A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bad Gastein vs. Bled for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bad Gastein or Bled?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bad Gastein and Bled can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bad Gastein or Bled?

Bad Gastein

Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.

Bled

Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.


Which place is cheaper, Bled or Bad Gastein?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bad Gastein is €122, while the average daily cost in Bled is €104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bad Gastein and Bled in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bad Gastein 62
    Bled 56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bad Gastein 124
    Bled 112
Compare Hotels in Bad Gastein and Bled

Looking for a hotel in Bad Gastein or Bled? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bad Gastein


Hotels in Bled


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bad Gastein Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bad Gastein 40
    Bled 34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled

Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $165
  • Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $206

Is it cheaper to fly into Bad Gastein or Bled?

Prices for flights to both Bled and Bad Gastein change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bad Gastein 35
    Bled 28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled

For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bad Gastein 21
    Bled 12

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Rafting
    93

Tours and Activities in Bled

For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $42
  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
  • Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $55
  • Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
  • Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $59
  • 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
  • From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $65
  • Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
  • Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
  • Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bad Gastein 7.86
    Bled 14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:


  • Bottle of Champagne
    18

Sample the Local Flavors in Bled

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:

  • Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $43
  • Wine Tasting Bled: $62
  • 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bad Gastein and Bled, we can see that Bad Gastein is more expensive. And not only is Bled much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bled would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bled and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bad Gastein would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bad Gastein than you might in Bled.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bad Gastein Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bad Gastein or Bled?

Bad Gastein has a larger population, and is about 14% larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Bad Gastein and Bled, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.