Yes, there is an easy way to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled! If you are planning your holiday to Slovenia, and are worried about choosing between staying in Lake Bled, or the beautiful Capital of Ljubljana, then the decision is easy. Lake Bled is easily accessible from Ljubljana, and can be done simply on a day trip.
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To make it even sweeter, it is a very EASY day trip to organize and do. In fact, there is very little organizing at all. It’s as easy as catching a bus to somewhere in your hometown, then back again. All you have to know is where to catch the bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, how much the tickets are, how frequently they run, and where they drop you off.
And the good news is, I will cover it ALL in this article!
Table of Contents
- How to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled
- Ljubljana to Lake Bled by bus
- Where to catch the bus
- Lake Bled Bus Stops
- What to do at Lake Bled
- Where to stay in Lake Bled
- Tours to Lake Bled
- Summary
How to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled
So to start us off on the right foot, I will go over a few different ways that you can actually get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. There IS more than one way, but naturally one way is a lot better than the others. In my opinion, that is the good old bus option, and I will explain throughout this article why that is.
So here are the ways that you can get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled.
- Car – If you have your own car, then this is a no brainer. You already paid the rental, and Lake Bled is only about 50 km away from Ljubljana, so I don’t even know why you would be reading this article! However, if you are reading it because you are thinking of renting a car, then DON’T! There are easier and a LOT cheaper ways to do it that are just as efficient.
- Train – The train runs from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, and is actually quite a good, budget option. If you are a train person, then it might be worth exploring. The major problem is that the Bled train station is on the far side of the lake, a long way from the township. It IS closer to the island in the lake, but not as convenient to everything else. Click HERE for train tickets and prices.
- Bus – My favorite option for getting from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. It is easy, cheap, and there are plenty of services every day. To return, you really don’t have to worry about being there on time for a particular bus as they run regularly in the other direction too.
- Tour – If you want to sit back and let everyone do the work for you, then you can take a tour. There are two downsides to this though. One – it costs 10 times as much. Two – you are seeing your dream destination on someone else’s timetable. It’s up to you of course, and I will list some recommended tours later in this article.
Ljubljana to Lake Bled by bus
The bus to Lake Bled Takes between an hour and an hour and a half, depending upon how many stops it makes, and what day of the week it is. It is a comfortable bus, rather like a long distance bus, but it only runs locally within Slovenia.
The Lake Bled bus runs regularly, every day of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.
Where to catch the bus
To catch the bus, you just have to head down to the bus station in Ljubljana. If you caught the bus into the city when you arrived, then it is the exact same place. If not, then it is easy to locate right out front of the main Ljubljana Railway station. Click HERE for a Google Maps location.
The Bus Station is actually across the road from the Railway Station. Don’t go into the Railway Station, which is the big white building with a McDonalds inside. Instead, turn around and have a look across the little, one way road to where the buses are parked. At one end of the bus parks is a small building. That’s where you want to go!
Simply head in and approach one of the ticket counters and ask for a ticket to Lake Bled. They speak English, or enough to understand anyway. There will usually also be notices on the counter about Lake Bled buses, as this is a popular route.
Another option is to just buy your ticket on the bus, if you have cash.
Make sure you get there early for the bus. Find out ahead of time, if you can, what times the buses leave, and get there early enough to get a ticket. The day that I went, I got there only 5 minutes before the bus left, but was lucky as there were 3 ticket windows open. On another day, there were 15 people lined up and only one ticket window!
Are you planning on renting a car or driving when you are overseas? Then make sure you are fully covered by having your International Driver’s Permit. Find out more, or pick one up easily at THIS LINK.
Ljubljana to Lake Bled Bus Ticket Prices
This is where catching the bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled can get interesting. It may determine which day you choose to go as well.
The ticket prices are cheap! A normal ticket, one way, will only cost you 7.80 Euro. A return is only about 12.80 Euro. Even though they advertise return prices, I asked for a return and was told I would have to buy the return ticket in Bled. This isn’t an issue, and maybe because it was a Sunday.
Which brings me to my next point.
Sundays are half price! Actually it cost me less than half price!
The ticket to Bled on a Sunday was only about 4 Euro. The return trip was even cheaper. I’m not sure why, but maybe because it was an express service.
One point to remember. If you buy a ticket on the bus from the driver, and you will have to do this on your return leg, then you will have to have cash. Coins only! But it only costs a few Euro, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
As for the timetable, the buses run really regularly. I will post a photo here with the current prices and times that you can use as a guide. Remember that even though it is cheaper on a Sunday, the buses don’t run as often. Although for a Sunday, they run quite a few services and you won’t have any issues.
Lake Bled Bus Stops
The Bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled runs from bus lane 7. You can see in the photo below that it is clearly marked there as running to Bled. So if you are running late, take a cue from the locals and go straight to the bus and buy the ticket from the driver (with coins) before he leaves without you.
The bus will stop at plenty of stops along the way to Bled. I found this great, as it gave me a good look at some other, small Slovenian towns. People will get on and off along the way, just like a normal city bus back home.
In Bled, you can get off at two different spots. I chose to get off at “Bled Union” stop, which is the first one. From here it was only a quick 300 meter stroll down the hill to the Lake. It really made it easy to find.
Just take note of the location of the Bus Stop for the return trip, and remember that the return bus will be at the stop on the opposite side of the road! There is a bus timetable posted inside the bus shelter, which I will post a photo of below. It may be a good idea to check out the return times so you know in advance and can make the most of your time at Lake Bled.
What to do at Lake Bled
Lake Bled is a wonderful place, and I know that the vast majority of those reading this article will be going to see the famous church on the island. The town and lake is so much more than just the island, even though it is responsible for most of its tourism.
Bled is, essentially, a lakeside resort town. It actually reminded me of many alpine mountain resorts I have visited over the years. It has the same vibe and feel to it.
So, what to do at Lake Bled? Here are a few options.
- Walk around the lake! It is a good 6.5 kilometer stroll along a mostly concrete or paved pathway. It is entirely flat, and many people will be walking dogs or out for a stroll. You get great views of the island from all different angles this way!
- Hire a Row boat to take yourself out to the island. On the island, you can explore, go inside the church and even ring the bell. It is considered good luck!
- Hire a boat to take you out to the island. These run from a few different spots around the lake, but cost a lot more than a row boat. It’s a lot less work though!
- Head up to Bled Castle, for the best views of the lake and the island. It will cost you to enter the castle, but the views are worth it. There is also a restaurant there, and museum. The hike up will get the blood pumping though.
- In summer, try the toboggan down the side of the hill.
- Have lunch or coffee in one of the many lakeside restaurants and cafes. Sit on a weekend and people watch!
- Hike up to Mala Osojnica. This is the viewpoint on the hills above Lake Bled that gives one of the most famous views of the castle and island. It’s not a really hard hike, but has the ability to get the blood pumping. There are also a lot of other hikes in the area if you are staying longer than a day.
- Do a day trip. If you are staying in Bled, then why limit yourself to just staying nearby? Do a daytrip to some of the other amazing locations nearby such as Vintgar Gorge, or Lake Bohinj.
Lake Bled is a real year round destination. If you are coming for the views, they change with the seasons, and are just as spectacular in Winter as in Summer. There are a few more things to do in the Summer though, as you can also try swimming in the lake, and it is a lot more enjoyable hiking and doing other outdoorsy activities!
Where to stay in Lake Bled
Looking to stay in Lake Bled? The great thing about a return ticket from Ljubljana to Lake Bled is that the return portion stays open for 30 days! So why not stay overnight, or longer?
The only issue with staying near Lake Bled, and this will only worry those on a budget, is that the Lake Bled area is on the expensive side. This is the main reason that many travelers will opt to stay in Ljubljana and do a day trip to Bled. That aside, there are still some who would like to make the experience last a little longer!
Here are my choices of places to stay in the amazing town of Bled.
For my FULL REVIEW of Lake Bled Hotels, click HERE.
Luxury
GRAND HOTEL TOPLICE
This place is all about location. Situated right on the lake, with amazing views and your own private beach, what more can you ask for? Breakfasts are superb, and the staff polite and helpful.
Mid Range
HOTEL PARK
As a “high” mid range hotel, the Hotel Park is a big hit with guests. A 5 star breakfast, views that take in the entire lake, Spa, and everything that you would come to expect from a more expensive hotel. The Scandinavian design also loans the hotel an atmosphere that you don’t get in other places.
Budget
PENSION ZAKA BLED
There are not very many budget options in Bled, but Pension Zaka is one that fits the bill. Spacious rooms, friendly staff, and a balcony overlooking the lake is enough to keep most happy on a quick stay at one of the most famous Lakes in Europe!
Tours to Lake Bled
If you want to go from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, but don’t really want to take the bus or make your own way there, then there is always the option to take a tour. There are plenty of tours to Bled that go every day, and most of the good ones will take you to other amazing locations as well. Here are my choices of the very best tours that are run by GetYourGuide.
- From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bohinj Trip – On this trip, get to experience famous Lake Bled, and then move onto the beautiful Lake Bohinj, and even do a hike to a nearby waterfall. Click HERE for more!
- From Ljubljana: Trip to Lake Bled and Bled Castle – Head to Lake Bled from Ljubljana, and then hike up to the incredible Bled Castle to enjoy the best views of the lake and town. Click HERE to find out more.
- Slovenia Day Tour to Bled, Postojna, and Predjama – On this incredible tour, see Lake Bled, TWO castles, and ride a mini train into a cave! Click THIS LINK for more details.
- Postojna Cave & Lake Bled Trip with Tickets – On this trip, explore both Lake Bled AND the underground cave systems of amazing Postojna. Click HERE for more.
There are plenty of options for different trips. If one of the above doesn’t quite suit, click on the link and explore the other options for the area. With so many things to do around this region of Slovenia, there are tours to nearly everywhere!
Summary
Getting from Ljubljana to Lake Bled is not hard. Taking the bus makes the day easy and enjoyable, which is what you want from one of the best day trips that you will do in Europe!
If you are heading to Ljubljana, don’t forget to check out my COMPLETE GUIDE.
If you are heading to Lake Bled, then check out my full guide HERE.
Just wondering can you take luggage on the buses to Bled? We are trying to work out the best way to get there after travelling from Vienna
Thanks in advance
Hi Bree. I believe you can. Even though the bus is a “local” bus, they are actually coaches such as run between cities for travelers. If you take a look at the photo I put in the article, you can even see the luggage compartment is open. The bus I took to Lake Bled also stopped in a small town along the way and dropped off a couple of passengers with luggage, so they must have put it in the hold underneath. I wish I could be a bit more certain of it for you, but from what I observed I would say that yes you SHOULD be able to take luggage. I hope it works out for you!