Bled, Slovenia: The Perfect Travel Destination

Could it be the charming castle that sits upon the cliffside? How about the cathedral that appears to hover in the center of the lake? Maybe it’s the beauty that can befall you in any direction you walk. There are too many possibilities. Here are some of my favorites.

Bled, Slovenia

I just cannot get enough…

Lake Bled is a magical place that is tucked away nearly an hour outside of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. My first time here was over 10 years ago. I had no idea what to expect when I found this place via the Interrail train system, but it has forever changed my travel. Now on my 4th visit here, it is certainly a place that echoes for long term settlement, at least in my mind. There are many day trips outside of Bled that I will discuss in the future. Let’s focus on the heart of the town.

You will likely train or fly to Ljubljana, and then you’ll bus to Lake Bled. You could attempt to taxi, but that will be less cost efficient. Yet ,it is doable. Better yet, rent a car. I recently rented a car in Slovenia and trekked it to Croatia. It is possible, and if done correctly, not too expensive.

Night after night…

Can you capture the light?

Once you step foot into the town, it will be difficult to miss the castle. Within a few minutes of walking, you will come upon the lake. Most of the action and places are on the east side of the lake. However, you can walk the whole lake in under an hour. I still recommend accommodations on the east side. I was lucky in that my apartment overlooked the castle. Every night I’d walk home lakeside, ascend upstairs, and still have the orange glow of Bled Castle in view. It never gets old. If you face east, you also get an exceptionally vivid image of the mountains. It is difficult to describe how sharp they appear to the eye. I am still unclear why the mountains here look different. Yet I told you, beauty befalls you in every direction.

I am through and through addicted to pizza, this is true. There is a reason for people regarding me as a Ninja Turtle 🙃. You would assume, coming directly from Italy, that I would be hard pressed to find cuisine that compares. Lake Bled, surprisingly, has epic food. In fact, I go one step further to say that I prefer it over most Italian food, at least on this visit. There are a few places I’ve frequented here. As I do this again, I am even more impressed.

Špica Restavracija

Eat, drink, be merry

My favorite place comes first, Špica. This is a restaurant, pizzeria, and bar. My memory is fuzzy, but I recall this being one of very few options in 2014. If you choose to eat indoors, the ambiance is subtle, and the décor is entertaining. If you’re into Olympics, you may find some details of the owner interesting as their medals are on display. If you’re like me, you’ll sit outside. Here you have a straight shot view of the lake. If you eat at sunset, it’s miraculous, especially if you’re the only patrons. This place has seemed to take a turn for the more edgy crowd, but the food is still amazing. I recommend the burgers. If you go to Lake Bled, this is almost a given.

Pizzeria Rustika

Sort of hidden, sort of basic, with pizza that is sort of delicious

If you’re in the mood for pizza, check out Pizzeria Rustika. It’s tucked away a little upwards on the path between the lake and the castle. It has outdoor seating upstairs and indoor downstairs. The brick oven is in view when you enter, and the pizzas that come out of it are spectacular. This is, by far, the best pizza spot in the area. Even the salad is good, so get both!

For breakfast, I was a repeat customer at the lake view restaurant Caffe Peglez'n. This doesn’t have an apparent sign, but it’s very near to Spica. You may recognize it by its spacious outdoor seating. The service was great, the view was great, the food was great… great, great, great.

For dessert, you can walk to the shopping center. It’s usually open the latest due to its vicinity to the small bars nearby. You have multiple choices of ice cream. I highly recommend the one on the far right, Maximal Lounge & Bar. The owner is a very nice guy with far superior service standards compared to his counterpart next door. The ice cream is equally tasty. You can take it back by the lake, or sit in the central seating area and enjoy a drink as well.

Blejska kremšnita

The original *Bled Cream Cake*. This is what dreams are made of!

You cannot go to Bled without trying the infamous “Bled Cream Cake.” It is true, it’s served all over now. The original is from a pastry chef who traveled to Bled after WWII and worked at the Park Hotel Café. It’s quite easy to see the Park Hotel as it sits waterfront directly across from the castle. The restaurant is located across the street from the hotel and is called Kavarna Park. Yep, it’s a little confusing. This restaurant doesn’t have a plethora of food to offer, but it has good food. It does, however, have a vast amount of seating, both indoor and out. If you get lucky, you can sit on the outer rim and be at the waters edge, right above the walkways below. Go here, order the cake, and I can almost bet money that you’ll repeat the ritual daily 🤣. It is that good.

Bled Castle

Multiple routes, yet this is the most fun

Bled Castle is shortly after an inclined set of switchback paths that lead up the hill. You can easily walk there in about 10 minutes. If you are not able to hike up, no worries. You can drive or taxi up, and park in front. The entrance fee is roughly 12 Euros and has variations for students and children. You can easily spend a day up here. It is not large, but it’s peaceful. If you can come on a weekday, I exceedingly recommend that over a Saturday. If you have to come on the weekend, come later in the day, and it will clear out a bit.

The castle ledges

Substantially higher than you thought you were 🤣

Inside, you’ll find viewpoints from walkways, and pretty much all over the place. The best views will be by the restaurant which is the furthest point up that you can go. It is now blocked by a railing, but many years ago you could freely sit on the ledge. I will now cherish those photos that I have sitting there. Although, this isn’t for the faint of heart as the drop is hundreds of feet straight down from the ledge. If you don’t like heights, don’t lean over and glance 🤣.

The Print Shop

Welcome to medieval art at its finest

There is a wine cellar where they still make their own wine. There is a honey shop that is shaped like a honeycomb. Honey is a large commodity in Slovenia. There is a souvenir shop with hand crafted goods. I also got a real silver coin from here which was created by the historical foundation. The most interesting shop has to be the print shop. They create works on hand-made paper of various types, and they use a reconstructed Gutenberg's wooden printing press. The gentleman working there is full of historical facts and easy to listen to. We made a commemorative print for our trip with the date and names. It also included the original photo, you can choose your own, from the first book printed in Slovenia, which was a fun fact.

Remember the times

It’s the little things that can make memories even more special

You can also eat at the restaurant, which is highly regarded, or dine at the café near the entrance. There are many little parts to explore here as well. You’ll find a web of museums connected by stairs and windows. You may even get as lucky as we did and find yourself in the middle of a choir performance.

The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake is a special place. The original church was in the 12th century. It was renovated in 15th century, and rebuilt after an earthquake in the 17th century. You’ll use a Pletna boat, like a large Gondola, to access the island. I believe travel is limited, but you can go and visit the church. My favorite thing to do is to walk the lake and try to capture good angles of the church. Bring a zoom lens. Either way, it really is something to see.

Local art is the best art

Meet **Miha** on your next trip to Bled. He’s a class act and a brilliant photographer!

I cannot forget to mention a special gentleman whom I met many years ago, and I happened to recently meet again. His name is Miha Trpin, or Michael in the English translation. He would say it’s reminiscent of Michael the Archangel. A deeply spiritual man, which reflected when I first purchased a hand crafted souvenir from him many years ago. He included a prayer card with Mary, mother of Jesus, along with my souvenir.

I make strong efforts to support local businesses, and only purchase souvenirs that are hand crafted by residents of the locations. As you know, this can be a difficult feat with the gobs of imported, printed, copied souvenirs all over the world.

Photos of photos

I find the best way to commemorate souvenirs is to photograph them at their location

An impressive feat, Miha takes long hikes to high and far locations at all hours of the day and night. He does this to capture some amazing photography that is only visible at key times of day and year. He then prints these on extremely well made and various sized magnets. He even signs some of them. Seeing these in person, you can understand the quality before even knowing the story behind them. In 2023, my companions and I happily chose new ones. He also makes glassware and other custom designed wares. If you have the luggage space, you may take them all!

We spent some time getting to know Miha, his ambitions, his works, and we now appreciate having a little memento of Bled even more. It made our trip that much more special. Thank you Miha, we wish you well in your future journeys.

The lake itself is the heart of Bled. It is peaceful, it is beautiful, it is more than a typical lake. Yes, you can partake in swimming, boating, and other options, but to view its calm motion is the special part. There are many benches from many locations where you can rest, gaze, and reflect. My favorite is just past the castle on the lower walkways. This bench is the go to for relaxing in nature.

If you’re up for some activities, you have a lot to choose from. You can rent bikes here for very little, sometimes as low as 5 Euros for a few hours. You can bike the lake. You can also bike to nearby hikes. You can swim in the permitted sections, but this is more a summer event. You can row as well. If you come in winter, there is a ski resort about half an hour away. My favorite activity here has to be jogging around the lake. If you choose the right time of day, it’s perfect.

The east side

Ever growing, yet ever pleasing

I was last in Bled in 2018. Now, in 2023, it has expanded far more than any other span in between visits. It’s bittersweet. On one hand, it’s nice to see new things arise, more markets, more restaurants, etc. I used to only know of one market on the east side, now there are at least 3. On the other hand, I had my first run in with hordes of not so respectful tourists here which made me a bit sad. Bled is a wonderful place, but it does fall victim to tourist traps in summer. I have spoken with many locals that regard it this way. I believe that you should respect the places you visit, adapt to their customs and mannerisms, and do your best to respect the people and country. Unfortunately, we all know that doesn’t seem to be the case for many tourists 😑. Just try to do your best. In summary, if you want the tranquil experience, come in the off-season. If you like to party, come in summer. If you want a little of both, try March-May or September, as we do.

You can avoid crowds by selecting when and where you visit. The best piece of advice I can give is to visit Bled with time to spare. Stay at least 4-6 days here. Live like a local, develop a morning routine, repeat the places you like whether it be the castle, the lake, or the cake!

Check out all the photos HERE in the GALLERY!

See you next time! Adijo!