Very specific advice for a great day out at Lake Bled

Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s picture postcard landscapes. I love returning again and again to this little Alpine paradise! From the top of an easy-to-reach hill, the totally unobstructed view of the lake thrills all travellers.

Once you’re there, it’s impossible not to be captivated by the beauty of the place.

Reading the 5 mistakes in this article will ensure that you have a wonderful day’s holiday, without any minor hassles. You’ll benefit from all the experience I’ve gained over the years and from the detailed feedback of previous readers of the blog. These tips will help you save time on the ground and avoid the little embarrassments that arise on a first visit to the lake.

It’s a beautiful lake and a pleasure to visit.

Once you reach the summit of Mala Osojnica, your gaze will take in the tree-lined shores of Lake Bled and its clear waters. In the distance, you can admire the beautiful alpine mountains, their bare peaks standing out against the blue sky.

On your left, you will also see the old castle balanced on the cliff and the famous little island with its church.

This article will also save you :

paying too much for parking.
finding yourself sitting in a bad restaurant on Lake Bled.
missing out on three beautiful secret spots.
paying for a swim.
visit the wrong places around the lake.

In short, here you’ll find everything you need to spend some sweet time on the shores of Slovenia’s most emblematic lake.

Study the car park map before you arrive

During the high season, if you haven’t looked for a good plan for parking, you’ll waste time when you arrive, as there are few parking spaces on the banks of the lake (and that’s much better for the view and for preserving the natural beauty of the site). You also run the risk of paying too much for your car park because you didn’t know that there were other, cheaper car parks nearby.

So, before you head off to Lake Bled, make sure you study this map I’ve found, which lists the car parks in Bled.

If you arrive after 11am in summer or on a sunny weekend, the nearest car parks are likely to be full. Remember, you’ll save time and money by not opting for the expensive car parks on the banks of the lake.

Tip : Zoom in on the map of Bled and choose your car park before you arrive. Opt for the car parks on the eastern side of Lake Bled.

Tip: In summer, I advise you to enter in your GPS one of the car parks a little further away. They’re cheaper and you can get to the lake quickly by walking.

Don’t go up to Bled Castle

This is probably my most important piece of advice. It will save you 1h30 and also money. Once you’re by the lake, you’re naturally drawn to the castle and tempted to climb up.

My advice: Don’t go up there.

Don’t climb it! Not only is admission to the château overpriced at €17, but you won’t have a clear view of the lake without it!

Tickets: €17 adults – €7 children – €14 seniors – €11 students – Too expensive!

To remember: There are more beautiful and clearer free views than the one from Bled Castle (not least because you won’t see the castle perched above the lake!). If you don’t climb up to the castle on foot, you’ll save yourself a good sweat for very little and you’ll save time.

The view from the walls of Bled Castle hasn’t changed, but the young tourists’ outfits have.

For a beautiful view of the lake, go up instead:

To Straza, for example, with its secret viewpoints. Walk all the way to the top of Straza and you’ll find them easy.
Go to Osojnica, the favourite viewpoint of photographers and, for some years now, Instagrammers.
The Belvedere café below is also an excellent viewpoint, although it remains a secret for the time being.

You can also discover the secret spots of Lake Bled by reading the blog.

Don’t take the train to Bled unless..

Lake Bled can be reached from Ljubljana by train or bus. Hop on a bus that leaves regularly from Ljubljana station or Ljubljana airport and will take you to the lakeside in an hour.

The train does not arrive directly on the shores of Lake Bled, but at the small station of Lesce-Bled. This is 5 kilometres from the lake. You will then have to hop on a bus to take you to the lakeside. So you might as well take a bus straight to Ljubljana!

Tip: You can take another train, which follows a different route and will take you to another station on Lake Bled. It’s called Bled-Jezero. This stop is directly on the shores of Lake Bled, but your journey will be a good 30 minutes longer. But that’s not a bad choice.

It will take you 1:30 hours from Ljubljana because of a change in Jesenice, an industrial town north of Lake Bled.

Although the train journey takes 30 minutes longer, getting to Bled Jerezo station is a good option, as the train first passes through the Vintgar Gorge before stopping on the most unspoilt side of Lake Bled.

The map to understand.

Here’s a very clever programme for the summer period that no tourist knows about:

This programme allows you to visit Lake Bled and the Vintgar Gorge.

From Ljubljana, take the train to the industrial town of Jesenice.
Change trains at Jesenice for the Bled-Jezero station (not Bled Lesce).
On the way, make your first stop at the Vintgar station, where it’s a 20-minute walk to the Vintgar Gorge, then hop back on the train to take you to the Bled Jezero (Bled lake) station.
This Bled-Jezero station is on the lake side where you can easily go for a swim, reach the best viewpoint on the lake (Mala Osojnica) and have a coffee in my favourite lakeside establishment, Tito’s ceremonial villa.

Tip from the Slovenian hen: You can find train timetables on the official Slovenian railways website potniski.sz.si/

The stations to look out for are Vintgar (the magnificent turquoise gorges) and Bled-Jezero (meaning Bled lake).

Don’t swim at Bled’s paying beach

If you’re travelling by car or bus, you won’t be allowed to swim in the part of the lake you see first. From this bank, you’ll see a pay beach on your right, with deckchairs, cabins and pontoons. There’s no need to pay more than €10 for entry and a deckchair to swim and relax by the lake, as there’s a lovely free swimming area at the other end of the lake. Join the rowing club and swim there.

Good plan for children: On the other hand, if you have a small child, you’ll appreciate the shade, the small pools with little depth, the changing tables and the practical facilities at this paid beach.

Another interesting swimming spot is the village of Mlino, with its clear water and lawns. Here.

It’s always very pleasant to swim in Lake Bled at the end of the day

As a general rule: avoid the small tourist areas in Bled like the plague and head for the wild, secret areas. Don’t window-shop or hang around in tourist shops, even for just a few minutes, as there are far better things to do and experiences to keep you busy for three days in a row.

Don’t take the pletna to the central island

It’s too expensive! The island in the centre of the lake is magnificent but there’s no point in going there by Pletna (Bled’s traditional little boat). The journey costs €15 and there’s nothing special to do on the island. After climbing 99 steps, you’ll find a thousand-year-old church renovated in Baroque style at the end of the 17th century, but you have to pay to get in! (€12 a ticket, even though its interior is no more beautiful than dozens of other free churches in Slovenia – it’s its position on the island that makes it unique and magnificent). I advise you to save your money for other activities around the lake.

In the photo, a friend on the day we got up at dawn to go to the island by stand-up paddle. A memorable morning! **Warning** : do not land on the island with a SUP.

The little bar: You’ll also find a very pleasant terrace on the island when it’s not very busy. The bar serves coffees, ice creams and beers without doubling the usual prices.

Tip : If you’re a good swimmer, swim to the island as I often do.

Tip: Hire your own boat and cruise the lake wherever you like.

To do : Watch the sun rise over Lake Bled

Things to remember about your visit to Lake Bled

Don’t go up to Bled Castle.
Have a coffee at Belvedere (superb view) – If it’s closed, go to Vila Bled next door, but make sure it’s open too. Both places are expensive but very good.
Go for a swim at the rowing club.
Hire a rowing boat with your partner (a great activity).
Stay away from the most touristy area of hotels and shops.
Climb Osrtrijca or Mala Osojnica (do either of these two viewpoints but don’t do both as the views are very similar).
Don’t necessarily look for accommodation right by the lake.
Climb Stol if you like real hiking (the blue mountain in the vintage map you’ll see below).

Visiting Lake Bled: 5 mistakes not to make in 2025