Dog Friendly Lake Bled

fajndogwear
Feb 18
6 min read

Updated: Mar 2

Dog Friendly Lake Bled Bars and Restaurants:

Dog Friendly Lake Bled Activities:

Rowing boat to Bled Island (check out the boat rental close to Vila Bled which allows dogs and seemed to cheaper than anywhere else!);
Maja Osojnice View Point and Loop Walk;
Castle
Swimming in the lake (check out the west side of the lake near the campsite - dog friendly beach area and can swim in the lake without restrictions)

Our Journey

Train from Salzburg to Villach - 2 hours 30 minutes
Train from Villach to Lesce Bled - 1 hour
Dog ticket required in Austria and the conductor of our first train told us just to buy one for the next leg of our trip...

DAY 1 - The Journey to Bled: A Test of Patience

After leaving Salzburg, we embarked on a four-hour train journey to reach Lake Bled. With just one quick transfer (an eight-minute layover—thankfully, the trains ran on time), the journey itself was straightforward.

We arrived at Lesce Bled station, one of two train stations on the outskirts of Bled, just in time (or so we thought) to catch the local bus to our accommodation. But after waiting over an hour, alongside frustrated locals who eventually gave up, we realised the bus wasn’t coming.

Desperate to get into town, we turned to taxis, only to find that drivers were exploiting the situation. They were charging €20 for a journey that would have taken less than five minutes (especially frustrating when the bus was only €2 per person). Worse still, they wouldn’t let us share rides with others to split the cost, and many refused to take dogs.

After numerous phone calls and nearly two hours of waiting, we finally secured a ride with Bled Taxi Transfer whose driver kindly allowed us to share with another couple and bring Nora along- so if you need a taxi in Bled, we highly recommend them!

Exhausted from the journey, we took a brief evening stroll around the eastern side of the lake. It was a Saturday, and the area was packed -almost overwhelmingly so, so we opted for a quiet evening, grabbing food from the supermarket and heading back to our apartment to rest, hoping for a better second day in Bled.

DAY 2 - Rowing, hiking and Slovenian Specialties

After a much-needed night in, we were up early to beat the crowds. Our first mission? Rowing to Bled Island (Blejski Otok). We set off clockwise along the lake’s shore in search of a rental boat, but the first few places we found either didn’t allow dogs or were reserved for hotel guests. Prices were also steeper than expected, at €25+ per hour. Thankfully, after some persistence, we stumbled across docking area and rental place where dogs were allowed, and the rate was a far more reasonable €15 an hour.

Assuring the rental guy that we knew how to row (spoiler: we didn’t), we, mostly Josh, awkwardly navigated towards the island. Luckily, the location was close, and even with our amateur rowing skills, we reached Bled Island in about 15 minutes.

The island is small but scenic, home to a historic church, bell tower, and the famous stairway leading up from the waterfront. There’s also a café serving traditional Slovenian Potica cake. While we only spent about 20 minutes walking around (it’s really tiny), visitors without dogs can enter the church or stop for a bite. Seeing the lake from this perspective was stunning, and we highly recommend getting there early to avoid the crowds and Pletna boat traffic.

Back on shore, we continued our hike along the Ojstrica Loop, a trail leading to some of Bled’s most iconic viewpoints. While it may not look challenging on paper, the steep inclines and heat (nearly 30°C) made it tougher than expected- proper footwear and water are essential! The descent was especially tricky, with loose terrain making it slippery. We saw several people carrying their dogs down, so keep that in mind if you're bringing a pup.

We made our own version of the loop, first climbing to Matija’s Viewpoint via an incredibly steep stairway, then heading to Mala Osojnica, which offers breathtaking panoramic views over the lake. Originally, we considered tackling Ojstrica Peak, but given the heat and Nora’s energy levels, we opted for a refreshing dip in the lake instead.

The western side of the lake, where we ended up, is much quieter than the tourist-heavy east. A campsite and lakeside bar offer a relaxed atmosphere, with fewer swimming restrictions and open grassy areas to lounge on. Josh went for a quick swim while Andie and Nora chilled by the water’s edge before grabbing a much-deserved beer at the restaurant. The food isn’t anything special, but for a post-hike beer with lake views, it’s perfect.

After finishing the loop, we made a quick stop at Bled Castle, but due to the €17 entry fee we skipped going inside. Instead, we wandered back into town and stumbled upon Blejska Hisa, an unassuming restaurant that turned out to be a hidden gem. Inside, it’s cosy, traditionally decorated, and, most importantly, dog-friendly. We booked a table for later and returned in the evening for Slovenian cuisine, local wine, and schnapps (honey flavour is a must-try!). The night ended with an unexpected thunderstorm, so we stayed until the rain passed- a perfect excuse for another round.

After a recovery beer and much-needed rest for Nora, we finished the loop of the lake before heading back towards our apartment via a short walk up to the Castle (which we avoided going inside as it was $17 per adult just for entry!). On our way back to our apartment we called in for a beer at which doesn’t look particularly fancy from the outside but inside is traditionally decked out, is really cosy and dog friendly, so we decided to book a table to eat later on!

Day 2 had fully redeemed our rough start in Bled.

DAY 3 - Bled Cream Cake

A heavy thunderstorm continued into the morning, forcing us into a slow, relaxed start. Once the rain cleared, we made our way to Straža Bled, home to a chair lift and toboggan run. Unfortunately, both were closed due to the weather, but we hiked halfway up the hill to take in another scenic view. If you visit in better conditions, it’s worth checking out—and apparently, dogs are even allowed on the toboggan, though we’re not sure we’d have tested that with Nora!

With our adrenaline-seeking plans foiled, we shifted focus to a culinary mission: Bled’s famous cream cake. We headed to Slaščičarna Zima, a charming, dog-friendly café with a selection of cakes and pastries. The cream cake lived up to the hype... light, flaky, and delicious.

Wandering through the quieter backstreets of Bled, we stumbled upon St. Martin’s Church before stopping for a photo with a bear statue, only to realise it was placed in front of an active bee hive (fun fact: Slovenia is famous for its honey production!). Avoiding bee stings (and stopping Nora from chasing them), we sought shelter from another rain shower in Gostlina Planincu, a 100-year-old pub covered in vintage license plates. With Slovenian beer, friendly staff, and a cosy, nostalgic vibe, it was the perfect spot to wrap up our day.

DAY 4 - Off to Ljubljana

After our chaotic arrival in Bled, we braced for another transport struggle to get back to Lesce Bled Station. Prepared for the worst, we left early and had a taxi service on standby.

Miraculously, the bus arrived, and early this time! While signs claimed dogs weren’t allowed, we asked the driver, who welcomed Nora as long as she sat on our laps. At just €2.70 for two tickets (versus €20 for a taxi), it was a risk that paid off.

We arrived at the station with time to spare and passed the wait in the small café, reflecting on our whirlwind adventure.

Next stop: Ljubljana!

Any questions about our time in Bled? Just drop a comment in at the bottom of this blog and we will try to answer!