LAKE BLED - GETTING AROUND

On foot

The entire town of Bled is easily walkable. Distances in town are rarely over a mile from one another. For those who are interested in walking the perimeter of Lake Bled, the walk is approximately three-and-a-half miles. For sights outside Bled, we recommend taking alternate transport such as a car, bus or taxi.

The waterfalls near Bled, as well as Triglav National Park, are very walking-intensive. There will be areas for you to relax along the way, but you should be prepared to walk moderate distances (at least a half-mile at a time). Wear comfortable walking shoes.

By the Tourist Train

A tourist train (actually an automobile pulling tram cars, designed to look like a locomotive) stops at various points around Lake Bled every day between June and September. The train makes a lap once every 45 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In May and October, the tourist train runs on weekends every 45 minutes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Note: The tourist train may be canceled without notice in May and October if it is raining or snowing. One-way tickets cost €5 for adults and €3 for children. For more information on the tourist train, you can contact the Infocenter Triglavska Roza Bled. (Ljubljanska cesta 27, Bled, +386 (0)4 578 02 05)

By taxi

Five local taxi companies operate in Bled and the surrounding area. Unlike in many other areas, the taxis in Bled usually charge by destination and not per-mile distance. For example, taxis usually charge between €10 and €15 to get to any destination in Bled, depending on how many people are in your party. Here are some sample destinations so you can figure out what to expect. Please confirm the fare with your taxi driver before departing.

In and around Lake Bled: €10-€15
To/from Black Lake and Savica: €40-€50
To/from Lake Bohinj and Vogel Ski Resort: €35-€45
To/from Vintgar Gorge: €15-€20
To/from Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport: €50-€70

By bicycle

The area around Lake Bled offers diverse scenery, and that includes inclines for cyclists. Novice cyclists who want to enjoy a nice bike ride can find that around Lake Bled (albeit it may be crowded). Nearby Triglav National Park is great for the more experienced bicycle rider. The Radovna Valley is recommended for a slower pace, while Pokljuka Gorge is ideal for the adventurous among us. While it is possible to rent a bicycle from hotels, or from locations outside Bled (Slovenia is a compact country, so delivery is not usually an issue), the most prominent local bicycle rental shop is Outdoor-mania Bled (Cesta svobode 2, +386 (0)41 980 982, www.outdoor-mania.com).

Note: Keep in mind that cycling MUST be done either on an official trail or road in Slovenia; it is the law. Bike lanes do not exist in Bled, but cyclists are welcome to share the street with cars. Traffic is light so there should be few issues.

By car

TripMasters recommends that you rent a car during your vacation booking process. That means you will be picking up your car outside arrivals at Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport, and not in Bled. If, for whatever reason, you decide to rent a car in Bled after arriving, Kompas, Europcar and Budget are represented in town on Ljubljanska cesta. In Bled, there are multiple parking lots (€2-€3 per hour) open to tourists. Inquire during the booking process; some hotels and resorts may offer parking for an extra fee.

Other forms of transportation

If you are spending time on the lake, the most popular way to get around is by pletna, a local boat that is similar in appearance to a gondola. You will find many pletna operators around Lake Bled; the Boat Association Pletna Bled operates a 16-seater pletna with an electric motor, ferrying people from Cafe Park at Park Hotel to Bled Island every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between the months of May and September. Return trips from Bled Island leave every hour on the :20, from 11:20 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. (The last group of tourists leave the island at 6 p.m.) The electric pletna also operates outside of summer on a more limited schedule. Round-trip tickets are priced at €15 and can be purchased directly from the pletna operator.

Carriages (fijakers) are a time-honored tradition in Bled. Not wanting the open carriages to die off in the age of cars and fast trains, the Coachmen Fijaker Association maintains the carriages, and its members drive them. The carriages depart from the corner of Cesta svobode and Presernova cesta. For more information, visit www.fijaker-bled.si. (Website in Slovene.)

A hop-on, hop-off bus circuit runs between Lake Bohinj and Pokljuka Gorge on Saturdays and Sundays from late June to mid-September, stopping at various points inside Triglav National Park. This bus route runs three times each day, with the first bus leaving Lake Bohinj at 6:53 a.m. and the last one wrapping up its route at 5:20 p.m. You can read more about the hop-on, hop-off bus and the Bohinj Mobility Guest Card, which entitles cardholders to complimentary rides on the bus, at www.bohinj.si. (Website in Slovene and English.)