Bled lies in north-western Slovenia, in Upper Carniola, where the Ljubljana Basin gives way to the foot of the Julian Alps. The lake with its emerald water, the little island in the middle of it and the castle on a steep cliff are the image that has carried Bled among the most recognisable Slovenian places. The lake measures a good two kilometres in length and is up to thirty metres deep, and in the middle of it there rises from the water a tree-covered the island, protected as a cultural monument of national importance. To the island you are carried by the traditional wooden pletna boats, whose oarsmen often take over the trade from generation to generation, and from the landing stage you climb to the church of the Assumption of Mary up the famous 99 stone steps. An old custom says that the groom must carry the bride up all the steps to the top, while in the church there hangs the wishing bell, to which folk tradition attributes the power of fulfilling hidden wishes.

The lake is the heart of everything that happens. Around it winds a six-kilometre walking path, which you walk in a good hour and a half and which is popular among runners and lovers of cycling too. In summer the water warms to approximately 20 to 25 degrees and invites you to bathe, row and paddleboard, and you can also take a hired rowing boat out on the lake or simply enjoy yourself along the well-kept shore. At Mala Zaka the Olympic rowing centre is at home, where Bled has already hosted world rowing championships several times. For the finest view you climb the steep forest path in just under three quarters of an hour to Mala Osojnica or the nearby Ojstrica, from where the view opens onto the lake with the island as we know it from postcards. A chairlift leads to nearby Straža, and in summer a run of more than half a kilometre also delights summer tobogganing, in winter the surrounding peaks are clothed in snow and the place takes on a quieter but no less picturesque appearance.

Above the lake, on a cliff, rises Bled Castle, which ranks among the oldest castles in Slovenia. It is first mentioned in writing in 1011, when Emperor Henry II gave it to the bishops of Brixen. Over the centuries it was struck by two earthquakes, and after a fire in the middle of the 20th century it was thoroughly restored. Today in it you discover a museum collection about the history of the place, a medieval chapel with frescoes, the castle printing works and a wine cellar where you can bottle and seal a bottle of wine yourself. You climb to the castle on foot or drive up, and the reward is one of the finest views of the whole lake, the island and the surrounding mountains. It is no wonder that the castle is at the same time a popular venue for weddings and other events.

Bled also has its own flavour. The Bled cream cake, a slice of cream between two thin sheets of puff pastry, has been prepared at the Park hotel to an almost unchanged recipe ever since 1953, when the confectionery master there devised it, and since then several million of them have been baked. It has become a real sweet trademark of the place. Many treat themselves to one right on the terrace with a view of the island; otherwise it is best accompanied by one of the cafés beside the lake, where the culinary offer is as varied as the views, from local inns to restaurants with an international touch.

From Bled, routes lead to several important Upper Carniola attractions. Just a few kilometres to the north-west hides the gorge Vintgar, a good kilometre and a half of the river Radovna breaking through rock walls, laid out for visitors as early as the end of the 19th century with wooden galleries and bridges. The path ends with the picturesque Šum waterfall, and the gorge is one of the easiest entry points into the Triglav National Park, whose administration is hosted by Bled itself. Above the place stretches the wooded plateau Pokljuka with cross-country skiing and biathlon trails; in a few minutes you reach the beekeeping Radovljica with a well-preserved medieval centre, and in a good half hour's drive the mountain Bohinj with the largest natural lake in Slovenia. To Ljubljana and the international airport it is less than an hour's drive, which places Bled among the most easily accessible alpine destinations.

At Bled you can combine a stay by the lake, trips into the mountains, a walk around the lake and a taste of the cream slice. Browse the accommodation, book a table at restaurants and choose among the activities in Bled and its surroundings.