Winter Getaway to Zagreb, Ljubljana, & Lake Bled [Part 3: Lake Bled]

We saved the best for last.

Lake Bled, Slovenia is a fairytale.

Snow capped mountains in the background, a stone castle perched on a cliff overlooking the calm lake, a baroque cathedral and bell tower located on their own island… It is every bit as dreamy as it sounds.

Since I heard of Lake Bled, I longed to go there. It was perfect for a winter getaway.

We departed from Ljubljana to Bled via train. The train ride itself was gorgeous. We were able to get a good view of the Slovenian Alps during our ride.

There are two main train stations in Bled, unfortunately both are located on the outskirts of town. Ours was located the opposite end of the lake from our hotel. Bled does not have Uber, and it was too far to walk with luggage, so we simply called Park Hotel, and let them call us a taxi.

We could not have picked a better hotel. Park Hotel is closest to the lake. It also is in great location. It is around a 10-15 minute walk to St. Mark’s Parish, 25 minutes to the castle, and is surrounded by restaurants and bars. It offers nice rooms, a great complimentary breakfast buffet with beautiful views from the dining room, and a friendly hotel staff.

During the winter, there is an ice rink in front of the hotel you can skate on (if you can manage to find balance with knives attached to your feet while being on ice). Also within short walking distance (on your way to St. Mark’s Cathedral), you can experience Bled’s small, but cute Christmas market. They have lights, food stands, a nativity, crafts, and souvenirs.

During the winter, though lovely, there is not a plethora of things to do. Luckily, I found the perfect way to spend a freezing December night: Spa & Wellness Essence. They offer incredibly affordable packages. We purchased a package that included 5 saunas (hay sauna, breadbath, Finnish wood stove, rasul, and the Turkish sauna), the whirlpools that offer a beautiful view of the city during the day, and a 60 min Thai massage. All this was below the price of what you would pay for just a massage in America. We made an appointment the evening we went. (Another great thing is that they are open until 10 pm!) Give yourself a few hours, since you are welcome to come whenever to experience all the saunas, which each have their own special, but romantic feel. Most Europeans do the spas sans clothes (I was not prepared for the cultural difference), but we brought swimsuits. I’d never heard of Thai massages before, but found mine really rejuvenating. They have masseuses from Thailand who apply pressure using their bodies to different points on yours, stretch different muscles, and treat “energy lines” along the body. Do yourself a favor and go. It was one of my favorite things we did in Bled.

Post-spa, we went for some drinks to a local bar, Pub Bled Janez Troha, which was only a minute walk from our hotel. All pubs and cafes in town basically offer the same food: premade paninis and premade pizza. Both are actually really good, and cheap. My favorite thing about this bar was the atmosphere of it compared to the others (good, not overly loud music, and a few people, but not incredibly lively), plus they had an extensive menu of beer, wine, and cocktails. The menu listed ingredients of all the cocktails,which was helpful. Every drink I had was tasty! We went here both nights we stayed in Bled.

If the lake is not frozen (it was 20 degrees or so when we went, and it was far from frozen), you can take a ride over to the island via boat ride. You can catch a boat from the pier directly below Hotel Park (and Cafe Park), every hour from 10-4 on the hour. Price is 11 euros per person. Boats carry you back from the island every 20 minutes.

Bled Island is the only island in Slovenia. It dates back to prehistoric times.When arriving to the island, climb the 99 steps to the Church of the Assumption of Mary. The most popular thing to do while on the island is to ring the bell inside the Church. Legend has it that a widow who lived in Bled Castle, distraught from the loss of her husband to the hands of robbers, cast all of her silver and gold into a bell, which she donated to the island in memory of her husband. While taking the bell across the lake, the boat sunk, along with the boatmen. The widow became a nun, and did many good deeds. After hearing of her death, the Pope decided to have a new bell made for the Church in her honor. It is said if you ring this magical bell three times, believe in God, and only make one wish, the wish will come true.

Moreso built for defense compared to residency in 1011, Bled Castle sits cliffside, overlooking the lake and its island. Follow the steps adjacent from St. Martin’s Parish, up the side of the cliff, to the castle (honestly not that bad of a walk). Upon entering the medieval castle, over the drawbridge and the remnants of a moat, you’ll walk up a very steep entryway, where you’ll pay the admission fee of 9 euros. The castle offers stunning views of Bled from the staircases and courtyards. It has its own museum, winery, shops, and a restaurant. The restaurant is pricey, and reservations should be made if you want to catch a meal here. However reservations are not required to enjoy a slice of Bled cream cake, a culinary specialty of Bled. It is made of butter dough, vanilla, and whipped cream. I highly recommend it.

The best meal I had all trip came from Panorama Restaurant. It offers a sophisticated dinner (in a relaxed environment), with great views! I had the beef tagliata on fresh roasted vegetables with parmesan. It was also just a couple of minutes walk (if that) from the hotel.

If you ever get the chance to go to Bled, don’t pass it up! Bled has more activities during the summer, but is oh so beautiful in the winter. The two days spent there were magical! It is a small, tucked away piece of heaven on earth!