- 0.6 mi²Area
- 100 ftMaximum depth
- 1,558 ftElevation
At a glance
- Bled Island covers just 8,000 m², with a church reached by 99 stone steps
- The pletna, a wooden boat rowed standing, has carried visitors since 1590
- €12 island entry for an adult in 2026, with the boat paid on top
- A 6 km path around the shore, about 1 h 30 on foot
- A castle on the north shore built in 1004, open every day of the year
- Lake water at 20 to 24 °C in summer, according to the tourist office
Where to stay
Hotels, guesthouses and rentals around Lake Bled
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Tickets and prices
| Bled Island (church and belfry), Adult | €12 |
|---|---|
| Bled Island (church and belfry), Child | €5 |
| Bled Island (church and belfry), Family | €24 |
Source: Blejski otok
How the visit runs
Board a pletna or the electric boat
Pletnas leave from Mlino, from Velika Zaka and from in front of the Park Hotel, and at weekends also from Café Park. The wooden electric boat leaves from the Bled Casino.
The 99 steps
From the landing, a Baroque stone stairway of 99 steps, dating from 1655, climbs from the south to the centre of the island.
The church of the Assumption
At the top stands the pilgrimage church, where the wishing bell hangs. The entry ticket also covers the exhibition in the provost’s house.
Up the bell tower 52 m
The bell tower keeps its restored tower clock and looks out over the lake to the surrounding peaks.
Back across the water
There is no time limit on the island. You return on the first pletna with a free seat, or on the electric boat.
Pletna or electric boat to Bled Island
| Boat | Departs from | Adult | Child | Getting back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pletna (wooden boat rowed standing) | Mlino, Velika Zaka, in front of the Park Hotel; at weekends also Café Park | €20 | €10 | Return on the first pletna with a free seat |
| Electric boat (wooden) | Bled Casino | €16 | €8 | Leaves the island from 11.20, the last at 19.00 (arrivals on the hour from 10.00 to 18.00) |
Source: Turizem Bled press release of 16 January 2025 (fares in force since 26 December 2024) and Blejski otok (read October 2026). Island entry is paid on top.
Three ways up to Bled Castle
| Way up | Distance to the castle | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| On foot by the Rikli path, from the public bathing area | 300 m, about 10 minutes | |
| Bled Castle 1 car park | About 50 m | €3 per started hour |
| Bled Castle 2 car park | 550 m, 12 minutes on foot | €2.50 an hour for a car, €3 for a motorhome |
Source: Bled Castle, access and parking page (read October 2026). Cyclists can leave their bikes at the racks in front of the castle walls.
Before you go
- Electric boat times: it reaches the island on the hour from 10.00 to 18.00 and leaves it from 11.20, the last at 19.00.
- Island hours: 8.30 to 19.00 from May to September, to 18.00 in April and October, to 17.00 in March. From November to February, 8.30 to 16.00 Monday to Thursday and to 17.00 Friday to Sunday.
- Swimming: the tourist office lists designated bathing areas on the shore (the castle lido, Mala Zaka, Velika Zaka, Hotel Vila Bled and Grand Hotel Toplice).
- Castle parking: Bled Castle 1, about 50 metres from the castle, charges €3 per started hour; Bled Castle 2, 550 metres away (12 minutes on foot), charges €2.50 an hour for a car and €3 for a motorhome.
- Weather: summer storms can break out because of the nearby mountains, and fog sometimes settles in winter.
How to get there
- Lesce-Bled station4.2 kmLake Bled
The nearest railway station; the distance is from the station to the lake.
Combine in the same day
Lake Bled fills a basin in the Julian Alps of north-western Slovenia, 2,120 metres long and 1,380 metres wide, with an island of 8,000 square metres and a castle above its northern shore. Only the traditional pletna boats, the electric boat and supply boats may tie up at that island, which shapes the whole visit.
A rock left by the Bohinj glacier
The lake sits in a tectonic hollow that the Bohinj glacier scoured over time. A large rock that the ice ground down became the island. It has no large inflow and is fed by a few springs.
- The water surface lies at 475 metres; the lake covers 0.6 mi² and reaches a maximum depth of 30.6 metres.
- On the eastern shore, thermal springs never drop below 20 °C, and three hotels draw on them for their pools: the Grand Hotel Toplice, Hotel Park and Rikli Balance.
- In summer the lake water is typically 20 to 24 °C according to the tourist office and reaches 25 °C at the warmest; in winter it can drop to 4 °C.
- In very cold winters the lake freezes. Walking or skating on it is then at your own risk, and only if the ice is thick enough.
- Nineteen species of fish live in the lake, among them carp, wels catfish and lake trout.
Bronze Age gold, a castle from 1004 and the pletnarji
- Bronze Age: Bled is an important cult centre; gold appliqués from the 13th and 12th centuries BC were found on its shore.
- 1004: Henry II has the castle above the north shore built.
- 1590: the pletna, the boat that still carries visitors to the island, dates back to this year.
- Late 17th century: the pilgrimage church of the Assumption on the island takes its present form.
The pletna is a flat-bottomed wooden boat, propelled by an oarsman standing at the stern. Today 23 of them work the lake, and the tourist office puts their capacity at 18 passengers.
The lake is also a rowing venue: it has hosted the World Rowing Championships four times, in 1966, 1979, 1989 and 2011.
Ljubljana, the Lesce-Bled station and the Triglav mountains
- Bled lies 22 mi from Ljubljana airport and 34 mi from the capital.
- The nearest railway station, Lesce-Bled, is 2.6 mi from the lake.
- In summer, a free bus runs around the lake and its surroundings.
- If you stay longer and head into the mountains, Triglav National Park charges no entrance fee; only individual attractions inside it are paid.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to walk around Lake Bled?
About an hour and a half for the full 6 km loop, partly on asphalt and partly on sand.
How much is the boat to Bled Island?
€20 for an adult and €10 for a child by pletna, or €16 and €8 on the electric boat. These fares have applied since 26 December 2024; no page dated 2026 confirms them yet.
How much is the entrance to Bled Island in 2026?
€12 for an adult, €5 for children up to 15, €10.50 for students, seniors and disabled visitors, and €24 for a family. The boat is paid on top.
Can you swim in Lake Bled?
Yes, in the designated bathing areas: the public beach below the castle (Grajsko kopališče), Mala Zaka and Velika Zaka near the campsite, and the shores by the Grand Hotel Toplice and Hotel Vila Bled. The castle beach welcomes swimmers from June to mid-September.
Can you kayak or paddleboard to Bled Island?
You can paddle on the lake, but not land: kayaks, canoes and paddleboards may no longer moor at the island. They launch from Mala Zaka or Velika Zaka.
What are Bled Castle opening hours?
Every day of the year, from 8.00 to 20.00 between April and October and from 8.00 to 18.00 between November and March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Adult entry was €18 on the 2025 price list.
How many days do you need at Lake Bled?
One day covers the castle, the island and the nearby Vintgar Gorge, according to the tourist office, which recommends more time to enjoy the rest of the area.
Sources
7 sources
- Blejski otok consulted on October 6, 2026
- Ribiška družina Bled consulted on October 6, 2026
- Slovenian Tourist Board consulted on September 29, 2026
- Turizem Bled consulted on October 6, 2026
- OpenStreetMap consulted on September 29, 2026
- Wikidata consulted on September 29, 2026
- Wikipedia consulted on September 29, 2026