How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Lake Bled, Slovenia

Option #1: Go on a tour

Don’t have access to a vehicle? You can go on a day trip tour to Lake Bled from Ljubljana! These tours will not only handle your transportation to and from the lake, but also help you get around the lake and give you access to a knowledgeable guide. 

Being one of the best day trips from Ljubljana there are countless tours to choose from, but these two are our top picks: 

• Trip to Lake Bled and Bled Castle: This tour includes many of the stops on our Lake Bled day trip itinerary.
• Lake Bled and Bohinj with Savica waterfall included: This tour not only takes you to Lake Bled, but also to the neighboring Lake Bohinj, which boasts a stunning waterfall.

The downside of booking a Lake Bled day trip tour is that you’ll have limited time at the lake (versus going on your own), have a set schedule, and have limited free time. These tours are a good option if just seeing the lake is your top goal. If you want to truly experience the lake, we’d recommend option #2!

With one day in Lake Bled you won’t be able to do all of the best things to do, but you will be able to see the major highlights! 

This Lake Bled day trip itinerary includes our personal favorite stops from our two days in Lake Bled, including where to get the best Bled Cream Cake, our favorite viewpoint, and more. To ensure you have enough time to do it all, we suggest trying to get to the lake by 8 AM.

Have two days in Lake Bled? Check out our two day Lake Bled itinerary, where you’ll be able to experience even more of the area, like Vintgar Gorge! And to see our experience at Lake Bled, check out our full video.

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 this Lake Bled day trip itinerary is doable by bike or with some longer walks!

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

• Polka Dot Cycling
• Mamut Slovenia
• Funturist
• Discover by Bike

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

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.

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 Old Cellar Bled or Oštarija Peglez’n afterwards for 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!

For the thrill seekers, head to Straža Bled to ride down their toboggan! The chairlift lines can be long, so if you arrive and it’s super busy, you may have to skip this. But if you’re doing well on time and there isn’t too much of a wait, it was easily one of our favorite things we did in Lake Bled.

Not only is the toboggan itself a blast (you can get a lot of speed if you choose!), but the chairlift journey to get to the top of the toboggan hill is super scenic. You will have fantastic views of Lake Bled and the surrounding area from up here, which makes it worth it on its own. It’s also possible to hike to the top instead, which is a good option if the chairlift lines are long. Just make sure to buy your toboggan tickets at the bottom before making the climb!

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! 

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! 

If you opt to spend the night after your Lake Bled day trip, there are many options for lodging. 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 and 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!