The island itself looks really amazing in the middle of Lake Bled as you're viewing it from elsewhere. Reaching the island itself is an expensive (€18/person on a pletna boat) or difficult (rent your own boat and row yourself there) proposition. Once you're there, you can also visit the church, but that costs an extra amount (I believe €15 but we didn't visit). There's also a small museum and a gift shop, which we spent a few minutes browsing through. Since we only had 45 minutes on the island (pletna boats give you about that before they return), we didn't go in the church but enjoyed looking around, taking photos, and following the trail that goes completely around the island. We weren't sorry that we visited the island, we had a nice time, but we didn't really think it was a must-do.

This is the iconic island in Lake Bled. You get there by a row boat called a Pletna. Once on the island you can walk around the attractions free or you pay an entrance fee that allows you to go inside the church (Church of the Mother of God), a clock tower and a small museum above the gift shop. The church is beautiful and you can ring the wishing well that if you are a believer can send your petitions to Mary mother of god. the clock tower has a mechanical oscillation clock that actually works. The small museum compliments the rest of the attraction. If you are already there you might as well take the boat ride to visit the island.

We were desperate to get to the island as we had photographed it from all round the lake. The closest row boat hire was closed so we cycled to town and rowed all the way back to the island. Took 30 mins each way so we had 30 mins on the island for a cuppa. Did not pay the extra charge for the church and tower. The place was overcrowded with tourist partys as the electric boats brought them over. Heavens opened on way back, got soaked but pleased we had made it. Row boat was €25 for 1.5hrs.

Bled Island is the focal point of every beautiful Photograph of Lake Bled and it calls to you. It is as beautiful as it looks in the pictures, though there isn’t a ton to do on the tiny island. The front of the island has 99 stone steps, but if you have trouble with stairs you can take the path around to the back of the island and then the gentle incline up to the church. At the top of the island is Church of the Mother of God on the Lake with its bell tower, a shop, and a small café. We skipped the inside of the church. It didn’t seem worth 6 euros a person with two teens who were already burnt out on churches. (Though in hindsight I wish I had left them at the café and taken a quick look). Instead we snagged a cute little table outside with a beautiful view for coffee, Slovenian cola (no American soft drinks here), and two kinds of potica cake (they had 5). They also served beer and wine. I can’t say the potica was my favorite (not like Bled Cake at the castle) but it was fun to try a traditional treat while sipping excellent coffee. After our treat, we took the trails behind the church to the dock out back and walked the parameter to the front of the island. We took a traditional Plenta boat to the island for 12 euro a person round trip (f you don’t buy ahead, remember to bring enough cash). They say it’s 45 minutes on the island but no one is timing you so no need to stress. You can also rent a rowboat to get there.