So, Bled: Top 6 most interesting lakes for a vacation

Often in pursuit of famous sights tourists miss the true natural beauty — for example, lakes, which combine all the charms of beach resort recreation and active healthy pastime. Vacation on the lake — it's about beautiful nature, leisurely walks, boating, delicious fish for dinner. We've selected the top 6 most interesting lakes that are definitely worth seeing. And, yes, we have included in the list only those lakes that are in comparative proximity to Ukraine, so our travelers will not have much trouble getting there (so there are no, for example, pink lakes of Australia or Senegal).

Bled, Slovenia

In small Slovenia sandwiched between the Alps and the Balkans, lies the wonderful Lake Bled – undoubtedly the country's main attraction. The main feature of the picturesque lake is an island with a church and a beautiful castle on the shore.

You can take a ride on the lake in a traditional wooden pletne boat, which is steered by a rower. You can also swim in the lake in the warm season, and in winter you can combine a visit to the lake with a vacation at the local ski resorts.

Best time to visit: June-August.

Accommodation features: 90% of hotels are located in the town of the same name — Bled (some hotels overlook the lake).

Accommodation costs: from €80 for double occupancy.

How to get there?

A flight to Ljubljana will cost 150-200 euros (round trip). There is a bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bled — travel time is 1 hour, fare is €6.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes are the most beautiful lakes according to many rated nature magazines and publications. They are part of a huge national park with lakes, waterfalls, caves, forests, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The national park has two entrances — ST1 and ST2, but most of the most interesting routes start from the second entrance.

What to do: walk, watch birds, marvel at all this diversity of nature, and also take pictures and photographs.

Best time to visit: April-May, September-October.

Accommodation features: a few hotels are located within the park, most of them are in the nearby villages of both upper and lower entrance (Poljanak, Plitvica Selo, Jezerce).

Accommodation costs: from €40 for double occupancy.

How to get there?

The journey from Dubrovnik by bus or car will take about 5 hours.

Sevan, Armenia

There are many lakes in mountainous Armenia that attract with their beauty, purity and uniqueness. But the most mesmerizing of them is Sevan, located at an altitude of 1916 meters above sea level. Nearby is an Orthodox monastery, which offers a great view of the lake and the mountains.

Things to do: windsurfing, hiking, cycling, swimming.

Best time to visit: May-September.

Accommodation: As the lake is quite large, there are plenty of accommodation options. There are about 20 villages along the coast where you can stay overnight. The town of Sevan has the most offers. In addition to hotels, you can rent accommodation from locals.

The cost of accommodation: from €33 for double occupancy.

Balaton, Hungary

Balaton is one of the most famous places Hungary. It is a resort, a nature reserve and a party spot. It is here that one of the biggest electronic music festivals, Balaton Sound, takes place every year. Depending on your mood and desires, you can move along the shores of the lake: noisy discos, beach parties in the south and quiet places on the northern rocky coast.

Things to do: visit Balaton Sound, bike rides, boat rides, wine restaurants, tours of churches, caves, museums, squash.

Best time to visit: May-June, September-October.

Accommodation peculiarities: Balaton is a strongly elongated lake, so its coastline is quite long. About 30 settlements offer a lot of accommodation options — from basic camping sites to 4-5 star hotels overlooking the lake. The most hotels are in Siofok and Keszthely.

Accommodation costs from €20 for double occupancy.

Como, Italy

Como is one of the most famous European lakes, located in the high mountainous Alps. Vacation on this lake is a sign of respectability and comfort. Here everything is done for a good rest of tourists: a lot of restaurants, hotels and other tourist infrastructure. But all these objects in no way spoil the beauty of the lake and its crystal clarity. And yes, this place is ideal for gourmets and lovers of Italian cuisine.

Things to do: boat trips to the main towns along the coast, golf, kitesurfing, try the local ice cream.

Best time to visit: early May to late September.

Accommodation features: along the lake shore there is a narrow mountain highway connecting the villages around Como. The number of offers is higher than the demand, so you can always find an option that suits your wallet. In addition to traditional hotels, you can also stay in family hotels or apartments. The biggest choice is in the towns of Como and Lecco.

Accommodation costs from €70 for double occupancy.

How to get there?

From Milan:

1. By train from Milano Nord Cadorna to Como Nord Lago (1 hour, €4.8).
2. By train from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni (40 minutes, from €4.8).
3. By car. The distance is about 55 kilometers.

Green Lake, Austria

The amazing mountain lake is famous for its green and emerald hue and seasonal features for recreation. In winter, the lake is only 2 meters deep and sometimes dries up, while in summer it fills with water and is up to 12 meters deep. The reason is that closer to summer the snow in the mountains begins to melt and the water level in the lake rises strongly. It hides paths, benches, bridges, but this only adds to the uniqueness of the place — many tourists dive with scuba diving to see the underwater life.

What to do: diving, walks in the neighborhood.

Best time to visit: June-August.

Peculiarities of accommodation: since the lake is located in the mountains, in an inaccessible area, the only option for accommodation in close proximity to the lake is the town of Oberort, which is 3 kilometers from Green Lake. Otherwise you will have to get to the town of Berndorf, which is 25 kilometers from the lake, and here you can not do without a car.

The cost of accommodation: from €80 for double occupancy.

How to get there?

The nearest settlement is Brück an der Mur. Trains from Vienna and Graz go there every hour, from Salzburg, Klagenfurt, Linz and Innsbruck — every two hours.