The Ultimate 2 Day Lake Bled itinerary

Last updated on January 25th, 2026

Discover how to spend 2 days in Slovenia’s iconic Lake Bled with our ultimate Lake Bled itinerary, full of hikes, scenic views, & local food!

With sweeping mountain views, crystal clear water, fun activities, delicious treats, and an island that looks like it’s out of a fairytale, Lake Bled is a must visit while in Slovenia. In fact, it’s the most popular place to visit in the country!

And if you have two days to spend at Lake Bled (like we did!), we’ve crafted the perfect Lake Bled itinerary based on our experience to help you squeeze in the best sights, hikes, and eats in a short period of time!

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2 Days in Lake Bled Itinerary

Day 1

Bled Cream Cake - Traditional Slovenian Food

Try Bled Cream Cake at Confectionary Zima

There’s no better way to start off your Lake Bled itinerary than by trying Bled Cream Cake (Blejska kremšnita) at Confectionery Zima. This cake has a flaky crust, a vanilla custard and whipped cream center, and top layer of flaky crust, and then is topped with powdered sugar. While technically it is dessert, we think it also makes for a great breakfast, paired with coffee.

Rent bikes

Next up, rent a bike for the day! There is a 6 km (3.7 mile) long walking and biking path that goes around the entire lake and to avoid dealing with parking hassles, we suggest riding bikes (or walking) to get around. Everything on the first day of our Lake Bled itinerary is doable by bike or on foot!

There are quite a few bike rental companies at Lake Bled where you can either rent a regular human powered bike or an eBike:

There is also a bike sharing service with a few locations near the lake.

Hike up to Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica

Once you have your bikes, head to the lake’s iconic Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica viewpoints, which can be combined into a 3.2 km (2 mile) hike! There are bike racks near the main trailhead, making it easy to get to this hike with a bike.

If you’ve seen a photo of Lake Bled, it was likely taken from these viewpoints. From up here you’ll have a high up view of the lake and its island, plus the surrounding mountains and valleys. It’s easily the best view of Lake Bled!

To learn more about these viewpoints, check out our detailed guide to hiking the trail, which includes details about what to expect along the way, what to bring, and our personal favorite of the two.

Important to know: This hike is steep and rugged, so it may not be for everyone. If you want something easier, head to Bled Castle! You can either hike here from town or take a free shuttle bus to the top. From up here you have a great view of Lake Bled and its island, but there is a fee to access it.

Cool off at the beach

If you’re visiting in the warmer months, the hike up to Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica will likely make you a bit sweaty, so head to a beach to cool off!

There are a handful of swimming spots around the lake, but our personal favorite was Velika Zaka. It is located close to both trailheads for Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica. It’s not only convenient, but also boasts a large beach area perfect for picnics, lounging, and going for a swim.

Make sure to pack a lunch to enjoy while you hang out here! And if you forgot to bring food, there is a small market just steps away. Plus an ice cream stand!

Take a boat to Bled Island

Bled Island is the only natural island in Slovenia and going out to the island is a must-do activity during your two days in Lake Bled. And to get there, you have a few options!

Option #1: Hire a pletna

A pletna is a wooden, flat-bottomed boat that dates back to 1590 and is rowed by a pletnar, a job that is handed down from generation to generation. Pletnas act as the shared boat option to get to Bled Island, fitting up to 20 people.

You can find these boats to hop on all around the lake, with a few popular options to hop on being Mlino Port, Pletna Boats Bled, and over by Velika Zaka. All of which will be easy to access by bike!

These rides typically cost about €20 per adult and no reservations are needed, you can just show up and hop onto the next boat! The experience includes both the ride to and from the island, plus some time to wander around the island itself.

Option #2: Row yourself

If you’re up for a more “do it yourself” type adventure then we highly recommend renting a row boat and rowing yourself to Bled Island. This is what we did and it made the experience even more memorable and fun!

There are a bunch of places you can rent boats around the lake, but we rented from a spot on the south side of the lake, which is one of the shortest distances to the island, only about 10 minutes or so. And since you pay by the hour (€20 for a small boat), not having to go as far gives you more time once you get there!

Option #3: Rent a SUP board

You can also take a stand up paddle board to Bled Island! There are a handful of places to rent a stand up paddle board, with SUP Bled and this spot being good options. We personally liked taking the wooden boat, as it’s more traditional, but this is a fun, relaxing option you could consider, especially if you want to hang out on the lake for a couple hours.

Grab a snack and drinks at Monika Poklukar

Next, head to Monika Poklukar for homemade beers and drinks, plus local meat and cheese plates. This is truly a hidden gem in Lake Bled! It’s tucked away down a quiet side street and run by a local family.

Not only is the food delicious and high quality, but you will also have the chance to tour the family’s traditional farmhouse, which is over 1,000 years old! The star of the farmhouse tour is the black kitchen where they used to smoke and preserve the meats. It’s given this name because the walls were heavily discolored by the centuries of smoke. We have never seen anything like it!

While not a full meal, this could be a heavy snack or a light dinner. If you’re still hungry, head to Oštarija Peglez’n afterwardsfor dinner!

Important to know: This spot is only open during the busier months and has limited hours (afternoons and evenings). Make sure to check their hours before you go!

Day 2

Vintgar Gorge

Kick off the second day of your Lake Bled itinerary with a hike at Vintgar Gorge. Located just a few minutes away from Lake Bled, this is one of our favorite places we visited in all of Slovenia!

This is a 1,600 meter (1 mile) long and up to 250 meter (820 feet) deep canyon that has been carved by the vibrant and crystal clear Radovna River. It was first discovered in 1891 and was the first protected natural attraction in the country, opening to the public just two years later.

Today you can walk along wooden boardwalks, which wind along the canyon edge, taking you by turquoise pools, waterfalls, and rapids, ending at Šum Waterfall, the largest river waterfall in Slovenia.

There are quite a bit of logistics to know before you visit Vintgar Gorge, so check out our detailed guide for information on tickets, the free shuttle, and other important tips!

A+K Tip: Since the Vintgar Gorge is popular, it can get very busy. So make sure to do this first thing in the morning! We arrived around 8 AM and had a decent amount of solitude. But by the time we left, it was getting packed.

Grab lunch at Pizzeria Rustika

After enjoying a morning at Vintgar Gorge, grab pizza at Pizzeria Rustika. This wood fired pizza spot offers a wide variety of pizza combinations, with an outdoor terrace that overlooks a small part of town.

Visit Bled Castle

Next up, visit Bled Castle! First mentioned in 1011, this is one of the oldest castles in Slovenia. It’s located atop a steep, vertical rock face hundreds of feet above the lake, with fantastic views of Lake Bled and Bled Island!

The castle has gone through several owners and restorations over the years and it has been designated a national cultural landmark since 1999. There is a fee to enter, and inside you can find a museum, a printing shop, a wine cellar, and a fine dining restaurant. Plus a coffee shop that serves Bled Cream Cake if you need your daily slice. 😋

Straza Bled

For the thrill seekers, Straža Bled must be on your Lake Bled itinerary! This park is home to a 520 meters long (0.3 miles) toboggan, with several twists and turns. It catches some serious speed if you’re like us and hardly use the brakes!

To get to the toboggan you can either hike up (make sure to get your tickets in advance though!) or ride a chairlift. The chairlift lines can be long, but if you’re willing to wait, you will have fantastic views of Lake Bled and the surrounding area, which makes it worth it on its own.

Important to know: The toboggan is only available from spring to autumn, with hours varying by season. Also, if you purchase two toboggan rides with chairlift rides, you can skip the chairlift line on your second trip!

Dinner at Old Cellar Bled

End your time in Lake Bled with dinner right along the lakeshore at Old Cellar. Our well-traveled friends (Chad and Claire!) visited this restaurant and said it was one of their favorite meals on all of their travels! They focus on a seasonal menu and our friends loved their ribeye, lamb shank, and their Prekmurska Gibanica cake.

Planning your visit to Lake Bled

How to get to Lake Bled

Being one of the top places to visit in Slovenia, getting to Lake Bled is pretty easy, either by your own vehicle, public transportation, or on a group tour. Lake Bled is only about a 45 minute drive from Ljubljana and is easy to reach by rental car.

But if you do not have a vehicle, you can take a train from Ljubljana to Lesce-Bled Station (40 minutes), hop on the Arriva bus from Ljubljana (1 hour, 20 minutes), or book a direct shuttle via Nomago.

For those taking just a day trip to Lake Bled, you can also book a tour from Ljubljana! There are countless tours to choose from, but this Lake Bled tour includes many of the stops on our Lake Bled itinerary. However, we personally suggest visiting by car and following our Lake Bled day trip itinerary, which will allow you to spend more time at the lake.

Getting around Lake Bled

The nice thing about Lake Bled is that it’s a relatively small area and everything is accessible by foot or bike. So if you came to Bled by car, it would be easiest (and cheapest) to leave the car at your accommodation and get around the lake by walking, cycling, or public transportation. There are many different bike rental companies, plus a bike sharing service with different locations around the lake.

For public transportation, you can utilize taxis, horse-drawn carriages, pletna boats, electric boats, and a tourist train.

If you do need to park in town, Bled Central Parking would be your best bet. It also allows campervans to park during the day, which is not the case with many parking lots. Also, some roads are restricted for campervans, so make sure to keep an eye out for signs.

When to visit Lake Bled

Lake Bled is beautiful to visit year round, but it is most popular in the late spring-early fall, when it’s warm enough to swim and the scenery is lush and green.

However, we heard from locals that the summer crowds have grown pretty large over the past few years so if you can, we’d avoid visiting in the summer and choosing more of the late spring or fall timeframe. You’ll still have nice weather, but with slightly better rates and less crowds. If you don’t care about swimming or greener scenery, the winter is the least busiest time to visit. Just keep in mind that some attractions and businesses are closed during this time.

Our experience: We visited in early September, just after the summer rush and it was still very busy, but definitely enjoyable. Just make sure to start your day early to have a bit more solitude!

Where to stay at Lake Bled

There are countless lodging options around Lake Bled. You can find anything from camping to glamping to hotels and vacation rentals. While the pricing will be higher than some other places in the country, thankfully most accommodations are convenient to the lake, making it easy to explore.

Camping

Camping Bled (where we stayed!)
If you’re visiting Lake Bled in a campervan, which we highly recommend, then Camping Bled is a great spot. It’s located right across the southwestern end of the lake, opposite the village, so it’s a tad quieter. And there are tons of RV sites and tent sites, plus several shower houses, dish washing stations, as well as laundry on site. It was our most expensive campsite of our Slovenia campervan road trip, but for the amenities and convenience, it was well worth it!

A few things to know before staying here:

You need to book in advance, at least in the busier months. It was fully booked during our visit and people got turned away.
There is a gate at the entrance that closes at 11 PM and reopens at 7 AM. You are not allowed to enter or exit between these hours.
Like many campgrounds in Slovenia, privacy is non-existent here and everyone is parked close together.

River Camping Bled
For another campground option, River Camping Bled looks beautiful! While not on the lake, it does have river access and offers campervan sites, tent sites, and glamping accommodations.

Aire de Camping Car
For a more simple and legal place to park and sleep in your campervan, check out Aire de Camping Car. It’s a glorified parking lot with two toilets, although many reviews say the toilet paper is often out. This is a great spot if you don’t plan to spend much time at your campground.

Glamping

Prefer to glamp instead? Garden Village Bled is a dreamy property a short walk to the lake with treehouses and different glamping tents to rent. Plus a restaurant featuring food from their garden and a beautiful pool!

Hotels and vacation rentals

Rikli Balance Hotel: Every room has a balcony, breakfast is included, and it is in an amazing location less than a 5 minute walk to the lake. Oh, and they have an outdoor pool, plus an indoor pool with a waterslide!

Penzion Berc: This traditional, old world style hotel has a restaurant serving homemade meals made from locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast is included, plus it comes with free eBikes for your stay!

Lake House Sebanc: This is a small bed and breakfast apartment style accommodation on the west side of the lake in a more rural and quiet area. Imagine waking up and walking out to your quiet balcony overlooking the lake!

Hotel Starkl- Heritage & Unique: A stunning family owned and operated property on the lakeshore. Breakfast is included too!

Vila Alpina: A beautiful alpine style hotel with modern finishes, just a short walk from the lake!

See more hotel options in Lake Bled

What to bring to Lake Bled

Good walking & hiking shoes

This Lake Bled itinerary includes quite a bit of walking and hiking. The trails are pretty rocky, rooty, and steep, so you’ll want to have some good shoes.

Since we keep things pretty minimal on our international travels we’re usually wearing our Altra Lone Peaks (Adam’s and Kathryn’s) both on and off trail.

Sun protection

You’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors in Lake Bled, so make sure to bring a sun hoodie, hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Adam wears KALIYADI sunglasses and Kathryn wears Ray-Bans.

Towel

Make sure to bring a towel (either your own or from your lodging) as you explore the lake! Not only will this be helpful if you plan to swim, but it can also act as a blanket if you want to relax by the lakeshore. We personally like these travel microfiber towels!

Water bottle

We visited Lake Bled on a hot September day and got very sweaty walking around, so staying hydrated was a must! Our 3L Camelbak bladders help ensure we have enough water throughout the day. There are lots of places to fill up around the lake!

And with hiking and possibly cycling, we also recommend bringing some electrolytes. LMNT is our favorite! If you use this link, you get a free sample pack (8 packets!) with any order. Just make sure to pack a water bottle to put it in so you don’t mess up a Camelbak. We love our Yeti water bottle!

Swimsuit

Going for a dip is a must if visiting Lake Bled in the warmer months so be sure to pack a swimsuit. Adam often wears these Wellen Performance Lined Swim Trunks both as swim trunks and regular shorts. Their versatility is great for travel!

Cash

Some places we’ve suggested in this guide only take cash, so make sure to have some on hand just in case! You can find various ATMs on the eastern side of the lake if you run low on euros.