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Magical Lake Bled and Charming Ljubljana
Koper Shore Trip - Magical Lake Bled and Charming Ljubljana
 



Private shore excursion from Koper visits Lake Bled and Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. See Bled Castle, first documented in 1011 and the oldest castle in Slovenia, then climb the 99 steps to St. Mary's Church on Bled Island and ring the Wishing Bell, cast in 1534. Walk Ljubljana's old town and castle hill. English speaking licensed guide, round trip from the Koper cruise port. 9 hours.

9 hours (private)
private excursion
licensed guide
english speaking expert
all group sizes
sedan to full size coach
››
port or hotel
pick up either location
  • Pick up from Port of Koper
  • Private Vehicle with English Speaking Licensed Guide
  • Included Visits- Ljubljana Tower, St. Mary's Church, Bled Castle
Read Full Tour Description





Tour Number:
SKOPE-02


Group Size (Prices in USD)*:
2 People - $446 Per Person
3 People - $336 Per Person
4 People - $286 Per Person
5 People - $244 Per Person
6 People - $222 Per Person
7 People - $208 Per Person
8 People - $207 Per Person



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TOUR DESCRIPTION
 

Lake Bled & Ljubljana Shore Excursion from Koper

This is the most popular Koper shore trip that we offer. It includes a visit to the Church and Castle on Lake Bled, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Slovenia. You also take a walking tour of Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital city.

After meeting your guide in Koper, you immediately depart for Ljubljana. While there are not any world known sites in the city, it is still well worth the visit. There is a barrage of Baroque and Art nouveau architecture, lovely parks, a winding tree lined river through the center of town and a castle on the hill overlooking it all.

During your walking tour you see the 15th century Town Hall, Preseren Square with the imposing Franciscan Church and the Triple Bridge. You will stroll along the old arcaded market between the Cobblers Bridge and the Dragon Bridge with its various dragon statues. Next you take a funicular up to the castle watch tower where you enjoy wonderful views of Ljubljana.

Then you depart for Lake Bled. This legendary lake with its island and castle has drawn visitors for centuries, and its church tower and hilltop castle remain two of Slovenia's most photographed sights.

When you arrive at Lake Bled you take a boat to its small island and then climb the 99 steps to St. Mary's Church, the Church of the Assumption of Mary, whose current Gothic structure dates to the 15th century on a site used since at least the 9th century. While you are here, you can ring the "Wishing Bell," cast in 1534 by the Italian bell maker Franziskus Patavinus. It hangs from the tower on top of the ship shaped roof. According to legend, a young widow who lived at Bled Castle mourned her husband who had been killed. She gathered all her gold and silver and had a bell cast for the chapel on Bled Island. When the bell was being transported to the island, a tempest caused the boat to overturn. The boatmen drowned and the bell sank to the bottom of the lake. The young widow, now even more devastated, decided to go to Rome and enter a convent. After her death, the Pope donated another bell for the church on the Isle of Bled. The legend has it that those who ring the bell to honor the Blessed Virgin and make a wish will see their wish come true.

Next you have free time for lunch (meal not included) in the small resort town of Bled.

After lunch you visit the famous Bled Castle. This is the oldest castle in Slovenia, first documented in a deed dated May 22, 1011. The castle sits about 130 meters above the lake and is arranged around two courtyards, and you can visit the printing works, the wine cellar and herbal gallery, a 16th century chapel and many artifacts which are on display in the museum. There are more wonderful photo opportunities of the island and lake from the castle's courtyards.

Late this afternoon you return back to your ship in Koper.

Please note
  • Due to the 99 steps to St. Mary's Church, the boat crossing, and walking distances at Bled Castle and in Ljubljana's old town, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.

What's Included

Included

  • Pick up from Port of Koper
  • Private Vehicle with English Speaking Licensed Guide
  • Included Visits- Ljubljana Tower, St. Mary's Church, Bled Castle

Not Included

  • Meals and beverages
  • Gratuities (optional, at your discretion)
  • Personal shopping

Tour Timing

All times are approximate and will vary based on your group's pace and interests.

  • 1
    1.5 Hours
    Drive to Ljubljana
  • 2
    1.5 Hours
    Ljubljana Walking Tour
  • 3
    45 Minutes
    Drive to Lake Bled
  • 4
    1 Hour
    Boat to island and visit "The Wishing Bell" church
  • 5
    1 Hour
    Free time for Lunch
  • 6
    15 Minutes
    Drive to Castle
  • 7
    1 Hour
    Visit Bled Castle
  • 8
    2 Hours
    Return to pier in Koper

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Lake Bled from the Koper cruise port?
It's about 155 km (95 miles) as a direct drive, roughly 1.5 hours. This tour actually stops in Ljubljana first, so the full route to Bled takes closer to 2.5 hours of driving spread across the day.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
No. Climbing the 99 steps to St. Mary's Church and walking around Bled Castle and Ljubljana's old town make this tour unsuitable for wheelchair users.
How old is Bled Castle?
Bled Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia, first documented in a deed dated May 22, 1011. It sits about 130 meters above Lake Bled.
What is the story behind the Wishing Bell?
The bell was cast in 1534 by Italian bell maker Franziskus Patavinus for a widow whose husband had been killed. The original bell sank in a storm on its way to the island, and the current bell was later donated by the Pope. Tradition holds that ringing it while making a wish brings good fortune.

Also Available in Slovenia

  • Secret Jewel of Ljubljana — For a shorter 7 hour tour focused only on the capital, this trip covers Ljubljana's old town, castle tower, and a boat ride through the town center instead of Lake Bled.
  • Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle & Piran — Another great option from this port: This private shore excursion visits one of Slovenia's most popular tourist attractions, the Postojna Caves, as well as the nearby Predjama Castle, built into the cliffs. Before returning to the pier you enjoy time for lunch in charming town of Piran. A local English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout.
  • Ljubljana, Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle — To swap Lake Bled for Slovenia's cave country, this 9 hour tour pairs Ljubljana with the Postojna Cave system and the cliffside Predjama Castle.

Our Back-to-Ship Guarantee

Every excursion returning 1.5 hours before departure is covered. If we are late, we cover your costs to reach the next port. More info ›


Average Rating: Average Rating: 5 of 5 5 of 5 Total Reviews: 5 Write a review »

  2 of 2 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Koper May 15, 2026
Reviewer: L L from Toronto, Canada  
If you want to maximize your time on shore, take a shore excursion from Private Shore Trips. We were 4 seniors on the Magical Lake Bled and Charming Ljubljana, a 9 hour tour. Our guide, Darja, was very knowledgeable and informative. She was patient and adjusted the time at the different sites to suit our interests and time constraint. We would not have been able to see and learn so much if we were on a large group t

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Koper June 19, 2025
Reviewer: Michael T from Eltham Victoria - Australia  
We are now back in Australia after our vacation. Thank you for your email, the tours organized through you were wonderful. Koper to Lake Bled and Ljubljana was a highlight, the guide was very informative without being over bearing, the sites were exceptional. The Amalfi coast (we have been before) was beautiful, Positano was very busy so I would most probably return in the off season.The guide again was very good!

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Koper June 2, 2025
Reviewer: Victor E from Apodaca, Mexico  
Everything was perfect. Thank you for all your support. We will be in touch for future tours.

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  2 of 2 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Koper August 1, 2023
Reviewer: Celest A from Birchwood Place, Hong Kong  
We had a very enjoyable trip. Thank you for arranging our Ljubljana excursion. We were surprised to have that big bus all to ourselves. Needless to say, it was a very comfortable trip for us and our guide Tatianna was very knowledgeable and helpful. I have a friend whose family might be planning a cruise and I am recommending your company to him as I was very pleased with your responsiveness and service. We will definitely contact you next time we are able to gather the family for a cruise again.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Koper July 15, 2023
Reviewer: D from D. Brown - Dallas TX  
We very much enjoyed our day in Slovenia. Juray was wonderful  very knowledgeable and oh so nice. Really, it was a delightful day, the perfect mix of action and seeing, and culture and history. My two teenagers are tough critics, and they were very pleased. Thank you!

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