In short
The lake is six kilometres around, flat, on a path closed to cars. That walk defines the place, and it takes an hour and a half.
The island in the middle carries a baroque church and ninety-nine steps. You reach it by pletna, the traditional rowed barge, the only boat allowed to land there.
What it really costs
Bled has the most expensive accommodation in Slovenia, and the gap with Ljubljana is clear. Sleeping at Bohinj, the neighbouring lake, or at Radovljica costs noticeably less.
The lake is warmed by springs and can be swum from June to September, free of charge, from several shores. The equipped beaches are the ones that charge.
What nobody tells you
This is a stop-off: coaches drop groups here for two hours, between eleven and four. Before nine and after five, the lake path is nearly empty.
Lake Bohinj, twenty-five minutes away, is larger, wilder and far less visited. Many people who come for Bled end up spending their days there.
The Vintgar gorge, four kilometres away, now requires a timed ticket booked online, with daily quotas.