Introducing Bled Island

Bled Island is a tiny tear-shaped isle in the middle of Lake Bled in the northwestern corner of Slovenia. It is the only naturally-occurring island in Slovenia. It has several buildings. Most famous one is the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, a Baroque church containing fresco fragments from the 15th century.

Bled Island Review

When people say that a place is like something from a fairy tale, often they are exaggerating, but that is not the case with this charming little tear-shaped island which is in the middle of Lake Bled. The island has such an extraordinary beautiful setting that photographs of it are regularly found in travel magazines and it’s without a doubt the most recognizable place in Slovenia.

The usual way to reach the island is by taking a trip on the Pletna boat, which is a large gondola-like row boat with a canopy that takes visitors from the shores of Lake Bled to Bled Island. There are regular departures throughout the day and it takes about 20 minutes each way. It costs €12 for a roundtrip to Bled Island and this includes waiting time of 30 minutes so you can explore the island and the church. Another option is to rent a rowboat. It’s a little cheaper and you get the pleasure of meandering back and forth through the lake. You can rent a boat at the Castle boathouse, at Grand hotel Toplice or at the Pension Pletna. A boat for 3 persons costs around €15 per hour, a boat for 5 persons costs around €20 per hour. If you are a good swimmer, you can also swim to the island. But be aware – if you swim to the island, you won’t be able to explore the church unless you ask someone to bring you clothes by boat.

The island is quite small, so we would suggest going early in the day when there aren’t too many tourists crowding the place. The views from the island are beautiful and very relaxing and also the photo opportunities are great. There are quite a few buildings on the island, the most important is the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, which is a lovely, well maintained church that is definitely worth a look. There’s a small fee (€6 for adults, €1 for children) to get in to see the clock tower. The main attraction is a wishing bell from the 16th century that you can ring from inside the church. There is also a nice café on the island where you can get a snack, coffee or drinks and a souvenir shop and gallery.

Bled Island Pictures

The beautiful Bled Island in the middle of Lake Bled. (photo: Jure Korber and Tjasa Borsnak)

Bled Island transforms magnificently during fall. From late September to early November, the island delights with golden-brown, green, and orange hues. (photo: Miro Zalokar, Bled.si)

An increasingly rare sight. Frozen Lake Bled, where people can walk to the island. (photo: Franci Ferjan, Slovenia.info)

Bled Island photos
BLED ISLAND (25 pictures) Bled Island is a small tear-shaped isle in the middle of the remarkable Lake Bled in northwestern Slovenia. Although it is really small, it has quite a few buildings on it, but the most famous one is the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, a Gothic church with a 52-meter tower.
BLED ISLAND PHOTOS (35 pictures) While Lake Bled is naturally beautiful, it’s made a hundred times more striking with Bled Island sitting idyllically in the middle, garnished with a picture-perfect church that visitors to Bled can visit.
BLED ISLAND AS SEEN BY VISITORS TO BLED (10 pictures) Bled Island is the iconic island in the center of Lake Bled that you see from pretty much everywhere as you walk around the lake. It is the soul of Lake Bled. Visitors to Bled like to capture it in all the classic frames – from across the lake, from the viewpoints, and from the Bled castle.

Bled Island location on the map

Address: Otok 1, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.36256, 14.09022
GPS coordinates: 46° 21? 45.2160” N 14° 5? 24.8028” E
Region: Gorenjska (a.k.a Upper Carniola a.k.a Slovenian Alps a.k.a Oberkrain)

All You Need To Know To Visit Bled
BLED – possibly the most beautiful and remarkable Alpine resort in Europe With an incredibly beautiful glacial lake surrounded by the peaks of the Slovenian Alps, an iconic church nestled in a tiny island in the middle of the lake and a medieval Gothic castle built on a 100-meter cliff overlooking the lake, Bled is possibly the most beautiful and remarkable Alpine resort in Europe.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS IN BLED AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
LAKE BLED - the most stunning and romantic place you could ever imagine Overall Rating:     10/10   (Must-See) In Slovenia, there is a real place that looks like it came from the fairy tale world! That place is the beautiful Lake Bled, known for its stunning mountain-backed vistas, the iconic church located on a tiny island in the middle of the lake and the spectacular medieval Gothic castle built on a 130-meter cliff overlooking the lake.
BLED ISLAND – the fairytale island with an idyllic church on it Overall Rating:     10/10   (Must-See) When people say that a place is like something from a fairy tale, often they are exaggerating, but that is not the case with this charming little tear-shaped island in the middle of Lake Bled. The island has such an extraordinary beautiful setting that photographs of it are regularly found in travel magazines and it’s without a doubt the most recognizable place in Slovenia.
VINTGAR GORGE - one of the most extraordinary places to visit in Slovenia Overall Rating:     10/10   (Must-See) This stunningly picturesque gorge with turquoise water of the Radovna river and a spectacular waterfall at the far end is part of the Triglav National Park and is located just outside the northern side of Bled. It has been made into a huge attraction by the addition of walkways alongside and across the river.

HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS IN BLED AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
BLED CASTLE – the oldest castle in Slovenia perched high above Lake Bled Overall Rating:     10/10   (Must-See) Above the incredibly beautiful glacial Lake Bled, on a mighty steep cliff rising 130 meters high, is the iconic Bled Castle. It is one of the most visited Slovene sights with over 300.000 annual guests.
CHURCH OF THE MOTHER OF GOD ON THE LAKE – the idyllic church on Bled Island Overall Rating:     10/10   (Must-See) Church of the Mother of God on the Lake, also known as the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, or The Church of Mary the Queen, or Our Lady of the Lake, is located on a a tiny, tear-shaped island in the middle of an incredibly beautiful Lake Bled. The church has such a beautiful setting that pictures of it are regularly found in travel magazines and on travel blogs and forums.

THINGS TO DO IN BLED AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

ROYAL BLED GOLF COURSE – undoubtedly the best golf course and club in Slovenia Overall Rating:     10/10   (Exceptional) Royal Bled Golf is the oldest and the largest golf course in Slovenia and one of those must play courses in Europe. The facility comprises the 18-hole King's Course and the 9-hole Lake's Course. The 18-hole King's Course is pretty challenging and plays host to several tournaments and other events during the year, while the 9-hole Lake's course is a bit easier option for those whose handicap is too high, or those with not-so-deep pockets. Club membership is invitation only, but both courses are regularly open to the general public with advanced booking.

Bled restaurants that we think are the best and well worth a visit
A LA CARTE RESTAURANT 1906 BLED Cuisine: Slovenian Located on the quiet side of Lake Bled, the restaurant has some of the most amazing views of the lake, church on the island, and Slovenian Alps. The food is outstanding with a varied choice on the menu to suit every taste. It’s exquisite fine dining but with quite big portions. OVERALL RATING:     10/10   (Exceptional) PRICES:     (Expensive)
BLED CASTLE RESTAURANT Cuisine: Slovenian This famous restaurant is now under new management of the Jezersek family who serve modern interpretations of recipes written more than 70 years ago by their grandmother. The food is absolutely lovely - it's traditional Slovenian served in a superb fine dining style with lots of lovely touches. OVERALL RATING:     10/10   (Exceptional) PRICES:     (Expensive)
RESTAURANT LABOD Cuisine: International The restaurant is located in the very heart of Bled. It's a fine restaurant with a lovely terrace that has a breathtaking view of Lake Bled and Bled Island. The menu is varied with a good selection of meat, fish and pasta dishes. The food served is full of flavour and beautifully presented and yet is not too heavy on the pocket. OVERALL RATING:     10/10   (Exceptional) PRICES:     (Moderate)
FINEFOOD PENZION BERC RESTAURANT Cuisine: Slovenian This is a lovely small restaurant that is opened only during the season (from May 1st till mid-October). The setting is charming in an open garden with lit candles all around the tables. The menu is surprisingly extensive for a small place and there's something for everyone. All the plates coming from the kitchen are a feast for the eyes. OVERALL RATING:     09/10   (Superb) PRICES:     (Expensive)

Places to stay in Bled that we recommend
The accommodation options in Bled can be divided into six main categories: hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, apartments, farm stays and hostels.
HOTELS IN BLED THAT WE RECOMMEND Finding a hotel that suits your needs and fits your budget can be a hassle. Bled is a very touristic place with lots of hotels of varying standards, from ultra-luxurious where guests can indulge themselves in some exquisite spas to a nice choice of affordable 3-star hotels. Find out which hotels in Bled we recommend and why.
GUESTHOUSES IN BLED THAT WE RECOMMEND Bled guesthouses are definitely a nice, safe option for a place to stay as they are comfortable and homely with owners who take an interest in their guests. Many offer not only breakfast, but also lunch and dinner. There are quite a few wonderful guest houses in Bled, find out which one would best suit your needs, style and budget.
BED AND BREAKFASTS IN BLED THAT WE RECOMMEND Bed and breakfasts are a cheap way of staying in Bled. In essence you get a room and usually also a private bathroom in someone's house, with breakfast included in the price. Find out which B&Bs in Bled we recommend and why.
APARTMENTS IN BLED THAT WE RECOMMEND Many local residents in Bled offer apartments for rent in their houses. Each apartment has one or two bedrooms, a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. Some also have a living room and a balcony or a terrace. It's a very popular wallet-friendly option when you are staying in Bled. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment for your stay! Here you will find the apartments that we think are the best ones in Bled right now.
HOSTELS IN BLED THAT WE RECOMMEND Hostels are a very popular option for those seeking low-cost accommodations in Bled. Most spaces and amenities are usually shared, but even if you’re not up for the cheapest option - a bed in a dorm room - you can often get a basic private room at a Bled hostel for significantly less than the cost of a low-end hotel or privately rented room. Competition between Bled hostels has grown over the past 5-10 years so the quality has risen considerably. There are now some really nice hostels in Bled, find out which are the ones that we recommend and why!
CAMPING AND GLAMPING SITES IN BLED THAT WE RECOMMEND There’s nothing quite like going to sleep under the stars, surrounded by nature and only the sound of birdsong to wake you up in the morning. The Bled area has a breathtaking nature which is perfect to do just that: whether it’s an all natural campsite or a luxurious glamping experience, these are the best outdoor sleeping areas in Bled.
FARM STAYS IN THE LAKE BLED AREA THAT WE RECOMMEND Farm stays are an increasingly popular vacation option, especially for families with young children. Styled after traditional B&Bs, farm stays offer comfortable lodging, low rates, generous breakfasts and direct access to farm animals, fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs. On some farms you can also join in with farm tasks, including feeding and egg collecting. Find out which farm stays in the Lake Bled area we recommend the most.