Crossing Borders, Italy to Slovenia
An early spring visit to Lake Bled avoids the summer crowds
Trieste is just about as far northeast as you can go in Italy before crossing the border into Slovenia. Until recently, I had never been to Slovenia. But during a stay in Trieste last spring, that border (just a few miles away) seemed to have an almost magnetic pull. And while I didn’t have much extra time, I couldn’t resist the opportunity for a guided day trip which included Lake Bled and nearby Ljubljana.
I won’t lie - a one-day tour was not a perfect way to visit. In fact it was pretty frustrating because the area was fascinating and I really wanted to linger. But at least it gave me an introduction to two spots that are now on the list of places I want to explore in more depth.
The first stop on the tour, about 2 hours by car from Trieste, was Lake Bled. The lake lies in the foothills of the Julian Alps, a range that crosses between Italy and Slovenia. Bled is not a big lake at just under 1.5 miles long and less than 1 mile wide. Nor is it a deep one at just about 100 feet of depth, but it makes a very big impact. Surrounded by forests, cliffs, and the peaks of the Julian Alps, the setting is stunning, with a fairytale quality that is almost too perfect to be real.
A Medieval castle, once a Bishop’s residence, sits above the lake. It houses a small museum, a chapel, and a restaurant. Things to explore on a future visit!
Bled Castle, a Bishop’s residence in the 11th century, sits on a bluff high above the lake
A small island with a steepled church, accessible only by boat, sits within the lake. Traditional flatbottom and covered boats, called Pletnas, ferry small groups of visitors out to the island.
Like the gondoliers in Venice, the Pletna rowers come from families who have been doing this work for generations. Don’t bother applying for a job – you need to be born into it.
Rowboats however are also available for rent; paddleboards too. You could even swim to the island.
A Pletna boat is the ideal way to reach the island. Thought you could rent a rowboat or swim!
Around the lake is a 6 km walking path with cafes, benches, boat launches, small swimming spots, and lots of places to stop and admire the views.
A 6 km (3.7 miles) walking path surrounds Lake Bled
Our guide insisted that we stop to try Bled Cream Cake, the local delicacy. Two different layers of cream filling between layers of thin, crispy pastry, it is officially called Kremšnita. Delicious, it is served in huge squares – best to split it with a friend!
The lake is a popular tourist destination and gets quite busy in the summer. In March, when I visited, it was peaceful and uncrowded.
My time at Lake Bled was much too short, because we were soon leaving for the next stop on the tour, the city of Ljubljana. I would love to return and spend a couple of nights in the town of Bled, ferry out to the island, and walk the path around the lake. Anyone want to come and share a cream cake with me?
