Exploring Bled And Ljubljana: Is Lake Bled Worth Visiting?
An Introduction to Slovenia
You may have heard of Slovenia’s most famous attraction, Lake Bled. Is Lake Bled worth visiting? Well here I will explain everything you need to know based on my own experiences visiting Slovenia in March 2023. What about the capital Ljubljana? I will talk about that too. But first, let’s cover some of the history of Slovenia.
Slovenia has come a long way since being part of the former Yugoslavia. It left the socialist bloc on amicable terms in 1991 and has since built a reputation as one of Europe’s up-and-coming tourist spots.
The country borders Italy, Croatia, Austria and Hungary. Many of its neighbours are famous for beautiful scenery, and this tiny nation on the edge of the Balkans is no different. A country of lakes and mountains, known for the stunning Lake Bled above all others.
Almost 95% of Slovenia’s population is made up of ethnic Slovenes. The Slovenes are a South Slavic ethnic group, originating from Moravia (modern-day Czech Republic) in the 6th century.
Slovene is also the language spoken in Slovenia. Hungarian and Italian are recognised as co-official languages. Slovenia is one of the most multi-lingual countries in Europe with German and English widely taught. Serbo-Croatian is also well known. In fact Slovenia has an exit exam called the Matura, taken by young adults just before finishing their secondary education. There are five subjects including three which are compulsory: Slovene, maths and a foreign language. English is the most common these days. Therefore don’t be surprised to see most Slovenians, particularly the younger ones, be fluent in English.
Is Slovenia Safe?
A rhetorical question really. Yes, as with any Eastern or Central European country (with the obvious exception of Ukraine), Slovenia is very safe. In fact Slovenia ranks as one of the 7 safest countries in the world. Crime is virtually unheard of.
Natural disasters are also little to worry about here. There are no active volcanoes and no major earthquakes have occurred for over 500 years. The 1511 Idrija earthquake was the last to cause significant damage. Flooding however is a risk with 7 killed in August 2023. Yet the risk is still very low and should not impact on your holiday plans.
Accommodation Recommendations in Slovenia
I will only ever recommend places I have been. Therefore this section will focus solely on the two places I stayed in Slovenia. If you are not into hostels then I would recommend skipping this section entirely.
Lake Bled – Bled Hostel
Coming in at an 8.8 rating on Booking and 9.3 on Hostelworld at the time of writing, Bled Hostel is clearly a popular one. Rooms cost £14 ($17) per night for a single bed in a shared dorm room.
Pros
The staff there were friendly. They helped explain how the hostel works and showed me to the room. Then gave a tour of the building making me aware of where the kitchen and bathroom were located.
The location is also excellent, just an 8-minute walk from the lake itself.
Cons
The wifi was terrible. It would cut out every minute or so during the worst periods.
There are no privacy curtains on the beds. Privacy curtains are becoming a lot more common in hostels these days. Yet here you are completely open to the sights and sounds of your roommates. Also, there were not enough bathrooms and showers to accommodate the number of guests.
Lastly, the price was a little high given that this is a hostel and it offers the bare minimum. Although the location is a key factor in that.
Overall
The options aren’t great in Lake Bled for a budget traveller. The popular location means even the worst places cost a little more than you’d find elsewhere in this part of Europe.
This is a social hostel as it is easy to meet people in your room and the common areas. However it is not a party hostel. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on you.
You won’t find much for a better price here. I wouldn’t consider this one of the best places I’ve ever stayed, but it’s not terrible either. And you have to accept that prices are higher given the location. Would personally give it a 5/10.
Ljubljana – Cabin HOSTEL
In Ljubljana I spent two nights in Cabin HOSTEL, a half-hour walk from the city centre. Coming in at £17 ($21) per night for a single bed, it’s one of the cheapest spots in the city.
Pros
An introvert’s dream. There’s no receptionist here. Or any staff beyond the cleaner who comes in daily to clean the common areas and change the beds. You will be sent a door code once your booking and payment is confirmed. This is used to access the building.
There are privacy curtains giving you your own space, undisturbed by others. You also have a TV within your cabin. Lockers are included below your bed.
Cons
The downside of having no staff means there can be more issues with the guests. On my second night there was a rowdy party crowd drinking and shouting loudly. It did take the shine off an otherwise great place to stay in all honesty.
Overall
I would highly recommend this place for single travellers who are not looking to party or socialise. It is good for digital nomads to stay here and get some work done in peace, unless you have bad luck with rowdy neighbours. It is a bit of a walk from the city centre however, so keep that in mind. I would personally rank this hostel as at least a solid 8/10.
How to Spend a Day at Lake Bled
Is Lake Bled worth visiting? Let me tell you how to make the most of a day here, and you can make up your own mind.
Activities Around the Lake
One of the best things you can do at Lake Bled is walk! It takes around 1.5 hours to complete the 6km walk around the lake. And you can cover all angles, plus walk up to viewpoints along the way.
Boat rides are also an option. You can take the Bled boat line which will enable you to take a £12/$15 ride to the island in the middle of the lake.
The island is home to the Church of the Mother of God. It costs around £5 or $7 to enter the church and go all the way up to the clock tower.
That is if the church is open to the public at all. It is a popular wedding venue. Perhaps unsurprisingly due to the sheer beauty of the place.
Paddle boarding is also very popular on the lake. You’ll find various places to rent a board as you walk around the lake. You’re never a few minutes away from the closest rental shop, so don’t worry so much about where you need to go to find one.
Best Photo Spots
One spot stands out above all others when it come to photos. Is Lake Bled worth visiting solely for the views from above? Absolutely, and I can advise you of the best spot to do this.
It is called Ojstrica. Located on the western side of the lake, it is pretty much at the furthest point from most of the accommodation and amenities. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the top, and there is a solitary bench from which you can enjoy the scenery.
Ojstrica can easily be found on Google Maps at the coordinates (46.359363, 14.078778). The best times to head up are just in time for sunrise or sunset. Although I was unfortunate and only saw a minimal sunset.
The other popular viewpoint is at Bled Castle, just a 15-minute walk from the main “town” on the eastern shores of the lake. Although Ojstrica is normally the number one choice for visitors to Lake Bled.
Where to Eat Around Lake Bled
Almost all cafes and restaurants are on the lake’s eastern shore, alongside the majority of places to stay.
Lake Bled is no place for breakfast on a budget (or lunch, dinner, or anything else).
Alongside many Slovenian food restaurants, you have ARROI, which serves Asian cuisine including Thai and Japanese. Check out Mega Burger if you’re craving fast food. If pizza if your thing then Pizzerija Briksen and Pizzeria Rustika are the popular places to go.
For a sweeter treat, Pekarna Planika has several stores in Slovenia including one on Lake Bled’s eastern shore.
On the west side of the lake, there are very few options. Restaurant Zaka is one, but I’d suggest checking out the Google reviews on that one first…
Stick to the east for more variety.
To conclude, is Lake Bled worth visiting? Absolutely, yes!
What to do in Ljubljana
After two nights spent visiting Lake Bled, it was time to check out the capital. Unfortunately my time there was hampered by the weather, but there were still a few cool things to see and do.
The Dragon Bridge
Zmajski Most, more commonly known as Dragon Bridge, is perhaps the most unique attraction in Slovenia. Which is some feat since it is, erm, just a bridge.
It’s kinda cool though, I will admit that.
As legend goes, a man named Jason (not “Jason the Mighty” or anything cool, just plain old Jason), led the ancient Greek heroes known as Argonauts. Jason and his men slayed a dragon here, and founded the city of Ljubljana.
The bridge was built in 1901 with four large dragon statues standing on each corner. Today it is one of the most picturesque spots in the city.
Ljubljana Castle
Would we even be in a Central European country without a big old castle? Just like Bratislava, Budapest and countless other cities in the region, Ljubljana has its own offering here.
From the outside, Ljubljana Castle didn’t particularly stand out compared to others on the continent. It does offer nice views of the city however (depending on the weather).
The castle is just a short walk up from the city centre, and adult tickets cost from 16 euros (£14/$17) per person. I didn’t go in however and therefore cannot advise on whether this is worthwhile or not.
Central Market
The Central Market is an open-air market in the heart of Ljubljana. It is a place full of charm, with humble vendors selling fruits, vegetables and other local produce for affordable prices.
Markets are a great tool whilst travelling. They provide you with a lens with which you can view how everyday people live. Ljubljana’s Central Market is no different. This spot is definitely worth checking out, either to buy some groceries, or just enjoy a bit of people-watching.
Preseren Square
Just 5 minutes from the Central Market is Preseren Square.
Named after poet France Preseren, this square has a statue of the man himself in the centre.
The annual Ljubljana Dragon Festival takes place in this square. It is also famous for hosting concerts and sporting events amongst other things.
The square itself is surrounded by some impressive architecture typical of Central Europe.
Only small trains catered towards tourists run through the square. All other vehicles are banned.
Tivoli Park
Capping off this list of five places to visit in Ljubljana is Tivoli Park. It’s the largest green area in the capital, completely dwarfing the city centre in terms of size. You will require 20 minutes of walking time to get here.
Tivoli Park has many ponds and trees which can be enjoyed in the summer. Yet art fans will enjoy Tivoli Castle (a mansion, not a castle) which hosts many fine art prints from the last two centuries.
For contemporary history enthusiasts, Cekin Mansion may be more of interest to you. The National Museum of Contemporary History is currently located there.
And next door is something for sports lovers in the form of Tivoli Hall. The hall hosts both basketball and ice hockey matches, so why not catch a game if you’re in town whilst one is taking place?
This park certainly has something for everyone.
Fun fact: If you zoom out far enough on Google Maps, you can still see the green park along with neighbouring countries Italy, Croatia and Austria. That’s how big the park is!
Tips for Visiting Slovenia
To finish off, I will leave you with a few tips for visiting Slovenia. As a Central European country it is pretty easy to navigate and has no safety issues to concern you. However there are one of two bits of information worth considering whilst planning your trip.
How Expensive is it?
Slovenia ranked 3/15 in terms of the most expensive countries I visited during three months in Europe from Greece to Poland, and most countries in-between.
Of the two more expensive countries, Serbia was an anomaly. The overpriced touristy restaurants were too good to refuse! Whilst Greece was top with expenditure of £36 ($45) per day.
Slovenia cost me £27 ($34) per day to visit. Steeper accommodation costs were the main reason for this, whilst food wasn’t as cheap as most other countries, particularly in the Balkans.
Slovenia is cheap compared to neighbouring Italy, yet I would give it a 6.5/10 for costs compared to all countries worldwide. It’s not unaffordable, and it’s not budget friendly either. Slovenia ranks slightly above average for costs.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Is Lake Bled worth visiting in the winter? Well, you may have some issues finding an affordable place to stay. Many hostels and hotels close their doors during the cooler months as tourist numbers plummet. Therefore the already scarce accommodation choice become even more costly.
Generally May to October are your best months to visit. The weather is good and the lake accessible. Although it is a double-edged sword with the high season also being the priciest season.
The shoulder seasons around March-May and September-October are best for keeping the right balance between affordable costs, moderate crowds and reasonable weather.
Therefore I would say those are the best times to visit. Lake Bled is certainly more of a seasonal destination than Ljubljana, which can be visited easily year-round.
Anything Else You Should Know Before Visiting Slovenia
Whilst I didn’t make it beyond the two places mentioned in this post, Slovenia is said to have some stunning lesser-known destinations to visit too.
Lake Bohinj is one name repeated to me on many occasions, apparently even better than Bled according to those who’ve been. Whilst the Soca Valley is allegedly beautiful, and a place to admire stunning rivers.
Tolmin Gorge is the final name I’ve heard many good things about.
However as a travel blogger priding myself on sharing authentic and real experiences, I cannot go into detail about locations I’ve not visited.
So… Is Lake Bled Worth Visiting? What About Ljubljana?
I would say a massive yes to Lake Bled. It is stunning and absolutely lives up to all the beautiful pictures you may have seen.
Ljubljana on the other hand, was a nice city, but I wouldn’t say it stands out above other places I’ve been. There are many great cities in Europe and across the world. Ljubljana is nice, yet I would stop short of calling it spectacular.
The Dragon Bridge and park were nice. Although I would say I was a victim of the weather here with two gloomy days alternating between overcast skies and heavy rain.
At the end of the day travel is subjective and unique to each individual’s personal experiences. You may love Ljubljana a little more than I did if you go on a more pleasant day.
If you wish to read more stories, tips and guides from my adventure to every country in the world, please check out my blog contents page.
