Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There:
Blaž's beehives are in the village of Selo, a five-minute drive or taxi
ride or 40-minute walk from Bled town. Head out of town along the lake (past Grand Hotel
Toplice), then turn left (inland) at the village of Mlino. In the next village, Selo, look for
the two colorful beehive apiaries along the main road, just above the recommended Tourist
Farm Mulej.
Bled is quiet after hours. However, the town does have a few fun bars that are lively with a
young crowd (all open nightly until late). Since many young people in Bled are students at
the local tourism school, they're likely to speak English...and eager to practice with a nat-
ive speaker. Try a Smile, a Corona-type Slovenian lager.
Šnops
(schnapps) is a local spe-
cialty—popular flavors are plum
(slivovka),
honey
(medica),
blueberry
(borovni
č
evec),
and
pear
(hruškovec).
Kick things off with the fun-loving local gang at
Gostilna Pri Planincu
near the bus
station (described later, under “Eating in Bled”). Then head down Cesta Svobode toward
the lake; just below Hotel Jelovica, you'll find the rollicking
Irish Pub
(a.k.a. “The Pub”),
with Guinness and indoor or outdoor seating. For the hippest scene in town, duck across
the street and wander a few more steps down toward the lake to find the
Art Café,
with a
mellowambiencereminiscentofaVanGoghpainting.Aroundthelakenearthecommercial
center,
Bled Pub
(a.k.a. “The Cocktail Bar” or “Troha”—for the family that owns it) is a
trendylate-nightspotwherebartendersslingadizzyingarrayofmixeddrinkstoanappreci-
ative,youthfulcrowd(betweenthecommercialcenterandthelake,abovetherecommended
Oštarija Peglez'n restaurant). If you're still standing, several other bars and cafés percolate
in the commercial center, including
Kult Bled,
facing the main road. Slathered with iconic
film images, it attracts a multigenerational crowd and occasionally hosts live music.
Bled is dominated by a few giant, gradually decaying, communist-era convention hotels.
Somehavebeennicelyrenovated,whileothersarestale,outmoded,andoverpriced.Instead,
Ipreferstayinginsmaller,pension-typeaccommodationsinthecountryside—manyofthem
are just a short walk above the lake. These quaint little family-run pensions book up early
with Germans and Brits; reserve as far ahead as possible. I've listed the high-season prices
(May-Oct) unless noted. Off-season, prices are typically 10-20 percent lower. For even
cheaper beds, consider one of the many
sobe
(rooms in private homes) scattered around the
lake; look for signs in the neighborhood just above Prešernova cesta.
