A fairytale castle high on a bluff, with a crystal clear lake underneath, snow capped alps in the background: Bled has all the ingredients for becoming a major tourist spot.

Located in the Julian alps, a bus ride of about an hour takes you from Ljubljana to this mountain resort. The main sights in the area are the Bled castle which has a pricey restaurant and a mediocre museum but the best views imaginable of the lake and the island with the Church of Sv Marija Bozja on it. The island can be visited by gondola, or by canoe from the Park Hotel. It is approximately 4 miles around the lake, which makes it a nice after dinner stroll.

The Vintgar Gorge is an excellent day trip. It's just 10 km north of town and the hike there is great.

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