Get oriented on an early morning hot-air-balloon ride that shows off Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, and surrounding landscape, toasting your experience with a glass of bubbly. Hit Bled’s top three attractions in the afternoon: the lake, Bled Island, and Bled Castle (Blejski Grad). Purchase admission to the 9th-century fortress in advance to avoid a ticket line, and discover the castle’s medieval architecture and artifacts, wine cellar, and lake views. Afterward, get out on the water with a stand-up-paddleboard tour or boat rental and head out to the tiny island, home to a café and church. End the day with dinner, a stroll along the lakefront, and a guided wine-tasting session where you can taste different varietals and learn about Slovenian winemaking.

Bled is blessed with proximity to national parks, rivers, canyons, valleys, and mountains. See it for yourself on a half-day tour or day trip that matches the type of outdoor adventure suitable for your group. Get your heart pumping on a white-water-rafting tour on the Sava River or a canyoning experience—both can be done in a half day. Or opt for a bike tour around Bled or into Vintgar Gorge, a nearby canyon on the Radovna River known for its pools and other picturesque scenery. Visit Triglav National Park and the Emerald River on a day trip to find waterfalls, valleys, and lakes, or take a kayaking journey through the dark tunnels of underground “black hole” mines.

Just 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Bled, Ljubljana—Slovenia’s capital and largest city—is easy to visit on a day trip; private transfers are available. When you arrive, get an overview of the city on a walking tour of sights such as the Old Town, Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most),  Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad), and the funicular. In the evening, enjoy a bit of Slovenian culture with a dinner package that includes traditional cuisine and folk dancing, or enjoy local nightlife on a pub crawl. For something other than a trip to the city, consider a tour south of Bled that takes you into the Postojna Caves on an electric tram and to Predjama Castle.