, Jelovica and Karavanke. Read more about the climb here.
7. Pokljuka gorge
Not only is Pokljuka a hiking and mushrooming paradise, but it is also a winter sports center, of course we must not forget that it is also one of the best starting points for ascents to the highest peaks of Slovenia… There is much more to Pokljuka. Some of the wildest gorges also descend from Pokljuka towards the valleys below… you probably haven’t heard of the Ribnica gorge, which is one of the most impassable and difficult-to-access gorges in Slovenia, so I won’t write about it today.
Fortunately, on the other side of Pokljuka, an equally wild gorge descends towards the Radovna valley, but today it is dry and suitable for a tourist tour. Pokljuka gorge was probably never as inaccessible and not as long as Ribnica, but still, when walking through it, you can admire the vertical walls, which in some places are around 50 meters high, maybe even more.
You can find out more interesting facts about Pokljuka gorge in the article about it.
8. Lake Kreda
The Radovna Valley, in addition to Vintgar and the Pokljuka gorge and, of course, many beautiful meadows with a crystal-clear river running along it, also hides lake Kreda on its plains. A lake unknown to most, which was created after the abandonment of the chalk excavation in the middle of the meadows. The water flooded the excavated cave and today many cyclists, hikers and bathers enjoy the lake, which has a characteristic greenish-white color.
The lake is closed to access from two sides, as the land on which the lake stands is private, but there is still enough space on the eastern part of the lake for people to relax and enjoy nature, sun and refreshing water.
If the crowds on Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj don’t suit you, if you prefer more remote corners, then a trip to Lake Kreda will be the right thing for you and your family.
9. Ribno
Ribno is a village located about 3 kilometers south-east of Lake Bled. In recent years, Ribno has become known primarily for its hotel and glamping, which were renovated and relaunched years ago. However, Ribno is interesting as an excursion destination mainly because of the Sava Bohinjka, which flows below the village, and at the same time, you can also find a beautiful bayer in the valley (it was more like a beautiful lake during my visit) and many opportunities for hiking and cycling.
I myself have not been to this end of Bled in the summer yet, but a friend advised me to visit the area of Ribne, because in this part of the Sava Bohinjka it is very calm and quite deep in some places, and therefore suitable for swimming. You can also find many beautiful corners, or sandy beaches, where you can enjoy with your family, as a couple, or alone with a book or just in the company of the sun’s rays and the sounds of the river.
During my visit to Ribno, I also climbed Ribenska Gora, the path to it goes past the Ribno hotel, and it takes about 30 minutes to reach the top from Sava Bohinjka. And from what I’ve seen, I can say that every minute of the climb is worth the effort. The view from the top is unique. Under our feet lies the Gorenjska plain, which ends with the mighty Karavanke chain. Towards the northwest, you can also see the peak of Triglav.
However, you can drive to Ribno from the confluence of the Sava Bohinjka and Dolinka rivers, following the right bank all the time, so that even the summer crowds on the main road to Bled are avoided. In the other direction, you can take macadam roads all the way to Bohinjska Bela. Above all, these roads are very friendly for cycling.
10. The cave under Babji zob
More soon…
Conclusion
Bled with all the beauties that surround it is probably the biggest Slovenian tourist gem. Probably, in terms of the number of tourists in Slovenia, only Ljubljana can be placed next to it, but its size is practically incomparable to Bled. Or perhaps Postonjska Jama, which is a completely different tourist gem of our beautiful country.
Anyway, Bled is a fantastic destination for everyone, even if you’ve been there 100 times, you’ll still be able to find something new. But if you have already seen everything (which I doubt), things can be very interesting in the second or third.
I wish you a great time visiting Bled and go to the nature!
