Bled, the best-known or Bohinj, the wildest? Both surrounded by mountains, you’ll have a great time whatever you decide.
But if you’re short of time, or wondering which is the best place to stay, here’s our comparative guide: Lake Bled or Bohinj, covering accessibility, attractions, accommodation, visiting conditions…
Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj: comparison summary
If you don’t want to read the whole article, here are the main points:
Lake Bled
- More iconic
- More hotel choices
- With castle and island
- Easy to get to
- But crowded
Lake Bohinj
- Wilder
- Less crowded
- More views accessible by car
- Better beaches and water sports
- More road, but easy access
- Bigger, longer to visit
- But less iconic
Here are your options, depending on what you’re looking for:
- If you’re doing a whole road trip around Slovenia, spend 2 days at each lake.
- If you like hiking –> go to Lake Bohinj instead
- If you like peace and quiet and avoid tourists –> Lake Bohinj
- If you like restaurants and entertainment –> Lake Bled
- If you prefer historical sites and monuments –> Lake Bled
- If you like magnificent panoramas –> Both will satisfy you
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Things to do around Bled vs around Bohinj
Best things to do around Bled
- Walk around the lake
- Take a romantic photo in the heart of Bled
- Climb up to the castle and admire the lake views
- Visit the magnificent Vintgar Gorge nearby
- Traditional boat trip to the island of Bled and its church
- Hike Mala Ojstrica to see the sunrise
- Straza slide
But there’s much more. See our full article on Bled.
Best things to do around Bohinj
- The different viewpoints
- Vogel gondola lift
- Savica waterfall
- Numerous hiking trails
- Charming churches
But there’s much more. See our full article on Bohinj.
Need to rent a car in Slovenia?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Choose a car with enough power for the mountain roads
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Viewpoints
Views of Bled
In Bled, there are few points of interest by car. The best viewpoints are at higher altitudes.
So it’s not easy for everyone.
The best views are from the castle or from the hikes at the opposite end.
Views of Bohinj
For those who find it difficult to get around, Bohinj offers more beautiful viewpoints accessible by car.
And for those who like their views from a great height, you can also take the Vogel gondola to admire the lake and mountains from an elevated vantage point.
However, Bohinj is also perfect for people with more mobility. There are numerous hikes all around the lake with beautiful views.
Where to stay in Slovenia?
My favorites ona road trip:
- In Ljubljana, to explore the vibrant city – see best rated accommodations
- In Bled, to admire the iconic lake – see best rated accommodations
- In Bovec, to enjoy the mountains – see best rated accommodations
- In Piran, to explore the coast – see best rated accommodations
- In Ptuj, to learn about history – see best rated accommodations
- Around the Logar Valley for amazing scenery – see best rated accommodations
Swimming in the lakes + activities on the water
Lake Bohinj is more suitable for those who want to swim and do water sports such as kayaking or stand-up paddling.
Bled has fewer beaches, and especially on the water, there are the many tourist boats that take you to the island of Bled, so it’s much less charming and quiet.
Best hikes
The region is rich in hiking opportunities.
Hikes around Bled
- The best known: the magnificent Vintgar Gorge
- Mala Ojstrica
- Mala Osojnica
- Straza Hill
Hikes near Bohinj
- The most famous: the magnificent Savica waterfall
- Around the lake
- Hikes from the Vogel cable car
- Mostnica Gorge
- and many more
Where to stay: Bled vs Bohinj
Where to stay at Lake Bled
The easiest place to stay around Lake Bled is in the town of Bled. There’s a wide choice of accommodation (hotels, apartments, hostels…) and many restaurants. What’s more, you’re never far from the lake.
But you’ll find other accommodation around the lake.
The campsite is at the opposite end.
For example:
- Old Bled house in a charming country setting, just a few minutes from the lake – see photos and availability
- Luxury by the lake: The Grand Hotel Toplice is located directly on the lake – it’s hard to beat this location!
see photos and availability - The Best Western is very close to the lakeside and has many rooms with balconies overlooking the lake. – see photos and availability
- You can also avoid the center of Bled and relax at the beautiful Vila Bled, directly on the lake but away from the crowds, to the west of Bled. A rather romantic setting. – see photos and availability
- Glamping: Further from the lake, but an unforgettable experience! It’s very quick. – see photos and availability
Where to stay on Lake Bohinj?
You have 4 main options for staying in Bohinj:
- Lodging at the eastern end of the lake in the villages of Ribcev Laz or Stara Fuzina. There’s a large hotel and a good selection of hostels and apartments. The advantage is that you’re close to restaurants and close to the lake.
- Stay at the western end of the lake, in Ukanc – this is for those who really want peace and quiet.
- Lodging in the slightly larger town of Bohinja Bistrica – a good choice, but further from the lake.
For example:
- Hotel Jezero with lake and/or mountain views from the balconies, and a swimming pool – See photos and availability
- Bohinj Apartments. No view but very well located near the lake – See photos and Book
- Comfort and elegance at Vila Park B&B surrounded by a pleasant garden, everything you need to relax – View photos and Book
- Rooms and apartments 750m from the lake, on the western tip – View photos and Book
- and several campsites
Accessibility
Here’s a map showing the two lakes of Bled and Bohinj to the west of Ljubljana.
Bled is the quickest to reach from Ljubljana, taking just 45min.
To reach Bohinj, you drive along Bled and add 30 minutes to the drive. It’s an easy road with one lane in each direction.
Vidéos
And to help you make up your mind, here are our two videos on these lakes, giving you a quick overview:
Voulez-vous en voir plus de la SLOVENIE ?
