Is it better to visit Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj?

Are you planning a trip to Slovenia and trying to decide between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj? Both of these lakes are stunningly beautiful, so we understand that it can seem difficult to choose which one is the best fit for your vacation needs. But we are here to solve this dilemma for you.

We live in Slovenia and we visit both lakes often as they are some of the most beautiful places in the country. Lake Bohinj is our personal favorite due to our travel style, but we tried being as impartial as possible in this article to show you the pros and cons of each destination.

In this article, we will compare the two lakes side-by-side so that you can make an informed decision about where to visit during your stay in Slovenia. 

Visiting Lake Bled: what will you see?

Lake Bled is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Slovenia and for good reason. Located about 50km from Slovenia’s capital city Ljubljana, Lake Bled offers stunning views of its emerald green waters surrounded by picturesque mountains and forests. 

If you’ve researched anything about Slovenia, you definitely came across pictures of Lake Bled and its iconic island church. I even dare to say that Lake Bled is the most photographed spot in the entire country. It really does look like it came out of a fairytale.

Some of the best things to do in Lake Bled include walking around the lake (the loop is 6 km long), visiting the castle that overlooks the lake, and hiking up to the Ojstrica Viewpoint. You can also organize a day visit to Vintgar Gorge, which is one of the most visited attractions in the area.

Pros and cons of staying in Bled

Pros:

• The village of Bled is a very cute and cozy place, it offers great comfort
• Bled is more accessible than Bohinj when it comes to transport as it is located closer to the highway. Bled also has better connections when it comes to public transport
• Bled has more options for restaurants
• There are plenty of hotels with views of the lake
• Bled has the better infrastructure to receive tourists

Cons:

• Bled gets extremely crowded during the summer months
• Due to the high number of tourists, prices in Bled can spike quite a lot during the high season
• Finding public parking can be quite stressful (book an accommodation that offers parking to avoid the stress!)

Where to stay in Bled?

If you decide to stay in Bled instead of Bohinj, we recommend booking your accommodation in advance as the village is usually full during the summer months.

The best areas to stay in Bled are either close to the lake or near the castle. Staying close to the lake gives you access to fantastic views, and it is the best way to guarantee that you will be staying in the heart of the city.

Unfortunately, there are many properties online that say they are located in Bled when they are actually a few kilometers out (not cool, guys!).

Here are our top recommendations for places to stay in Bled:

• Hotel Park: We stayed in this hotel last October and we had an amazing experience. Our balcony had a view of Bled Castle, which was magical! We had half-pension which means we also had a dinner buffet and they had a wine fountain during dinner service! I cannot recommend this property enough.
• Garden Village Lake Bled: This is one of the best glamping properties in Slovenia. They took glamping to another level, building incredible tree houses and a structure perfect for couples or families.
• Old Bled House: This is one of the most unique places to stay in Bled. The owners renovated a 300-year-old farmhouse into a charming and rustic hotel. They also have an amazing restaurant on site.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Read our complete guide about the best places to stay in Bled

Visiting Lake Bohinj: what can you expect

Lake Bohinj is a stunning lake located in the Julian Alps of Slovenia. It is the largest permanent lake in the country and it is surrounded by majestic mountains, which results in amazing views and picture-perfect reflections when the water is calm. 

The lake stretches for over four kilometers long and the entire region is known as an excellent spot for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and more. In fact, some of our favorite hikes in Slovenia start around Lake Bohinj, such as the Hike to the Seven Lakes Valley.

Some of the best things to do in Lake Bohinj are:

• Visit Savica Waterfall
• Go up the Vogel cable car to see the view from the top
• Go hiking in the surrounding mountains

Pros and cons of staying in Lake Bohinj

Pros:

• Bohinj is a great destination for nature-lovers
• Bohinj is a much quieter place than Bled, so it is great for people looking to escape the crowds (even during the summer)
• As a smaller place, Bohinj keeps more of the local character and it is easier to find regional restaurants and homemade produce

Cons:

• Compared to Bled, Bohinj is more difficult to get around, as it is not connected to the highway
• The village around Lake Bohinj has fewer offers when it comes to restaurants and entertainment
• Most accommodations are not located by the lake but in the village nearby

Where to stay in Lake Bohinj?

If you decide to stay in Bohinj instead of Bled, we recommend getting a place as close to the lake as possible, in the neighborhood of Ribčev Laz.

Another option is to stay in Bohinjska Bistrica which is a bit larger neighborhood, but it is located a bit further away from the lake. On the other side, there are more restaurant options and supermarkets in Bohinjska Bistrica.

If you decide to get a place that is located further away, just make sure you check the region you will be choosing as this is a valley, and two streets away can mean that you will be staying on top of the hills (sometimes it is not very visible on the map). If you have your own car, this may not be an issue, but for those of you relying on public transport, this can be a big problem.

Here are our top choices of places to stay near Lake Bohinj:

• Green Garden Apartment Soklič: Nice apartment with private parking and a communal garden
• Bohinj Eco Hotel: Slovenia’s first eco-hotel is a 4-star hotel for those looking for a little more comfort. In addition to breakfast included, guests have access to the water park with saunas and pools.
• Apartment house Jager: Fully functional apartment with a nice location and some great mountain views.

Bled vs Bohinj: which one is cheaper?

Generally speaking, staying in Bohinj can be slightly cheaper than Bled. However, prices do spike up during the main season in both locations, not just Bled.

Prices in Bled tend to be higher than in Bohinj during the summer, not only for accommodation but also for food and tourist attractions. 

During the low season (winter months), staying in Bohinj can be more expensive than in Bled because of the Vogel Ski Resort, which is located in Bohinj.

Read also: What to do in Bled during winter?

Bled vs Bohinj: which one is better?

Ultimately, deciding which one is better Bled or Bohinj comes down to personal preferences. 

• If you are looking for more comfort, with better tourist infrastructure, restaurants, and city attractions, Bled is the place to go. 
• If you want a more laid-back experience, surrounded by nature and ready to explore all sorts of outdoor activities, Bohinj is the right option for you.

In our case, we think that Lake Bohinj is a better fit for our travel style as it is less crowded and offers so many incredible hiking possibilities, which is something we love. However, if this will be your first time visiting Slovenia, we strongly recommend you take the time to visit both lakes, Bled and Bohinj. They are each very unique and equally beautiful.

Bled and Bohinj are located only 30 minutes from each other so it is very doable to visit both lakes during the same trip!

Read also: Between Ljubljana and Bled, where should you stay?

We hope this guide has helped you plan your next trip to Slovenia and clear out the dilemma between staying in Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj. If you have any other questions about your Slovenia trip, leave it in the comments below!

Happy travels!