If you are looking for a relaxing getaway then there is no better place than Bled, Slovenia. Bled is a small lakeside town that is gorgeous with a high castle overlooking a small lake and surrounded by snowcapped mountains. There are many accommodation options and for such as small town it is surprising the amount of places that there are to eat. There are also a couple of cool bars on the main street in the town.

In the summer the lake hosts many water sports and in the winter it is one big ice skating rink. When the lake is not frozen over you can take a small gondola out to the tiny island on the lake, which features the Baroque-decorated Church of Sv Marika Božja.

There are a couple of paths up to the Bled Castle, which is an 11th century fort that has a fascinating museum, local artwork, and offers some fantastic views of the lake and across the Alps.

One of the main attractions of Bled is located in the outlying hills in the Vintgar Gorge, which has a small chapel and a great walking path through the forest. The Vintgar Gorge is a great place to have a picnic. To get there you can head northwest out of Bled on the Vintgar road, next to the bus station, turning right on the outskirts of town towards the small villages of Gmajna and Zasip. Then Head uphill through Zasip to the hilltop chapel of Sv Katarina before leading you to a path through the forest to the gorge entrance.

You can also stroll around the lake on a walking path that takes a few hours and could not be more peaceful.

If you are looking for some nightlife, you can head to one of the many small bars located around the lake and a couple near the bus station. There is also a casino that is located right on the lake if you are feeling lucky. One of my favorite bars is Cocktails and Dreams, which is located near the lake.

There are no shortages of food options in Bled from real Slovenian food and high-end classy restaurants to great Italian food and pizza joints. There is a great kebab place in the small shopping center across from the lake. I went there and had a great kebab and the worker was so nice he even gave me a big beer. So what if it was 11 in the morning I was on vacation! There is even a fantastic Chinese restaurant located juts behind the shopping area. In the shopping area there are clothing stores, souvenir shops, sporting goods, and even a tiny market.

Finding accommodations are no problem, as there are swanky hotels, private rooms, a hostel, and a few pensions. The hostel is located near the bus station just up from the lake, but I would recommend trying to find private rooms or a pension near the lake. When I went there for the first time I stayed in a 3 story pension and had a room on the top floor with a balcony overlooking the lake and it was only 20 Euros a night. The next time I went I stayed at a nicer pension right near the lake with great rooms and a nice bar for only 40 Euros a night.

Bled is not hard to get to, as you can take a train from the capital of Ljubianna to near Bled and then take a bus right to Bled.

I have told many people about Bled and have been there a couple of times now, once with my girlfriend and once with my family. Trust me, if you visit Bled you will never forget it.