Ljubljana to Lake Bled – The Ultimate Lake Bled Day Trip

Visiting Lake Bled has been a dream of mine ever since I first saw photos of this stunning alpine lake. When I visited Ljubljana this summer, I knew I wanted to take a day trip to Bled so I could see it for myself! In this post, I’ll give you all the information you need to for the best Lake Bled day trip (+ things to do in Lake Bled), and I’ll tell you how to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled (using public transportation)! This day trip was one of the highlights of my summer, and I am already planning to go back and explore this part of Slovenia more because I fell in love with it when I visited.

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Ljubljana to Lake Bled on Public Transportation

Taking a bus is one of the best ways to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. A round trip bus ticket from Ljubljana Bus Station to Bled is under 15 Euros and takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half. We bought tickets to Bled for a bus that hour from the bus station and waited at the parking spot until it got there. There was a lot of confusion about which bus to get on after the driver told us his bus did not go to Lake Bled (even though our tickets said to get on his bus). It turns out that there were 2 buses that stopped in Lake Bled – one (towards Bohinj) that made a bunch of stops on the way there and took around 1.5 hours, and another that made fewer stops and only took around 45 minutes.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to take the bus for your Lake Bled day trip. Since this is the easiest and cheapest way to get to Lake Bled, it is really popular during the summer. If you visit during the peak tourist season, you need to get to the bus station early to ensure you get a seat on the bus. We were the first people in line for the bus, and dozens of other tourists were left waiting for the next bus when we left Ljubljana. There was another mad dash for the 5 PM bus leaving Bled at the end of our day, so be sure to get to the station early to get a seat back to Ljubljana!

Lake Bled Day Trip

Once you arrive at the Bled bus stop, you’re just a short walk to the lake! Lake Bled is absolutely stunning, so we spent our day walking around the lake and hiking, enjoying the beautiful scenery! Before I visited, I expected Lake Bled to be a quiet, forested area, but in reality, the lake is surrounded by shops, cafes, and public beaches! Here are some of the top things to do in Lake Bled for the ultimate Lake Bled day trip!

Things to Do in Lake Bled

Hike to a Viewpoint– Hiking is one of the most popular things to do in Lake Bled! You can hike up one of the many hills around the lake to get a great view of the lake from above. We did the full loop around the lake and hiked up into the hills to a scenic overlook. We did the Mala Ojstrica Loop, and it had absolutely incredible views from the top! Although this loop is marked as intermediate, I found it a little challenging due to the steep inclines. There is one point where you must climb up metal ladder-like stairs, which was a bit nerve-wracking. Be sure to pick up a map before you start hiking – we didn’t and we got a little lost! Bring water and wear comfortable, supportive shoes if you plan on doing this hike.

Rent a Rowboat- Renting a rowboat is a fun way to see Bled from the water! While walking along the trail that goes along the perimeter of the lake, we passed an ice cream stand that also rented rowboats, so we decided to rent one for an hour. We rowed around the church in the middle of the lake and enjoyed the views from the water! I don’t remember the exact cost of the rental, but I think it was around 12 Euros for an hour.

Visit the Church- In the middle of Lake Bled, you’ll find the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. This picturesque church looks like something out of a fairytale from the outside. We didn’t have a chance to visit the church during our day trip, but we saw lots of tourists visiting while we were rowing our boat around! This church is only accesible by boat.

Enjoy the Beach– Lake Bled is lined with several public beaches where you can swim and sunbathe! We actually had no idea there were so many places to swim, so we didn’t even bring our bathing suits! The beaches are super popular during the summertime!

Alpine Coaster– There is an alpine coaster (or summer toboggan run) in Bled! We didn’t have time to ride it, but it looked so fun, and I definitely want to do it the next time I’m in Bled!

Eat a Bled Cake- You can’t leave Bled without trying its most famous dessert! This sweet treat is made of two thin layers of pastry filled with a thick layer of custard and whipped cream.

Visit Bled Castle– Standing on a cliff high above Lake Bled, you’ll find Bled Castle, the oldest castle in Slovenia! You can visit the castle for more amazing views of Lake Bled!

The Perfect Lake Bled Day Trip

When I visited Lake Bled, we took a morning bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled and arrived at around 10:30 AM. We started our day by walking along the perimeter of the lake, until we came upon some rowboats that we rented! After rowing around on the lake for an hour, we came back to shore and grabbed some lunch at one of the cafes on the lake! Once we were fueled up, we hiked the loop to a scenic overlook and enjoyed the view before heading back down and finishing the loop around the lake. By then, it was around 4 PM, so we decided to head back to the bus station and take the next bus back to Ljubljana! In the future, I would love to come back to spend more time swimming in the lake, visiting the church, and riding the alpine coaster!

Check out my guide to Ljubljana’s incredible food scene for more Slovenia travel inspiration!