Bled – the second most relaxing destination in the world

According to the popular travel portal travelandleisure.com, Lake Bled has been named the most relaxing destination in Europe and the second most relaxing in the world, with an overall score of 89 out of 100. Its magical location at the foot of the Julian Alps, the crystal-clear, still lake surface, and fresh mountain air create a setting that invites complete relaxation and reconnection with oneself. The view of the church on Bled Island in the middle of the lake completes this fairytale in nature. Only Sedona, Arizona, ranked ahead of Bled on the global relaxation scale.

Bled among the 10 most beautiful places where you can cool off in June (Conde Nast Traveller)

“Bled and the surrounding area, with an average temperature of 20 degrees, offers a nice opportunity to cool off in the summer The small teardrop-shaped island with a 17th century church is an ideal choice for anyone who can quickly get too hot in the summer. While in July there are many tourists from all around the world, in June, Bled is a pleasant haven for anyone looking to enjoy the beauty of this small town at the foot of the Julian Alps, without it being too crowded,” they wrote on the Conde Nast Traveller website, where they ranked Bled with its lake and island among the 10 most beautiful places to cool off in June.

Marriage proposal in Bled among the 26 most romantic in the world (Conde Nast Traveller)

“Lake Bled is one of those natural gems that everyone should see at least once, which also makes it a great location to experience one of the most beautiful moments in your life - your marriage proposal! If you want to see the lake and church on Bled Island from a bird’s eye view perspective, follow the signs and take a hike to Ojstrica Hill. If you want an even wider angle view and more privacy, there are another two popular locations a bit higher up. So fill up your backpack with champagne and snacks (don’t forget the ring!) and hike up to that magical location above the lake at sunset to create an unforgettable moment for you and your loved one,” they wrote on the Conde Nast Traveller website, which ranked Bled among the 26 most romantic places in the world to make a marriage proposal!

Bled among the 17 best small towns in Europe (Travel + Leisure)

“Picturesque Bled looks like a mythical scene dreamed up by a Grimm brother. Its most prominent feature is an ethereal 17^th-century church perched on a tear-shaped island in Lake Bled, which you can get to by boat”, is how the top travel media brand in the world, Travel + Leisure, which is read by more than 16 million travellers every month, describes Bled. The editorial board chose Bled as one of the 17 best small towns in Europe, adding that Bled and its surrounds offer outdoor activities year-round, from hiking mountain trails to rowing on the lake to summer tobogganing down Straža Hill, with amazing views of the water below.

Bled is the best destination for a half-term holiday in Europe (The Guardian)

Lake Bled is the most photogenic lake in the world (Lonely Planet)

Lonely Planet, the publisher of tourist guides that are popular all over the world, has named Bled the sixth out of ten destinations that offer unique and unforgettable experiences. The world-famous tourist guide describes Bled as a destination packed with natural beauty, distinguished by a memorable island topped with a church. Lake Bled with its island is even described as the most photogenic lake on the planet, while their special recommendation for Bled is to discover the sustainable local providers of products and services.

Slovenia Green Award for the Destination (Municipality) of Bled

The Green Scheme of Slovenian tourism is designed for systematically promoting the sustainable operation and development of destinations and providers. The Slovenia Green brand is used to communicate concrete, tangible efforts to preserve natural and cultural heritage, clean air and clean water while ensuring that tourism in Slovenia remains sustainable with an increasingly positive impact on the environment and local communities. Bled has been striving for green tourism for a number of years now and is the proud bearer of the gold Slovenia Green symbol. As part of Green Destinations 2019, an international non-governmental project, Bled was ranked second on the list of Europe’s top sustainable destinations. Photo: Jošt Gantar, www.bled.info

20 destinations to visit in 2020 (The Guardian)

British newspaper The Guardian has included Slovenia on a list of 20 destinations to visit if you are looking to enjoy pristine nature and support sustainable tourism. Slovenia is described as a charming country that lends itself to outdoor adventure. Despite the influx of tourists in recent years, it remains focused on protecting the environment. The experiences highlighted as unmissable include cycling around Lake Bled, which is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. 

The lake where you simply have to sit and stare (Daily Mail)

“Walking around Lake Bled, I half-expect to hear Snow White croon to woodland creatures. The air smells like green candyfloss and the grass is splattered with flowers. I knew Bled, in Slovenia, would be lovely (it regularly tops lists of the most beautiful places in the world), but I hadn’t expected it to be quite so Disney-esque,” reported a journalist for the Daily Mail, a popular British news website.

Bled is every bit as lovely in real life (Lonely Planet)

“Yes, it's every bit as lovely in real life. With its bluish-green lake, picture-postcard church on an islet, medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as backdrops, Bled is Slovenia's most popular resort, drawing everyone from honeymooners lured by the over-the-top romantic setting to backpackers, who come for the hiking, biking, water-sports and canyoning possibilities.” This description of Bled was published in one of the most frequently read travel media, Lonely Planet.

The best view of Lake Bled (Budget Travel)

“Why not get to the good stuff right away? To take in this Slovenian lake's most breathtaking vista, head immediately to Bled Castle, at the edge of a sheer, 460-foot-high cliff. You'll see mountains in every direction—the Julian Alps and the Karavanke range—and below, the Alpine lake and its main attraction, Bled Island, a tiny forested circle that's home to the 17th-century Church of the Assumption,” recommends the Budget Travel website, where Lake Bled ranks among the 12 most beautiful lakes in the world.

Bled is one of the most beautiful places in the world (Vacation Idea)

“If you glimpse Lake Bled in Slovenia from one of the distant mountaintops, you will be convinced that you are seeing some magical, lost fantasy world of dragons and knights: A vivid emerald green lake with a tiny island in the middle with a church perched on its cliff and an ancient medieval castle clinging to its slopes, hugged on all sides by enormous mountains, snow-topped and covered with dark, green, ancient forests.” This picturesque description of Bled was published on Vacation Idea, where the town was included on the list of the 25 most beautiful places in the world.

Bled Castle dominates the scene (Hostelling International)

“Bled Castle dominates the scene overlooking the lake from the top of the cliff, and offers the most beautiful view of the town, lake and island. With its spectacular turreted church sitting on an islet in an emerald-green glacial lake, and surrounded by the highest peaks of the Julian Alps. This setting is so romantic and dramatic, you’ll pinch yourself. Experience the perfect fairy tale in Bled and find inspiration for the most thrilling stories,” they say at Hostelling International, placing Bled at the very top of the list of the most beautiful towns where young tourists can find affordable hostels.

Bled – the birthplace of modern nature healing (BBC)

“Birds chirped in anticipation of dawn, a light breeze set in, and from the forest below, I could hear people making their way along the path I had just left behind – the same one used by health tourists who came to the town of Bled from across Europe more than 150 years ago, thanks to Swiss healer Arnold Rikli,” wrote the BBC journalist in an article about the development of natural healing in Bled.

One of the 25 most beautiful small towns in Europe (CN Traveler)

“There's a reason Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most popular sites. With its emerald waters, church-dotted islet, views of the Julian Alps, and 12th-century castle on a hill, you won't be short of picture-perfect views. The surrounding town of Bled is just as charming, with candlelit restaurants and traditional wooden rowboats just waiting for visitors,” says the description of Bled posted on the Conde Nast Traveler blog, where the Slovenian town was included on the list of 25 of the most beautiful small towns in Europe.

One of the top 10 places in the world to retire (Forbes)

“Bled is a safe, four-season, picturesque mountain town. I don’t think you’ll ever see a place more aptly described as looking like a fairy tale. It’s like the Disney set from Frozen, and the summer is just as beautiful without the snow,” says the online portal Forbes, ranking Bled among the top 10 places in the world to retire.

One of the top 10 winter destinations on Instagram (Lonely Planet)

“The emerald lake, surrounded by Alpine peaks and with a tiny island and an impressive Gothic church in the middle, has been a landmark of Slovenia since ancient times,” says Lonely Planet, ranking Bled among the top 10 winter destinations on Instagram. Photo: www.slovenia.info, Franci Ferjan