Lakes guide · about an hour from Ljubljana
The island church and the castle of Bled, the boardwalks of Vintgar, and Lake Bohinj with its waterfall and cable car: where to go, eat and stay.
Slovenia feature
An island church on a green lake, a castle on a cliff, and a wilder lake deep in the mountains.
Take a pletna to the island, climb to the castle and the viewpoints above Bled, then follow the valley to Bohinj for a swim, the Savica waterfall and the view from Vogel.
Read the full back story below, then plan your trip.
The back story
An island church on a green lake, a castle on a cliff, and a quieter, wilder lake deep in the mountains: the two lakes of the Julian Alps.
The postcard view
The green lake with Slovenia’s only natural island and its pilgrimage church, reached by pletna boat.
On the cliff
The castle on its cliff above the lake, first mentioned in 1011, with a museum, workshops and terraces.
The view from above
Two viewpoints above the western end of the lake, with the classic view of the island and castle.
Boardwalks over the Radovna
A 1.6 km gorge of boardwalks and bridges over the emerald Radovna, 4 km from Bled.
The wilder lake
Slovenia’s largest permanent lake, in Triglav National Park, for swimming, kayaking and walks.
Frescoes by the lake
A medieval church by the stone bridge at Lake Bohinj, with frescoes inside.
A 78 m fall
A waterfall of about 78 metres above the western end of Lake Bohinj, reached by a stepped path.
Up to the peaks
A cable car from the shore of Lake Bohinj to the Vogel ski and hiking area, with views of Triglav.
Bees and gingerbread
A small old town near Bled, with the Beekeeping Museum and gingerbread-makers.
The original kremšnita
The café of the Hotel Park, where the famous Bled cream cake is made.
Cesta svobode 15Explore View on map
MICHELIN Guide 2026
The fine-dining restaurant of the Grand Hotel Toplice, listed in the MICHELIN Guide Slovenia 2026.
Cesta svobode 12Explore View on map
MICHELIN Guide 2026
The restaurant of the Hotel Triglav Bled, with lake views, listed in the MICHELIN Guide Slovenia 2026.
Kolodvorska cesta 33Explore View on map
Cream cake in town
A cake shop in Bled with its own version of the cream cake.
Grajska cesta 3Explore View on map
On the lakeshore
A historic grand hotel on the shore of Lake Bled, with thermal water.
Cesta svobode 12Explore View on map
A villa in a park
A historic villa in its own park on the lakeshore.
Cesta svobode 18Explore View on map
Above the lake
A boutique hotel on the hillside above the lake, in a building of 1906.
Kolodvorska cesta 33Explore View on map
Treehouses and tents
An eco-resort of treehouses, glamping tents and pier tents above the lake.
About an hour
Buses from Ljubljana to Bled in about an hour and a quarter, and on to Bohinj.
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