After I first visited the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana in 2013, I wrote this in regards to the metropolis:
“Ljubljana continues to be comparatively undiscovered as a significant vacationer vacation spot. I doubt it is going to stay that approach for lengthy, although, so go to this place, and go now.”
Ljubljana is a unbelievable metropolis; certainly one of my favourite capital cities in all of Europe, actually (and sure, I’ve visited plenty of them!). I assumed that social media and a rising variety of world vacationers would undoubtedly remodel Ljubljana right into a cringey, crowded hotspot earlier than lengthy.
However, a decade after I first shared that plea, I’m delighted to report that Ljubljana has not modified all that a lot, and is simply as charming immediately because it was the primary time I visited.
Positive, the town sees a number of extra vacationers nowadays. And positive, you’ll discover some Instagrammy spots and some extra issues within the metropolis geared in direction of guests. However all the things that made me fall in love with Ljubljana on my first go to stays shockingly nearly the identical.
Be aware: In case you’re actually confused, Ljubljana is pronounced near “loob-lee-ahn-uh” to non-Slavic-speaking ears.
Causes to go to (and love) Ljubljana
Ljubljana is an outdated metropolis, first being talked about in historical past within the 1100s. Earlier than that, although, a Roman metropolis referred to as Emona stood in roughly the identical spot. Immediately, Ljubljana is a contemporary if small European capital, with a inhabitants of simply 285,000 folks.
First, a number of causes to go to Ljubljana (based on me):
- The structure is gorgeous – With colourful buildings, large streets, out of doors cafes, and willow-draped riverbanks, Ljubljana is definitely one of many prettiest cities I’ve ever visited. The structure right here is a beautiful mixture of classical Baroque and Artwork Nouveau.
- The Ljubljanica River – Reducing via the town in a canal-like trend, life in central Ljubljana revolves across the Ljubljanica River. The riverside eating places in the summertime are certainly one of my favourite issues in regards to the metropolis.
- It’s pedestrian-friendly – The town heart in Ljubljana is pedestrian-friendly. In truth, there are not any automobiles allowed in any respect in the principle areas that you simply’re prone to go to.
- It’s so inexperienced – Ljubljana is a really inexperienced metropolis. Not solely actually with its parks and bushes, but in addition environmentally-speaking; Ljubljana was named Europe’s Inexperienced Capital in 2016.
- The environment is nice – Life feels unhurried right here. Locals and vacationers alike soak within the sunshine and spend time outside, and Slovenian individuals are usually actually welcoming.
When to go to Ljubljana
Ljubljana is a year-round metropolis, but it surely actually comes alive throughout the heat months of the yr, when folks can spend time outside. Could-September is the perfect time to go to for my part, with July-August being the busiest months. I’ve personally visited in each June and July, and liked it each instances.
Ljubljana has a reasonably gentle and reasonable local weather. July is often the most well liked month, with excessive temps often hovering round 80 levels F. It could actually rain quite a bit even in summer time, although, so make sure you pack a rain coat or umbrella!
Greatest issues to do in Ljubljana
The wonderful thing about Ljubljana being a small metropolis is that it’s compact sufficient to see/do all the things you may need in simply a few days – and you are able to do all of it on foot! Two days in Ljubljana is greater than sufficient time to do all the following:
1. Take a strolling tour
The middle of Ljubljana could be very compact and walkable, and there are many pedestrian-only streets (actually, automobiles have been banned within the coronary heart of the town heart since 2011). You may positively discover by yourself, however I’d advocate beginning at the very least at some point with a free strolling tour.
The Ljubljana Free Tour presents strolling excursions day-after-day of the yr, assembly in entrance of the pink church (the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation) on Prešeren Sq.. The two-hour Traditional Metropolis Tour covers the most important websites and historical past round central Ljubljana.
No reservations are required, and the tour is free – although tipping your information is predicted!
2. Cross Ljubljana’s well-known bridges
There are three well-known bridges in central Ljubljana, all inside a brief stroll from each other.
The primary is the Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), which connects Prešeren Sq. to the remainder of the town throughout the river. There’s been a bridge on this spot since at the very least 1280, although that unique wood bridge burned down way back. The central half of the present bridge dates again to 1842, whereas the 2 smaller bridges to both aspect of it have been added by famed architect Jože Plečnik in 1929 to be footbridges to keep away from visitors congestion. (Immediately after all all three components of the bridge are pedestrian-only.)
The second bridge you’ll come to is the large Butcher’s Bridge (Mesarski Most), which satirically is Ljubljana’s “Bridge of Love,” the place {couples} affix love locks. The bridge is newer (relationship again to 2010), and in addition shows a number of sculptures by Jakov Brdar. Cross this one to achieve the town’s Central Market space.
Lastly is the well-known Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most). This bridge is flanked on every finish by two dragons, that are a significant image of Ljubljana. Legend has it that the Greek hero Jason (of Jason and the Argonauts) whereas on his mission to acquire the Golden Fleece handed via the Ljubljana Swamp. He killed an incredible monster there that was terrorizing the native folks, and thus the dragon tales started.
All three of those bridges are proper in a row throughout the Ljubljanica River, and you may cross all of them in just some minutes.
3. Store on the Central Market
If you happen to begin in Prešeren Sq. and cross any of those bridges, you’ll be close to Ljubljana’s Central Market. There’s each an indoor and out of doors element to this day by day market throughout the hotter months, with the indoor portion discovered contained in the market corridor typically referred to as Plečnik’s Lined Market because it was designed by Jože Plečnik.
Indoors, you’ll discover a fish market, outlets, and eating places. And outside, you will discover issues like contemporary produce and flowers on the market. There are additionally merchandising machines alongside Vodnikov Sq. shelling out contemporary native gadgets together with eggs, cheese, and even milk!
Even should you don’t purchase something on the market, it’s an incredible place to get a way of native life in Ljubljana, as that is under no circumstances a kitschy vacationer market.
4. Go to Ljubljana Fort
One other must-do is to go to Ljubljana Fort, which sits on a hill in the course of the town. There’s been a fortification on this hill since medieval instances, although the present citadel buildings are a bit newer, largely from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (and naturally they’ve all been transformed and modernized since).
You may hike as much as the citadel on foot, however a way more enjoyable (based on me, anyway) method to arrive is to take the Ljubljana Fort funicular to the highest. The journey on this glass-enclosed funicular railway is fast (simply a few minutes), and presents up some cool views as you ascend.
You should buy citadel tickets that embrace the funicular journey from the underside funicular station at Krekov trg 4.
As soon as at Ljubljana Fort, there’s quite a bit to discover. You may go to a museum-style exhibit on Slovenian historical past, the Fort Chapel of St George, and several other different shows and exhibitions just like the jail and the Museum of Puppetry. There’s additionally a restaurant and wine bar on the citadel grounds, in addition to further issues you possibly can pay for just like the “Fort Escape” sport expertise.
The most well-liked factor to do at Ljubljana Fort is to go to the Viewing Tower, although. It does require climbing some further steps, however from right here you get the best possible view over Ljubljana.
Price range 1-2 hours to see all the things on the citadel.
5. Go to a church (or two)
Again down at city-level, it’s value visiting certainly one of Ljubljana’s grand church buildings. You may go contained in the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation (AKA the pink church) on Prešeren Sq. free of charge, whereas it is going to price 2 Euro to go to the Ljubljana Cathedral (AKA the Church of St. Nicholas).
I extremely advocate visiting the Cathedral, because the Baroque inside is beautiful!
6. Dine alongside the riverfront
Particularly throughout the hotter months, eating outside alongside the riverfront is a should in Ljubljana. There are eating places and cafes with out of doors terraces on each side of the Ljubljanica River, although you’ll discover a bigger variety of them alongside Cankarjevo Nabrezje.
Whether or not you wish to have a full meal or simply take pleasure in a drink, hanging out to do some people-watching alongside the willow-draped riverbank is quintessentially Ljubljana in the summertime.
7. Loosen up on the river
You may get on the Ljubljanica River, too, through a sightseeing boat cruise on the Ljubljana Vacationer Boat. Cruises on this enclosed, glass-topped boat final about 45 minutes. You may get tickets on the dock, which is simply beneath the Ribja Bridge, or e book forward on-line right here.
For the extra adventurous, you can even uncover the river on a paddleboard. A pair corporations supply stand-up paddleboard (SUP) excursions via the guts of Ljubljana, which provide up a brilliant distinctive vantage level of all these well-known bridges. And for the reason that river is so calm, that is one thing you possibly can attempt even should you’ve by no means been paddleboarding earlier than. (E book a paddleboard tour right here.)
8. Spend time in a museum
There are some distinctive museums to go to in Ljubljana, relying in your pursuits. A number of I’d advocate embrace:
- Metropolis Museum of Ljubljana – This small museum has displays on the lengthy historical past of Ljubljana, and even shows the world’s oldest wood wheel with a wood axle!
- Nationwide Museum of Modern Historical past – This museum in Tivoli Park covers Slovenia’s newer historical past, from WWI via WWII and the years when it was a part of Yugoslavia. The museum displays are very nicely achieved, and it’s an incredible place to go to if you wish to perceive Slovenia as a contemporary nation.
- Plečnik Home – The previous house of famed architect Jože Plečnik. His physique of labor in Slovenia is now acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and taking a tour of his home could be very attention-grabbing if you wish to be taught extra about him.
There’s additionally the Nationwide Museum of Slovenia, Museum of Fashionable Artwork, Nationwide Gallery, the Museum of Modern Artwork Metelkova, the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, and Slovenian Museum of Pure Historical past. Loads of choices should you run right into a wet day!
9. Stroll via a metropolis park
Slovenia is an extremely inexperienced metropolis, each environmentally talking and due to the variety of metropolis parks and inexperienced areas.
The most important metropolis park is Tivoli Park, which covers 2 sq. miles and has strolling trails, sport courts, playgrounds, a mini golf course, and extra. Different noteworthy inexperienced areas embrace the Ljubljana Botanic Backyard, which dates all the best way again to 1810, and the Volčji Potok Arboretum north of city.
The Žale Cemetery can be a really stunning inexperienced house, with well-kept websites and several other warfare memorials. The cemetery is related to the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship (often known as the Inexperienced Ring, or POT), which is a 20-mile-long recreation path that encircles Ljubljana alongside the road the place barbed wire surrounded the town throughout World Battle II. (Be taught extra about WWII historical past in Slovenia right here.)
10. Have an area beer at Union Brewery
Slovenia – like most nations in Central Europe – has been making beer for hundreds of years. In Ljubljana, beer making dates again to at the very least the 1500s, and you may be taught a bit about it at Union Brewery (Pivovarna Union). The brewery presents a guided tour a number of instances per day, and the Union Expertise could be very extremely rated – and naturally ends with a beer tasting!
Or, if you wish to skip the tour, you can even simply attempt their beer at Union Pub on the brewery, which has a small out of doors beer backyard.
11. Strive conventional Slovenian meals
Talking of Slovenian foods and drinks, there’s quite a bit to attempt in Ljubljana!
A number of conventional stuff you positively have to eat/drink embrace:
- Kranjska Klobasa (Carniolan Sausage)
- Štruklji (rolled bread dumplings)
- Gibanica (a layered strudel-type cake with fillings like nuts, apples, and cottage cheese)
- Cockta (an area cola-style soda)
And some must-try Ljubljana eating places I’d advocate embrace:
- Slovenska Hiša Figovec – For unimaginable conventional Slovenian dishes. There’s nearly at all times a line right here, and it’s value ready for.
- Druga Violina (Second Violin) – One other spot serving conventional meals, however this one is exclusive in that it offers employment alternatives to folks with particular wants.
- My Dumplings (Moji štruklji) – To attempt some Slovenian dumplings.
You can too discover Ljubljana’s historical past and meals scene collectively on a guided meals tour like this one. (I like meals excursions, and would positively advocate attempting this should you’re spending greater than only a day in Ljubljana.)
12. Take pleasure in a drink at Nebotičnik skyscraper
Lastly, no metropolis information can be full with out a great spot to go for rooftop cocktails… proper? Effectively, Ljubljana has a type of, too!
The Nebotičnik constructing (Nebotičnik actually simply means skyscraper) dates again to 1933, and has a restaurant/cafe/bar up on its prime ground (which is the twelfth ground). It contains some indoor seating close to the bar, in addition to an out of doors terrace that goes all the best way across the constructing.
You may go up for a espresso throughout the day, or attempt for a desk to take pleasure in a sundown drink. It could actually get busy, but it surely’s a singular spot to take pleasure in.
The place to remain in Ljubljana
Slovenia is so compact that there aren’t actually many dangerous locations to remain across the metropolis heart. Locations I personally advocate embrace:
Learn how to get to Ljubljana
You may fly into the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, which has direct flights from a number of locations throughout Europe.
The airport is roughly half an hour away from the town, although, and should you’re not choosing up a rental automobile on the airport, I like to recommend pre-booking a shuttle switch into the town. There are taxis accessible, too, however they are going to quote you an outrageous worth for the journey! E book forward with GoOpti Airport Transfers – you may get into the town for about 15 Euro.
You can too arrive in Ljubljana by prepare on the Ljubljana prepare station, although there aren’t a ton of direct or handy prepare routes. Notably, the prepare station has a baggage storage room in case you want someplace to maintain your luggage for a number of hours – simply bear in mind that the lockers listed below are coin-operated solely.
What number of days in Ljubljana is sufficient?
On my first journey to Slovenia, I spent 3 days in Ljubljana and spent certainly one of them going a day journey. On my second go to, my good friend Ashley and I spent 2 nights in Ljubljana and nonetheless ticked all the things off our must-see record.
So that you want.at the very least 2 days in Ljubljana, and three days would even be nice!
Have you ever been to Ljubljana? If not, would you want to go to?
