> Explore Slovenia's most iconic lake and river landscapes in 5 days
> Family-friendly day hikes from comfortable hotel bases
> Walk the legendary Vintgar Gorge and the shores of Lake Bled
Lake Bled is one of those places that looks almost too good to be true. The emerald lake, the island church, the medieval castle on the cliff above. This five-day hiking holiday gives you the best possible way to experience it all, on foot and at your own pace.
Starting in the baroque town of Radovljica, you work your way through rocky gorges, past castle ruins and suspension bridges, around the full perimeter of Lake Bled and through the Vintgar Gorge, where wooden boardwalks run above the turquoise Radovna River. The routes are well-marked with no technical terrain, manageable daily distances and viewpoints over the lake and the Julian Alps that keep delivering the whole way. Comfortable hotels in Radovljica and Bled, everything organised for you and all the time you need to explore one of Europe's most beautiful corners.
You start in Radovljica at around 490 meters, a pretty baroque town sitting above the Sava River with the Julian Alps already in sight. From here you head down to the river, where a waterfall, river rocks and a peaceful Alpine riverbank set the scene for a beautiful first day on the trail.
The route climbs up to the Pusti Grad castle ruins at 551 meters first, then winds back down through the small villages of Kolnica, Vošče and Lancovo. It is a great spot to stop, look around and take in the valley stretching out below, with the Sava winding through the fields and the mountains rising on all sides.
On the way back you walk through the Grabnarca Water Trail, a lovely forested path with wooden bridges over the stream, before the loop brings you full circle back into Radovljica for the night.
The trail begins in Radovljica at around 488 meters and heads down to the Sava River. For the first part of the route the path follows the riverbank through forest and open meadows, passing a waterfall on the Sava, a confluence of two rivers and a long calm stretch where the water flows quietly between the trees. Further along the trail separates from the river and winds through the countryside before descending toward Bled.
The route passes the Church of St. Leonard on Peča and a small alpine chapel before going through the village of Selo pri Bledu and past the Kralov Med Beekeeping Farm.
The final section of today's walk follows the shores of Lake Bled into the town of Bled. Along the way, you pass the boat dock for Bled Island before finishing at the Heart of Bled photo spot, one of the lake's most popular viewpoints.
Note: If you have time before checking in, the Bled Summer Toboggan at Straža Bled is a fun detour. A chairlift takes you uphill and you ride back down on a toboggan track overlooking the lake. The attraction is open daily from 25 May to 4 October. For current opening hours and ticket prices, visit the Straža Bled website.
Today you have a loop trek around Lake Bled, starting and ending in Bled. The path is mostly accessible with a mix of footpaths, hiking trails and some stretches of asphalt along the lakeshore.
The trail follows the northern shore past the rowing club, then climbs through forest to the Velika Osojnica viewpoint at 756 metres, reached at around the 4.5 km mark. From here you look down over the full lake, the island, and the Karavanke mountains to the north. The descent brings you to the quieter southern shore, where the path is more shaded and less busy. There is a small pebble beach near the southern shore if you want to stop for a swim, the lake water reaches around 22°C in summer.
The loop brings you back to Bled by early afternoon, leaving plenty of time to take a boat trip out to Bled Island. The traditional pletna boats have been crossing the lake since the 17th century and drop you at the island church — you can find tickets and opening times at blejskiotok.si.
The day starts with a short climb up to Bled Castle. The view from up there over the lake and the island is one of the better ones you will get on the whole trip. From the castle the trail heads north and drops down toward Vintgar Gorge.
The gorge is the main event. The Radovna River has cut a 1.6 kilometre channel through the rock and you walk the whole length of it on wooden walkways built directly above the water. The river is fast and very clear, the walls are close on both sides, and at the far end the Šum waterfall, 16 metres and the biggest in Slovenia, finishes things off nicely. Plan for about 45 minutes to an hour inside the gorge.
After the gorge the route follows a quieter path through Podhom village and down through the Sava valley to Blejska Dobrava. From there you take the train back to Bled, the journey is under 10 minutes and trains run regularly throughout the day. You can check the timetable here.
On the last day you leave Bled through the village of Selo and walk across open fields. It feels quite different from the rest of the trek, much more rural and quiet. You get nice views of the Karavanke Mountains to the west and the Julian Alps behind you as Bled gradually disappears.
From there the path comes down to the Sava River, and then you just follow a calm gravel trail along the riverbank all the way to Lancovo. It is a really peaceful stretch, nothing but the river on one side, fields and trees on the other, and the mountains in the distance. A good way to wind down after a great few days.
The last bit takes you up from the valley back into Radovljica, right where you started.
Note: if you would rather not walk, the train from Bled gets you there in about 10 minutes.
