Not one little bit.
Image this:
You’re within the Julian Alps.
A fairytale medieval citadel with Romanesque tower, drawbridge and moat sits perched up excessive, overlooking a peaceful glistening lake rippling solely by the flap of a duck wing or the dip of a kayak paddle.
A small island residence to a church and legends sits within the heart of all of it, whereas al fresco cafés and ambient paths create an gratifying define.
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Dreamy, proper?
However sufficient with the explaining.
Let me set this lovely scene by way of images:
This all being stated, there are particular experiences at Lake Bled which might be extraordinarily overrated.
My journey to Slovenia was a solo journey, and touring low season meant the hostels have been fairly empty and there weren’t many excursions operating.
Mainly, I’d been having basically a silent retreat and apart for a couple of locals by way of homestays, the one phrases I’d uttered just lately have been “espresso, please” or “the massive slice with pepperoni.”
So, when the bus dropped me off at Lake Bled and I discovered different misplaced English-speakers, I used to be instantly excited.
Two have been from Miami learning overseas in Prague, Lauren, and Kirlos, and the opposite was a French woman, Sophie, residing in London.
All of us instantly clicked and determined to discover collectively.
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Desk of Contents
- Visiting Lake Bled Journey Video
- The Worst Of Visiting Lake Bled
- The Greatest Of Visiting Lake Bled
- Lake Bled Mountain climbing
- Lake Bled Lodges
- Lake Bled House Leases
- Journey Insurance coverage
- Bonus Slovenia Journey Information Posts:
Visiting Lake Bled Journey Video
Earlier than studying additional…
You’ll study precisely what makes Lake Bled so particular.
The Worst Of Visiting Lake Bled
“We’re planning on doing a ship journey to Bled Island,” stated Lauren. “You may ring the wishing bell. It’s the principle attraction of Lake Bled.”
As I regarded round and spied nothing however water and woodland, I had a tough time believing a church bell could be the principle attraction.
“Wait, so that you imply that basically tiny island within the heart of Lake Bled?”
She nodded.
Bled Island
I might odor this vacationer entice a mile away.
Pay 12 Euros ($13 USD) to take a 15-minute boat experience to an island the dimensions of my house. This sounded particularly ridiculous as your entire spherical journey bus journey from Ljubljana was 12.80 Euros ($14).
Not solely that, however you then must pay 6 Euros ($6) to see the points of interest — an exhibition, church with wishing bell, and tower with some type of pendulum-operated time-telling system.
It was the type of factor I loathed, to not point out we have been surrounded by beautiful Lake Bled mountains that will be extra enjoyable to discover. Nevertheless, I wished to hangout with my new buddies.
“Okay, however my want higher come true once I ring that bell!” I half-joked.
My instincts have been 100% appropriate about this island.
The large pendulum clock was fairly attention-grabbing, with your entire tower go to taking about quarter-hour, most of which is spent climbing the big staircase up, which has bible verses referring to the appreciation of time.
The Seventeenth-century baroque Assumption of Mary Church is fairly, however the wishing bell is so excessive up into the church tower you possibly can’t even see it.
You merely pull a protracted rope close to the alter that seems to be hooked up to nothing and hope it’s the best bell.
Ringing the wishing bell. I’m sorry, however I can’t take a look at that educational signal with out bursting into laughter.
The vacationers are coming!
You may climb up into this tower to see an previous pendulum-style time telling system
There was a legend that if a groom might carry his bride up the church’s 99 steps and ring the bell, the wedding could be a contented one; nonetheless, these steps have been closed to the general public.
The exhibition I didn’t actually take a look at. We have been visiting Lake Bled in March, that means it was low season and we have been solely allowed half-hour on the island, which I wished to spend taking images.
Fast be aware:
The very best time to go to Lake Bled, by way of every thing being open and having good climate, is Might by way of September.
That being stated, remember that touring to Lake Bled in July and August can get crowded.
Now again to my rant:
Don’t waste your time on Bled Island, at the very least for my part, particularly for the worth.
I could have loved it extra if I rowed there myself as a result of at the very least I’d have felt prefer it was an exercise; nonetheless, the row boat rental firm was not open but for the day after we have been making an attempt to go to the island. It additionally appeared prefer it might probably get costly at 15 Euros ($16) per hour.
Additionally, don’t overlook to deliver snacks!
I’m unsure if it’s as a result of it was low season, however there weren’t a ton of fast budget-friendly choices for meals.
I ended up consuming three panini sandwiches that weren’t excellent.
It will have been a lot simpler for me to simply deliver my very own nourishment, which I normally do as a defensive traveler. Trace: I’m a giant fan of TSA-friendly PROBAR Meal Bars, particularly the Banana Nut Bread taste.
And lastly, don’t fear about getting misplaced.
In case you’re questioning the best way to get to Lake Bled, you’ll be blissful to know that after the bus drops you off you possibly can merely observe a path behind the bus station that leads proper all the way down to this Slovenia attraction.
You’ll be there in lower than 10 minutes.
The Greatest Of Visiting Lake Bled
Now to the extra cheerful part of my publish. Regardless of dropping 18 Euros ($19) throughout my crappy boat tour, I had gained three new buddies, so to me it was price it ultimately.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
What was significantly superior about them was they have been significantly better planners than I used to be — whose plan encompassed not planning something — and they also had a slew of energetic adventures they wished to embark on. In fact, I used to be down.
At this level, it was important for us to get meals reserves as we’d be having an energetic day, beginning with renting bikes from the vacationer info workplace proper on the Lake (3 Euros ($3) for 3 hours, 11 Euros ($12) for the day).
We determined to cycle round Lake Bled — one of many world’s greatest biking routes, seemingly lovely from each single vantage level of its 6.5-kilometer (4-mile) size — and make our approach to the enduring viewpoint: Ojstrica, positioned at signpost #6 (Lake Bled walks/hikes are numbered).
Lake Bled Mountain climbing
If you see the street signal for the 611-meter- (2,005-foot-) excessive hill you’ll lock up your bike and start one of the vital scenic Lake Bled hikes, heading uphill by way of the forest for about 20 minutes to the highest.
Lake Bled selfie with new buddies. For some purpose there may be one part of the lake — proper right here — the place it virtually seems to be just like the Caribbean.
This hike to the highest could appear like a stroll within the woods…but it surely’s not.
The hike is brief however not straightforward; nonetheless, the aerial view of your entire Lake Bled panorama and surrounds is nicely well worth the sweat.
My group and I lingered up there for at the very least half-hour, taking images, respiration within the crisp recent air and simply letting the inspiring surroundings wash over us.
Even the small island — which simply an hour earlier than I hated for stealing my cash — made me smile to take a look at from above, the white church and historic tower including to the idyllic emerald-green lake.
This could positively be in your record of issues to do in Slovenia.
Meditating atop Ojstrica at Lake Bled. See these Alps?!
In case you’re not drained from the climb, you possibly can go even greater and summit the adjoining Velika Osojnica — 756 meters/2,480-foot excessive — which additionally awards views of the Karavanke mountains and Kamnik Alps.
We didn’t do that second one, as we’d be experiencing the Alps otherwise:
Biking to Vintgar Gorge, throughout the well-known Triglav Nationwide Park.
One phrase:
WOW!
However I’m getting forward of myself.
After climbing Ojstrica we head again down, seize our bikes, and proceed biking across the lake path till we see arrive again close to to the data heart the place we rented the bikes.
Now, we make a left again towards the bus station, following indicators for the village of Podhom.
At first we’re merely biking by way of small villages, plagued by small lodges, pubs, retailers and houses.
Till…we’re not.
Immediately, there may be nothing however vibrant inexperienced pastures and desolate farmland enhanced by a backdrop of snow-covered Karavanke Mountains.
My group stops each 10 minutes or so to take images, the scene changing into extra lovely at each angle.
If I might outline the phrase “serenity,” it will be this place, the place silence envelops you want a blanket.
Biking our approach to the Gorge
Staring up on the alps. Ahhh…
One other attention-grabbing characteristic of the experience:
The scents.
There are such a lot of totally different aromas wafting by way of the air that we find yourself making it right into a recreation, shouting out the totally different aromas:
Apples, vanilla, cherries, campfire, honey, pine.
The experience isn’t straightforward — though it’s well-marked there may be lots of up and downhill — and at some factors, now we have to get off the bikes and stroll due to the steep inclines; nonetheless, none of us minded the exhausting work the place we have been surrounded by such magnificence.
I’m not going to lie, after that bike experience, biking round Brooklyn goes to be powerful to return to.
Once we attain the doorway for Vintgar Gorge we’re instantly entranced by the crystalline turquoise water, stuffed with large fish simply chilling out.
It’s price noting the doorway was additionally closed — we went in March, and the gorge doesn’t formally open till Might — however we went in anyway (no scolding please!) and noticed a couple of others in there, as nicely.
Some sections of the boardwalk have been a bit of precarious
I’m unsure what it’s like in excessive season, however Vintgar Gorge was pure peace.
Whereas our countryside experience provided a dreamy alpine serenity, the Gorge was extra of a refreshing calm, waterfalls creating the soundtrack to a woodland boardwalk stroll, the waters beneath us fully translucent as we pressed our backs towards craggy rock canyon wall to get one of the best shot.
A picnic lunch alongside the way in which was my greatest meal of the journey, regardless of the soggy sandwiches.
Sandwiches within the gorge
General, I wouldn’t change a factor about how I spent my day at Bled Lake apart for the island, which I’d have exchanged for one of many following actions I didn’t get to do.
- Take the bus 20ish minutes to Lake Bohinj, Slovenia’s largest everlasting lake at 318 hectares (790 acres) and completely beautiful in images. I’ve been instructed by locals it’s nice for the surroundings and journey sports activities, however that the close by waterfall is a vacationer entice as you need to pay to see it after which can’t get very near it.
- Get pleasure from extra walks and hikes round Lake Bled. There are 15+!
- Stroll as much as Bled Fort. I’m not an enormous citadel particular person, however this medieval citadel — thought to probably be the oldest in Slovenia — stands excessive above the lake, and I wager gives lovely views. There’s a museum inside and, much more attractive, a wine cellar with tastings.
- Eat a Bled Cream Cake. I meant to do that however by the point I arrived again from biking to the Gorge I had solely 20 minutes to return my bike, pay and hustle again to the bus station. Bled Lake is thought for its Bled Cream Cake, a lightweight and fluffy cake full of candy cream and closely dusted with powdered sugar. Simply scripting this makes my abdomen unhappy I didn’t get to attempt it. Fortunately, my hostel in Ljubljana — my homebase for my Slovenia journey — is close to to an incredible bakery known as Lolita, which makes scrumptious and elaborate desserts of every kind and a really smooth, trendy and pampered really feel inside.
Lake Bled gives unimaginable lodges.
Click on right here to view them.
Lake Bled Lodges
If you wish to e book a resort close to Lake Bled there are lots of choices, which you’ll be able to view right here.
Just a few highly-rated native lodging embody:
- Rikli Stability Resort. This pretty 4-star resort focuses on well being and wellness, and the opulent spa is not-to-be-missed. Additionally they have a waterslide and an indoor pool, plus supply free breakfast and WiFi.
- Pension & Glamping Pibernik. This budget-friendly lodging possibility options free WiFi, bike leases, outside grills, a backyard, a picnic space, a terrace, a hearth within the foyer, and a buffet breakfast (further cost). Furthermore, you’ll have a lot of room and house choices to select from.
- Triglav Bled. Oh, the views! Positively e book the balcony room with views of Lake Bled and the encompassing mountains. Different highlights embody a pool, spa, scorching tub, onsite restaurant and bar, and free WiFi. There’s additionally breakfast out there for a further price.
Your different possibility is to base in Ljubljana and take the bus as I did.
Click on right here to see an inventory of Ljubljana lodging choices.
Particularly, I like to recommend testing the Grand Resort Union. It’s budget-friendly, positioned close to the entire greatest points of interest inside Ljubljana’s car-free Metropolis Middle, and has a great deal of facilities and onsite amenities. Sizzling tub, anybody?
Lake Bled House Leases
Want self-contained stays?
Click on right here to take a look at distinctive Ljubljana leases + lodges!
Click on right here to take a look at distinctive Lake Bled leases + lodges!
You can too use this map to seek for native stays and experiences:
Journey Insurance coverage
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