Well hello to you, my reader chums! I'm in love with Lake Bled; I was lucky to visit the lake over a long weekend, exploring its magic and nearby sights. The lake, as you imagine, is picturesque with gorgeous hikes and lots of things to see and do.

If you're visiting Lake Bled soon, here is my guide to everything you need to know and prepare for. 

It's 30 minutes from Ljubljana airport

You'll fly into Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, when visiting Lake Bled (unless you're taking a bus or driving from another part of Slovenia), and there are a few easy options to reach the lake. For something direct, you can get a taxi, although this can be a little expensive or hire a car if you're taking a road trip across Slovenia - both options will take you around 30 minutes drive.

The easiest option for tourists and those on a budget is to get the bus. There's a bus station directly outside the airport which offers buses to Lake Bled and Ljubljana city centre, and each destination takes around 30 minutes. You buy your tickets on the bus, which are 4.10 euros each for one way, and the buses come every hour. You can check the Arriva's website for a complete bus schedule. 

Lake Bled is walkable

I love to walk around on holiday as it's the best way to explore a destination. You can easily walk around the lake to see the main sites, including the castle and the various points for hopping on the Pletna boats. The lake takes around 1-2 hours to walk around, depending on whether you stop off and visit sites along the way, and the main town of Bled is very walkable too. 

The lake can be expensive

Lake Bled is a popular destination and can be expensive, depending on what you get up to. For example, the Pletna boats over to the island cost £20 each and going inside the church on the island was £12 each. Restaurants aren't crazy pricey, but I've visited many more European destinations which are a lot cheaper. If you plan and research prices for attractions, you can pick a budget suitable to cover your trip. 

Cash is essential for certain attractions

Not many places need cash anymore, however, Lake Bled was an exception. I used cash to pay for the buses, the Pletna boats and public toilets.  

Accommodation can be pricey

I stayed in the off-season, and accommodation was expensive. You'll need to make the decision to pay more and stay central or be a little further out and save yourself some money. We stayed in an Airbnb about a 20-minute walk from the lake and half an hour/40 minutes from the main town. I'm a big walker and we didn't mind it, but if that's not for you, staying central is the way forward.

Buses are easy to use

Buses were a lifesaver in Lake Bled for the airport, excursions, and to visit another lake - and were incredibly cheap too. As Lake Bled is such a popular destination, I assumed the buses would be pricey, but they were honestly the opposite. The most expensive bus was to the city (around 5 euros each), whilst the airport was around 4 euros and to Lake Bohinj, around 2 euros. The buses do a loop from the airport, through to Lake Bled and then to Lake Bohinj and loop back to that exact route, making it easy to find your way.

Going off-peak means fewer crowds

I visited Lake Bled in mid-March, and the lake was rather quiet. We did see some tour groups, and there were people around, however, it was very quiet compared to other popular tourist places I've visited off-peak. I can imagine in the summer, it would be very busy and jumping on the hourly bus to the airport would be a mission. Also, when we visited Lake Bohinj (a 45-minute bus ride from Lake Bled), we saw about 5 people the entire time around the lake. If you want peace and don't mind bad weather, visit off-peak in winter.

Be prepared for the weather

You may be incredibly lucky with the weather; however, if, like me, you visit in winter, you should prepare in case the weather isn't in your favour. We did have rain and clouds for the entire time at the lake. Even though it didn't stop us from doing anything, it was good to be prepared as it made the experience more comfortable. Pack suitable walking/hiking shoes, waterproofs and practical clothing.

Explore beyond the lake

I adored every part of Lake Bled, but I have to say, Lake Bohinj was a massive highlight of the trip, and I'm glad we visited that lake too. Explore beyond the lake, such as visiting Lake Bohinj, the main city, or if you're hiring a car, drive around the local villages.

Supermarkets and shops can be closed on a Sunday

If visiting on a weekend, be wary that supermarkets and some shops may be closed.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you visiting Lake Bled?

Thank you for reading <3