Spray from the rapids and water dripping down from the canyon walls is refreshing on a hot summer day. Just before the trail leads to the waterfall, there is a little cafe where you can enjoy a cool drink. Vintgar Gorge is not open year round. It typically opens in May, but check the website to verify the gorge is open for visitors.
There is free parking at the entrance. Head over to Grajska Beach to cool off with some Lake Bled swimming after all that hiking and exploring. Restavracija is one of the best restaurants in Lake Bled and a local favorite. The chef puts a modern spin on traditional Slovene dishes. The restaurant also has an impressive wine cellar — the only wine cellar in the area, in fact.
The sommelier will select the perfect wine pairings for your tasting menu from their selection over top quality Slovenian wines. Finish off your overnight trip to Lake Bled with a 3-hour adventure canyoning Bled tour.
Climb, abseil, scramble and slide down a series of natural water slides and waterfalls in the canyon during one of the most adventurous Lake Bled activities and one of the top things to do in Slovenia.
We highly recommend 3Glav Adventures. They even pick up from various hotels and campsites around Lake Bled, which is convenient because finding parking in the peak of summer can be a challenge.
The canyoning is actually in Grmecica canyon, located about a minute drive from Lake Bled. Along the way the 3Glav Adventures guide tells you a bit of history of the area and about canyoning Slovenia in the Grmecica canyon. The first order of business is gearing up. They also provide thick neoprene socks, oversize shoes, a hooded jacket, harness and helmet for the adventure.
You have to hike up about 20 minutes to the starting point for canyoning. Be prepared to sweat a lot hiking in the hot summer in all that gear. We recommend just tying the jacket around you waist to help stay cooler on the hike, and putting it on once you get to the start. The first 10 minutes of the hike is flat, and then the remaining 10 minutes is a climb. Our guide joked that if you want to go down, you must climb up first.
Once you reach the entrance to the canyon, you finish gearing up and have a quick lesson on abseiling or rappelling as Americans call it. After the lesson the guides tie off to a tree, where the group repels down to the creek from. This is also where the real fun begins. After walking down the creek a bit, the first obstacle appears: a 3-meter waterfall.
The guides tell you exactly where you step and where to jump to avoid any shallow areas that there may be. At one obstacle you jump down into a small hole filled with water, hold your breath and the guide pushes you under an arch. You pop right back up through the hole adjacent to it. There are 6 or 7 pools in all to jump down. After some 6-meter jumps, there is finally a meter waterfall. The hike back down to the vehicles is far easier than getting to the canyon entrance.
The museum is one of the lesser known things to do at Lake Bled, but well-worth the stop. Gingerbread making is one of the oldest handicrafts of Slovenia. The family has been making traditional Slovene gingerbread since and you can see some of their creations as well as taste it in their workshop open from 12pm — 10pm daily in July and August and closed Tuesdays throughout the rest of the year.
For several days every July, a festival sets up along the promenade with local craftsmen and artisans selling their Slovenian wares. But our favorite part is that the festival comes to its climax with 15, floating lights in eggshells being launched from the pletnas on Lake Bled and a massive fireworks show. The aim of the festival is sustainability and the local specialties from the various food tents are all served in biodegradable packaging to create a zero waste event.
Situated only meters from the lake in the heart of Lake Bled, Hotel Kompas is set slightly uphill giving it a great view directly across to the castle and of the lake. One of the best features of the hotel aside from the superb location is that guests of the hotel can enjoy the pool year round. The hotel has a total of 95 rooms, including family suites that can accommodate two adults and two children. The rooms are modern, but simple and some have Lake Bled views. Grand Hotel Toplice is the only 5-star hotel in Lake Bled and situated lakeside just a few minutes walk from Hotel Kompass.
The hotel has been a romantic and historic fixture of Lake Bled for more than 80 years. The rooms are quiet similar to the decor and style of those at Hotel Kompass, with some rooms having a lake view.
Some rooms do also have a balcony. Breakfast is included, parking is free for guests, but this hotel does not allow pets.
Also except to pay double the nightly rate at Hotel Kompass for essentially the same amenities, but with a private beach. You might like to try camping and we recommend Camping Sobec Campground. There is a campsite located right at the end of Lake Bled, but it gets super crowded in summer.
You can pitch a tent, park an RV or camper with electric and water hookups or rent one of the 10 alpine-style bungalows that accommodate up to six people each for a glamping Lake Bled experience. The campsite also has their own little lake, called Sobec Pond, which is fed from the Sava River. The pond is pretty shallow along the shore, so it is a great place to take kids during the summer. They also have a section roped off that has an inflatable pyramid and two floating trampolines for kids to enjoy.
From June to September, a lifeguard is on duty to supervise swimmers. You can choose either 5 or 10 minutes in the zorb, but 5 minutes proved more than enough for us. Bled is also accessible via train from Ljubljana and the train station is 1.
Driving to Bled is easily accessible in all seasons from the motorway. Just be sure to purchase a vignette required road tax sticker if driving from neighboring countries like Italy or Croatia. We highly recommend Hotel Kompas. Dogs are welcome and there is an indoor pool and spa that is included for guest use. Free breakfast, wifi, and parking make this hotel a great value. This article contains affiliate links. When you book on Booking.
Loved this post? We love when you share our content! Jennifer Dombrowski is an independent travel publisher and an American expat who has lived in Bordeaux, France since She previously lived in Northern Italy in a small village near Venice for seven years where she fell in love with wine and wine tourism. She is an award-winning travel writer. Lake Bled is definitely pretty but I absolutely adored Lake Bohinj just down the road. Did you visit there as well?
Hi Andrea! Sounds like we should visit! Yes Dalene, it is certainly a rush. After hearing you and Pete talk about it last week I started planning the trip immediately. It is super clean and you can feel the happiness and authenticity of the local people.
For a full list of things to do in the city read our complete guide to Ljubljana. How long should you spend in Ljubljana? One day is more than enough to get an idea of what the city has to offer.
It is one of the most photographic places in the country, in fact, we visited Slovenia primarily for its stunning lake. Lake Bled and the surrounding landscape feels like an image straight out of a fairytale. It is really easy to get to Lake Bled from Ljubljana. In the main bus station in Ljubljana you can get a bus ticket or a full package to visit the castle, the island and the transportation to Lake Bled.
I recommend taking the bus versus the train as the bus drops you off right in Bled and the train stop is outside of town. For a full list of things to do in Lake Bled read our complete guide to Lake Bled. You can do the hike and all the main attractions within a day or even half a day. It took us an entire day recording videos and taking photos and notes.
You will need more than a day to explore the area but it is a great additional stop. How long should you spend in Lake Bled? One day is more than enough to see the highlights of Lake Bled but if you want to visit Bohinj in Triglav National Park, you will need to stay for at least 2 to 3 days. Vintgar Gorge is 13 minutes outside of Lake Bled, if you finish your visit in Lake Bled early then you can spend some time at Vintgar Gorge. You do not need more than a couple of hours to wander around the trails and fall in love with its turquoise water and steep rock walls.
How long should you spend in Vintgar Gorge? You can visit Vintgar Gorge the same day you visit Lake Bled. Lake Bohinj is about 30 minutes from Bled and it is a truly beauty. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountain range. Another thing you must do in Slovenia is visit the Savica Waterfall. Kamnik is arguably our favorite place in Slovenia. It is surrounded by so much nature.
On day 7, check out of that accommodation and then you will spend one night in Piran. I have to say, your website is fantastic. I found it while googling for Slovenia info. Your articles, and the photography with them make it a great resource. Great job, and thank you! It will be myself, my wife, and my 4 kids 12, 9, 6, 3. I plan to be in Slovenia from Saturday June 6 in the evening, until we leave for Venice 5 days later on Thursday, June Given that we have 4 kids, picking up and moving accommodations regularly is hard.
So, I ask, should we base in Ljubljana for all 5 days and do day trips out from Ljubljana? Or, should we stay in Ljubljana for 3 days, and then Kranjska Gora for 2 nights? My basic Itinerary was open to suggestions as well!
But, could I do most of that if we stayed in LJ the whole time? Hello Drew. Your itinerary looks perfect. Plus, your young kids will appreciate shorter road trips. It is a beautiful place to take your family…have fun in Slovenia and Italy!
Thanks for all the tips! Do you have any recommendations or advice when it comes to rental companies? Hello Martina. We book our rental cars in advance.
Tim usually price checks the main companies Hertz, Avis, Budget, etc and chooses the company with the best deal. By not, we have used them all multiple times and they are all really about the same.
This post about hiring a rental car in Europe might help you out too. I am planning a 10 day visit to Slovenia next week. I am so excited after reading this article, it was so helpful. I am travelling by myself from Ireland and was thinking of renting a car while in Slovenia. I feel a bit nervous at the thought of it though as they drive on the other side. Did you find it fairly easy driving while there? I am usually a confident driver while in Ireland, but i think the idea of doing it on my own is whats worrying me.
I really like the idea of just going at my own pace and stopping and taking photos and i know i wont get this experience from public transport!!
Any help would be greatly appriecated. Thank you. Hello Amy. They drive on the right, so that will be different for you. We found it easy to get around Slovenia by car. The roads are wide, with lots of signs in English, and easy to drive. We have been to Ireland and have driven on some of those narrow, country roads.
Those are more difficult to drive in my opinion than the roads in Slovenia. I think if you are used to driving in Ireland, the roads in Slovenia are easier to drive, once you get used to being on the other side of the road. Have fun…Slovenia is a wonderful, beautiful place!
I am planning to follow a very similar itinerary in August. Do you know how easy it would be for us to drive a rental car from Venice in both Slovenia and Croatia? What can we expect? Hello Grace. This sounds like a very nice trip! Sometimes it can be an issue renting a car in one country and driving into Croatia.
It depends on the rental car company. So, when you are making your reservation, you will have to confirm with the company that you are allowed to drive into Croatia. Since you are returning the car to Venice, you can avoid the drop fee, which is a huge savings. You will have to do a border crossing when entering and exiting Croatia. You will show your passport, just like passing through border control in an airport.
There can be lines at the border which might add on some driving time. We have an article about driving in Europe that might give you some more information. But the roads are in great condition with lots of signs. We use Google Maps for navigation. Great Article , as are all your readings on the site. I also find them a great help.
I am in the middle of planning my Slovenian adventure. I will be starting from Venice as it is much cheaper to fly to maybe spending the start or finish in Venice on a 10 to 12 day vacation. I would love to follow a similar itinerary to this as i love nature and hiking.
I do not drive so would firstly need to get a train from Venice to Ljubijana but what i would like to know is if it is possible to do or adapt this itinerary to using public transport or booking tours?
Yes, you can use public transportation or tours to visit Lake Bled. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sign me up for the newsletter! Facebook Pinterest Twitter. Slovenia Itinerary: Day 1 Arrive in Ljubljana Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and the largest city in the country. Sightseeing in Ljubljana Take the funicular back to town. For the afternoon, I have several suggestions for you.
End your day with dinner and drinks. Sleep in Ljubljana. Lake Bled Beautiful Lake Bled is a gorgeous spot to make your home base for the next few days. Kranjska Gora Kranjska Gora also makes a great option for your home base for the next few days. Predjama Castle Predjama Castle is the largest cave castle in the world. Once in Piran, check into your hotel, have dinner, and enjoy the sunset.
Slovenia Itinerary: Day 8 Piran With one full day in Piran, you have more than enough time to visit the highlights of this colorful coastal city. From Piran, it takes an hour and a half to drive to Ljubljana. Slovenia Itinerary: Day 10 Fly home. Or, for those with more time, continue on to your next destination. With More Time If you have more than 10 days, here are several places we recommend adding to this Slovenia itinerary.
Venice From Piran, Venice is just two and a half hours away by car. Istrian Peninsula With several more days, you can visit Croatian Istria. Maribor Maribor is a small city located in eastern Slovenia. With Less Time If you need to shorten this Slovenia itinerary by a few days, here are several ways to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions When is the the best time of year to visit Slovenia? Do you have to rent a car for this itinerary? Comments
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