How to Spend 1 Day in Bled

With its mountain lake, historical attractions, and surrounding natural beauty, Bled is a delightful place to spend a day. Here are our top ways to enjoy 24 hours in this Slovenian resort town just 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside Ljubljana.

Morning: Choose Your Alpine Adventure

Get the day started with an outdoor activity to take in the fresh mountain air and discover Bled’s natural environment. White-water rafting on the Sava River is one of the most popular adrenaline-pumping options, or try out canyoning, which involves climbing cliffs, jumping into pools, and sliding down waterfalls. If you prefer something less extreme, opt for a bike tour around town or into Vintgar Gorge, a canyon on the Radovna River known for its pools and other scenery. Alternatively, you can fly high above Bled and enjoy bird’s-eye views of the mountains on a hot-air-balloon flight.

Afternoon: See the Top Sights

Bled’s three main attractions are Lake Bled, Bled Castle (Blejski Grad), and Bled Island, which can be visited easily in an afternoon. Purchase admission to the 9th-century fortress in advance so you don’t have to worry about the ticket line, and then explore the castle’s wine cellar, collection of medieval artifacts, and vista points that look out over the lake. With the castle out of the way, you can spend the rest of the afternoon on the lake on a stand-up-paddleboard tour or with a boat rental, which you can use to access the tiny island, home to a church and café.  

Night: Enjoy Local Food and Wine

Bled is a small town, making it easy to walk to a restaurant for dinner and then enjoy a stroll along the lake. If you’re interested in wine, book a wine tasting to learn about Slovenian varietals with a guide. At a local wine cellar, you can try different wines as you hear about winemaking in this small country. Some wine tastings also include snacks.