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

Should you visit Bratislava or Bled?

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

Should I visit Bratislava or Bled? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Bratislava or Bled?

Bratislava

The capital and largest city of Slovakia, Bratislava is set on the shores of the Danube River near the borders of Austria and Hungary. While the city is skirted by mountains and vineyards, its 18th century old town center is crossed with cobbled walkways and surrounded by historic landmarks and architecture. One such monument is the Bratislava Castle, set atop a hill overlooking it all-the old town, the river, and the bustle of people in the charming city below.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Bled or Bratislava?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bratislava 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 Bratislava and Bled in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bratislava 49
    Bled 56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bratislava 98
    Bled 112
Compare Hotels in Bratislava and Bled

Looking for a hotel in Bratislava 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 Bratislava


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: Bratislava Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bratislava 26
    Bled 34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bratislava

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bratislava:

  • Vienna Airport VIE to Bojnice Resorts Round Trip Private Transfer: $132
  • Private transfer from Bratislava to Vienna: $265
  • Private arrival OR departure transfer in Bratislava (hotel OR airport pick-up): $29
  • Private Transfer from Bratislava to Budapest, English-speaking driver: $138
  • Private Transfer from Bratislava to Budapest with 2h of Sightseeing: $204
  • Private Transfer from Bratislava City to Vienna City: $99
  • Private Transfer Vienna Airport Hotel in Bratislava or vice versa: $101
  • Private Transfer From Bratislava To Vienna, 2h Stop in Schlosshof: $126
  • Private Direct Transfer From Bratislava to Vienna City Center: $88
  • Airport to Hotel Private Transfer Service: $24
  • Bratislava-Budapest One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $297
  • Bratislava Airport (BTS) to Bojnice Resorts - Round Trip Transfer: $132

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled

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

  • Bled- Ljubljana City/ Airport. Private transfer.: $83
  • Private transfer from Tolmin to airport Ljubljana: $212
  • Bled- Portorož. Private transfer. : $274
  • Private Transfer from Bled to Zagreb Airport (ZAG): $298

Is it cheaper to fly into Bratislava or Bled?

Prices for flights to both Bled and Bratislava 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
    Bratislava 45
    Bled 28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bratislava

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bratislava.

  • Local Beer & Food Tour: $132
  • Bratislava Traditional Food Tour: $165

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: $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bratislava 30
    Bled 12

Tours and Activities in Bratislava

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bratislava are as follows:

  • Bratislava Premium Private Walking Tour, 4 hours: $215
  • 2 Hour Sightseeing Tour of Bratislava: $45
  • Banska Stiavnica from Bratislava, UNESCO Day Tour: $219
  • Bratislava - Bike Tour: $54
  • Bratislava - Grand City Tour: $86
  • Bratislava Card with Public Transport Option & Walking Tour: $23
  • Bratislava Castle Tour by Presporacik: $18
  • Bratislava Classical Walking Tour: $20
  • Bratislava Danube River Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Prosecco: $32
  • Bratislava Foodie Tour: $121
  • Bratislava Grand City Tour: $93
  • Bratislava Grand City Tour with Devin Castle: $175

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: $49
  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $54
  • Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $55
  • 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $60
  • Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $60
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $64
  • From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $74
  • Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $75
  • Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $76
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $76
  • 3-Hour Guided Snowshoeing Adventure in the Slovenian Alps: $77
  • From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bratislava 19
    Bled 14

Sample the Local Flavors in Bratislava

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bratislava:

  • Quick Wine Tasting in Michalská: $8.58
  • Quick Wine Tasting in Michalská: $8.70
  • Wine Tasting with Sommelier in Bratislava: $14
  • Wine Tasting with Sommelier: $15
  • Wine Tasting IN THE DARK!: $16
  • Wine Tasting IN THE DARK!: $16
  • Craft Beer Pub Tour Bratislava by Team Beer Drink: $73
  • Bratislava 3-Hour Wine Tasting: $105
  • Devin Castle Tour with Currant Wine Tasting: $145
  • Devin Castle Tour with Wine Tasting: $154
  • Bratislava Food and Wine Tour: $176
  • Little Carpathian Wine Tour: $203

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: $63
  • 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bratislava and Bled, we can see that Bratislava 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 Bratislava would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bratislava 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 Bratislava Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bratislava or Bled?

Bratislava has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Bratislava 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.


When is the best time to visit Bratislava or Bled?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bratislava or Bled in the Summer?

Both Bled and Bratislava during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bratislava in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Bratislava is around the same temperature as Bled in the summer. The daily temperature in Bratislava averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Bled fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Bled, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bratislava. In the summer, Bratislava often gets less sunshine than Bled. Bratislava gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun.

Bratislava usually gets less rain in July than Bled. Bratislava gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Bratislava 23°C (73°F) 
    Bled 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Bratislava or Bled in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bratislava and Bled. Most visitors come to Bratislava for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Bratislava is cooler than Bled. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bratislava in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Bled averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Bratislava usually receives less sunshine than Bled during autumn. Bratislava gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bratislava usually receives less rain than Bled. Bratislava gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Bratislava 12°C (54°F) 
    Bled 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Bratislava or Bled in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bratislava as well as Bled. The winter months attract visitors to Bratislava because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bratislava can be very cold. In January, Bratislava is generally much colder than Bled. Daily temperatures in Bratislava average around 2°C (36°F), and Bled fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Bratislava often gets less sunshine than Bled. Bratislava gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun.

Bratislava usually gets less rain in January than Bled. Bratislava gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Bratislava 2°C (36°F) 
    Bled 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Bratislava or Bled in the Spring?

Both Bled and Bratislava are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bratislava this time of year.

Bratislava is around the same temperature as Bled in the spring. The daily temperature in Bratislava averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Bled fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bratislava. Bratislava usually receives more sunshine than Bled during spring. Bratislava gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bratislava usually receives less rain than Bled. Bratislava gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Bratislava 13°C (55°F) 
    Bled 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Bled and Bratislava

Bratislava Bled
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 5°C (41°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 4°C (38°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 7°C (44°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 9°C (49°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Apr 13°C (55°F) 51 mm (2 in) 13°C (56°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
May 17°C (63°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 20°C (69°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 22°C (71°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (75°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 22°C (72°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 24°C (74°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 16°C (60°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 50 mm (2 in) 10°C (51°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 3°C (37°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 6°C (44°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)