12 amazing things to do in Lake Bled in December
- Jess Touhig
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
A gorgeous festive break!
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Lake Bled is home to some of the most stunning scenery in all of Europe. Although there's some activities that don't run in December, and the weather can be pretty cold, the landscape looks absolutely gorgeous in winter. There's frost on the ground, snow on the mountains and a small but beautiful Christmas Market in the city centre. What more could you ask for?
With that in mind, we know there are some activities that you will have to miss out on if you're visiting Lake Bled in December, but some incredible things to do and see that are only available during winter.
So here's our list of things to do in Lake Bled in December that you can refer to on your trip:
1 . Walk all of the way around Lake Bled
This will take you at least 2 hours, so make sure you get wrapped up warm for the walk. All the way around the lake, the path is flat and easy to walk. It is gritted to keep it safe, but there is definitely still a chance of it being slippery in December, so make sure to wear comfortable footwear with good grip. This should be an easy walk for all ages and abilities, especially if you include a stop at a cosy café or two along the way.
The views all the way around the lake are breath-taking, you'll feel as though you're looking at a screensaver rather than real life!
2 . Warm up with a hot chocolate and a traditional kremšnita
A kremšnita is a cream cake that originated in Bled and can be dated back to the 18th century. It's a layered cream cake topped with puff pastry and it goes perfectly with a coffee or a hot chocolate after a cold, winter walk. You can find them in most cafes around the lake or in the city centre.
3 . Take a gondola ride to the island in the middle of Lake Bled
Even in December, Bled Island is a stunning attraction to visit. There are spots all around the lake where you can hop on a gondola and get taken all the way to the island, with stunning views of the lake. Then, once you get there, climb the 99 steps up to the church on the island, where you can go inside and even go into the bell tower. They also have a lovely café and a small museum.
4 . Visit Lake Bled's Winter Fairytale
This is a unique thing to do near Lake Bled that you can only do in December. The Bled Winter Fairytale is like a Christmas market, but with a little bit extra. Not only are there stalls selling handmade gifts and warm foods such as traditional stews, but you'll also find live music every weekend! We visited this last year and the local musicians were fantastic, and entry is completely free.
You can find the schedule and more information about what's on at Bled's Winter Fairytale here.
5 . Explore Bled Castle
Within Bled castle you'll find seasonally changing exhibitions, a gift shop, small museums and an upmarket restaurant. You can even explore rooms inside the castle including a wine cellar, tower, chapel and print works. On top of this, in December they even have their own small Christmas market in the courtyard, including a mulled wine stall, and the castle is decorated beautifully for the festive season. It is quite a walk, up lots of steps to the castle, but the views are stunning.
We wouldn't recommend walking all the way up if you're not going to pay for entry to the castle, though, as you have to pay as soon as you reach the top of the hill, unlike some other attractions where you can explore the grounds for free. It costs 17 euros to enter the castle.
If this is all sounding like a lot to fit into your trip - and you don't even know where to start, why not check out our new travel planning service called makethemost.
We can create a personalised itinerary for your trip to Lake Bled, or even a multi-city trip around Slovenia, with a customised, interactive map included, so all the places that you want to visit are saved to your phone! You can read more about our service or enquire here.
6 . Try a traditional Slovenian dinner
Whilst in Bled, you must try some Slovenian cuisine. A highly recommended spot in Bled's city centre is The Old Cellar - we visited in December and we were so impressed. Not only is the restaurant itself very cosy, warm and intimate, the staff are incredibly helpful too. And the quality of the food was fantastic. Don't be afraid to ask the staff for their recommendations if you can't decide which to try, or are unsure what something would be like.
7 . Visit St. Martin's Church
This is an absolutely gorgeous church that is close to the steps up and down from the castle so can easily be combined with your visit. The exterior is plain white, but the interior is gorgeous and it's free to enter. Just be respectful by staying quiet and covering your legs and shoulders (which shouldn't be an issue when visiting Bled in December, it's freezing!)
There's a little courtyard with benches and a small café next to the church, perfect to get out of the cold for a moment.
8 . Stay in a cosy lodge or hotel by the lake
No matter where you stay, you'll have a lovely time in Lake Bled in December. Personally, we stayed in this gorgeous place. The room was very cosy, quite spacious and definitely had enough room for a short stay. The room we chose even had an outdoor area looking straight onto a stream, with garden chairs and blankets to sit out and look at the stars on an evening.
From the apartments, it's only a very short walk to the lake and a small local supermarket, but a longer walk into the actual city centre, taking at least 30 minutes. But it has the benefit of being private and quiet which we loved!
If this isn't quite right, you can search for other accommodation options in Bled here:
9. Try a pizza!!
If you're thinking that pizza isn't a traditional Slovenian food, you'd be absolutely right. However, with Slovenia being so close to Italy, they know how to make a very good pizza or pasta dish. Definitely head to an Italian restaurant during your time in Bled and give it a go. We went to Pizzeria Rustika and couldn't have been more impressed. It was affordable, friendly, and such delicious food!
10 . Take a day trip to the capital city, Ljubljana
Ljubljana is another perfect destination for the month of December, as it has lots of indoor attractions and a beautiful Christmas market! Along with gorgeous churches, quaint city streets and museums to explore, there are also lots of riverside cafes and bars with small fire heaters and blankets on every table to keep you warm in the cold weather.
The Christmas market in Ljubljana is much bigger than the one in Bled, but doesn't offer the live entertainment. However, the atmosphere is amazing, especially in a late afternoon or into the evening.
We have a post all about Ljubljana which you can read for more of an insight on the best things to do there, should you choose to visit. You can either take the bus or the train from Bled.
11 . Visit a spa or wellness centre near Lake Bled
Bled is full of stunning, luxury spas and wellness centres. You may even have one within the hotel you're staying in. A day of rest and relaxation in pools, hot tubs and saunas is the perfect activity for a cloudy or rainy day, or if you just want a break from being outdoors in the cold. The most popular spa in Bled is Ziva Wellness Centre.
12. Try out some winter sports!
If you're a regular Sightseekr reader, you'll know that sports (especially in the freezing cold) aren't particularly our thing. However, we've heard that Lake Bled and the surrounding areas are very popular for winter sports including ice skating, skiing and snowboarding.
If you're visiting before the 12th January 2025, there's an outdoor ice rink with a gorgeous view as a part of Bled's Winter Fairytale. It's open every weekend, then the week of Chrsitmas it's open all week to visit!
If you're going to miss that, Bled sports hall offers indoor ice skating for fun in Winter (from October through to March) on selected days - check their website for more information.
Here are some other things you need to know before visiting Lake Bled in December...
How do I get to Lake Bled?
Bled is easily accessible by air, as the closest airport is Ljubljana, only a 25 minute drive away. Ljubljana airport has direct flights from major cities around the UK. You can also take a public bus from the airport to Bled. The flight time from the UK varies, but is normally within the region of 2 hours. You can also travel to Bled by train or coach from cities in Slovenia and surrounding countries.
Do I need a visa to visit Lake Bled?
Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to visit Slovenia for a stay of up to 90 days. Read our Schengen Agreement post to find out more details about this rule. New rules for travel into Europe are coming into effect soon - check out our simple guide to make sure you know exactly what you need to do before you travel.
What's the currency in Lake Bled?
The currency of Slovenia is the Euro. You can change money when you arrive or withdraw from ATMs, but be aware of high conversion fees! Some ATMs may charge you to withdraw money, even if your bank doesn't. It's always best to pay in local currency when you can. We had no issues paying by card in Bled, apart from at market stalls.
What languages are spoken in Lake Bled?
The official language of Slovenia is Slovenian, but English is widely spoken in tourist hotspots such as Ljubljana and Bled. It's always polite to learn a few phrases, though!
What's the weather like in Lake Bled in December?
On average, in December, the highest daily temperature is 6°C and the lowest daily temperature is -3°C, but of course this can vary. It's the coldest month in Slovenia, so you'll really need to wrap up warm. On average, there are 14 days where you'll have rain or snow in the month of December, but they are likely to just be showers.
Here's the current weather in Bled:
What's the time zone in Lake Bled in December?
Slovenia is in the Central Standard European Time in Winter. The time is the same as most of mainland Europe, but an hour ahead of the UK.
