getting from Bled to Venice

RS guidebook says take train from Lesce-Bled station, transfer in Villach, 6 hours by train. Try bahn.com to look at routes, some involve a bus and multiple transfers.

Hey, thanks, Salem, OR. I did find that, but it takes so long to get to Venice. I have seen some other info about 2 trains (Bled to Nova Gorica then on to Venice from Gorizia on Italian train. Total time is under 4 hours.

Hi Steve! wrote this for Jackie below, same applies the other way. Most Slovenians now consider themselves to be in "Central Europe" now, Eastern Europe is apparently Ukraine and places like that. You needn't worry too much. It's pretty easy. Take the train to Gorizia and then grab a taxi to Nova Gorica station. There is a phone at the station that you can use to call one if there isnt one out front. Otherwise take the no1 bus but you're better off just getting there directly, its only a few euros by taxi. Check the Slovenian timetable at: http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passengers/slovenia Put in Nova Gorica and Bled Jezero The train is cheap too (just like most things in Slovenia!) and its a scenic ride along the Soca River and then under the mountain. Once at Bled Jezero, you're at the west end of the lake and the town is on the east side. See if your hotel can arrange a pick up if you're not keen on walking round the lake (it is a nice walk though) or take the tourist train you will see whizzing by near the rowing centre. Have a great time and let us know if you have any other questions
Greg

Hi Steve, We are also traveling from Lake Bled to Venice at the end of a Rick Steve's tour in Sept. After much research, speaking with Rick's rail dept and Rail Europe we found the easiest transportation. There isn't train travel from Slovenia into Italy. We are taking a train from Lesce Bled station in Lake Bled. Tickets can be bought the day of departure (Rail Europe said that would not be a problem). The train trip is 1 hour, it takes you into Villach Austria where we transfer onto a coach bus that will take us into Venice. The bus and train station in Villach Austria are next to each other. We bought our bus tickets through Rail Europe, they were delivered to us this week. This trip will take 3 1/2 hours. Do not try to book online, call Rail Europe, it is so easy when you can talk to someone.
I also learned from reading Rick Steve's helpline stories that his guides will help you buy train tickets once the tour begins. Rail Europe told me a few months ago that the train tickets weren't available to purchase yet, so I need to contact them again. Rail Europe took my bus ticket reservation 2 months ago and when the tickets opened up they sent me an email, charged my credit card and sent the tickets UPS. I hope this helps you in planning your trip. Debbie

Here's a real simple solution: http://www.goopti.com/. Shared van service that picks you up in Bled and takes you to Venice. Book ahead for the best rate. I've already booked my transfer for Venice to Ljubljana.

i did this last year. bled to nova gorica to a bus to gorizia. it was so very simple. the train from bled was mostly empty, but i took the 4-am-something train. im not sure if a later train would be more packed.

Thanks, Jennifer. Do you know if there are multiple buses from Gorica? Or, are there few which is why you took such an early train from Bled?

hi steve - sorry for the delayed response, i havent been near the internet. the bus you take is a local city bus. i imagine they run several times hourly. the only reason i went so early was that venice was not my final destination, florence was. but i wanted to spend a day in venice en route to florence so this was what i did.