There are so many times that Slovenia can be rightly tagged as a hidden gem and only to remain hidden among travellers.

Getting on a bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, to visit the iconic lake with a castle view among the range of the Julian Alps are one of the primary reasons.

One can’t imagine the magnificence and beauty of Lake Bled. If Disney’s princesses lived In Europe, I would imagine them to live in the tiny island in the middle of Lake Bled.

On the island, there is the Church of the Assumption, dating back to the 17th century. It is almost medieval-like and straight out of the pages and movies of fairy-tales that I have grown up with

In this post, I’ll cover a detailed guide of how to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, what to do in Lake Bled and where to stay.

The Serenity of Lake Bled: What draws people here?

There’s something magical about visiting a place that has alpine mountains, lovely cottages, with idyllic settings that is bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, and Croatia to the south.

You will meet Slovenians who are welcoming and are not afraid to indulge in a conversation as you discover this little-known paradise.

It is one thing to view Lake Bled on Pinterest or on Google images and another to visit this little dream town.

It is a place that is fair share of adventure, you can take a walk around the lake and find during Summer there are plenty of festivals from music concerts to film festivals with food trucks rounding up at every corner and the little island glittering at night.

I met families, couples who were laying down in the sun and taking a stroll along Lake Bled.

The total distance is 6km and it takes roughly and 1.5 hour to walk the entire stretch.

The views are gorgeous and you’ll come across swimming spots, places to lie down and do nothing, or event take a boat ride.

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Distance from Ljubljana to Lake Bled

The total distance from Ljubljana to Bled is 54.8 kilometers.

How long is the bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled?

The bus from Ljubljana to Bled town takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you are taking independent transportation, the journey could be around 41 minutes or so excluding stops.

How To Get To Lake Bled from Ljubljana?

Here are one of the many ways to get to lake bled from Ljubljana

There are various ways to travel to Lake Bled from Ljubljana and during summer, you will find that there’s almost a bus every other hour. Here are couple of options for you to travel from Lake Bled to Ljubljana.

Take a private daytrip to Lake Bled (The Most Effortless Way): You’ll get to taste authentic slovenian food and with a private tour guide be able to enjoy the sights on your own time without worrying about transportation! You could also opt to visit Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj with this amazing tour!

Getting to Lake Bled By Bus (The Easiest Option): The Ljubljana to Bled bus is 7€ one way and will take you 1.5 hour to reach. There are hourly departures from Avtobusna postaja (bus station) and it is right in front of the train station on Trg Osvobodilne. The bus timetable can be viewed here.

Getting to Lake Bled By Train (The Scenic & Budget-Friendly Option): You may take the train from Ljubljana to Lake Bled and it will cost you around 5€. The journey is approximately the same time as the bus - 90 minutes.

Getting to Lake Bled By Independent Transportation like a Car (The Most Comfortable Option): If you’d like to rent your own car, I have read that most people have rented their car from DiscoverCars. This could be the best starting ground for a road trip across Slovenia.

🌏 If you want to get instantly connected, don't forget to get your eSim before arriving in Slovenia!

Also Read: 7 Days Itinerary in Slovenia: Visiting Real-Life Narnia and The Greenest Lakes

Where To Stay In Lake Bled: Accommodation Options

Imagine staying near the shores of lake bled

It would be absolutely dreamy to able to stay near the shores of Lake Bled, but because it is a small town accomodations are often limited.

If you’re travelling by public transport, it would make sense to pick a place that is beautiful and within the lake or stay in a place that offers free shuttle or bicycles.

If you’re travelling as a solo traveller and prefer to stay in hostels where you can meet other like-minded individuals, I would recommend staying in

If you are looking for mid-budget stays and guesthouses where they’re still pretty and have a homely and beautiful touch to it, I would recommend staying in

If you are looking for luxury stays with incredible views, cozy cabins and a great nature escape, I would recommend staying in:

What To Do In Lake Bled

The famous bled cream cake - kremna rezina

On the island, there is the Church of the Assumption, dating back to the 17th century. It is almost medieval-like and straight out of the pages and movies of fairy-tales that I have grown up with.

To visit the lake, you can rent a special boat with a roof, called pletna, and pay about 12€ or find your balance with stand-up paddle boarding which is what I did for 10€.

To get to the viewpoint, there’s a Baroque church where couples come to express their love to their lucky one.

The stone staircase with 99 steps is particularly famous in wedding rituals, and tradition says that it is good luck if a groom carries his bride up the 99 steps.

A trip to the lake is not complete without hiking the Mala Osojnica. It is a one hour hike where you will be rewarded with one of the best views of Lake Bled, the island, castle and Karavanke mountain chain in the background.

Try the original Bled cream cake. Almost every café on its shores serves up decadent slices of kremna rezina.

There’s even a Bled cream cake drive-thru at the hotel and an annual festival dedicated to the wondrous confection.

Also Read: Hiking in Europe: The Best Day Hikes in Slovenia

Other Lakes To Visit Near Lake Bled

the stunning chalk lake called lake kreda, near lake bled.

Once you’ve settled down and found a spot, ease yourself into this amazing man-made lake located in Radovna valley that’s made entirely out of chalk called Lake Kreda.

The lake and its surrounding wetlands are an important habitat for amphibians, such as the common frog and the common toad in the Radovna Valley.

A 30 minute drive from Lake Bled, and you’ll arrive at Lake Bohinj, the largest permanent lake in Slovenia.

The area is large covering 12km and takes roughly 4 hours to walk around Lake Bohinj. A really cool way to up the adrenaline is even signing up for this canyoning tour in Lake Bohinj!

Lake Jasna is located just 2 km from Kranjska Gora, and it is a stunning alpine lake covering a surface area of 2.2 hectares. While the chilly temperate of the water may take a while to get used to, you will love the wooden piers and jumping tower! It is a 40 minute ride from Bled Town and you can take the local bus heading towards Kranjska Gora.

There are many lakes around Lake Bled and even the wondrous Soca Valley, known for its film set in the Chronicles of Narnia is worth a visit. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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