Fall in love with the lake
Vast and serene, Lake Bled has developed a thriving tourism community that has struck a good balance in also keeping tradition and unspoilt natural beauty in place.
The water is surrounded on all sides by thick forests and cute white buildings peppered along the shore. In the centre of the lake is the famous islet, perched atop which is the chapel where countless couples have tied the knot among these fairytale surroundings.
A good first move when you arrive at Lake Bled is to get your bearings and distinguish which parts of the large yet well-connected area you want to explore first. To that end, a trip on a boat is a good way to while away a morning, afternoon or sunset on the water. Those wooden boats, known as pletnas, are similar to the gondolas of Venice as they’re steered by friendly hosts called pletnars, who stand and row you across the water to the tiny island in the lake’s heart.
If you’d prefer to follow the trail around the lake than to hop aboard a floating vessel, you can’t go far wrong with a romantic horse drawn carriage tour. Steeped in tradition, the fijakers, or coachmen, follow the winding trails of old. It promises weaving paths through trees as much as hilltop routes that boast breathtaking vistas.
