Let me begin off by saying visiting Lake Bled, one among Slovenia’s hottest vacationer sights, isn’t overrated.
Not one little bit.
Image this:
You’re within the Julian Alps.
A fairytale medieval citadel with Romanesque tower, drawbridge and moat sits perched up excessive, overlooking a peaceful glistening lake rippling solely by the flap of a duck wing or the dip of a kayak paddle.
A small island residence to a church and legends sits within the heart of all of it, whereas al fresco cafés and ambient paths create an pleasing define.
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Dreamy, proper?
However sufficient with the explaining.
Let me set this stunning scene by images:
This all being mentioned, there are particular experiences at Lake Bled which are extraordinarily overrated.
My journey to Slovenia was a solo journey, and touring low season meant the hostels have been fairly empty and there weren’t many excursions operating.
Principally, I’d been having primarily a silent retreat and apart for a number of locals by homestays, the one phrases I’d uttered lately have been “espresso, please” or “the massive slice with pepperoni.”
So, when the bus dropped me off at Lake Bled and I discovered different misplaced English-speakers, I used to be instantly excited.
Two have been from Miami learning overseas in Prague, Lauren, and Kirlos, and the opposite was a French lady, Sophie, residing in London.
All of us instantly clicked and determined to discover collectively.
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Desk of Contents
- Visiting Lake Bled Journey Video
- The Worst Of Visiting Lake Bled
- The Finest Of Visiting Lake Bled
- Lake Bled Climbing
- Lake Bled Lodges
- Lake Bled Condominium Leases
- Journey Insurance coverage
- Bonus Slovenia Journey Information Posts:
Visiting Lake Bled Journey Video
Earlier than studying additional…
You’ll study precisely what makes Lake Bled so particular.
The Worst Of Visiting Lake Bled
“We’re planning on doing a ship journey to Bled Island,” mentioned Lauren. “You may ring the wishing bell. It’s the principle attraction of Lake Bled.”
As I regarded round and spied nothing however water and woodland, I had a tough time believing a church bell can be the principle attraction.
“Wait, so that you imply that actually tiny island within the heart of Lake Bled?”
She nodded.
Bled Island
I might odor this vacationer entice a mile away.
Pay 12 Euros ($13 USD) to take a 15-minute boat journey to an island the scale of my condo. This sounded particularly ridiculous as your complete spherical journey bus journey from Ljubljana was 12.80 Euros ($14).
Not solely that, however you then must pay 6 Euros ($6) to see the sights — an exhibition, church with wishing bell, and tower with some form of pendulum-operated time-telling machine.
It was the type of factor I loathed, to not point out we have been surrounded by attractive Lake Bled mountains that might be extra enjoyable to discover. Nonetheless, I needed to hangout with my new associates.
“Okay, however my want higher come true after I ring that bell!” I half-joked.
My instincts have been 100% right about this island.
The enormous pendulum clock was fairly attention-grabbing, with your complete tower go to taking about quarter-hour, most of which is spent climbing the big staircase up, which has bible verses referring to the appreciation of time.
The Seventeenth-century baroque Assumption of Mary Church is fairly, however the wishing bell is so excessive up into the church tower you possibly can’t even see it.
You merely pull an extended rope close to the alter that seems to be connected to nothing and hope it’s the precise bell.
Ringing the wishing bell. I’m sorry, however I can not have a look at that tutorial signal with out bursting into laughter.
The vacationers are coming!
You may climb up into this tower to see an outdated pendulum-style time telling machine
There was a legend that if a groom might carry his bride up the church’s 99 steps and ring the bell, the wedding can be a cheerful one; nonetheless, these steps have been closed to the general public.
The exhibition I didn’t actually have a look at. We have been visiting Lake Bled in March, which means it was low season and we have been solely allowed half-hour on the island, which I needed to spend taking images.
Fast word:
One of the best time to go to Lake Bled, when it comes to all the pieces being open and having good climate, is Could by September.
That being mentioned, bear in mind that touring to Lake Bled in July and August can get crowded.
Now again to my rant:
Don’t waste your time on Bled Island, no less than for my part, particularly for the value.
I could have loved it extra if I rowed there myself as a result of no less than I’d have felt prefer it was an exercise; nonetheless, the row boat rental firm was not open but for the day after we have been making an attempt to go to the island. It additionally appeared prefer it might doubtlessly get costly at 15 Euros ($16) per hour.
Additionally, don’t neglect to convey snacks!
I’m undecided if it’s as a result of it was low season, however there weren’t a ton of fast budget-friendly choices for meals.
I ended up consuming three panini sandwiches that weren’t superb.
It might have been a lot simpler for me to simply convey my very own nourishment, which I often do as a defensive traveler. Trace: I’m an enormous fan of TSA-friendly PROBAR Meal Bars, particularly the Banana Nut Bread taste.
And lastly, don’t fear about getting misplaced.
When you’re questioning how one can get to Lake Bled, you’ll be glad to know that when the bus drops you off you possibly can merely comply with a path behind the bus station that leads proper all the way down to this Slovenia attraction.
You’ll be there in lower than 10 minutes.
The Finest Of Visiting Lake Bled
Now to the extra cheerful part of my publish. Regardless of dropping 18 Euros ($19) throughout my crappy boat tour, I had gained three new associates, so to me it was price it in the long run.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
What was notably superior about them was they have been a lot better planners than I used to be — whose plan encompassed not planning something — and they also had a slew of energetic adventures they needed to embark on. In fact, I used to be down.
At this level, it was important for us to get meals reserves as we’d be having an energetic day, beginning with renting bikes from the vacationer data workplace proper on the Lake (3 Euros ($3) for 3 hours, 11 Euros ($12) for the day).
We determined to cycle round Lake Bled — one of many world’s finest biking routes, seemingly stunning from each single vantage level of its 6.5-kilometer (4-mile) size — and make our method to the enduring viewpoint: Ojstrica, positioned at signpost #6 (Lake Bled walks/hikes are numbered).
Lake Bled Climbing
Whenever you see the street signal for the 611-meter- (2,005-foot-) excessive hill you’ll lock up your bike and start one of the vital scenic Lake Bled hikes, heading uphill by the forest for about 20 minutes to the highest.
Lake Bled selfie with new associates. For some motive there may be one part of the lake — proper right here — the place it nearly seems just like the Caribbean.
This hike to the highest could seem like a stroll within the woods…however it’s not.
The hike is brief however not straightforward; nonetheless, the aerial view of your complete Lake Bled panorama and surrounds is properly definitely worth the sweat.
My group and I lingered up there for no less than half-hour, taking images, respiratory within the crisp recent air and simply letting the inspiring surroundings wash over us.
Even the small island — which simply an hour earlier than I hated for stealing my cash — made me smile to have a look at from above, the white church and historic tower including to the idyllic emerald-green lake.
This could positively be in your record of issues to do in Slovenia.
Meditating atop Ojstrica at Lake Bled. See these Alps?!
When you’re not drained from the climb, you possibly can go even increased and summit the adjoining Velika Osojnica — 756 meters/2,480-foot excessive — which additionally awards views of the Karavanke mountains and Kamnik Alps.
We didn’t do that second one, as we might be experiencing the Alps differently:
Biking to Vintgar Gorge, inside the well-known Triglav Nationwide Park.
One phrase:
WOW!
However I’m getting forward of myself.
After climbing Ojstrica we head again down, seize our bikes, and proceed biking across the lake path till we see arrive again close to to the knowledge heart the place we rented the bikes.
Now, we make a left again towards the bus station, following indicators for the village of Podhom.
At first we’re merely biking by small villages, suffering from small lodges, pubs, outlets and houses.
Till…we’re not.
All of a sudden, there may be nothing however vibrant inexperienced pastures and desolate farmland enhanced by a backdrop of snow-covered Karavanke Mountains.
My group stops each 10 minutes or so to take images, the scene changing into extra stunning at each angle.
If I might outline the phrase “serenity,” it will be this place, the place silence envelops you want a blanket.
Biking our method to the Gorge
Staring up on the alps. Ahhh…
One other attention-grabbing characteristic of the journey:
The scents.
There are such a lot of completely different aromas wafting by the air that we find yourself making it right into a recreation, shouting out the completely different aromas:
Apples, vanilla, cherries, campfire, honey, pine.
The journey isn’t straightforward — though it’s well-marked there may be a whole lot of up and downhill — and at some factors, we now have to get off the bikes and stroll due to the steep inclines; nonetheless, none of us minded the arduous work the place we have been surrounded by such magnificence.
I’m not going to lie, after that bike journey, biking round Brooklyn goes to be powerful to return to.
Once we attain the doorway for Vintgar Gorge we’re instantly entranced by the crystalline turquoise water, full of large fish simply chilling out.
It’s price noting the doorway was additionally closed — we went in March, and the gorge doesn’t formally open till Could — however we went in anyway (no scolding please!) and noticed a number of others in there, as properly.
Some sections of the boardwalk have been a bit precarious
I’m undecided what it’s like in excessive season, however Vintgar Gorge was pure peace.
Whereas our countryside journey provided a dreamy alpine serenity, the Gorge was extra of a refreshing calm, waterfalls creating the soundtrack to a woodland boardwalk stroll, the waters under us fully translucent as we pressed our backs in opposition to craggy rock canyon wall to get one of the best shot.
A picnic lunch alongside the way in which was my finest meal of the journey, regardless of the soggy sandwiches.
Sandwiches within the gorge
Total, I wouldn’t change a factor about how I spent my day at Bled Lake apart for the island, which I’d have exchanged for one of many following actions I didn’t get to do.
- Take the bus 20ish minutes to Lake Bohinj, Slovenia’s largest everlasting lake at 318 hectares (790 acres) and completely beautiful in images. I’ve been advised by locals it’s nice for the surroundings and journey sports activities, however that the close by waterfall is a vacationer entice as it’s important to pay to see it after which can’t get very near it.
- Take pleasure in extra walks and hikes round Lake Bled. There are 15+!
- Stroll as much as Bled Fortress. I’m not an enormous citadel individual, however this medieval citadel — thought to doubtlessly be the oldest in Slovenia — stands excessive above the lake, and I wager provides stunning views. There’s a museum inside and, much more attractive, a wine cellar with tastings.
- Eat a Bled Cream Cake. I meant to do that however by the point I arrived again from biking to the Gorge I had solely 20 minutes to return my bike, pay and hustle again to the bus station. Bled Lake is thought for its Bled Cream Cake, a light-weight and fluffy cake full of candy cream and closely dusted with powdered sugar. Simply scripting this makes my abdomen unhappy I didn’t get to strive it. Fortunately, my hostel in Ljubljana — my homebase for my Slovenia journey — is close to to an incredible bakery referred to as Lolita, which makes scrumptious and elaborate desserts of every kind and a really modern, fashionable and pampered really feel inside.
Lake Bled provides unbelievable lodges.
Click on right here to view them.
Lake Bled Lodges
If you wish to e book a resort close to Lake Bled there are various choices, which you’ll view right here.
Just a few highly-rated native lodging embody:
- Rikli Stability Lodge. This pretty 4-star resort focuses on well being and wellness, and the opulent spa is not-to-be-missed. Additionally they have a waterslide and an indoor pool, plus provide free breakfast and WiFi.
- Pension & Glamping Pibernik. This budget-friendly lodging possibility options free WiFi, bike leases, out of doors grills, a backyard, a picnic space, a terrace, a fire within the foyer, and a buffet breakfast (further cost). Furthermore, you’ll have a lot of room and condo choices to select from.
- Triglav Bled. Oh, the views! Positively e book the balcony room with views of Lake Bled and the encompassing mountains. Different highlights embody a pool, spa, scorching tub, onsite restaurant and bar, and free WiFi. There’s additionally breakfast out there for an extra charge.
Your different possibility is to base in Ljubljana and take the bus as I did.
Click on right here to see an inventory of Ljubljana lodging choices.
Particularly, I like to recommend trying out the Grand Lodge Union. It’s budget-friendly, positioned close to the entire finest sights inside Ljubljana’s car-free Metropolis Middle, and has a great deal of facilities and onsite amenities. Sizzling tub, anybody?
Lake Bled Condominium Leases
Desire self-contained stays?
Click on right here to take a look at distinctive Ljubljana leases + lodges!
Click on right here to take a look at distinctive Lake Bled leases + lodges!
You may also use this map to seek for native stays and experiences:
Journey Insurance coverage
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