Trips to Bled

Bled is truly a gem. As you enter the town, driving down the long hill, an unparalleled panorama unfolds before you. You see the lake with its clear waters, the island with the chapel, and, of course, the impressive castle ruin perched on a steep and inaccessible cliff high above the town. The town is quite small, with a modest selection of shops but plenty of fantastic "gostilnas," Slovenian inns. The food is excellent, and the portions are generous. The town's specialty is "kremschnitte," a type of pastry that I gladly enjoy repeatedly. If you want to take a dip in the lake, it's perfect. In summer, the water temperature can easily reach a delightful 23 degrees Celsius. You can also rent a rowboat or surfboard at one end of the lake or play golf on one of Europe's most beautiful courses. To reach the island with its majestic chapel, the easiest way is by taking the local "pletna" boats, which are handcrafted. If you're up for hiking, there is a great selection of trails with varying difficulty levels in the immediate vicinity of the town. Bled is a perfect detour on your journey to or from other European destinations.