Lake Bled is the star of Slovenia in the summer – an alpine lake with a church-topped island that is the darling of guidebooks and social media feeds the world over. A day trip to Bled barely scratches the surface of this beautiful lake and town. Walking holidays in Lake Bled, however, give you the time to meander along the water’s edge, exploring forested footpaths, diving into lidos, kayaking between cafés (make sure you try Bled's famous Kremšnita cake) and clambering up to Bled Castle. Lake Bled holidays are also a great for doing nothing but settling down on a terrace, watching the pletna boats glide by while planning the next day’s adventure.
Explore Lake Bled on a summer holiday
Walking a lap of Lake Bled is one of the loveliest wanders in Europe. It takes about 1.5 hours at a brisk pace, and less on a bike, but we recommend stretching it out over at least half a day – and packing swimwear for the swim spots en route. The water peaks at an irresistible 25˚C in summer.
From Bled town, you’ll pass a lido, water sports centre and intriguing walking trails that snake up into the forested foothills, as you draw ever closer to the famous island at the end of the lake. Returning to Bled, the Medieval Bled Castle dominates the view - the promise of lake and mountain panoramas should give you the boost needed to make it to the top of the hill.
Summer activities in Lake Bled: visit Bled Island by pletna boat
Ferrymen in wooden “pletna” boats have been rowing pilgrims and summer holiday makers between shore and island since the 12th century. Once on dry land, visitors can admire the towering Assumption of Mary Church, which stands on the foundations of an even older Slavic temple. If you get a chance, have a chat with the boat captain on the way back. The pletna are mostly steered by people whose families have rowed these waters for generations and they often have some great stories to share.
Family holidays in Lake Bled: toboggans, lake lidos and honey bees
The hills surrounding Lake Bled offer a choice of family-friendly hikes. Walk or take the lift up to Straža, where kids (and big kids) can dive into the mountain adventure park. A toboggan rockets adrenalin-chasers back down the hillside. The lakeside pools and slides of the lido welcome families too. Paddleboards and rowing boats stock the water sports centre – an excellent chance to test your pletna paddling technique. Bled Castle also has hands-on activities for children in summer, including papermaking workshops and honey tastings at the resident beehives.
Walking in Julian Alps and sightseeing in Ljubljana
The eastern arm of the Julian Alps reaches towards Lake Bled. The Vintgar Gorge is a must-visit, where wooden walkways and bridges hang above the turquoise Radovna River. Pokljuka Plateau, on the edge of neighbouring Triglav National Park, is great for hikes through green mountain pastures.
Bled has a couple of train stations for more distant explorations, too. Direct buses to the leafy Slovenian capital of Ljubljana with have you amongst its riverside cafés in about an hour.
Why book a summer holiday in Lake Bled with Inghams?
At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of Bled’s best walking routes and activities at your own pace.
With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Bled include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.
