Velika (Great) and Mala (Little) Osojnica are two hills, or peaks, that rise on the western side of Lake Bled. These peaks offer some of the best views of the lake and are popular hiking destinations for visitors, photographers, drone operators, and influencers. There are two trails leading to the peaks, an easier trail with a moderate gradient, and a much steeper, more exposed scenic trail with beautiful views along the way. If you have to choose, Mala Osojnica offers the better view.
Velika Osojnica stands at an altitude of 756 meters, while Mala Osojnica reaches 685 meters. In addition to these peaks, you can also visit the lower peak of Ojstrica (611 meters). Lake Bled lies at an altitude of 475 meters, meaning there is an elevation gain of about 300 meters up to Velika Osojnica.
Trails to the Peaks
There are two trails leading to Mala and Velika Osojnica. The first begins at Velika Zaka and is known as the Ojstrica trailhead, as the route passes Ojstrica before continuing on to Mala and Velika Osojnica. The second starting point is the Mala Osojnica trailhead; this trail is steeper and more exposed, offering fantastic views of Lake Bled along the way.
In early April, we hiked up to Velika Osojnica via the Ojstrica trail, then continued to Mala Osojnica before descending back to Lake Bled via the steeper Mala Osojnica trail.
If you are reading this post in our app, you can tap Show on map in the top-right menu to see the locations of the hills, peaks, and trailheads.
Ojstrica Trail Route
The Ojstrica Trail has a fairly gentle slope all the way from the start up to the top of Velika Osojnica. Along the way, the trail passes the summit of Ojstrica before splitting into two paths: to the left, the trail leads to Mala Osojnica, and to the right, it continues to Velika Osojnica. The entire route winds through a beech forest along a wide path. At the trailhead, the estimated times are 20 minutes to Ojstrica, 30 minutes to Mala Osojnica, and 40 minutes to Velika Osojnica. We walked at a slow pace and reached Velika Osojnica in 35 minutes, so these times are more than sufficient for most visitors.
You can tap Show hiking directions in the app’s menu to view a map of the trails.
Mala Osojnica Trail Route
The Mala Osojnica Trail begins about 500 meters further along the road from Velika Zaka. This trail is significantly steeper and more exposed. The final third of the route features a via ferrata section with cables and a steep metal staircase. While the trail is not technically difficult, hikers should be comfortable with heights.
According to the signs, it takes approximately 30 minutes to hike up to Mala Osojnica.
Equipment
We recommend wearing hiking boots for both trails, especially the steeper Mala Osojnica Trail. That said, most tourists hike in regular sneakers. It’s also a good idea to bring water, particularly on hot summer days.
Velika (Great) Osojnica
The summit of Velika Osojnica is forested, with the main viewpoint located about 100 meters below the top. A park bench and a fence mark the spot, offering a spectacular view of Lake Bled, which lies approximately 300 meters below.
The viewpoint is partially obscured by nearby tree branches, so it doesn’t offer as wide a view as Mala Osojnica. The advantage is that fewer visitors make it all the way up here, resulting in less congestion.
Mala (Little) Osojnica
The Mala Osojnica viewpoint attracts more visitors and is larger, allowing it to accommodate more people. When we visited, it was still quite crowded, and we can imagine that summer months bring even larger crowds.
From the viewpoint, you have a clear view of Lake Bled with the Karavanke mountain range in the background. You can also see the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, which lie directly to the east.
If you plan to visit only one viewpoint, we recommend Mala Osojnica, which offers the best view of Lake Bled and its surroundings.
Where to stay
Bled has many options for accommodation. Below is a selection of recommended places.
- Bled Rose Hotel - A 4 star modern and stylish hotel located approximately 100 meters from the lake and just below Bled Castle.
- Vila Bled - A former presidential residence that has been renovated and transformed into a high end 4-star luxury hotel that can accommodate the most demanding guests. Vila Bled used to be Titos residency next to Lake Bled. There is still a feeling of bygone historical times in the building.
- Grand Hotel Toplice - The hotel with the longest history and tradition in Bled. It is located in Bled town and next to the lake with a fantastic view over Bled Island with its church.
- Villas and apartments - Many residents and owners of villas and apartments rent them out during the tourist season. Most of them are of a high standard.
Restaurants and cafes
- Bled Rose Hotel - The restaurant is known for its blend of modern trends and traditional Slovenian cuisine, with ingredients sourced from local farmers. You can book a table by emailing. You can book a table by sending an email to info@bledrose.com or calling +386(0)4 5796 000.
- Bled Castle Restaurant - This is a high-quality restaurant run by the Jezeršek company, which operates many other restaurants throughout Slovenia, some of them award-winning. The restaurant at Bled Castle offers seating both indoors and outdoors on the upper terrace, with a spectacular view of the lake. You can book a table at this link.
- Hotel Triglav - Hotel Triglav has a high-quality restaurant, recognized by the Michelin Guide. The menu offers creative interpretations of traditional Slovenian dishes, further refined with a modern touch. You can book a table here
- Kavarna Park - Bled is also famous for its cream cake, which was invented by Ištvan Lukačevič around 70 years ago. He was the manager of the Park Hotel patisserie. Today, the Bled cream cake can be found at many locations across Slovenia, but you can still enjoy it at Kavarna Park, the successor to the original Park Hotel patisserie.
