This alpine village has been Slovenia's most visited attraction for more than a century. For one thing, it's among Europe's most beautiful mountain resorts. Imagine a castle set on a cliff and overlooking a small blue lake that rests in a valley below snowcapped mountains. In the center of the lake, like something from a children's storybook, the white tower and red-tiled roof of a medieval church poke above the trees on a tiny, wooded island. The only thing that might spoil the view is the crowds of tour groups. Still, the town is so attractive it should not be missed.
First, tour the castle (a chapel and a small museum) and have lunch or coffee at the castle's restaurant, which has a stunning view overlooking the lake (admission to the castle is free if you eat at the restaurant). After lunch, rent a rowboat or hire a gondolier to take you out to the island—in the wintertime, a pair of skates is all that you'll need. Local legend says that visitors who ring the bell in the church will have their wishes granted. (Not surprisingly, the bell gets rung quite a lot.) The two-hour trail around the lake is also very scenic and worth the time and exercise.
Another attractive spot for hiking is nearby Lake Bohinj. Shimmering among the towering Alps, Lake Bohinj is a trekker's paradise. Nearby peaks include Mount Triglav (at 9,400 ft/2,900 m, it's Slovenia's highest) and Mount Vogel, with its winter ski resort. The cable car up Mount Vogel also operates in summer for climbers and sightseers. If you are not up to the challenge of trekking on Mount Triglav, take a short hike to view the Savica Waterfall. Bled and Lake Bohinj are about 30 mi/50 km northwest of Ljubljana.
