Dog-Friendly Lake Bled
Lake Bled is what brought us to Slovenia last summer! A couple of friends had recommended it, and when I saw pictures of the lake I knew we had to go. There’s a cliff on one side of the lake with a castle overlooking the turquoise-blue water, and a steepled church on Bled island in the middle of the lake. The town of Bled has plenty of restaurants and places to stay. Bled is only a 40-minute drive from Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. It is possible to get around to most (maybe all?) of these activities by bus, but I am glad we had a rental car to get around. Bled Bus allows dogs that are on leash and wearing a muzzle!
We visited Bled in the summer, which is definitely the right time to go. A lot of these attractions are closed in the winter, and you don’t want to miss out on swimming in these lakes!
What to Do
Bled Castle
Bled Castle has amazing view of the lake!! Dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas and courtyards, but not inside the museum. There are also cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating. If you drive, beware that the parking lot is quite small! We went super early and got the last parking spot. You can also get here via Bled Bus.
Vintgar Gorge
Vintgar Gorge is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen! The water is the prettiest icy blue color, and the scenery throughout the walk is stunning. Dogs are allowed! Make sure you buy tickets ahead of time, and I recommend doing one of the earliest time slots. It wasn’t very crowded when we started, and once our timed group spread out, we felt like we had the gorge to ourselves the majority of the time! There’s a little café at the end of the gorge that progressively became busier as we sat and enjoyed a coffee. The end of the trail was also noticeably more congested the longer we stayed, and when we were leaving the entrance was packed! We drove, but you can also take Bled Bus.
You hike through the gorge first, and then choose from a couple of hiking trails to get back to the entrance. The entire experience took a little over two hours.
Swim in Lake Bled
Dogs are not allowed in the official bathing areas, but they can swim in other areas along the western half of the lake. This was our favorite swimming spot, which offered a wonderful sunset view!
Pletna Boat to Bled Island
There are multiple spots to board a Pletna Boat, but this one is closest to the town of Bled and also offers the longest boat ride, with more views from the water. Dogs are allowed on the boats, as long as other passengers don’t object. We made some lovely friends from the UK on our boat!
Once the boat docks, you have 45 minutes to explore the island. We got gelato and walked around the (very small) island. Dogs are not allowed to go inside the church.
Mala Osojnica
You must hike up to this viewpoint on the western edge of Lake Bled, but be warned - it is extremely steep!!! Definitely wear athletic shoes/attire. We saw many people in sandals and cute outfits and I truly do not know how they did it.
Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is about a thirty-minute drive from Bled. This lake is surrounded by mountains and less manicured/touristy than Lake Bled. You can rent paddle boards and kayaks, hang on the beach, or go swimming, and dogs seemed to be allowed everywhere. Lake Bohinj gives serious Colorado mountain beach vibes, but with the most beautiful water you’ve ever seen. We spent an afternoon here with our friends, and I loved it so much I came back again once they had left. Definitely get a burger at Karakter Bar while you’re there.
Vogel Cable Car
The Vogel Cable Car is right next to Lake Bohinj and dogs are allowed to take the cable car up the mountain with you! The views from the top are stunning. You can hike around the mountains, or have a meal or drink. I had a radler at Chalet Burja with a wonderful view. Alice made a very cute toddler friend on our way back down.
Savica Waterfall
Savica Waterfall is another attraction near Lake Bohinj. The waterfall itself is stunning, and the hike up to it is relatively easy but with a lot of stairs. However, it was ridiculously crowded. Go incredibly early in the morning to avoid crowds, or you may want to just skip it.
Where to Stay
Vila Ana Generoes
We were with three friends for the first few days of our time in Bled, and we stayed at this lovely, family-run inn. The location is excellent and there was free parking on site. The value was great, and it was plenty of room for four humans and one dog.
The hospitality was unmatched! Let me explain with this somewhat-embarrassing anecdote…
I am terrified of spiders, have been my whole life. When we returned to our apartment after our first day of exploring Lake Bled, Ally discovered a large spider above the shower. Now, Sarah and I were completely useless because of our intense fear of spiders. Meaghan and Ally attempted to take care of the spider, but could not (and we sincerely appreciate their efforts). After plenty of screams, tears, and hysterical laughter, I messaged our host around 10:00pm and explained the situation. She knocked on the door a few minutes later, accompanied by her eight-year-old son and a step ladder. We were so ashamed of our cowardice that we hid in one of the bedrooms, beet red and giggling from embarrassment. In what seemed like no time at all, our heroic host hollered to let us know everything had been taken care of, and left. And that is the story of how a Slovenian mother and child saved our lives at Lake Bled!
Rudi Hiti’s Guest House
After our friends left, we moved here. Rudi Hiti’s Guest House is slightly further from the lake, but still very convenient for getting around Bled. Rudi Hiti (a retired Slovenian hockey player) was such a kind host! Free parking here as well.
Where to Eat
Hitri Kruhek - We had coffee/breakfast here a couple times, and Alice was allowed inside. Cash only!
Kavarna Triglavska roža - Another spot for breakfast and coffee.
The View - The service here is not great, but it does have a great view and some pretty good food options.
Restaurant Julijana - We only had drinks here on their patio (great view), but the menu looks really good (and expensive).
Art Cafe Bar - A very cute spot for breakfast or lunch.
Vila Preseren - Also not the best service, but a nice atmosphere for lunch, coffee, or drinks.
Grajska Plaža Restaurant - Excellent service, and lots of food options.
Blejska Hiša - Again, very slow service, but the food was good.