Travel Report: Road Trip Through Slovenia 3
Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj: Postcard-Perfect Scenery with Charm
After Ljubljana, my road trip continued on to Lake Bled. It takes about an hour to drive from the capital to this picturesque destination. The visit is absolutely worth it: the lake at the foot of the Alpine foothills looks even more beautiful in reality than in the many pictures circulating online. It's no surprise, then, that countless other tourists are here alongside me, strolling around the lake, swimming in it, or visiting the little island in its middle by canoe.
I therefore recommend visiting Bled as early in the day as possible, cleverly avoiding the tourist crowds this way.
One more little tip: Be sure to take a short hike to one of the many elevated viewpoints surrounding the lake. It's a fairly steep climb for about 30 minutes, but you'll be rewarded with an incredibly beautiful view! Since Lake Bled, despite all its beauty, felt a bit too touristy for my taste, I set off early in the afternoon for my second accommodation: a holiday apartment on a small farm in the middle of the mountains. I settled in here for two days and simply enjoyed the view across the vast landscape and the many mountains.
From Bled to Bohinj
Next, I headed to Lake Bohinj, which is only a 30-minute drive from Bled. Once there, I first went in search of a place to sleep and found a lovely campsite right by the turquoise water. I pitched my tent here for a few days to enjoy the peace and nature: you can go swimming, rent kayaks or canoes, walk in the forest, and hike in the mountains. Just the thing for all outdoor enthusiasts!
My highlight in the region, by the way, was the hike to Lake Jezero, which lies a bit higher up in the mountains. But watch out: the route is no walk in the park, as you sometimes have to climb a bit and work your way from rung to rung quite close to the slope. So a basic level of fearlessness of heights should be a given. For those who'd rather not go so high, there are also great excursion destinations down in the valley: the beautiful Savica Waterfall, for example, is easily reached with a short walk and is well worth seeing!
Caves and Castles in the Karst Region
After the lovely lakes, the journey continued on to the Karst region. I stayed there for a few days to see the famous Predjama Castle and the Postojna Caves.
Predjama Castle, spectacularly embedded in a massive rock face, fascinated me with its history and architecture. While exploring the dark passageways and secret rooms, with an audio guide in my ear, I could vividly imagine what the atmosphere in this imposing fortress must once have been like. A truly exciting visit!
Off into the Caves
Things got even more exciting (or let's say more mystical) afterward in the Postojna Caves. You can explore the enormous and labyrinth-like network of stalactites and stalagmites partly by a small train and partly on foot – always with a tour guide, of course. Anyone in the area shouldn't miss this experience: the breathtaking underworld offers incredible sights, and during the tour you learn a lot about the caves and how this fascinating scenery came to be.
But even beyond these two popular sightseeing spots, the Karst region southwest of the capital is worth a short stay: the area is wonderfully quiet and expansive. That's why I couldn't resist spending a few days in a sweet little cabin in the middle of the wide meadow, simply relaxing.
You can find all the important information on tolls in Slovenia in our guide.
