Private Town Walk with Island Boat Ride, Bled

Get a deeper look at Slovenia's most iconic (and most photographed) locale with this two-hour experience led by a private guide. You'll start with a walk around Bled, exploring the lakeside town's hidden corners and learning about its dramatic history and romantic legends. Then, step aboard a traditional "pletna" boat and cruise to the lake's tiny island church, reached by climbing 99 steps from the water's edge. Continue up the Gothic tower to ring the bell and enjoy views across Lake Bled, Bled Castle, and the Julian Alps.

Highlights

• Explore the charming lakeside town of Bled with an expert guide
• Hear fascinating tales about the area's history and legends
• Take a traditional wooden "pletna" boat to the lake's famous island church
• Climb the church's Gothic tower and ring the bell (said to grant your deepest wish)
  
  

What you'll do

Your two-hour exploration starts when you meet your private guide and set off on a stroll around Bled Town, a collection of historic villages along Lake Bled's picturesque shore. Learn how human settlements in this spot date back to the Stone Age, spot the clifftop castle (Slovenia's oldest) and its Romanesque tower, and discover the hidden corners and enchanting legends known only to locals. The highlight of the experience is when you head down to the lakeshore and step aboard a pletna, a traditional, gondola-like wooden boat.

Glide across the lake's glassy waters to reach the famous island, dotted with trees and crowned with the Gothic Church of the Assumption of Mary (built atop the remains of a seventh-century CE Slavic shrine). Step ashore and climb the 99 steps to the church, then take a break at the café, where you can admire the views or order a coffee and a kremšnita (a beloved local cream cake). If you're ready for more climbing, ascend the bell tower for picture-perfect vistas across the lake, the Julian Alps, and Bled's castle, then take your turn ringing the bell three times—said to grant the ringer their deepest wish.