Beaches & Lakes · Our pick
Lake Bled & Bled Island
The island church
A green Alpine lake with Slovenia’s only natural island, crowned by a pilgrimage church.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Scotch Mist · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Scotch Mist · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 3
About Lake Bled & Bled Island
Slovenia’s only island rises from Lake Bled crowned by the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake, Gothic in origin with a separate bell tower over 50 metres high and a Baroque makeover in the mid-17th century. Getting there is half the pleasure: a pletna, the covered wooden boat rowed by oarsmen from families granted the right in the 18th century. Climb the 99 stone steps and ring the wishing bell. Back ashore, walk the six-kilometre lakeside path or take a horse-drawn carriage, and in summer swim in water that reaches about 25 °C.
Our take
- Pletna boat crossing
- Ring the wishing bell
- Lakeshore loop
- Address
- Bled, the Balkans
- Our city guide
- On our Ljubljana guide
- Price guide
- € (beaches & lakes price guide)
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Lake Bled & Bled Island before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Location
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Read next
HotelsGrand Hotel TopliceA 19th-century grand hotel on the shore of Lake Bled, with a thermal-water pool.
HotelsHotel Vila BledA historic villa in private parkland on the southern shore of Lake Bled.
HotelsGarden Village BledTreehouses, glamping tents and pier tents over a stream, a short walk from the lake.