The Best of Bled and a Gorgeous Natural Gorge

Begin day two with a visit to St Martina Parish Church, usually open from 8 am every day. You can enter the church and discover the beautiful artwork inside, as well as wander around the outside and soak up the beauty of the exterior of the building. You can find out more about the church through their website.

Continue your morning with a must-do Bled experience. Drive to RD Bled Boat Rental to hire a boat and paddle yourself across the lake and to the island in the middle of the lake - Blejski Otok. The island is a tiny slice of land that has to be reached by boat, and you can explore the whole island with a short walk, including the wonderful Church of the Assumption of Mary. It feels like your own little bit of land as you stare out into the turquoise waters and dramatic mountains.
They open from 10 am, and you hire a boat for by the hour. We rented ours for two hours, and it was perfect timing, as it can take some time to get across the lake as you soak up the wonderful views.

After your paddle across the lake, you can enjoy a better view of it from above. Take a peaceful drive around the lake for a pre-lunch coffee or hot drink at Cafe Belvedere, a wonderful cafe where the scenic views over Lake Bled are unrivalled. I got a delicious cake to indulge in while I took in the views too.

After working up a bit of a sweat paddling across Lake Bled and enjoying the picturesque view, it's time to say goodbye to the incredible region and drive north for lunch at Gostilna Fortune. This restaurant serves tasty and hearty Slovenian meals, including everything from lamb sausages, to fish and pasta.
They're open for lunch every day of the week, and you can find or more or book ahead through the email on their website.

Just around 20 minutes away from the lake itself lies this gorgeous, other-worldly-looking gorge. The greenest waters shuffle through jagged rocks at Soteska Vintgar and made for one of my favourite hikes ever.
Drive your car to this location and park in the designated area before jumping out and following the trail to the next stop.

From the gorge, follow the trail up the river by foot. On the way, you'll feel engorged in the overhanging, colourful trees and follow the sound of trickling water.
The water has some of the most gorgeous colours I've ever seen, and it felt like such a rejuvenating and peaceful walk. At the end of the trail is Waterfall Sum, another natural marvel with a heavy water drop into a mountain-green pool of water that flows into the river.

After you've spent some time marvelling and enjoying the waterfall, follow the trail back to Soteska Vintgar along the river to the car. Stop for pictures or to have a soul-fulfilling moment with nature along the way to make the most of your time in this special place.

After your nature immersion, it's time for a different type of discovery. Drive to Kamen Castle, a well-preserved historical castle with ruins from when it was built around 800 years ago.
This was a brilliant way to tie my two days together, as it broke up the drive back and showcased a real highlight of Slovenian history.
It's open 24 hours a day as there is no formal entrance, so you can explore the castle freely.

On the way back to Ljubljana, stop at Moby Dick Pizzeria for a delicious slice of top-notch pizza done the Slovenian way. The environment is friendly and vibrant, with traditional picnic tables outside, offering great views along with nourishing meals.
They're open for dinner every day of the week, and you can book in advance by calling the number found on their website.

The last driving leg of the route is around 40 minutes back to Ljubljana. I loved driving back, still with lots of great nature around, reflecting on my incredible two days and all the delicious meals and views.