For those who have been to both, if you had to choose just one to spend a day at, would you choose Piran or Lake Bled? Suggesting that I make time for both doesn't help. Tell me why you'd choose one over the other as well. Thanks!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
I'm going to assume you are starting out from Ljubljana.
Will you have a car, or are you taking public transportation?
If driving, I'd choose Lake Bled, because there is more variety of things to see/do on a day that includes the lake. But I'd start by detouring from Ljubljana to the town of Skofja Loka (worth a stop), then do the scenic drive from there up through the mountains via Jamnik and Kropa and then down to Bled. You really don't need an entire day just for the lake. You can walk around it, take a Pletna boat out to the island and the church, etc. If you really have extra time, you could head up to nearby Vintgar Gorge and hike it (about an hour or so once you get to the entrance).
That said, I love Piran too. I suppose you could stop at one of the caves on the way down there from Ljubljana. Otherwise, Piran is not huge and wouldn't really take an entire day to see. It's a charming town with a beautiful square and obviously prominent Venetian bell tower. You could hike up to the hill above town and take in the breathtaking view down on Piran and out to the sea. You can explore the back streets away from the touristy spots near the ocean. You can find a little Italian restaurant for a nice meal (Piran is still officially bi-lingual, Italian and Slovenian).
I guess you really really love the sea you might lean toward Piran. But again...a day's outing to Lake Bled offers a wider variety of things to see and do.
Posted by
OP
Cleveland, Ohio
37 posts
VERY helpful, Andrew! Thanks. Yes, I'll have a car, if that influences anyone else's opinions.
Posted by
Paris
10189 posts
Bled, no question. Piran is delightful, but you've probably seen a hundred little seaside towns before. Bled is unique in its positioning and beauty.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5507 posts
I’ve done both, multiple times. I’d choose Bled. Be sure to do Vintgar Gorge. Bled is also much closer. If you really like beautiful seaside villages and you’ve never seen the Adriatic, then maybe consider Piran (especially if you’re making other Alpine stops).
Posted by
11 posts
I'll be traveling to Lake Bled in a few months and was wondering if one could get to Vitner Gorge by public transportation? I will not have a car. Thanks!