14 Best Summer Destinations In Europe - Rough Guides
Wondering about the best summer destinations in Europe? Rough Guides rundown of best places to visit in Europe in July and August has you covered.
Lake Bled
On that subject, <anchor>Lake Bled</anchor> is an absolute must-visit. A mere 50 minutes from the capital, this mirror-like expanse of water boasts a fairy tale island and cliff-top castle, with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Bled | Slovenia Travel Guide | Rough Guides
Bled \| Slovenia Travel Guide \| Rough Guides

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# Bled

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The lake resort of **Bled** has all the right ingredients for a memorable visit – a placid mirror lake with a romantic island, a medieval cliff-top castle and a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. In summer, the lake is the setting for a whole host of watersports – including major rowing contests – and in winter the surface becomes a giant fairytale skating rink. Perhaps the most visited place outside of the capital, Bled manages to retain a magical calm despite the hordes of tourists.

[Northwest Slovenia Travel Guide](/slovenia/northwest-slovenia/)

A constant relay of stretched gondolas leaves from below the _Park Hotel_, the _Pension Mlino_, and the bathing resort below the castle, ferrying tourists back and forth to Bled’s picturesque **island** (€12 return). With an early start (and by renting your own rowing boat from the Castle Boat House or _Pension Pletna_), you can beat them to it. Crowning the island, the Baroque **Church of Sv Marika Božja** is the last in a line of churches on a spot that’s long held religious significance: under the present building lie remains of a pre-Roman temple.

From the north shore a couple of paths wind steeply uphill to **Bled Castle** , originally an eleventh-century fortification whose present appearance dates from the seventeenth; the museum contains a well-presented collection of local artefacts relating to the settlement of Bled, and the lovely courtyard has magnificent views across the lake and towards the Alps. In the shade of the castle rock lies a clean, well-equipped **bathing area** with changing rooms (June to late Sept). **Bikes** can be rented cheaply from most guesthouses and tour agencies, providing an excellent way to see the surrounding area; the circumference of the lake can be cycled in thirty minutes.

## Travel ideas for Slovenia, created by local experts

[![Gorgeous gems of Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1640538011891/bled-3504511-1920_listing_1640538022924.jpeg)\
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16 days\
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Gorgeous gems of Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia\
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From the spas of Budapest to Lake Bled with its castle and further on to Croatia - this itinerary takes you across 3 countries, with a special focus on Slovenia's lake area and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. \
\
view trip ⤍](https://trips.roughguides.com/trip/gorgeous-gems-of-hungary-slovenia-croatia)

[![Gourmet Tour](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1612039154103/RegionGourmet-Day8-min_listing_1612039168824.jpeg)\
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12 days\
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Gourmet Tour\
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You will visit three different adjacent countries and experience traditional local food and wines. You will visit some of the most intriguing restaurants and wineries in the area taste the delicious contrast between fine restaurants, and more traditional, authentic taverns.\
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view trip ⤍](https://trips.roughguides.com/trip/region-gourmet-tour)

[![Balkan Extended](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1617610903301/Trogir_listing_1659105099070.jpeg)\
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13 days\
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Balkan Extended\
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The Balkan Extended tour truly showcases the finest of Balkan’s heritage and natural beauty as you make your way through the 5 countries. Learn about the Serbian Athens, climb the splendid Old Bridge in Mostar, observe Slovenia's water castle and dive into the pearl of Croatia's beauty in Istria.\
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view trip ⤍](https://trips.roughguides.com/trip/balkan-extended)

[![Love Thy Neighbor - Croatia and Slovenia](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1612023948199/swan-694887_listing_1612023968561.jpeg)\
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Love Thy Neighbor - Croatia and Slovenia\
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Slovenia and Croatia are neighboring countries, and the close proximity of Slovenian and Croatian Istria make them a perfect destination for a single trip. The area has numerous stories waiting to be discovered, from magical alpine landscapes of Slovenia to charming historical towns inland.\
\
view trip ⤍](https://trips.roughguides.com/trip/love-thy-neighbor)

[![Croatia and Slovenia: An Adriatic Adventure](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1509982426555/shutterstock-404575753_listing_1509982442001.jpeg)\
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12 days\
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Croatia and Slovenia: An Adriatic Adventure\
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This expansive trip celebrates the splendour of Croatia and Slovenia, with their wondrous hilltop towns and stunning cities, such as Dubrovnik, Ljubljana and Split. Experience the wine and olive oil-making traditions of these two countries, and go truffle hunting on the Istrian Peninsula. \
\
view trip ⤍](https://trips.roughguides.com/trip/croatia-and-slovenia-an-adriatic-adventure)

[![The Best of Croatia and Slovenia](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1672756551551/55036413-panoramic-view-of-bled-lake-slovenia-europe_listing_1672756562512.jpeg)\
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8 days\
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The Best of Croatia and Slovenia\
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Combine the highlights of neighboring countries Croatia and Slovenia on this self drive trip. Explore Dubrovnik, Plitivce Lakes, Zadar and Zagreb in Croatia before heading out to see Lake Bled and Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. Make stops along the way and soak in the culture, food and history.\
\
view trip ⤍](https://trips.roughguides.com/trip/the-best-of-croatia-and-slovenia)

[See all Slovenia travel ideas](/trips?countries=Slovenia)

### Vintgar Gorge

The main attraction in the outlying hills is the **Vintgar Gorge**, 4km north of town, an impressive defile accessed via a series of wooden walkways and bridges suspended from the rock face. To get here, take the morning tourist bus to the village of Zasip, climb to the hilltop chapel of **Sv Katarina** and pick up a path through the forest to the gorge entrance.

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#### Find even more inspiration for Slovenia here

[![winter-tallinn-estonia-shutterstock_121788016](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_winter-tallinn-estonia-shutterstock_121788016_5c6aa03a05.jpeg)10 best winter destinations in Eastern Europe](/articles/best-winter-destinations-east-europe/)

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[![rocks-of-algarve-portugal-faro](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_algarve_shutterstock_280989032_cb68cc4b18.jpeg)Best summer destinations in Europe](/articles/best-summer-destinations-europe/)

[![Piazza San Marco in Venice with Gondola](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_venice-shutterstock_613218920_297e6b9867.jpeg)Your Europe itinerary: 14 routes to explore the continent](/article/your-europe-itinerary-10-routes-to-explore-the-continent/)

[![ljubljana-castle-shutterstock_161871029](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_ljubljana-castle-shutterstock_161871029_3b9e2a0540.jpeg)A beginner's guide to Ljubljana, Slovenia](/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-ljubljana-slovenia/)

[![warsaw-old-town-royal-castle-poland-shutterstock_1171262353](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_warsaw-old-town-royal-castle-poland-shutterstock_1171262353_28f1116b23.jpeg)A first-timer's guide to Central and Eastern Europe: 10 places to visit](/articles/a-first-timers-guide-to-eastern-europe/)

[![Slovenia bee](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_slovenia_bee_credit_jost_gantar_1f19498fb7.jpeg)Bee tourism in Slovenia: the travel trend with plenty of buzz](/articles/bee-tourism-in-slovenia-the-travel-trend-with-plenty-of-buzz/)

[![ljubljana-castle-shutterstock_161871029](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_ljubljana-castle-shutterstock_161871029_3b9e2a0540.jpeg)The best city breaks in Europe with rural escapes](/articles/european-city-breaks-with-rural-escapes/)

[![Logarska Dolina, Slovenia, copyright Lottie Gross 2014](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_slovenia-12_7c5011c3cc.jpeg)Exploring Slovenia in the spring](/articles/exploring-slovenia-in-the-spring/)

[![piran-slovenia-shutterstock_714530443](https://strapi-images-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/small_piran-slovenia-shutterstock_714530443_864540c424.jpeg)Exploring Slovenia's diverse coastline](/articles/exploring-slovenias-remarkably-diverse-coastline/)

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- Bled
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written by

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updated 26.04.2021

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