With high mountains in the background, turquoise water, a church on a small island and a castle perched on rocks, Lake Bled is probably one of the most picturesque lakes in Europe. It is certainly one of the most visited and it might even be one of the most instagrammed places in Slovenia therefore, at times it can be busy even crowded. However, you shouldn’t miss this spectacular lake when you visit Slovenia.
Here is how you can make the most of it if you only have 3 days in the Lake Bled area.
Day 1 – Lake Bled
The best way to appreciate the lake and its surroundings is to walk around it. Allow at least 2hrs for the 6km loop around the entire lake and enjoy the views of the island and the Bled Castle from different angles. There are places where you can enter the turquoise water for a swim, and why not take a boat to visit the island with the church. But if you want to get a bird’s-eye view of the lake, head to Ojstrica and Osojnica viewpoints. The short trail that takes you to both viewpoints start from the shore, and it is worth the climb even if you are not a keen walker.
Summer is the peak season when parking can be problematic at the car park near the trailhead. We left our car in the large car park near Bled Castle and then followed the footpath on the shore of Lake Bled to the trailhead.
Day 2 – Pokljuka Gorge
While you need to book a time slot for your visit and pay an entrance fee to see the spectacular Vintgar Gorge, the nearby Pokljuka Gorge is free to visit. It is only a short drive from Lake Bled, and you can leave your car in the free car park in Krnica and walk 2.5km to the entrance of the gorge. You can follow the signposted trail to complete a circular route before returning to Krnica.
Day 3 – Mt. Visevnik
You can only fully appreciate the mountains in the Triglav National Park if you climb at least one of them. It might be a demanding climb to get to the top of Triglav, the highest peak so why not opt for MT Visevnik and enjoy some fantastic views of the highest mountains without climbing them. The 8km route that you can start from Hotel Centre is not too demanding and can be completed under 4hours.
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