5 Places to Visit Near Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled is probably one of the most iconic tourist hot-spots of Slovenia, and although there is so much to do and see here there are also so many stunning places you can visit near Lake Bled in the Triglav National Park!
About Lake Bled
Lake Bled sits nestled in the Julian Alps in north-western Slovenia. And with its distinct clear aqua water and picture-postcard church on a small island, it’s thought to be one of the most lakes in Europe!
There are lots of things to do and see in Lake Bled, from visiting the iconic Lake Bled island to trying the famous Bled Cake... But there are also some beautiful nearby places that you can easily visit within a short drive.
Here are just five places we would recommend you visiting when in and around Lake Bled in Slovenia! Plus they are all within a 45 minute drive from Lake Bled. Keep scrolling or click below to find out more...
Five Places to Visit Near Lake Bled
1. Lake Bohinj
Nestled in the Bohinj valley of the Julian Alps, within the Triglav National Park in north-west Slovenia, sits Lake Bohinj!
And as the largest lake in Slovenia there is definitely plenty to do here. Plus this place is less touristy than Lake Bled which means fewer people and crowds, but still just as beautiful! In fact, it's actually only a 40 minute drive from Lake Bled.
Things to do at Lake Bohinj and nearby:
- Go swimming - there are several small beaches around the lake where swimming is permitted. And it's free!
- Hire canoes, kayaks or paddle boards - there are a few different places where you can hire canoes, kayaks and/or paddleboards from. We hired one canoe and one SUP paddle board with our friends for an afternoon (3/4 hours) and it cost 40 EUR in total (20 EUR for the canoe / 20 EUR for the paddle board)
- Take a scenic boat ride around the lake
- Ride the Vogel cable car up to the top of Mount Vogel for views across the lake and surrounding Alps
- Visit the nearby Slap Savica waterfall
- Or simply walk around the lake on one of it's many trail routes - another great free activity at Lake Bohinj is of course walking! There are a few different trail routes around the lake that you can take.
Paddle boarding on Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Drone Photo of yellow canoe on Lake Bohinj
Canoeing on Lake Bohinj
2. Slap Savica (Savica Waterfall)
Located at the end of Lake Bohinj is Slap Savica. This waterfall derives from Crno Jezero (the Black Lake) which sits 500 metres higher in the Triglav Seven Lakes Valley.
The waterfall plunges down 78 metres into a stunning emerald pool of water below, and is known as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slovenia.
In fact it is actually the third most visited attraction in this amazing country! Meaning it can get very busy, especially during the peak summer season.
Check out our blog post via the link below for everything you need to know about visiting Slap Savica Waterfall - from how to get there, how to find it and how long you need to spend at this enchanting waterfall and most importantly, when to visit!
Aerial View of Slap Savica Waterfall in Slovenia
View of the mountains from the viewpoint
Slap Savica Waterfall in Slovenia
3. Vintgar Gorge
At 250 metres deep, Vintgar Gorge runs through the eastern edge of Triglav National Park for 1.6 km, and ends at the picturesque Šum Falls - the largest river waterfall in Slovenia! Plus Vintgar Gorge is just a 15 minute drive outside of Bled - making it perfect for a day trip from Lake Bled.
Either go really early when it opens or later on in the day to avoid lots of people! We visited Vintgar Gorge early in the morning, when it first opened, to not only avoid the tourist crowds but also enjoy cooler climates, atmospheric mist and the dreamiest morning light.
We spent a total of 4 hours walking through the gorge, including completing the circular walk past Katarina church and enjoying the mountain views across to Lake Bled. It only cost €10 each to enter, as well as €10 to park our campervan...
Definitely a favourite from our travels around Slovenia!
Wooden walk way through the narrow Gorge
River following through Vintgar Gorge
Wooden bridge crossing the Vintgar river
4. Pericnik Waterfall (Slap Pericnik)
Slap Pericnik is one of Slovenia's most beautiful waterfalls and is only a short 40 minute drive from Lake Bled. Plus it's FREE to visit!
There is a small number of parking spaces on the road below the waterfall, although it can get really busy during the peak summer season. From the roadside you can see the Pericnik waterfall, but we would definitely recommend doing the short 15 minute walk uphill to the base of the waterfall. And the best part is you can even walk right behind the waterfall too - although you might get a little wet from the waterfall spray.
And if you're feeling up to it, then you can also walk further up to above the waterfall!
Side view of the Pericnik Waterfall
Aerial view of Slap Pericnik
From behind the waterfall
5. Lake Jasna (Jezero Jasna)
Only a 25 minute drive on from the Pericnik waterfall, and a total of 40 minutes from Lake Bled, is Lake Jasna (Jezero Jasna) located in the alpine resort town of Kranjska Gora.
Although it is actually two small interconnected artificial lakes, the bright turquoise waters of Lake Jasna and surrounding mountains sure makes this a beautiful location to visit.
Furthermore, you can go swimming in the lake or enjoy a refreshing beverage at one of the quaint lake-side cafes or bars. All whilst enjoying the stunning views of the Julian Alps in the distance!
And if you have time, then we would recommend coming along the road south to go up the Vršič Pass for even more incredible mountain views.
Comment below if you have any questions, and we'll be in touch soon! Or get in touch online here.
Helen + Tristan
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