Bled has to be one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen. First off, there’s tiddly Bled Island, where a cluster of buildings and trees huddle under a tall Gothic church. Then there’s the glacial lake that surrounds it – deep blue in the summer and frosty white in the winter. Not forgetting the mountains that surround the lake, the Julian Alps with their forested foothills and jagged peaks. Of course you’ve also got the town, set along the lakeside with medieval Bled Castle up on the clifftop, where it’s stood for over a thousand years.
Pilgrims flocked here in the middle ages, until the 19th century when tourism took to the forefront. In the twenties, Bled was popular as a health resort, with the great and the good visiting for R&R in stunning surroundings. Visitors still come thick and fast today, for a glimpse of the iconic island and a gulp of fresh Slovenian air.
This is easily Slovenia’s most popular tourist destination - and there’s no denying it’s gorgeous in the winter - but in the skiing world this one’s a little ‘un. Only a couple of pistes stream down the local Straža hill, which can be perfect if you want to mix your week with skiing and visiting the natural and historic sites this area is famous for. Those who want to be more snow sports focused will want to make use of the Slovenian Alps Ski pass, which gives access to a number of the nation’s best ski resorts including Bled, Kranjska Gora and Vogel. All bus-linked, most of skiing is for beginners and intermediates, Straza has night skiing
Location: Julian Alps, Slovenia
Established: 1954
Open: December - March
Downhill: 1.3km
View our detailed Bled snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Bled snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Ljubljana Airport (LJU) | 35km, 30mins |
Salzburg Airport (SZG) | 233km, 2.5hours |
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Top Altitude: | 634m |
Bottom Altitude: | 503m |
Resort Altitude: | 503m |
Longest run: | 1km |
Slope Orientation: | NW SE E |
Vertical Drop: | 131m |
Skiable Vertical: | |
Night Skiing: | Yes |
Glacier: | No |
Downhill Runs: | 1.3km |
Beginner slopes: | 77% |
Intermediate: | 23% |
Advanced slopes: | 0% |
Lift Pass Price: | €162 (adult 6 day) |
Nearby resorts: Bohinj, Kranjska Gora |
The Straža chairlift was the first in Slovenia, and opened in 1954 after WWII – a decade later it was joined by the rope tow on Mala Straža. Both have been replaced since to keep up with the latest technology.
Straža hill is fitted with snow cannons and floodlights for good quality skiing day and night. Once you’ve got an eyeful of the view over the lake and mountains from the top, a single blue run zig zags down the hill, passing a drag-lift served green. There’s the option to connect to a more challenging red half way down. Sporty's Children Winter Park is dedicated to helping teach children the basics.
That’s your lot in the Bled department, but you have plenty more to ski further out thanks to the nearby ski areas of Vogel, Krvavec, Kranjska Gora, Cerkno and 3ländereck – all being covered in the Slovenian Alps Ski pass. Last time we checked, the ski pass included bus transport between the resorts. Kranjska Gora is the nearest, about a 45-minute drive away, with 20km of slopes (mostly blues and reds, with 2kms of black runs).
Pub Bled is a favourite watering hole looking over the lake, with good priced pints and a long list of cocktails and other drinks.
In the food department, the ultimate post ski snack here is Bled cream cake, which has been enjoyed for decades – try the original recipe at the Park Restaurant and Café. The Bled Castle restaurant has incredible views and a modern Slovenian menu – usually if you pre book your table you’ll also get entry into the castle. ZaZiv does veggie and vegan food in a groovy, rustic location. Speaking of rustic, Pizzeria Rustika is a favourite for good old fashioned pizzas.
With the ski area a little on the small side, there are plenty of other activities to fill your day with around here – have a go at sledding and snow shoeing, skate at the sports hall or try your hand at biathlon or ice climbing. For some history and culture, explore the castle, churches, monuments and galleries.
Bled offers a great choice of its own sports and leisure facilities, as well as historic and interesting buildings and excursions over the border into Italy or Austria (both only 45km/28 miles away), to the capital Ljubliana or even over to Venice.
In the town itself the Casino is a major attraction, open from 24 hours a days. Other indoor attractions include a cinema, bowling alley and swimming complex. Many of the hotels also have indoor pools, some of them incorporating the local thermal springs. The skating rink is open from July to March. Recreational skating takes place three times a day. Curling is also possible and in winter it is a real pleasure to skate or go curling on the frozen lake. But make sure you ask whether the ice is safe before you venture out!
Art lovers will find two interesting galleries to visit in the town. The Svetina Gallery houses work by Tone Svetina, a writer and sculptor, containing exhibits of his sculptures made from steel, old weapons and cannon fragments on an open area in front of his house at Mlinska Cesta 10, Bled. Svetina is well known as a writer of anti-war novels. Both in his writing and his sculpting he remains loyal to his vision of the existence of humanity and brotherhood between nations. His sculptures warn about new catastrophes and wars. Visits are free of charge. The Vila Nana Gallery contains a permanent collection of art by Slovenian and Croatian painters. Again admission is free. There are numerous historic monuments to visit in the area. One of the most interesting is The Church of the Assumption on the Island. According to local legend the temple of an ancient Slavic goddess stood there before the current Baroque church. The temple disappeared during battles between the followers of the pagan religion and Christians, who destroyed the altar and built a church.
This isn’t the highest ski resort around, so the best time to ski is usually January and February, when there’s been time for the snow to settle. The local ski area has excellent snowmaking, meaning December usually sees the slopes in good condition too. Regular natural snowfalls keep the pistes topped up. As the weather warms towards springtime the snowmaking becomes less effective. The ski slopes usually close in the beginning of March, about a month before most resorts in the Alps.
Christmas in Bled is possibly one of the most festive thing’s we’ve ever experienced, with the castle, lake and island providing incredible surroundings and the Merry December events (concerts, Christmas fair, and the traditional Christmas tree sinking) adding to the atmosphere. Bled Christmas ski holidays ‣
Previous New Years in Bled have included the New Year’s Gala Concert at the Festival hall, a big gathering on the promenade the inevitable midnight fireworks! Bled New Year ski holidays ‣
There might not be oodles to ski in the immediate vicinity, but what the area does have is brilliant for families, making Half Term in Bled an excellent option for something a bit different. Bled Half Term ski holidays ‣
The ski season isn’t always still running when it comes round to Easter in Bled, but when it is, it’s spectacular! Ask us what’s available this year and we’ll help find you the perfect time to visit Bled. Bled Easter ski holidays ‣
Bring the brood to one of Europe’s most spectacular destinations and watch little one’s eyes light up when they spot the lake with its island and fairy-tale castle. The tiddly ski area is just right for learning the basics of skiing, and if they take to it like ducks to water, whisk them away on a road trip to another Slovenian resort for more terrain.
Set off and visit a different Slovenian resort each day, or split your time between skiing and soaking up the local sights. Whatever you end up doing, don’t miss the opportunity for a group photo by the lake or a slap-up supper in the castle restaurant.
Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
---|---|---|
Hotel Rikli Balance | 7 | £ 991 |
Ribno Alpine Resort | 7 | £ 624 |
Ribno Luxury Cabins | 7 | £ 730 |
Hotel Park | 7 | £ 951 |
Hotel Astoria | 7 | £ 650 |