This post is a continuation of a series documenting our travels to Slovenia in the European Spring of 2026. After a couple of days in the capital Ljubljana where we had enjoyed the compact City Centre ( A Morning Walk Through Ljubljana City Centre – Serene Slovenia, Part 1 ) and visited the Castle above it ( A Visit to Ljubljana Castle & the Tivoli City Park – Serene Slovenia, Part 2 ). We had then shifted base to Bled where we had spent 3 beautiful nights and enjoyed the lake ( A Walk around Lake Bled in the rain – Serene Slovenia, Part 3 ) and the cliff side castle above it ( Bled Castle, St Martin’s Church & Birding around Lake Bled – Serene Slovenia, Part 5 ). We had also taken day trips to visit the unique boardwalks at the Vintgar Gorge ( A sunny morning at the Vintgar Gorge – Serene Slovenia, Part 4 ) and the even more remote and beautiful Lake Bohinj ( Lake Bohinj & A Cable Car ride up to Vogel, A Day trip from Bled – Serene Slovenia, Part 6 ).
We had woken up early on our last morning in Bled and taken advantage of the beautiful sunny weather to take yet another walk around the lake. Early morning walks around lake Bled are a blissful experience and I was glad we had gotten to enjoy the picturesque lake without any crowds every morning. We went till the boardwalk and turned back as by now we knew which part of the walk around the lake had the best views. I have already posted a lot of photos of the beautiful lake but I can’t resist posing a few here from that morning.
Lake Bled and the Bled Castle above it
The Bled Island on a beautiful sunny day
Empty streets and walking path early morning in Bled
Reaching the Far end of Lake Bled on our last morning there
Pletna boats docked, waiting for the tourist rush to begin
The extreme cliffside location of the Bled Castle captured with the 300mm
Happy at our mornings exertions we returned to our Aparthotel Gaja where we had asked for a slightly late breakfast than usual. We freshened up and packed our meagre bags just in time as the amazing breakfast spread arrived one last time. I really appreciated the efforts of the staff here to accommodate the eggetarian better half and get different vegetarian toasted sandwiches for her every day. Today we didn’t have the option of keeping whatever we wanted to make sandwiches for dinner so we decided to pig out and finish whatever we could. ( We ended up not having lunch that day!)
The amazing and varied breakfast spread at the Aparthotel Gaja
We finished our breakfast and went to check out and store our luggage at the main reception area as we would be leaving for Ljubljana in the afternoon. The staff there requested us if we could pick up our luggage before noon as it was a holiday that day and they wanted to leave early. That threw a spanner in some of our plans but they had been amazingly kind and helpful during our 3 day stay, so we agreed to do that.
We then left to do the one activity at Lake Bled that most day trippers make a beeline for and we hadn’t done after staying 3 nights here – A Pletna boat ride to the Bled Island. A Pletna boat is a flat bottomed wooden row boat that is exclusively used in Lake Bled. It’s made by hand and rowing the boat is supposedly a family trade passed on from generation to generation in only 22 families since the trade started in the 15th century. Other than renting and rowing your own little boat, a seat in a Pletna boat is the only way to reach the Bled island. These boats runs only when they are at or near full capacity so it’s an activity that can be done only once the tourist rush has started. It was precisely the reason we hadn’t done it till now, but to leave Lake Bled without a visit to the island would by sacrilegious.
We went to the dock nearest to our apartment ( There are 4 all around the lake) and bought ourselves 2 seats for our return boat ride to the Bled Island. Luckily for us the boat reached capacity soon and our huge boatsman put his humongous arms to good use and started rowing the boat across the placid waters.
On the Pletna boat ride to Bled Island
The boat was soon gliding slowly over the waters propelled purely by human muscles and after a relatively quick half an hour boat ride we were docked on the Bled Island. The boatman informed us about the time the boat would be leaving again for the shore – exactly 1 hour later. There is no option to linger on the island as you have to return on the same boat you came by.
Bled Island gets closer as our Pletna boat glides towards it
As expected the tiny Bled Island was packed with people and Pletna boats docked in from all sides. The island is a natural islet which is dominated by the Church dedicated to the assumption of Mary. The present church is from the 17th century and before the first church here built in the 8th century there was a temple dedicated to the Pagan goddess of fertility. The Church is famous for its wishing bell which can be rung by visitors. There was already a huge line for the Church tickets and we didn’t want to waste our limited time here inside a crowded church. So for once we stayed outside the Church while the crowds were inside!
Crowds outside the Assumption of Mary Church on Bled Island
The Statue of Mary Magdalene outside the Church on Bled Island
For once we don’t do our Church routine and only see the exterior
We then moved towards the other famous architectural landmark of the tiny island – A Baroque Stairway with 99 steps leading up to the Church. We had landed at a dock exactly on the other side of these steps and had climbed up to the church via a different less regal set of stairs. So we went down the famous 99 steps and took a a few photos along the way.
Saying bye to the Church tower
Photos on the 99 steps leading up to the Church on Bled island
We then decided to spend our time on Bled island walking around the path along the edges of the centre island. This was a unique perspective of lake Bled from the island and we clicked away to glory.
Photos on the path around Bled island
A different perspective of Lake Bled and the Julian Alps around from Bled Island
A personal row boat docked alongside the Pletna Boats at Bled Island
The Pletna Boatmen rest their arms as they wait for their group to return
Soon our 1 hour flew by and we boarded our boat again as our muscular boatman started us on our way back to the dock from where we had started. This time we managed to get seats together and we enjoyed our boat ride back to the shore.
Muscle powered Pletna boats at Lake Bled
Our boatman takes a break on the way back with the Bled island in the background
Bled Castle behind us as on the boat ride back to the shore
I wish I knew how to row a boat well enough !
St Martin’s Church in Bled old town from our boat
We reached the shore and then we rushed to do the activity the better half had been looking forward to the most – A summer toboggan ride down a slope besides the lake. We asked the directions to Straža Bled where a chair car takes you up the hill side and you can either take a chair car down or ride a bobsled / toboggan down.
We reached there and the original plan was that I would take the chair car up and down while the better half would get her dose of adrenaline bobsledding. I realised that wasn’t going to happen as there was already a huge line there and it was just starting at 11 am. There was no way we could have both done the activity and reached back at the aparthotel before noon to collect our luggage. So I told the better half to buy the ticket for herself and stand in line while I went and retrieved our luggage.
I reached the Aparthotel Gaja where the staff were thankful that I had kept my word and collected my luggage before noon. I collected our luggage and walked back to the Straža Bled. The better half by now was almost at the Chairlift and I took a seat at a bench near the bobsled track base. I got out the camera in time to take photos of the better half as she took the chairlift up.
The better half takes the chairlift up at Straža Bled
A selfie on the chairlift up
Views from the top of the hill at Straža Bled courtesy the better half
Finally it was time for the better half’s bobsled ride down and I took out the 300mm and got some decent photos as she sped her way down the track. She got off with a huge smile on her face and I was happy that we hadn’t left Bled without her doing the bobsled ride as we had missed our chance due to weather when we were in the Austrian Alps a few years ago.
The 300 mm captures the better half on her bobsled ride at Straža Bled
We then decided to have a drink to celebrate a successful morning of doing everything we had hoped to do that morning. We sat at the Cafe at the Straža and I had a delicious Stiegl Weissbier to compensate for my missed chair car ride.
I enjoy my cold Stiegl Beer after rushing around in the morning
Refreshed we then took our luggage and walked down to the Bled main bus station and took the next bus back to Ljubljana. It had been a great 3 days in Bled and we had enjoyed our leisurely stay here to the fullest. Most tours do Lake Bled as a fast day trip from Ljubljana, but in our humble opinion the best way to enjoy Bled is stay the night ( or 3 !) and enjoy Lake Bled at its peaceful best in the early morning.
On our bus back to Ljubljana from Bled
We had a 1 night stay in Ljubljana before we left again for 3 nights at the coastal town of Piran. We walked down to our City Hotel Ljubljana and collected our main backpack that we had kept in luggage storage there. Luckily for us they had a room available right away. We went up to it and rested our legs for an hour before stepping out again to see the Ljubljana Cathedral.
Our room for our 2nd stint at the City Hotel Ljubljana
We had missed visiting the St Nicholas Cathedral in Ljubljana during our first 2 days here as it was closed for services whenever we were in the vicinity. I had noted down the open times then and we made sure we got there when it was open.
Barricaded exterior due to restoration makes it difficult to find the entry of the Cathedral
We bought our tickets and stepped inside the rich baroque styled interiors. I was glad we hadn’t given up on the Cathedral visit as the beautiful frescoed and gilded interiors made it perfect for photography. We did our church routine of sitting in the pews in silence for a few minutes. Then it was time for me and my ultra wide lens to enjoy the symmetry and beautiful coloured and sculpted interiors of the Ljubljana Cathedral. The ceiling frescos painted by Giulio Quaglio in the early 1700s was so beautiful and intricate that I couldn’t get enough photos of it.
The dome and frescoed arches and alcoves all around
The altar at the Ljubljana Cathedral surrounded by beautiful 17th century art
The ceiling fresco by Giulio Quaglio – a masterpiece
Had to get a selfie with the beautiful frescoed ceiling
The huge decorated Church organ at the Cathedral of St Nicholas in Ljubljana
A side altar filled with religious art at the Ljubljana Cathedral
Using the Ultrawide lens to capture the baroque magnificence of the Ljubljana Cathedral
Gilded stout pillars with small arched windows at the nave of the Cathedral
The beautiful organ at the rear of the Ljubljana Cathedral
Straining my neck for more photos of the beautiful frescoed ceiling
Happy us after a visit to the Ljubljana Cathedral
After enjoying my church photography to the fullest we said goodbye to the Ljubljana Cathedral and stepped back out into the sun. We had skipped out on lunch altogether after an ultra heavy breakfast so we decided to have early dinner before enjoying a relaxed evening back at our hotel. The better half enjoys her Mexican cuisine and I had read about a good Mexican restaurant at the edge of the city centre called Patrón Tacos & Bar ( We get pitiful Mexican cuisine back home & we might never go to Mexico / US). So we walked through the beautiful cobblestoned lanes of the city centre towards the restaurant in search of decent Mexican food.
The Ljubljana Cathedral in the background
Beautiful cobblestoned lanes of Ljubljana City Centre
We reached the restaurant which was quite busy at this odd hour but luckily got an outside table immediately. I went inside to order at the counter and ordered a 3 taco set for myself and a Frijoles Burrito for the better half. We also ordered a small glass of the house lager for myself and a bottle of lemonade for the better half. The food turned out to be excellent, my 3 different tacos ( Carnitas, Chicken Alambre, Carne Asada ) were all delicious. The better half enjoyed her huge Frijoles Burrito. It was a great meal to end a beautiful sunny day spent in Bled and Ljubljana.
The best photo I have of my 3 tacos! I was too busy devouring them otherwise
The better half is happy to get her favoured Mexican food
The Better half’s Frijoles Burrito
Enjoying an early dinner at the Patrón Tacos & Bar, Ljubljana
It was still sunny when we finished dinner so we decided to walk back to the hotel by the river stopping to take photos wherever we felt like.
The Cobblers Bridge in Ljubljana in the background
A fountain by the river with the Ljubljana Castle in the background
Well manicured trees amidst the cobblestones at Ljubljana City Centre
The beautiful city centre of Ljubljana
We finally reached our Hotel via a heavily graffitied lane which we stopped to photograph. The sun had started to set as we got back to our hotel and we slept off early after a day full of activity and travel.
A heavily graffitied lane in Ljubljana City Centre
The sun starts to set as we reach our hotel
Before sleeping I packed our small bag again for the 3 days we would be in Piran. I was looking forward to this little Adriatic coastal town the most. We would again be taking advantage of the central location of Ljubljana & leaving our big backpack in Luggage storage at the City Hotel before leaving for Piran the next morning. I would try to get in an early morning walk before breakfast to photograph the City Centre lit up if the weather permitted.
But that is the story for another post, some other time, some other day.
Till then,
Čau!