Looking for one of the best viewpoints overlooking Lake Bled? The Velika Osojnica hike on the west side of the lake is probably the best place in the area to see this world-famous lake from above.
On a clear day, the view from the top of the hike overlooking Bled is absolutely magical.
What made this hike even better for us is the fact that we had the trail pretty much all to ourselves! When we did this hike in October, we were surprised that we didn’t see anyone else at this beautiful viewpoint. We’re not sure why but we were grateful!
You’ll still see people and bump into some locals going on different trails through the forest but it’s nowhere nearly as busy compared to how busy it gets on the shores of Lake Bled!
We found this back trail you can take up to the top of Velika Osojnica, Mala Osojnica, and Ojstrica (the three main viewpoints overlooking Lake Bled) online and decided to go for it.
We absolutely loved it and we’re very excited to share this hike with you as well! In this post, we talk about which viewpoints are worth visiting and which aren’t.
Let’s get right into it and see why people from all over the world come to visit Lake Bled!
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Everything you need to know for the Velika Osojnica hike
There are quite a few viewpoints of Lake Bled but none of them are quite like Velika Osjnica. The framing, angle, and views are all just perfect from the west side of the lake where you can actually see all of Lake Bled. This is one of the only viewpoints where that’s possible.
This hike itself isn’t that hard either which is nice. There’s a bit of elevation but it’s quite a short hike.
It shouldn’t take you more than an hour to get from the parking lot to the top of Velika Osojnica. So you can do it early in the morning and still be back for coffee before lunch!
The trail itself is fairly easy to follow. Since we’re recommending the “back way” up to the viewpoint overlooking Lake Bled it’s definitely less walked on than if you were to take the more traditional and touristy way.
To get to the viewpoint, there are quite a few trail signs pointing in the right direction. You can also look at this trail map for Velika Osojnica that we created to make sure you’re on the right track.
Once you see the trail map you’ll notice that the trail actually starts from the village right behind Lake Bled. We decided to do it this way for a few reasons…
If you hike it from the back side, you will avoid all the tourists who do it from the Lake Bled side.
Another reason is that out of the main three viewpoints you can find on this hike, Velika Osojnica is by far the best and the least crowded one.
By going the back way you can avoid the two other viewpoints (Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica) and go directly to the best one! Fewer people and straight to the best viewpoint – that’s how we like it!
Besides the viewpoint, the hike isn’t the most interesting since you’re in the trees the whole way. But the view at the end is worth the 45 minutes to an hour that you’ll be walking through the trees!
Practical information about the Velika Osojnica Hike
Distance: 3.5 km return / 2.18 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 265 m / 869 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and Out trail
Length: 1.5-2 hours total (quick break at the viewpoint)
Difficulty: Moderate-hard (a little steep but not too long)
Rating: 4.5/5
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Velika Osojnica hike.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the Velika Osojnica hike:
Starting the hike in Bohinjska Bela next to Lake Bled
It’s only a few minutes’ drive from Lake Bled to Bohinjska Bela where the hike starts. And as we mentioned above, doing the hike this way is the best way to see Lake Bled in our opinion.
You’re away from all the crowds, you hike to the best viewpoint, and you can actually park for free at the grocery store in Bohinjska Bela.
It’s also kinda cool because as you start the hike and walk to the trailhead it feels so much more local and traditional than Lake Bled. Don’t get me wrong, Lake Bled is beautiful but it’s also very touristy.
Even though you’re still in a touristy part of Slovenia it’s nice being among the locals, seeing the small towns, and just how traditional life is here in Slovenia.
It’s only a few short minutes but you’ll walk through the town of Bohinjska Bela as you walk to the trailhead for the hike overlooking Lake Bled!
Up towards the Velika Osojnica Viewpoint
As you get to the edge of the village you’ll see a gravel road that leads out of Bohinjska Bela and up towards the forest where the majority of the hike takes place.
Out of all the hikes we did around Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj this one is probably the quickest one.
Once you’re in the forest you’ll start to see some signs pointing in the direction of Velika Osojnica. There isn’t really much room to get lost but the locals have put up some signs which are nice to have for reassurance.
The trees open up a little bit during certain parts but there isn’t a whole lot to see until near the end. In the forest, you can expect a lot of switchbacks because of all the elevation.
The trail itself is quite nice but hiking boots are 100% recommended. Especially when it rains and the trail gets a little muddy, dirty, and with loose rocks. So bring your hikers if you have them.
At some point, the hike will plateau which means the viewpoint is right around the corner. Near the top, there are a few different trails because of all the different viewpoints overlooking Lake Bled.
Make sure to go to the right one. If you’re not sure you can always look back at the trail map but it’s easy enough to find.
The view will be incredible and you’ll have a perfect view overlooking Lake Bled.
Relaxing at the viewpoint overlooking Lake Bled
If you’re lucky, we hope, you may have the whole viewpoint to yourself. It’s the best viewpoint overlooking Lake Bled but also the least touristy which was very surprising to us.
We were lucky enough that for the whole 20-30 minutes we were there we had it completely to ourselves.
Maybe the fact that we did it in October played a factor but, in general, not as many people hike all the way to the top. Since Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica are closer to the Lake Bled side most people will just go to one of the first two viewpoints and not make it to the last one which is the one we are leading you to.
Take in the views!!! They’re amazing.
This is the best viewpoint to take pictures of Lake Bled hands down. There’s even a bench to hang out at and relax for a few minutes. It took us a few minutes before we even wanted to start taking pictures. We had to just take it all in for a bit first.
Don’t get us wrong, there are a bunch of other great viewpoints and spots to photograph Lake Bled as well. It’s a very photogenic lake. So we’re not saying this is the only good one – we’re just saying it might be the best one. 😉
There’s something about being up above the lake and somewhere where not many tourists visit. The combination of those two make this spot magical. Hopefully, you enjoy it as much as we did.
We actually did this hike with my (Dom’s mom and dad) so it was really fun to see this beautiful place with them.
Back down we go to the trailhead of Velika Osojnica
This is an in-and-out trail, but it can be done in multiple ways…
You can either head back where you came from or you can also continue down to Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica viewpoint and add a little to your hike. In our opinion, it’s not worth it for the views (as they’re even better from Velika Osojnica) but if you want to be outside and explore this beautiful area a little bit more then this is an option.
Once you are ready, you can follow the trail back down the same way you came up. Be careful though, it had rained right before we did the hike and because there are some quite steep sections it got very slippery. (Bringing hiking poles isn’t a bad idea for this hike.)
Just take your time and you’ll be fine.
Soon enough you’ll get out of the trees and back onto the gravel path where the village will start back up again. A few more minutes and you’ll be back at your car!
That’s the Velika Osojnica hike! It’s one of our favourite hikes we’ve done in Slovenia to date. Partially because the effort-to-reward ratio is great and then simply because the view is just incredible.
There’s a reason Lake Bled is so famous and this view is just one of those reasons.
What to bring on the Velika Osojnica Viewpoint hike
On most hikes we do, we always talk about how many different things you should bring. But honestly, this is a nice short hike that should take you less than two hours so you really don’t need to bring a whole lot.
In our opinion, the most essential thing to bring is a water bottle (reusable of course). We always take our LifeStraw bottles and we love them.
A little snack is also a good idea to bring just in case your blood sugar runs low or if you just feel like snacking lol!
As we mentioned before, you should also be wearing hiking boots for two reasons… One, because the trail is a local trail that doesn’t get walked on as much as some of the main trails around Lake Bled. Two, because there’s a lot of incline on this trail and it can get quite muddy! That means the hike can get quite slippery.
We do have a standard hiking list we recommend for most hikes so just in case you may think you need something else for the hike hopefully this list can help.
Packing list for Velika Osojnica:
- Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. Make sure to fill it up beforehand. Once the hike starts there’s nowhere to fill it up.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking, especially during the summer months in Slovenia. The hike is mostly shaded but there are still bits where you’ll be exposed to the sun.
- A power bank is always nice to have on any hike you do! You don’t want a dead phone once you’re done with the hike and have no idea how to get back to your accommodation or to your next location.
- Bring a little snack to enjoy at the viewpoint overlooking Lake Bled. There’s a bench and everything you can hang out at and take in the view of the little island in the middle of Lake Bled. It’s fun looking at all the kayaks and boats that go back and forth.
- If you have weak knees, you might want to bring hiking poles! The hike isn’t long but it is steep and hiking poles will definitely help you on this one!
How to get to Velika Osojnica from Ljubljana
Having a car to explore Slovenia is your best bet because the distances are a bit too far to walk and public transport isn’t as frequent as in some other more touristy countries.
That doesn’t mean there is no public transport at all though… Lake Bled is one of the most visited places in Slovenia so there are buses that go from Ljubljana to Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj multiple times every single day.
However, those buses don’t go to this trailhead. So if you have a car (or the option to rent one), we’d definitely recommend doing that! That way, you’re good to go straight to the trailhead!
Rent a car in Ljubljana
If you’re flying into Ljubljana the best place to rent a car is at the airport. The prices are reasonable and if you’re flying into Slovenia then it’s the most convenient way to do it.
We usually use DiscoverCars when renting a car while travelling. It’s the best platform in our opinion to price compare different car rental companies. Unlike other similar platforms, DiscoverCars actually has amazing customer service.
We’ve used DiscoverCars in the Czech Republic (when we drove to Slovenia for example), Italy, and many other countries. They’re is our go-to company every time!
You can look at the prices and different options and cars from Slovenia Airport here.
Take the bus from Ljubljana
The bus company Arriva runs every day from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. This route runs 7 days a week at almost every hour of the day. So you have lots of options to pick from and you’ll never have to wait long.
This is definitely the cheapest way to get between Ljubljana and Lake Bled. Prices vary depending on the day but you’re going to pay between €3-8 each way.
The best thing you can do is to go to the Ljubljana Bus Station directly and purchase a ticket there for the next bus when you’re ready to leave.
Learn more about how to get from Ljubljana to Lake Bled in this post.
Before you hike Velika Osojnica
Check the weather in Lake Bled
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go. Lake Bled is known for having amazing weather during the summer but it’s always good to check beforehand.
You can see the weather for Lake Bled here which will give you basically the exact idea of what the weather will be like on the hike. This way you can bring a rain jacket or whatever extra gear you may need depending on the weather.
Wear hiking shoes
Almost everywhere hiking in Slovenia and all the hikes we did around Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj proper hiking shoes were almost necessary.
When we were in Slovenia, it was raining 5 days straight so we definitely needed them! But regardless, hiking shoes are going to be nice to have for all these hikes around here.
Lots of the hikes are slippery, rocky, and just lose terrain. Some of the trails are even quite muddy and you don’t want to destroy your regular trainers. Bring your hiking shoes if you have them!
When is the best time to hike Velika Osojnica?
Summer is an obvious time to visit Slovenia, Lake Bled, and hike to this viewpoint. The thing about summer though is that Lake Bled is a very popular destination and it does get very busy!
Even though we recommend this local trail to Velika Osojnica the viewpoint can still get busy. Especially during peak season.
If you have the chance to come at a different time of year, during spring when everything is blooming or during the fall when tourists are few and far between that might be better.
Also with all the trees surrounding Lake Bled, the colours in the fall really bring the lake to life and it’s absolutely beautiful. So in our opinion, fall is the best time to come!
You may also like…
- Top 7 Lake Bled Accommodations For a Great Stay
- An Epic Day Trip From Ljubljana to Lake Bled in Slovenia
Recap of the Velika Osojnica hike overlooking Lake Bled
That’s it for this post about the hike up to the viewpoint that overlooks the famous Lake Bled. It’s definitely one of our favourite hikes in this part of Slovenia. It’s not up in the mountains but the view at the end of this hike is something else.
Also, it’s quite fun that there’s a more local way to get to the Velika Osojnica viewpoint instead of taking the main way from Lake Bled.
We mentioned there are three main viewpoints on this hike (Velika Osojnica, Mala Osojnica, and Ojstrica). If you have the time then definitely hike to all three but if you just want the best view then only go to the main one as we mention in this post.
When you think of Slovenia you think of Lake Bled and this is definitely one of the iconic hikes in the country.
Enjoy this amazing hike overlooking Lake Bled! If you have questions on how to get there then DM us on Instagram or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy the view, the hike, and of course the beautiful city of Lake Bled!
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