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

Should you visit Heidelberg or Bled?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Heidelberg and Bled. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Heidelberg or Bled?

Heidelberg

Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is a top travel destination in Germany. It's picturesquely situated in the Neckar River Valley and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a population of over 148,000 and it's home to Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, which has a student population of approximately 28,000.

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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.


Which place is cheaper, Bled or Heidelberg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Heidelberg is €169, while the average daily cost in Bled is €125. 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 Heidelberg and Bled in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Heidelberg 93
    Bled 56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Heidelberg 186
    Bled 112
Compare Hotels in Heidelberg and Bled

Looking for a hotel in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg


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: Heidelberg Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Heidelberg 17
    Bled 34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heidelberg

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

  • One Way Private Transfer from Mannheim to Frankfurt : $248
  • Badenweiler to Basel Airport (BSL) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
  • Airport transfer from Karlsruhe Airport to Baden-Baden: $167

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled

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

  • Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $225
  • Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $181
  • Private transfer from Tržič to Ljubljana city: $149
  • Private Taxi Transfer from Bled to Ljubljana Airport (Brnik): $137
  • Get a Transfer for you, Family, Group of Cyclists, hikers-around Julian Alps: $24
  • Bohinj Lake: Convenient Transfer to/from Bled Central: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Heidelberg or Bled?

Prices for flights to both Bled and Heidelberg 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
    Heidelberg 65
    Bled 49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heidelberg

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

  • Frauenbad Magic Dinner with Chris Stark (DE & EN): $155
  • Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $762

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Heidelberg 11
    Bled 12

Tours and Activities in Heidelberg

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Heidelberg.

  • 2 1/2h Guided Bicycle Tour Discover Heidelberg: $51
  • Alternative Heidelberg Tour.: $82
  • Beer and Old Town Tour: $215
  • Best of Heidelberg Private Walk Tour with Professional Guide: $270
  • Bicycle Tour from Heidelberg to quaint Ladenburg.: $167
  • Brunch buffet at the Frauenbad Heidelberg – enjoyment meets experience: $69
  • Culinary city tour in Heidelberg with delicious samples: $47
  • E.Bike Tours around Heidelberg: $197
  • EXPRESS TOUR of Historic Heidelberg - The Highlights in 1 h: $211
  • Evening Heidelberg tour with historical night watchman: $19
  • Fairytale Heidelberg Castle Tour: $82
  • Fascinating Heidelberg Sightseeing Walking Tour : $66

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:

  • 2 Hour Scenic Quad Tour in Bled: $167
  • 4 hours Fratarica Canyoning Adventure: $125
  • 7 Alpine Wonders- Day Tour Bled, Soca valley, Slovenia : $190
  • Adventure Day: Rafting and Canyoning: $174
  • Bled Castle Skip the Line Entry Ticket with Audio Guide: $32
  • Bled eBike Tour: $116
  • Bled eBike Tour : $118
  • Bled lake day tour from Ljubljana: $129
  • 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $64
  • City Highlights Tour with Hiking & Bled Cream Cake: $158
  • EBike Tour Lake Bled & Triglav National Park Private: $257
  • Europe's Longest Zipline Adventure over Dolinka River: $111

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Heidelberg 17
    Bled 14

Sample the Local Flavors in Heidelberg

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Heidelberg:

  • Pub crawl through the old town, drinks included: $41
  • Private pub crawl with insider-guide & shots: $334

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: $35
  • Wine Tasting Bled with a sommelier: $68
  • 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $69


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


Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Bled?

Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg or Bled?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Bled in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Bled. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Heidelberg is cooler than Bled. Typically, the summer temperatures in Heidelberg in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Bled averages at about 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bled this time of the year. In Heidelberg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Bled during summer. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Bled. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Heidelberg 21°C (69°F) 
    Bled 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Heidelberg or Bled in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Bled. The autumn months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Heidelberg is generally cooler than Bled. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 12°C (54°F), and Bled fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Bled. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets less rain in October than Bled. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Heidelberg or Bled in the Winter?

Both Bled and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year.

It's quite cold in Heidelberg in the winter. Heidelberg is much colder than Bled in the winter. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Bled fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Bled during winter. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than Bled. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Heidelberg 3°C (37°F) 
    Bled 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Heidelberg or Bled in the Spring?

Both Bled and Heidelberg during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Heidelberg is cooler than Bled. Typically, the spring temperatures in Heidelberg in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Bled averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the spring, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Bled. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets less rain in April than Bled. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Heidelberg 11°C (52°F) 
    Bled 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Bled and Heidelberg

Heidelberg Bled
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 52 mm (2 in) 5°C (41°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in) 7°C (44°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 7°C (45°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 9°C (49°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 13°C (56°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
May 16°C (60°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 19°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 22°C (71°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Jul 21°C (69°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 20°C (68°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 24°C (74°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 20°C (68°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 16°C (60°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 7°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 10°C (51°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 4°C (38°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 6°C (44°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)