Bled

Bled’s island church on a turquoise lake is one of Europe’s most photographed scenes, and the free 6 km lakeside loop offers every angle without spending a cent. The cream cake (kremšnita) is a local institution that costs a couple of euros. The Slovenian capital Ljubljana is an easy and cheap bus or train ride away, making Bled a simple day trip if rooms by the lake run high. Shoulder season, late spring or September, brings the lake’s colour without the summer crowds.