Ljubljana mon amour: In fact, already the city’s name sounds like a tender song…and derives from ljubljena – beloved.
Albeit the city is not hidden anymore, it has kept its sleeping beauty charm and is still a sparkling gem.
The first time I heard about Ljubljana was when many years ago, an extremely quirky band named Laibach – which is the city’s German name – caused sensations among the underground clubs. And scandals in their home country which at that time was still Yugoslavia. Socialist Yugoslavia.
And this catapults us right in the middle of Slovenia’s ever-changing history:
Everchanging Past
I spare you the very beginning when the Illyrians settled in. Later came the Romans, Charlemagne followed and made them part of the Frankish Empire, later they came under Venetian primacy, and finally they were part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. This fell apart with WWI and, subsequently, Slovenia became part of the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs.
After WWII, they added a couple more countries and – woomph! – Yugoslavia was created. I was a socialist yet in comparison pretty liberal state of various ethnicities, led by Josip Broz Tito till his death in 1980 – actually in the very Ljubljana.
Following his death, some of the states – like Slovenia – preferred to become independent which lead to a series of some of the most gruesome and barbaric military conflicts of the 20th century.
Slovenia, however, was involved very shortly. Although it was the first country to be attacked, the conflict there lasted only ten days, then they were good to go…literally.
This is an extremely short and not very thorough recap but I presume that you don’t want to know all the details – and if so, probably not from me.
I rather tell you about this beauty I met during my far too short stay in Slovenia, that I fell in love with – and therefore love will be the golden thread in this post.
Something Old
Looking for something old, you won’t be disappointed in the historic center of Ljubljana. After passing the bridge with the – not – fire-spitting dragons, walk one block further and turn right into the Vodnikov Trg.
At the corner is also the Slovenian Tourist Information where you can get free maps and friendly advice.
Next to it, you can stock up on some fresh snacks at the farmers market taking place from Monday to Saturday from 7 a. m. till the early afternoon.
Strolling down the Vodnikov Trg that then leads into Mestni Trg followed by Stari Trg, you pass some of the most important buildings like the Stolnica Sv. Nikolaja, Ljubljana’s Cathedral of St. Nicholas.
After having been damaged various times, the present structure was finished in 1706. Not far is the town hall, but more impressive than that building is the Robba Fountain in front of it.
(Photo: Rok, Ljubljana Robba fountain (23665322093), cropped to 7:5, CC BY-SA 2.0)
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The Robba Fountain is named after its sculptor Francesco Robba. However, it’s also called the Fountain of the Three Carniolan Rivers. As a matter of fact, Robba designed it in 1751 after Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers in Rome. Nevertheless, this one is only a copy since the original is at the National Gallery.
Full of Elegance
Next to these outstanding buildings are rows of beautiful, well-preserved houses mostly from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. For the most part, these architectonic jewels are housing cute little specialty shops where you might want to stock up on original souvenirs – like lace, carved wood, and anything you can imagine made from honey. And if you should need a break from awing and shopping, there is also a large number of cozy little cafés.
I will not lie to you, if you don’t get up too late and don’t take your sweet time snacking and browsing, you can visit the most important sights of Ljubljana in two days. But not taking your sweet time would actually be a shame and you’d miss out on a major part of what’s Ljubljana’s charm all about: The small, unpretentious beautiful corners, alleys, and things. So lower your pace, just add a day or two to your stay.
The Home is the Castle
Now let’s walk up to Ljubljana’s most important and iconic structure, the Grad – which means castle.
There are many ways of getting up there. The funicular is the most convenient one. However, the station is way back where we started the tour, and seriously, walking up is not that hard.
To get up there, turn left into Gronji Trg at the Župnijska cerkev sv. Jakoba, Church of St. James, and then again left at Cerkev Sv. Florjana, Church of St. Florian, and walk the idyllic path all the way up.
Some Parts Are Free, For Others You Pay
You can enter the premises for free, walk around, enjoy the views, and some refreshments at their restaurant. Only if you visit the exhibitions, and attractions, or get up the tower, do you have to pay.
The castle was built as a medieval fortress starting in the 11th century. Most of the buildings were added in the 16th and 17th centuries.
In the 19th century, parts of the castle were redesigned as a prison – hence, first, it protected people from villains coming in, and now it protected them from villains getting out.
Very unusual was its use from 1905 till 1963 when it served as communal housing for poor families – go figure – what a fancy kind of project!
There are various ticket options – with or without the funicular, so you better check their website before visiting to see what’s the best deal for you.
Ljubljanski Grad
Grajska planota 1 p.p.72
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 306 42 93
Email: info-center@ljubljanskigrad.si
To go back to the city center, you can either use the funicular that takes you down to the puppet theater across from the farmers market. Or you walk down the trail Ovinki and then turn right and follow the trail Za Orajami that ends next to the funicular station.
Something New
This first part was rather a tour of the classic, exquisite sights’n’structures. However, sweet Ljubljana has also a rough and edgy side. She’s kind of a runaway bride.
Let’s explore it by crossing the Dragon Bridge and after one block, turn right into Trubarjeva Cesta. The narrow lane and its side streets are kind of Ljubljana’s Greenwich Village. Small coffee shops, international eateries, quirky specialty shops, and artists. Totally worth lingering and exploring.
At #72 is the Skatepark – you can’t miss it because here, the Trubarjeva Cesta is adorned by very artsy graffiti. Next to the Skatepark, you’ll get to the Avtonomna Tovarna Rog, the Autonomous Rog Factory. It’s an art and community center that has a bit of a Christiania feel to it.
I presume you are familiar with the anarchistic Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen. If not, check my post on Denmark’s capital.
Between 1953 and 1991, Rog bicycles were manufactured on these premises. Until it was occupied in 2006 and transformed into a community and culture center, it had been abandoned. Despite its great service to the community, in 2016, the city began to demolish the center. A court decided the keep the buildings until the conflict is resolved.
It’s still an open case.
Autonomous Rog Factory
Trubarjeva cesta 72
1000 Ljubljana
Colorful Windows
At the next corner, turn left into Rozmanova Ulica – but first please notice Župnija Ljubljana – Sv. Peter, St. Peter’s Parish Church, which is one of the oldest churches in Ljubljana.
I simply love the unusual paintings by Ivan Vurnik, who for sure is known for having a thing for bold colors. A strong influence from Balkan folk art, as well as Art Deco from the Vienna Secession, cannot be denied.
Museums
Rozmanova Ulica continues into Tabor and eventually into Maistrova Ulica. Here, you’ll find two interesting museums: First, the Slovenski Etnografski Muzej, Slovenian Ethnographic Museum, a place where you can learn basically everything about Slovenia and its people in an entertaining way. For profound background knowledge – from the past till this day – a great place to visit.
Slovene Ethnographic Museum
Metelkova 2 SI
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 300 87 00
Email: etnomuz@etno-muzej.si
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.
Art
Right next door is the Muzej Sodobne Umetnosti Metelkova | + MSUM, Ljubljana’s Museum of Contemporary Art. I guess it strongly depends on their program, but since the building is pretty spectacular, the exhibitions are not. However, if you want to brush up on your knowledge of Slovenian contemporary art, this is the perfect place to do so.
Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova | +MSUM
Maistrova ulica 3
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 241 68 00
Email: info@mg-lj.si
At the end of the road where Maistrova Ulica leads into Masarykova Cesta is another pretty unique and alternative music and cultural center: Metelkova Art Center. Here you’ll find more of the hip and trendy crowd than activists like at the Rog. There is a lot of music, theater, and art going in, there are clubs and there is a hostel.
All this is housed in seven buildings that used to be military barracks. First during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and eventually, it became the headquarters of the Yugoslav National Army. Although it was initially squatted, pretty fast they got formal permission to operate their alternative businesses.
Metelkova Art Center
Metelkova ulica 10
1000 Ljubljana
From here, three blocks west, you’ll get to the central train and bus station.
Something Borrowed
Borrowed – well, I’d like to rephrase since it’s rather adopted. One of the most interesting and fascinating sides of Ljubljana is its rich international heritage. Italians, Austrians, the Balkans – all these people left their culinary traces. Today, you can add Asian and Arabic food and, of course, there are great places for Vegetarians and Vegans, too.
Breakfast Options
Let’s start with an omnipresent snack, the Burek, which is a pretty greasy puff pastry, filled with cheese, spinach, potato, or minced meat. This snack is popular across the Balkan area, up northeast in Russia, in Türkiye, and probably in a couple more places that I don’t know of.
You’ll get some of the best Burek just one block from the train station – and these guys never let you down since they are open 24/7.
Nobel Burek
Miklošičeva cesta 30
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 232 33 92
If you should get tired of Burek for breakfast, I urge you to check out Slovenska Hiša. They are serving great food in a lovely, a bit rustic setting – and they do it with a smile and at an unbeatable price. Oh, and they are located right next to the Ljubljanica River – it can’t get any better, take it from me.
Slovenska Hiša
Cankarjevo nabrežje 13
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 – 838 99811
They are open Sunday to Thursday from 8 a. m. to 1 a. m. and Fridays and Saturdays to 3 a. m.
Another great option for breakfast or a light snack is the Organic Garden on the main shopping street Ciril-Metodov Trg. I guess the name gives you a hint of what they serve.
Organic Garden
Ciril-Metodov trg 11
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 820 54050
They are open every day from 9 a. m. to 10 p. m.
Traditional Cuisine
Not afraid of heavy, hearty, greasy food? That’s good since actually, all traditional dishes are pretty….nourishing. You can get these classics also in the touristy neighborhoods but, of course, they are best where the local people eat.
Like at this unpretentious Pivovarna, hence, brewery; and the most adventurous ones sample their honey beer.
Pivovarna in Pivnica Kratochwill
Kolodvorska ulica 14
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 433 31 14
Kratochwill is open from Monday to Friday 9 a. m. to 10 p. m., Saturday from 11 a. m. and Sunday closed.
Modern Cuisine
Now that we’ve covered the classic Balkan cuisine, let’s move over to the lighter, Italian-influenced gastronomy.
Whereby all these places also serve pizza – in case you cannot withstand without carbohydrates.
To have some Italian in a pretty authentic setting, it’s worth it to check out the Pizzeria Foculus.
Pizzeria Foculus
Gregorčičeva ulica 3
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 421 92 95
Open Monday to Saturday from 11 a. m. to midnight.
By the way, it’s surprising how many businesses stay closed on Sundays. After all, Ljubljana is such a popular place when it comes to city breaks.
Take Me to the River
The nicest locations, of course, are along the river Ljubljanica. The menus are actually pretty similar. The – very good – Slovenian wine is reasonably priced. And the view would cost a million dollars if you had to pay for it.
If you should have a craving for Asian, I first wonder why, and then I recommend The Wok. You order at the counter in sort of a modular system and then you can watch the super-efficient guys preparing your food with fresh produce from scratch. It’s a good place, only the lady at the cash could lose her attitude.
The Wok
Čopova ulica 4
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 599 00555
Open daily from 9 a. m. to 11 p. m.
Fine Dining….on Street Food
Although Ljubljana is located in the heart of Slovenia, there is great fish and seafood coming in from the Adriatic coast, and the best place to enjoy it – unfortunately without a view – is the restaurant Valentin.
Another reason why you should consider this place are their street food options. During the day you can eat their fantastic meals in the relaxed atmosphere of their bistro-style entrance area.
In the evening, they serve a set dinner in the more formal rear part.
Valentin
Vodnikova cesta 35
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 31 354 765
Open daily from 10 a. m. to 10 p. m., Sundays only from noon.
Market Day
More great options to eat fresh fish are at some stalls at the farmers market and, of course, at one of the restaurants at the fish market arcades.
Dining here does not only grant you some atmospheric views. You are also eating at a real piece of art since the arcades were designed by no one less than Jože Plečnik, the famous Slovenian architect.
Something Blue
As you know from the Robba Fountain, there are three Carniolan rivers, namely Sava, Krka, and Ljubljanica, whereby the latter flows into the Sava which then exits into the Blue Danube. It flows like a melodic song.
Somehow a visit to Ljubljana without a cruise on the Ljubljanica would be incomplete.
Not only does the river divide the city in a pleasant way, making lots of beautiful bridges necessary, each of them an alluring and interesting sight. Slowly gliding down the river gives you an additional perspective of all the great buildings to your left and your right.
So hop on and let’s cruise for an hour.
Another very relaxing activity – isn’t relaxing and activity an oxymoron? – is just laying down on the lush lawns on both shores of the river, a little bit outside the city center. You can walk there or rent a bike and cycle – you’ll feel like being in the countryside.
Father of the Bride: Jože Plečnik
What a good father Jože Plečnik was to Ljubljana – he practically showered her with beautiful, unique, and meaningful architecture to make her one of the prettiest around.
Born in 1872 in Slovenia – which then was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Plečnik studied with Viennese uber-architect Otto Wagner and worked at his workshop till 1900. Although his fantastic structures can be found i. a. in Vienna, Belgrad, and, of course, Ljubljana, his most famous achievement is the renovation and remodeling of the Prague Castle from 1920 to 1934, commissioned by the first president of the Czechoslovak Republic Tomáš Masaryk.
Jože Plečnik’s Family Album
However, this good father left his beautiful daughter Ljubljana a remarkable chest full of jewels:
(Photo: Thomas Ledl, Peglezen, Ljubljana, cropped to 7:5, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Actually, I’ve listed only the buildings that are located around the old center. If you are interested in further works by Plečnik, there is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, the Žale Cemetery, and more.
Practical Information
How to Get There And Around
By Plane
Slovenia is located pretty centrally in Europe, nestled between Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. This makes it quickly accessible from many regions. I got there by train from Munich in six hours.
However, since it’s becoming a popular city break destination, many will get there by plane.
It’s located about 20 km north of the city and named after – how surprising is that?! – Jože Plečnik; albeit it’s one of the few buildings he did not design. There is a cheap public bus, #28, but it runs approximately every hour – on weekends even less frequently – and takes about 45 minutes.
Taking a private shuttle is a little more costly – around 9 €uros for one trip – but much more comfortable. There are various companies. You can check e. g. GoOpti.
By Train
As I said, I got there by train. The train station is about 10 to 15 minutes from the city center, hence totally walkable.
The bus station is right next to it respectively its unremarkable cardboard signs pinned to the chain-link fence next to the main building. Nevertheless, it’s a proper bus station and I took the bus to Zagreb from there – easy-peasy.
As I pointed out: Ljubljana is pretty centrally located so it’s a piece of cake taking a coach to Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, or many other destinations.
At Ljubljana, you’ll probably be walking. There is a good bus system, but most of the rather touristy attractions are concentrated at or around the old town and a major part of this area are pedestrian streets.
However, if you buy a Ljubljana card, public transport within the city is included; the airport bus, too, but it’s, of course, only the cheap, inconvenient one.
Where to Sleep
Although Ljubljana is still not overrun by tourists, it is becoming more and more popular as a city break destination mainly among Europeans.
Therefore, there is a wide choice of accommodation. Besides big, modern, and luxurious hotels, there are also smaller guest houses and hostels mainly along the river Ljubljanica.
On this map, you can check out various options and rates*:
Booking.comTourist Information and Deals
Already before you go to Ljubljana you can get the first information online.
In Ljubljana, you’ll find an info center at the airport and downtown at two locations:
Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre – TIC
Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 2
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 306 12 15
Email: tic@visitljubljana.si
Slovenian Tourist Information Centre – STIC
Krekov Trg 10
1000 Ljubljana
Phone: + 386 – 1 – 306 45 75, 306 45 76
Email: stic@visitljubljana.si
Opening hours are weekdays from 8 a. m. to 7 p. m. and weekends from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.
You can get free info material and maps, they answer all your questions and arrange guided tours – available in 18 languages!
Ljubljana Card
You can also buy a Ljubljana Card there. With this card, you have free admission to more than twenty attractions, you can travel for free on city buses including the one to the airport – the slow one that nobody wants to take. You can join a guided city tour and have 24-hour internet access at their office. Obviously, this must be a remainder from times when there wasn’t free Wifi at each and every restaurant or bar and even at hotspots throughout the city.
Nevertheless, if you want to visit the castle and some of the museums, it’s worth it. Especially since there are some amazing other attractions included like a river cruise, a tour of the Union Brewery, and bike rental for a couple of hours.
| 24 hours | 48 hours | 72 hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 €uros | 44 €uros | 49 €uros |
My Tip: You’ll get a 10% discount if you buy the card on the Internet.
Alone No More
Although I’m an avid solo-travelling woman, I sometimes like to join organized tours. Not only are they a valid option to go to remote places since I’m not driving. They also allow me to meet fellow travellers – for just a short moment or a lifelong friendship.
Therefore, here are some great ideas of what to do when visiting Ljubljana. Especially during high season, pre-booking online will guarantee your place at the activity of your choice*:
Money
Alrighty, these are great deals – but how do you pay for all this? Well, if you don’t use your credit card, you’ll have to pay in €uros.
Until now, 20 European countries replaced their former local currency with the €uro starting in 2002. Obviously, Slovenia is one of them. The exchange rate is 1 US$ = 0.92 EUR as of April 2023. However, you can check today’s conversion rate on this page.
Language
Many people speak pretty decent English, most young people have even a great command of the language. However, it puts a smile on people’s faces when you can say at least thank you – hvala – and please and you’re welcome – prosim.
Note: In this article, I’m writing out some of the Slovenian names of brands and places and you will notice that there are letters that might not exist in other languages.
First of all, c is never pronounced k, it is pronounced like the ts in Tsar, so it’s ‘Ulitsa’, not Ulika, and ‘Pivnitsa’, not Pivnika.
Only when c is written č, it is pronounced like a ch: ‘Plechnik’ (beats me how I came up with this example….).
The same goes for s: written š, it’s pronounced sh. But only then.
The letter ž is pronounced more or less like j, but rather the French way – as in jour.
People tend to overdo it with the ch and the sh – if there is no accent, it’s a simple c or s, no crackjaw there.
Map
Where to find all these wonderful places mentioned in this post
Pinnable Pictures
If you choose to pin this post for later, please make sure to use one of these pictures:
Note: I am completing, editing, and updating this post regularly – last in January 2023.
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* This is an affiliate link, obviously. Hence, if you book through this page, you get the best dealHowever. I also get a small commission that helps me run this blog. Thank you so much for supporting me!
Indeed, I deeply appreciate that the Visit Ljubljana supported my blogger trip by granting me a private guided tour and supplying me with various tickets and free access. However, all opinions on these services are mine and weren’t by any means influenced by my cooperation partner.
I like the efforts you have put into this post. It’s the perfect city guide for Ljubljana 🙂
Thank you, glad you like it. Ljubljana is a great place 🙂
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Taking a few
minutes and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say…
I procrastinate a lot and never manage to get nearly anything done.
Well, it took me far more than a few minutes….but thanx 🙂
I really love your blogs. They are so detailed and well written. Like you, I too fell in love with Ljubljana. The houses mostly from the Renaissance and Baroque eras were really gorgeous to look at. I could go to that city in a heartbeat.
I haven’t been to Ljubjana yet, but I would love to visit it. For sure I want to see Grad and St. Peter’s Parish Church. The Museum of Contemporary Art also seems an exciting place. I love and appreciate your food recommendation, as I always have a problem choosing a location for lunch or dinner.
Wow this guide is great. Thanks for all the details and added photos, you did an awesome job of breaking down Ljubljana. I have actually never heard of it before, but I love the cobblestone roads and all of the different colored homes and buildings. I would really enjoy just walking around the area and taking in all the great scenery. Thanks for sharing!
I love learning about Ljubljana from your really descripted post. There are so many wonderful things in this quaint place, something new and old and borrowed. I would love to explore it!
I’ve never heard of this place, but such I’ve learned a lot about it’s history from this blog! Wish to visit it someday!
Ah… It will be great to enter the new city and welcome by a dragon. Even though it’s only a statue. I read a lot about tourists went to Ljubljana lately and why not. The old architectures are beautiful, although I’m not a fan of graffities in the new part of town.
On the travel wish list! Would love to visit Slovenia. I love the idea of strolling down the cobblestone streets of Ljubljana. And finding a cozy cafe. Good to know that we could visit parts of the castle for free. But it might be worth a price to get a view from there. I too love the colourful paintings on the outside of St. Peter’s Parish Church. P.S. I loved your themed tour through Ljubljana.
I have never been to Ljubljana but I do want to visit it one day. It looks so cute ad welcoming and there is a nice cycling track passing the city
I loooove Ljubljana, been there several times. I especially like it during the Christmas time.
This is so cool. I like the status of the dragon. I would love to give this one a visit. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, this place is beautiful! A great place to visit!
I love the contrast between the old buildings and the modern graffiti. Such a gorgeous place.
Yes, it’s a beautiful place – and still not too overrun 😉
My favorite is the street art. It always fascinates me. It seems like there is a trend around the world right now to beautify public places with murals. Here, in south Florida, they are in the process of displaying artwork on the ugly electrical boxes on the side of the road and adding suculptures along side stretches of road not just in parks.
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
Looks like such a lovely town! You have put together a fantastic guide for exploring this cute little place.
P.S: I’m sure I’m not pronouncing Ljubljanica right. 😛
Ljubljana looks absolutely amazing. I had no idea that there was so much to see and do in Slovenia, but it’s now on my list of places to visit! I love the mix of old and new!!
Yes, I want to go back, too. One day was far too short!
Beautiful city and fantastic guide! I wasn’t too far when I was in Central Europe last summer, but I didn’t make it. It looks very similar to other cities I went to, and I’m sure I’d enjoy it! Hopefully I can make it back to Europe soon and check this off my list!
The pictures make me feel like I am there! Great captures
I also love the name of Ljubljana, it’s such a pretty sound! I didn’t know that it also has a German name, Laibach, I have heard it but assumed it was somewhere else! The historic centre looks utterly beautiful, definitely somewhere I’d like to explore. The funky street art in the new side also look worthwhile to see. The culinary heritage sounds like it makes for many delicious options when it comes to eating out, and I’d definitely be lookign to try the borek and other traditional dishes.
The food is good, but definitely on the heavy side.
This city has been on my bucket list ever since we had to change buses here on our way to Zagreb. I love all of the medieval streets and how historic it still looks. You’ve pointed out some great spots to visit so I’ll be saving this post for later!
I love how you wrote this guide as your love for the city! Ljubljana wasn’t on my radar as a to-visit destination, but now I would love to experience the city and learn more about the history. The prospect of strolling through cute streets, checking out modern street art, visiting museums and wrapping it up with a river cruise sounds lovely!
It’s interesting to know that many businesses stay closed on Sundays. They do take breaks/weekends seriously I suppose? 🙂 Also, that’s a great weekend market! I miss going to one in our city! 🙂
Ljubljana is one of my favorite cities! You put together an extensive guide!! And I’m so happy to see my favorite breakfast place in it too: Slovenska Hiša. Absolutely delicious!
Ljubljana looks like a really cool city! I’m definitely a sucker for those cities that sit on the river. Hope to get to Slovenia in the next few years once the world has gotten back on it’s feet.
Lubljana sounds like the perfect destination with a mix of old and new…..even the food is diverse which I like. From what you have written and recommend, I would likely stay 4 or 5 days to explore the area and appreciate its beauty. I love the art on the buildings!
Ah Ljubljana one of my favorite cities in the world 🙂 I loved visiting this lovely city back in 2017 so this was a nice little jog down memory lane with your beautiful pictures and descriptions. That iconic dragon bridge I can never forget 🙂 I will hop onto the funicular next time I’m there 🙂
You really do a comprehensive review of every city you visit. We were in Lubljana in 2018 and didn’t see as much…just the market, Old Town center, and the castle. Moved on to Bled right away
I’ve never been to that side of the world, but Eastern Europe is definitely on my list!
Love the way you have written this and the amount of advice given. I been to Ljubljana quite a few times and enjoyed this beautiful small city. Hoping to be back soon and you have given me a few ideas.
I love this place! We were there for 3 days a few years ago and loved the sellers on the streets with their huge displays. Beautiful city.
I'm really hoping to visit next year, so really am inspired to visit. I love the mix between the old and new in the city, and I've never heard of Slovenian champagne before, but I'm really keen to try!
Ljubjana is so pretty wow! Loved all the information you have provided. It looks like a dreamy destination. I love the streets there. So many places to see and so many things to do.
It sounds like a very fascinating destination and I particularly love the rich international heritage the city has! Thanks for the great tips.
What a fantastically creative way to write your post! I love the something old, new, borrowed and blue idea. I adored exploring this city so much. I wish I had more time to explore more of the things on your list.
What a picturesque place! I love the architecture and could probably spend all day just wandering the streets! Slovenia looks like a lovely place to visit.
I am loving the photos here. What a beautiful place. Lots to see and explore.
Slovenia certainly has a rough past! The houses from the Renaissance and Baroque eras are beauties. We are good at getting up and out so I think we could do Ljubljana in 2 days. It's great that visitors can enter the castle premises for free, even if you have to pay for the exhibitions. Did you enter? Which museums did you visit or would you recommend?
Sorry, I would not eat that heavy food. Wok food and seafood are much preferred. I like the idea of a cruise; we do them often when we travel.
Your pictures are amazing and you have done a fantastic job of the write up about each one.
Thank you, Melissa, that's so kind of you! Glad you like it.
Well I loved the streets there! Looks like a cool place to do street photography. I think I can spend days walking around there with my camera.
Yeah, well, if I managed to take some decent pix there, you will do wonders, that's for sure.
Really enjoyed this, a very creative way of presenting the city! We haven't made it to Slovenia yet, but it's high on our list and we'll probably go to Ljubljana next year. Will be saving this article for sure 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you like it. I always try to find a golden thread – and it makes me happy to see that it's appreciated.
Looks like so much to see and do here. You got some beautiful photos 🙂
Ljubljana looks mindblowing. Quite a lot to explore here, I would be on the streets for all that art, probably all day long!
Yes, you definitely don't get bored.
I love visiting Ljubljana. I really enjoyed the alternative aspects of the city that sit side by side with the interesting old parts of the town. The street art was fantastic as well.
Yes, that's what I enjoyed, too. It's a real city, not an outdoor museum, and it has a great vibe to it.
Such a wonderful place! I know Slovenia but this is the first time I've hear of Ljubljana. I don't mind getting the guided tour if I get to see all those places! The old vintage look of the building and streets always amazes me.
It is a very special place and it was even better than expected.
My husband and I just moved to Northern Italy and we’re only 2 hours from Slovenia! I’m definitely adding Ljubljana to the places we need to explore in that beautiful country!
Your pictures are lovely as usual and your guide is amazing. I would love to spend some days there after reading this.
I got all sentimental writing the guide; I need to go back as soon as I can. Maybe we'll meet 😉
Ljubljana looks like such a lovely and charming place. Great that Slovenia itself is quite easy to get to from a number of nearby European neighbors. So much to explore here, I totally agree you would want to spend more than a couple of days to really experience such a place.
Since I stopped there on my way to Croatia, my stay was wayyy too short – I need to come back as soon as I can.
What a wonderful place to adore. I wish to visit this place soon too. I hope I could save alot to be with my family here.
Ljubljana looks beautiful! River cruises are one of my favorite ways to see a city and that one looks like a lot of fun.
It was a nice addition to all that walking….phew!
What a little treasure! I love the way you weave in the places to visit with the history and the architecture. The river ride looks like a must!
Thank you, I'm very glad you like it. Yes, after all that walking and climbing, just sitting in the boat and glide through the city was a pleasant break.
Ljubljana seems to be a great place I was more happy to check that Ljubljana Card allows you to rent a bike for few hours. This means one can wander around the city like a local which sounds more exciting.
Yes, the card grants some great options to explore different aspects of the city.
This is a great guide. Hoping to get to Slovenia next year so have pinned this one for later. Thanks Renata 🙂
Glad you like it. I wish I can go back to Slovenia very soon since I also want to explore other places – but pay Ljubljana another visit, too.