Visiting Lake Bled is a must on your Slovenia trip. There, handcrafted boats called Pletna take you to Bled Island on an unforgettable twenty minute journey.
Lake Bled, about 45 minutes from Ljublajana, is a gorgous escape from the city. Only problem; everyone else has the same idea. Still, even while you’re battling the crowds, you can’t help but fall in love with the place.
The top attraction in Bled is the tiny teardrop shaped Bled Island. Near Hotel Park is a dock where the local Pletna boats take you across the lake to the island.
Pletna are traditional flat-bottomed boats. Hand made out of wood and topped with a canopy, these boats are a work of art. There’s no motor on a Pletna. Instead, Pletna are powered by a Pletnar (oarsman) who rows the boat while standing.
If you get a chatty Pletnar, the 20 minute ride can be quite entertaining.
Currently, a roundtrip costs €20. Bring cash in case the operator doesn’t take cards.
Once on Bled Island, you’re given about 45 minutes to explore.
Climb the stone stairs to the top of the island and the 17th century Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Legend has is that if a groom carries his wife up the 99 stairs, the couple will have a happy marriage (or spend the night in the ER when the husband passes out from exhaustion).
Entering the church used to be free, now it costs €12. For that you can take five minutes to explore the miniscule church museum and climb the belltower. In the chapel, pull the rope, ring the bell, and make a wish.
After that, you can get an ice cream and admire the view. Then, your 45 minutes are up and you get back on the Pletna for the scenic ride back.
Some people complain about the crowds at Lake Bled and the expense. And yes, forty bucks for a boat ride, entry to a church, and an ice cream might seem steep. But, I prefer to think of it like this. These boats are handcrafted works of art. Our Pletnar built his with his brother in law and it was beautifully designed.
If you want to save money, you don’t have to go into the church; you can admire the belltower from outside and listening to others ring the bell costs nothing.
Lake Bled is a 45 minute drive from Ljubljana. There’s also a bus that goes directly from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. It takes a little under an hour.
To avoid crowds, visit Lake Bled in May or September (boats run beginning in April and end in October or November, depending on weather and demand). And, plan your trip for a weekday. Bled is crushed with tourists on weekends, holidays, and in the summertime.
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides on Destination Eat Drink. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms and is distributed by the Radio Misfits Podcast Network.
Is Lake Bled, Slovenia actually worth the hype? Join me, Brent Petersen, on a day…
Valery from 100 Spires Tours is an expert on the city of Prague. She shares…
Ljubljana is a hidden gem for plant-based foodies! 🇸🇮🥕 Join us as we explore the…
Our favorite dishes and ingredients don’t recognize borders. They travel with people to new places.…
Slovenia's capital city has reinvented itself in the past couple of decades. What used to…