Introduction
When you hear “Slovenia,” can you immediately picture where it is? To be honest, for many Japanese people, it’s probably not a very familiar country. Even though I live in Austria, until I visited Bratislava before, I was in the state of thinking, “Which one is Slovakia and which one is Slovenia?”
Slovenia is located south of Austria and, like Croatia and Serbia, is one of the countries that once belonged to the former Yugoslavia.
This time, I visited Lake Bled, one of Slovenia’s most famous tourist destinations, so I’ll introduce it based on my actual experience.
（当ブログの記事をまとめたポータルページはここです）
驚きの価格！海外格安航空券 スカイチケット
Amazon.co.jp
あなたと一緒に作る海外旅行【トラベル・スタンダード・ジャパン】
What is Lake Bled?
Lake Bled is located in northern Slovenia and is a beautiful lake situated between Villach in Austria and the capital Ljubljana.
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, especially crowded in summer.
The biggest features of this lake are:
- Bled Castle towering on a cliff
- The Church of St. Mary on a small island in the middle of the lake
These two elements combine to create a scene that looks like something out of a storybook.
Even though it was April, quite a few people were swimming in the lake… though some of them were boldly swimming right next to “No Swimming” signs (lol).
By the way, the fine is apparently €300, so be careful.
The lake water is very clear and shines in an emerald-green color. There are plenty of fish and many swans, making it a relaxing place just to walk around.
Around the lake, you’ll find hotels, restaurants, and cafés, so it is well-developed as a tourist destination.
Access (from Austria)
If you’re coming from Austria, the main hub is Villach. From Graz, you can reach Villach in about an hour via the recently opened Koralm Railway. From Villach, there are mainly two ways to get to Lake Bled.
① Train transfer route
- Villach → Jesenice
- Jesenice → Bled Jezero Station
At first glance, this route seems convenient since you can get there entirely by train. However, depending on the schedule, the transfer time can be very short—in my case, only about 5 minutes. If you miss it, you may have to wait over an hour, and getting from Jesenice by taxi is not very practical, so I decided not to take this option due to the risk.
② Lesce-Bled Station + Bus
- Villach → Lesce-Bled Station
- Bus from the station to Bled bus station
I chose this option for safety. Once you reach Lesce-Bled Station, you also have the option of walking or taking a taxi, which provides peace of mind. The bus stop to Bled is located across the road from the station.
However, while buses run frequently on weekdays, on weekends they run about once per hour. Also, since this route originates from Ljubljana, delays are quite common.
In my case, the bus was delayed by about 30 minutes, so I ended up waiting at the stop for quite a while. Honestly, I felt like the Jesenice transfer might have been better after all…
Getting to Ljubljana
If you’re heading from Lake Bled to Ljubljana, a pre-booked tourist bus costs around €20, but a regular bus only costs about €5.
Moreover, regular buses run frequently—about every 15 minutes—so taking the regular bus is highly recommended.
However, tickets must be purchased onboard and cash is required, so be prepared. It’s a good idea to have around €100 in cash when traveling in Slovenia.
The buses themselves feel relatively new and clean overall… although there was gum stuck near my seat window (unfortunately).
Bled Castle and the Church of St. Mary
I didn’t go inside due to time constraints, but even viewing them from the outside is well worth it.
Bled Castle stands on a steep cliff, offering a dramatic location overlooking the lake.
Meanwhile, the Church of St. Mary sits on a small island in the middle of the lake. From the lakeside, it doesn’t look much like an island, but from the viewpoint, you can clearly see that it is.
You can reach the island by boat, but it costs around €20 plus an entrance fee, making it a bit expensive.
Even though I didn’t go inside, this might sound odd, but like Mount Fuji, I felt it’s a place that’s more enjoyable to admire from the outside than from within.
Spectacular View from the Viewpoint (Highly Recommended)
Personally, the viewpoint is the highlight.
There are two viewpoints at Lake Bled: Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica. I visited Ojstrica.
Both are located on the south side of the lake, so it takes about an hour on foot from the bus station on the north side to reach the trailhead, followed by a hike.
The trail is relatively easy at first, but the final stretch becomes steep and slippery.
👉 Sneakers are essential (hiking shoes are even better)
But the view at the top is breathtaking—a perfect vantage point where you can see the lake, island, church, and castle all at once.
A stunning view that makes you forget all the effort of the climb!
However, be careful as the area around the viewpoint is steep and exposed.
Bled Cake (Local Specialty)
After hiking, I highly recommend trying the local specialty, Bled cake. It’s a dessert made of layers of whipped cream and custard sandwiched between pastry.
You can find it in many cafés around town, though prices vary. From what I saw, it generally ranges from €5 to €7.
I had mine at Confectionery Zima. It cost €5.2 and was quite large—enough to share with a friend.
It wasn’t overly sweet and had a light texture—just as expected. It’s easy to eat even after a long walk, making it a perfect treat. Since it’s not too expensive, definitely give it a try when visiting Bled.
They also had Sachertorte as well (lol).
Of course, you’ll also find plenty of ice cream—something Europeans love. I had chocolate ice cream, which was rich and delicious.
（当ブログの記事をまとめたポータルページはここです）
驚きの価格！海外格安航空券 スカイチケット
Amazon.co.jp
あなたと一緒に作る海外旅行【トラベル・スタンダード・ジャパン】
Conclusion
Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s top tourist destinations, with easy access and overwhelmingly beautiful scenery.
The viewpoint is especially recommended—it’s an absolute must-see.
It’s possible to visit even on a day trip from Austria, making it well worth the journey. If you’re looking to enjoy classic European scenery, this is a destination I highly recommend.
コメント