Lake Bled is a fairytale – like lake near the town of Bled. It’s situated between the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana and the Alps. It’sutterly stunning and a must see when you are visiting Slovenia. The following things are a must do on your day trip to lake Bled.
Bled castle
Overlooking the lake is the medieval castle of Bled. The castle is believed to be the oldest of Slovenia. In summer months a hike to the entrance of the castle is a real challenge, but the view is absolutely amazing! Be sure to take some refreshments with you along the way.
There is also a museum with a permanent exhibition that covers the history of the castle and it’s surroundings. Nothing too spectacular, but it’s not bad either.Entrance fee is 9 euro. The castle is open from 8u00 ’till 18u00 – 21u00 depending on the time of the year.
Bled island church
In the middle of the lake there is a little tear – shaped island where you can find the Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church. It’s a unique very romantic spot often used for weddings. It is possible during your day trip to lake Bled to rent passage on a traditional wooden row barge that sails visitors from and to the island, but if you are adventurous or if you want to impress then you can rent your own row – boat or kayak too. A large shared barge will cost you 12 euro.
When you enter the island you’ll be greeted by 99 steps, which by tradition is said to bring good fortune if a groom carries his bride all the way up.
Swimming in lake Bled
Around the lake are several places where you can go swimming, but the best places are either on the western side near the camping grounds or right underneath the castle. The water is fresh and has a nice temperature during the summer, which means you don’t have to bite your lip when going in.
On the western shore swimming is free and the water is shallow to enter. The only downside is that you won’t find any changing cubicles, toilets, lifeguards or bars here. It’s basically just a “beach” with no accommodation.
Your other option on your day trip to lake Bled is The castle bathing area, a public lido that charges an entrance fee. They offer lockers, changing rooms, parasols, a grassy beach, water slides, a restaurant and everything else you can wish for. They also blocked of parts of the lake to create different swimming pools, which is particularly useful if you don’t want the kids to wander of too far. Everything is also securely watched by different lifeguards. Besides swimming, it is also possible to rent a row – boat or kayak if you want to pay a visit to the island.
Entrance fee is 7 euro for a whole day and a changing room will set you back another 7 euro. If you’re comfortable enough you can change to your swimsuit with a towel wrapped around your waist. This way you will only need a locker which is 2 euro’s for a whole day.
Weather and climate
Summer months are best for a trip to lake Bled. Summer is short in the area around lake Bled and it can be very unpredictable, but if you are in luck the days are long and the temperature can easily exceed 25°C. By average July is the month with the most hours of sunshine, 9 hours to be exact.
If you don’t mind the cold then a visit in the winter can be a very romantic experience. During this time the lake and it’s surroundings are often covered in a blanket of snow. January typically has the highest amount of days covered in snow and it’s not surprisingly also the coldest month of the year with an average low of – 5,6°C. Avoid December and January by all cost if you do not like the holiday season and the festivities it brings with it.
Let me know in the comments if you ever visited lake Bled and if so tell me about your experience.
Know more about hiking tips,Travel experience and gear review : Best Camping Hammock.