Top 20 activities in Bled

Regardless of the time of year you visit Bled, you will certainly never be bored. You can choose one of 20 unforgettable activities that will stay with you for a long time. Each of them adds a special touch to the wonderful Bled environment, which delights with its beauty and peculiarities.

 

1. Visit the Bled Island on a “pletna” boat and ring the wishing bell

 

© Jošt Gantar

A unique and special experience awaits everyone who goes to the Bled Island in a traditional boat called “pletna”. These boats have been used to transport visitors to the island for many years and are still operated by experienced boatmen today. In the centre of the island stands the picturesque Church of the Mother of God on the Lake, and make sure to ring the bell when you visit. Legend has it that if you ring the bell and make a wish, it will come true. Of course, the island itself is also worth exploring with its beautiful surroundings and plenty of opportunities to create attractive photos.

 

2. Visit the Bled Castle

 

© Jošt Gantar

Bled Castle, located on a cliff overlooking the lake, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Slovenia. It is the oldest castle in Slovenia, and is designed in such a way that you can explore the museum, located inside the castle, the castle chapel, printing works and wine cellar. At the end of the tour, don’t forget to stop by the souvenir shop to take home something that will remind you of your memorable adventure.

 

3. Try the Bled cream cake

 

© Jošt Gantar

The Bled cream cake is surely one of the symbols of Bled cuisine, which has been prepared for almost 70 years. It is a mixture of delicious vanilla cream, puff pastry and whipped sweet cream, and all the ingredients must be natural and arranged in the correct proportions. You can enjoy the cream cake on one of the hotel terraces overlooking Lake Bled, and the original comes from Kavarna Park, where you can also buy it to take away.

 

4. Take a walk through the picturesque Vintgar Gorge

 

© Jošt Gantar

This beautiful gorge is located just a few kilometres from Lake Bled and is one you will remember for a long time. The 1.6-kilometre-long walk through the gorge is not difficult and takes you past stunning waterfalls and pools filled by the Radovna river. You can also admire the mighty 13-metre-high Šum waterfall.

 

5. Go on a ride with a “fijaker” horse-drawn carriage

 

© Jošt Gantar

You can drive around Bled and the surrounding area with a traditional Bled means of transport – a horse-drawn carriage or “fijaker”. These are open carriages, in which during the panoramic ride you can also experience the pulse of the past. The “fijaker” carriages have a similar tradition as the “pletna” boats, since they boomed with the arrival of the railway and tourism, as guests from the railway station needed transport to the centre and to the hotels. The “fijaker” driver cannot just be anybody, since this profession is passed down from generation to generation. Today, Bled’s “fijaker” carriages have become a kind of tourist attraction, as they still keep the traditional uniform with a black cardigan, trousers and hat, a white shirt and a waistcoat with embroidered carnations of Gorenjska region.

 

6. Take a walk around Lake Bled

 

© Jošt Gantar

At any time of the year, you will certainly not regret the decision to walk the 6-kilometre-long trail around Lake Bled. The trail is also suitable for strollers and is mostly asphalted, only a short section of the trail is macadam. It takes an hour of walking to complete the trail, probably a little more, because you will definitely stop and admire the beauty that surrounds you, or in the meantime turn to one of the terraces of restaurants and hotels and refresh yourselves with delicious local delicacies.

 

7. Enjoy hiking and visit the solitary hills of Bled

 

© Jošt Gantar

There are plenty of opportunities for hiking around Bled, as you can choose from a variety of trails of varying difficulty. Among the most popular spots with beautiful views are the tops of mounts Ojstrica, Mala Osojnica, Velika Osojnica, Straža or even mid-range mountain trips to Jelovica (Talež) and Pokljuka (Galetovec). A novelty introduced in 2019 that can be a real challenge for hiking enthusiasts is the 330-kilometre-long Juliana Trail. It passes through valleys and mountain passes along the edge of the Julian Alps and the Triglav National Park.

 

8. Enjoy cycling through a picturesque countryside

 

© Mojca Odar

When visiting the surrounding area of Bled, you can combine the pleasant with the useful and see many sights on a bicycle. Although special cycling routes are limited, many local roads and cart tracks between villages in the vicinity of Bled are suitable for cycling trips. For mountain biking enthusiasts, the forest roads on the plateaus of Jelovica, Pokljuka and Mežakla offer a real challenge. Alternatively, you may decide for a several-days-long circular trail with the starting point and destination in Bled, such as the 7-day-long Juliana Bike Tour or the 5-day-long Trans Karavanke MTB Trail.

 

9. Experience unforgettable views with a hot air balloon

 

A hot air balloon flight is a unique opportunity to see Bled and its surroundings with a panoramic flight that will reveal breathtaking views. The flight can be made in all seasons, and the direction of travel depends on the wind.

 

10. Enjoy playing golf on the largest golf course in Slovenia

 

© Aleš Fevžer

Bled is home to the largest Slovenian golf course, which was opened in 1937. It is still considered one of the most beautiful golf courses in Europe. You can use it from March to November, and the land is slightly uneven and overgrown with forest. During a game you can also enjoy wonderful views of the mighty Karavanke mountain range and the peaks of the Julian Alps with Triglav in the background. The golf course also hosts numerous international tournaments each year.

 

11. Discover the charming underground caves

 

© Bogdan Kladnik

There are quite a few caves in the area of ​​Bled, but the most visited are the Cave under Mt. Babji zob and the Šimen Cave. A visit to the Cave under Mt. Babji zob is possible from July to August upon prior arrangement every Sunday at 10:00, and from May to October only upon prior arrangement. A guided tour of the Šimen Cave is only possible by appointment.

 

12. Relax by swimming and bathing

 

© Jošt Gantar

On warm days, Lake Bled invites you to refresh yourselves in it, where there are quite a few swimming pools, namely the castle lido, the private swimming pool of Villa Bled, the private swimming pool of the Grand Hotel Toplice, and the bathing waters in Mala and Velika Zaka. There are also healing springs in Lake Bled, which have a beneficial effect on human health. If you are a big fan of pools, you can relax in the indoor thermal pool of the Grand Hotel Toplice or in the swimming pools of the Rikli Balance hotel.

 

13. Experience the adrenaline rush of summer sledding

 

© Jošt Gantar

You can experience summer sledding at the Straža Hill, where a daring track runs from the top of the hill. While twisting and turning, you will also be able to admire the exceptional views of Bled with the castle and lake.

 

14. Enjoy a dose of excitement with rafting down the Sava Dolinka river

 

© Adventure rafting Bled

Have a fun and interesting experience rafting down the rapids of the Sava Dolinka river, where you can embark on a water adventure accompanied by experienced guides. Rafting is not demanding and is suitable even for younger and inexperienced rafters. You will enjoy the view of the natural beauty around the river, and in the warmer months you can even refresh yourselves by jumping into the water.

 

15. Experience gorging that will reveal hidden corners to you

 

© OUTDoor Slovenia

Gorging allows you to explore and experience the charms of unspoilt nature from a river perspective, where you would not have access without experienced guides and the right equipment. Believe us, the world looks completely different in the bed of a wild Alpine river, as you can discover many mysterious and remote corners there. Gorging in Bled is a safe activity, which is suitable for anyone and does not require special physical fitness.

 

16. Test yourselves in rowing in a wooden boat

 

© Jošt Gantar

Lake Bled will also enchant you from the surface of the water, which you can explore on your own by renting a wooden boat. The more courageous ones can row all the way to the Bled Island, or stay closer to the coast and discover various hidden corners.

 

17. Soar through the sky and experience something that only a zipline can offer

 

© Zipline Dolinka

Try the Zipline Dolinka, which will impress you with a 4 km descent, 7 ziplines ranging in length from 350 to 700 m, and the possibility of six descents over the Sava Dolinka river. Another zipline awaits you near Radovljica, where you can also indulge in an unforgettable adrenaline adventure that takes you 25 metres above the Sava river. When descending, you can reach the speed of 30–40 km/h. The zipline operates year round, except in bad weather.

 

18. Enjoy winter delights with cross-country skiing

 

© Jošt Gantar

Bled and its surroundings have quite a few beautiful trails that are perfect for cross-country skiing. You can find the most comprehensive range of well-maintained trails that also run across vast high mountain pastures on the Pokljuka plateau, where a Bled winter shuttle will take you. You can also rent sports equipment or attend a professional cross-country skiing school.

 

19. Take to the heights with a hang-glider

 

© Nejc Vurnik

Experience the sensation of flying and glide in tandem with an experienced paraglider above the magnificent Bled landscape. You'll get a rush of adrenaline as you jump, but at the same time, you won't be able to see all the beauty unfolding before you.

 

 

20. Treat yourselves and relax in a wellness centre

 

© Jošt Gantar

When you want to completely disconnect, we recommend a visit to the wellness centre, where you will pamper both body and soul. You can visit the Wellness Živa in the Rikli Balance hotel, which offers a heavenly view of Bled, Wellness Astoria, Spa Luisa, Wellness in the Hotel Triglav Bled, Rose wellness or Wellness Essense Bled, where you can relax and ease the tension in the embrace of nature.