Bled Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Bled [1] is a town in Slovenia, on the east side of Lake Bled.
Contents |
Understand
Bled's scenery is almost impossibly romantic, with a little white church on an island in the center of an emerald green mountain lake, Bled Castle perched high above and the peaks of the Julian Alps all around — and it is consequently often packed with honeymooning couples and the like. The town is also a popular access point for Triglav National Park and offers numerous possibilities for an active holiday, including hiking, mountain biking, rafting and skiing in winter or a relaxing spell in a modern wellness centre.
Get in
By plane
The nearest airports are Ljubljana-Brnik & Maribor, 35-45 & 130 euros by taxi, and Klagenfurt (Austria), 70-120 euros, Trieste & Venice (Italy), 120 & 200euros. Slovenian Adria Airways is national carier - flies to London Gatwick and Manchaeter, Birmingham ! easyJet & wizzair operate flights to Ljubljana from London Stansted & Luton .
By bus
Buses from Ljubljana city leave hourly and take about an hour and 15 minutes to reach Bled.
By train
Lesce Bled International Station is 5 km from town, there you can buy international RW-tickets and
Bled Jezero, local is located on the "wrong" side of the lake opposite the town, some 1,5km away. Trains from Jesenice and Nova Gorica leave every two hours or so. If you are coming from Ljubljana, Lesce-Bled is the right station. You can also take a bus (2 euro) or a taxi (8-10 euro) or take a 1-hour walk to town. Alternately, you can take the train to Jesenice and change there to a train to Bled Jezero (adding an additional hour of travel and 1 mile walk to centre ).
By taxi
- BLED TAXI - Transfer to Lake Bled - back transportation
to the Airport Ljubljana car & minibus! Booking ahead welcome! Sharing possible!
Get around
Bled is small enough to cover on foot; a walk around the lake won't take much longer than an hour. The traditional way to reach the lake's island is by pletna boats, although those feeling fit can also swim (take an air mattress in any case). Horse drawn carriages are available for rides around the lake, to the castle and further afield.
See
- Bled Castle is a picturesque white and red castle, perched on a rock on the northern side of town. There is a little museum inside with an exhibition on the castle's history and the usual array of medieval pomp, pageantry and weaponry.
- The little island on Lake Bled. The small church on the island dates back to the 10th century, but the present building was built in the 17th century. According to local tradition, a husband who can carry his newly married bride the 99 steps up from the dock into the church will be ensured a happy marriage, and ringing the bell in the church will make your dreams come true. The way to reach the island is by a special boat called Pletna. More about Pletnas at: http://www.pletna.net/ or call us at +386-41-948-168.
- An alternative to taking the Pletna to the island is to rent a kayak and explore Lake Bled yourself. With a kayak a person can easily reach the island, tie up, and go exploring by foot, and also explore the hidden shorelines of the lake, otherwise inaccessible without a small boat. Your hotel or hostel can give you information on where to rent a kayak.
Do
Nearby Triglav National Park offers plenty of excellent hiking opportunities. In particular, the scenic Vintgar Gorge is only 4.5km away from Bled. A myriad of activities is available in Bled and the surrounding area, including easy walks and more demanding hikes, mountain biking, rafting, canyoning, fishing, climbing, riding, panoramic flights, tandem paragliding, adrenaline parks, alpine and cross-country skiing, ski safaris, snow-shoeing, sledging and ice climbing. These may be booked at hotel receptions and in a number of agencies in the town.
- All-round relaxation for body and mind is provided at the Ziva Wellness Centre at the Golf Hotel and Wellness Centre Bled. Unwind in their thermal pools, whirlpools and saunas, or alternatively let yourself be pampered with a soothing massage, a calming bath or a rejuvenating beauty treatment.
- Bled Golf Courses, [2]. Twin courses (18 + 9 holes) that are said to be among the most beautiful in this part of Europe.
- Alpine Flying Centre offers you panorama flights, glider rental, and tandem para-jumps.
Eat
There are a number of restaurants in Bled, offering standard Slovenian fare at somewhat inflated prices.
- Rikli Restaurant. Modern restaurant offering pasta, fish and meat dishes on the main promenade. Monthly specials.
- Rikli Pizzeria. Adjacent to the Rikli Restaurant. A selection of 15 pizzas, pasta dishes and light salads.
- Panorama Restaurant, [3]. Monthly special offers, mouthwatering desserts and a large terrace overlooking the lake.
- King's Club House , on Bled Golf Course. Definitely worth trying even if you have never held a golf club in your hands. A wonderful blend of international cuisine, local specialities and excellent wines. Large terrace overlooking the King's Course.
- Julijana Restaurant. Intimate à la carte restaurant at the Grand Hotel Toplice. An excellent choice for gourmets, with seasonal specials such as asparagus and truffles. Especially inviting in the warmer months when dishes are served on its romantic terrace by the lake.
- Vila Bled Restaurant. Excellent international cuisine in a fabulous historic ambience. The Vila Bled, nowadays a charming small hotel, used to be a residence of President Tito of Yugoslavia. If you are on a tight budget, at least allow yourself a short stop for a coffee at this fascinating place. Welcoming staff.
- Union. Piano and open fire.
- Pri planincu. Youth and bikers.
- Mayer. Near Golf hotel.
- Peglezn. Central, simply good!
- Okarina. New location at the post office!
- Ribic. (fish)
- Vila Preseren. Romantic place.
- Topolino. Slow food.
- Restaurant Labod. Nice view.
- Try the local speciality kremna rezina, a cake of vanilla custard and cream, at the Park Cafe opposite the Park Hotel, where the dish was invented in 1953. The 'original' cream cakes are also served in the hotel, at the Rikli Restaurant & Pizzeria and at the Golf hotel, they are, however, popular in the whole town and may also be found on the menu at the Panorama Restaurant, Smon and elsewhere.
Sleep
Budget
- Youth Hostel Penzion Bledec, Grajska 17, [4]. On the edge of town, regularly polls in as one of Europe's best youth hostels. Bed and breakfast 18 € in the winter low season, 22 € in the summer high season.
- Vila Gorenka, tel. +386-51-369070, e-mail vila.gorenka@siol.net, [5]. Private rooms & hostel, B&B. Low prices.
- Golf Apartments, [6]. A budget self-catering option for those wishing to enjoy the facilities of the Ziva Wellness Centre at the adjacent Golf Hotel. Admission to the swimming pool complex is free of charge for guests of the Golf Apartments. The apartmens may also be rented on a bed & breakfast / half board / full board basis with meals being served at the Golf Hotel.
- Camping Bled In a beautyful green setting close to the lake.
Mid-range
- Trst Hotel, [7]. Renovated 3-star hotel in the very heart of Bled, opposite the Grand Hotel Toplice. Guests may use the swimming pool of the GH Toplice free of charge.
- Jadran Hotel, [8]. Another friendly sister hotel of the GH Toplice, a beautiful historic building overlooking the lake. Use of the wellness facilities at the Toplice is free of charge for guests of the Jadran.
Splurge
- Grand Hotel Toplice, [14]. Bled's renovated grand old hotel, featuring thermal springs and all you'd expect from a 5-star hotel.
- Hotel Vila Bled, [15]. On the southern side of the lake, this was the private getaway of Marshal Tito during the days of Yugoslavia. Inspite of its recent renovation, it hasn't lost any of its historic charm. The hotel also features a small new wellness studio.
- Golf Hotel, [16]. Modern, friendly 4-star hotel in the centre of Bled, featuring the excellent Ziva Wellness Centre, opened in September 2004. Special packages available.
- Park Hotel, [17]. This popular 4-star hotel on the lake shore features a swimming pool on its highest floor. Truly a pool with a view. The famous cream cakes were invented at the hotel in 1953 and over 9 million have been baked in its patisserie so far.
