Things to do in Radovljica

Radovljica sits 7 km from Bled, close enough for a same-day add-on once the castle and the island are done. The draw here is not a lake or a castle but an intact medieval old town: a single cobbled square lined with Gothic and Renaissance houses, largely traffic-free, that takes about an hour to walk properly.

The Apiculture Museum, in the old manor house, covers Slovenia's long beekeeping tradition and its decorated frontboards, entry a few euros. Radovljica has also built a reputation as the country's chocolate town, with a chocolate festival held each April and several shops and cafes selling local pralines year-round.

Buses from Bled take roughly 15 to 20 minutes; there is no train station in Bled itself, so most visitors arrive by bus or car. Plan an hour or two, not a full day.