Bled or Bohinj – which lake must you visit when in Slovenia [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 25th August 2018 | Updated: 29th November 2024

Bled or Bohinj, which lake should we visit? That’s what we asked before we set out for the northwest of Slovenia. Little did we know we would visit both and have a definite favourite by the end of our few days in the area…

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Which is better Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj?

This is the question we get asked the most when we mention Bled or Bohinj. They both have their positives and negatives, so which is the better lake? Honestly, we loved them both, but for very different things, Lake Bled is much more touristy but therefore has more food and accommodation options, whilst Lake Bohinj is more off the beaten track so super quiet perfect for those wanting to get away from the tourists, but this means little to no eateries.

Where are Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj?

Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj are located in the Upper Carniolan region of northwest Slovenia. Lake Bled is roughly 55km from Ljubljana and Lake Bohinj is roughly 83km from Ljubljana, so they are both really easy to get to from the capital if you are visiting. They are also located in quite possibly one of the most stunning areas of the entire country of Slovenia, the Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps.

How to get between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj

There is no direct public transport between Bled and Bohinj, so by far, the easiest and quickest way to get between them is via car. It takes approximately 30 minutes to cover the 28km via the 209, but the drive through the Julian Alps into the Triglav National Park is one of the most lovely drives in all of Slovenia.

Lake Bled Guide

The bright blue lake with its church in the centre and quaint ‘pletna’ boats all around is truly a sight not to be missed in Slovenia. It is easy to see why Bled is the picture-perfect postcard town that numerous tourists descend upon each year. You can walk around the entire lake and hike up to a stunning viewpoint, or the castle, before sitting down for some famous Bled cake, (a custard and cream slice topped with pastry), and watching the world go by.

Is Lake Bled expensive?

Lake Bled can be expensive, especially in comparison with other locations in Slovenia. However if you choose to park out of the main town, utilise your feet rather than public transport and don’t eat directly on the lakefront, (you’ll pay for the view!),  it can be fairly inexpensive.

What is special about Lake Bled?

Lake Bled is often the first place that people think of when you mention Slovenia. So, what makes it so special and why do the tourists flock there? Well aside from the brilliant blue lake and the Bled cake, the island in the centre of Lake Bled, which is home to the Assumption of Maria Church, is actually the only natural island in the whole of Slovenia.

Top 5 reasons to visit Bled

📍 1 – Mala Osojnica panoramic view over Lake Bled, it is a steep hike up, but so worth it for those views.

📍 2 – Blejski grad or Bled Castle, an 11th-century clifftop castle that overlooks the lake from the northern side.

📍 3 – Blejsko srce, the Heart of Bled a quaint lakeside lookout in the main town.

📍 4 – Straža Bled, an often overlooked area for summer tobogganing and winter skiing just outside of the main town.

📍 5 – Bled Cake. Head to Bar 2000 on the waterfront for one of these delicious cakes with one of the best views going.

How to get to Lake Bled

Lake Bled is actually relatively easy to get to from within Slovenia, or from the province of Carinthia in southern Austria. Located in the Julian Alps it is just a 45-minute drive from Ljubljana via the E61 and A2, or you can take the train to Bled Jezero station which arrives at the western edge of the lake. The nearest airport is Ljubljana so why not hire a car from there and head straight out to the Slovenian Alps.

Where to park at Lake Bled

There are numerous car parks all around the lake, but unless you get there really early, they will most likely be full when you arrive. To be honest the ones in the centre of the town seem to be full 24/7… Opt for parking a short way out as we did at Pod Stražo near Straža Bled, where you can park for as little as 3 euros for the day.

How to get around Lake Bled

You can drive around the lake, but the roads are narrow and will quite often be busy with walkers, so leave the car in the town centre and set out on foot instead. If you then want to walk around the entire lake edge it is roughly 6km and all flat.

When to visit Lake Bled

We visited in the early summer months, which was great for the weather and fewer tourists than if we had visited in the peak summer months, but we would absolutely love to visit in the autumn. The opportunity to see the leaves turning around the lake, but still have the lovely warm weather and possibly a few less tourists around too, is really appealing.

Where to stay in Lake Bled

Camping Bled at the western side of the lake is a great and price-friendly location to stay around Lake Bled.

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Lake Bohinj Guide

Beautiful hikes, views for miles and crystal-clear water. This lake, which covers nearly 3.5km, is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia and our first taste of the Triglav National Park. You can not only hike around the lake, and find stunning waterfalls whilst you do, but you can head up above to Mount Vogel for some incredible views of the lake and the surrounding Triglav National Park.

Is Lake Bohinj worth visiting?

Lake Bohinj is a treat for travellers to the area as not many tourists venture there compared to Lake Bled. Plus, it has crystal clear waters perfect for swimming in, and easy access into the Triglav National Park. So yes, Lake Bohinj is definitely worth visiting.

How many days do you need in Lake Bohinj?

You can easily spend a long weekend exploring Lake Bohinj and its surroundings. Take a day to walk the lake trail, stopping for a dip here and there, a day to wander the town centre and a day to get up Mount Vogel and into the Triglav National Park. And that is all before hiking further into the lake surroundings or doing a hut to hut hike through the Julian Alps…

Top 5 reasons to visit Lake Bohinj

📍 1 – Mount Vogel. Head the 1544 metres up the cable car into the Triglav National Park and the Mount Vogel ski resort for some of the most incredible views over Lake Bohinj and the surrounding mountains. Plus, there are mountain huts you can walk to and a cheese trail to follow in the summer months.

📍 2 – Goldenhorn, Zlatorog mountain goat statue to the eastern edge of the lake, has one of the best views of the lake and surrounding mountains, plus it’s a goat statue!

📍 3 – Another mountain and another viewpoint, but this time to the north of the lake. Vogel Viewpoint observation deck and mountain hut have yet again some of the most insane views over the area.

📍 4 – Most Bridge and the Cerkev Sv Janesza Krstnika church, just out of the centre of Bohinj are beautiful historic structures with unique frescos and a wonderful view that many tourists miss out on.

📍 5 – Lake Bohinj is the largest lake in Slovenia, so why wouldn’t you want to visit and experience the lake for yourself?

How to get to Lake Bohinj

To get to Lake Bohinj it is only a 1-hour drive from Ljubljana via the E61 and A2. It is however a  little more difficult to get to than Lake Bled if you want to arrive via public transport. There aren’t any trains that run directly to the lake but there is a bus service that runs to Bohinj Jezero bus and coach station, which takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours, obviously a little longer than via car.

Where to park at Lake Bohinj

Compared to Lake Bled, parking at Lake Bohinj is much simpler. There are multiple car parks around the lake in the east, south and west, some even with direct access to the lake itself. Parking is also relatively cheap here, with some near the Vogel Ski Resort being free when buying a ticket up the cable car. We parked at Parkirišče for easy access to both the lake and Mount Vogel.

How to get around Lake Bohinj

It isn’t possible to drive all the way around the lake, but you can drive along the 904 road from the east via the south to the west or vice versa. To the north of the lake, you are pretty much in the mountains so no road access around the lake, the only option is via your own two feet. To walk around the entire lake is 12km, but pretty much flat all the way around.

When to visit Lake Bohinj

As with Lake Bled, we visited in the early summer and found that this was perfect weather for walking around Bohinj, taking a dip in the lake and exploring Mount Vogel. We would however love to visit again in the autumn to see the changing leaves, and possibly the first hints of snow in the Triglav National Park.

Where to stay in Lake Bohinj

The best place to stay is Camp Bohinj towards the western end of the lake. It’s not only right on the lake edge but really close to the Vogel cable car, which you simply must go up if you are visiting Lake Bohinj.

So which lake out of Bled and Bohinj do we recommend you go to? You should go to both if you are visiting the area and have enough time too, but you most definitely have to see and experience Lake Bohinj. The views, the experiences available to have there and the fewer tourists make it even more beautiful than you can imagine.

Conclusion: Bled of Bohinj?

So which is better, Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj? We loved them both for completely different reasons, but Lake Bohinj may just tip the scale with the really easy access up and into the nearby mountains of the Triglav National Park.

If you are looking for more landscape led locations like Bled or Bohinj to explore in Slovenia, then look no further than the wine region around Maribor. The Heart Shaped Road, amongst numerous other wineries and roads, has one of the best views going, (and some of the most delicious wine.).

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Gemma (i.e The Travelling Tedaldi)

Gemma Tedaldi

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.