Is Ljubljana worth visiting? The answer is a resounding yes!

Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, might be your new favourite city! Located in central Slovenia, this city holds a unique charm and offers plenty of activities to do. The city is characterized by cobbled streets, colourful churches, and bridges, all overlooked by a medieval castle. The many cafes and outdoor patios populate the city during summer which gives a lively atmosphere. Not to mention the restaurants and wine bars that will delight you with excellent Slovenian wines and food throughout the city!

Later in the article, you will find a 2-day Ljubljana itinerary to rock your stay in the city! The city is small enough for you to mix and match with the activities and sightseeing.

Also, worth mentioning that Ljubljana was titled the Green Capital of Europe in 2016 which makes it one of the greenest cities in the EU. This is palpable by its downtown green zone, and lush parks which make the city very walkable and enjoyable. You must be wondering then: what to do to enjoy Ljubljana at its fullest in only one or 2 days? My Ljubljana itinerary article will guide your journey through your new favourite city.

Things to do in Ljubljana

Walk along the River Ljubljanica Canal (Cankarjevo Nabrezje)

The city is cut in the middle by the Ljubljanica River, an emerald green river. Stroll around the canal and the old town to admire the architecture of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. While you are here, stop for a bite and a drink (or two). The banks are full of restaurants and bars, perfect to enjoy the very laid-back vibe of the capital. You can also take a boat tour on a River Cruise or do Stand-up Paddle Board.

If you wander a couple of blocks out of the canals, you will find the breathtaking building Vurnik House (Vurnikova hiša) it feels like it belongs to a Wes Anderson movie. The area also has another dozen Art Nouveau buildings. The Hauptmann House, the Municipal Savings Bank and the Grand Hotel Union are some of the prime examples of this beautiful architectural style.

Bridges

While you walk alongside the river, pass from one side to the other through the numerous historical bridges. The river is believed to have been first spanned by a bridge in the Roman period.

The most beautiful bridge is the Dragon Bridge. These 4 statues of the mythical creature reign over the banks. In addition to the 4 main statues, there are other 16 smaller ones. See if you can spot them all! The dragon is the symbol of the capital, so you will see it everywhere, even in the coat of arms of the city. You might be asking why this creature is the symbol of the city. Well, Greek mythology says that Jason and his Argonauts killed a dragon called Ljubljana, founding the city shortly after. Fast forward a couple of centuries and the dragons become the symbol, and protector of the city, embodying power, courage and wisdom. Hence the impressive Dragon Bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1901.

Psst: Since dragons are the symbol of the city you can find them in other places so keep your eyes open!

The other notable bridge is the Triple Bridge, known as Tromostovje. In fact, the tripe bridge is a group of 3 bridges designed by the famous architect, Jože Plečnik, who gave a modern look to the city. Why are there 3 bridges? The bigger one was intended for road traffic while the two alongside are for pedestrians.

The last famous bridge is the Butcher’s Bridge, which is the most modern one displaying its glass walking belts and the love locks added by couples. The bridge was constructed in 2010 and was based on the designs of architect Jože Plečnik. The bridge has statues and sculptures by the renowned Slovenian sculptor Jakov Brdar. These statues are a little weird and creepy depicting stories from the past. the site was once a butchers booths, hence the name. Did the people choose this to be the love bridge of the city? I have no idea but you know it’s these little things that make this city great!

Prešeren square

After you have crossed the 3 bridges, head to the heart of the city, Prešeren Square. Located in the Old Town, the square is dominated by the statue of the poet France Prešeren and the salmon-pink colour church, the Baroque Franciscan Church. Fun fact: The church is called the “Pink Church,” but it was originally painted red. Over time, the paint faded, resulting in the pinkish hue that it has today. The inside of the church is worth visiting for its painted ceiling and walls and the main altar by a famous Italian sculptor Francesco Robba.

The Square is the main meeting point of the city for its many events. When we were visiting, there was an art installation of rain going on and off, saying the square has its own weather. This area is often taken over by musicians and performers which give a lively atmosphere to the square.

Church of St. Nicholas

The Ljubljana Cathedral is one of the city’s most impressive religious buildings. The Baroque building dates from the early 1700s and it is known for frescoes, the statues of four bishops of Emona, paintings, and altar angels. The piece of resistance is the dome fresco. The main entrance depicts Slovenia’s history and was created to celebrate the 1,250th anniversary of Christianity in Slovenia.

Admire Jože Plečnik’s architecture

The capital owes Jože Plečnik its modern look. In fact, his landmarks have been included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

He is often compared to Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona because of how he deeply influenced the city. In the 20th century, he mastered art nouveau and modernist architecture. His work can be found in other places in central Europe like Vienna, Prague and Belgrade. The Ljubljanica Sluice Gate, Cobblers’ Bridge, and the National and University Library are other of his legacy. To learn more about the architect, go to Plečnik House where you can see his plans and work that he never got to finish.

Visit the Central Market

While the Prešeren Square might be the central point of the city, the Ljubljana central market is the belly. The open-air market is open every day except on Sundays and Holidays. The market is full of local farmers’ products going from fresh fruits to fresh vegetables. You also can find cheese in the market (Slovenians loooove dairy products), honey, sausages and some linen as well as handcrafted souvenirs. The market is very well organized with rows and little wooden stands.

The two-story Central Market building was built in the 1940s and follows the curve of the river and it was designed by Jože Plečnik in the early 1930s as a set piece of the Triple Bridge.

Go to the rooftop bar of the Skyscraper building

Who doesn't love a rooftop bar with great views? Then you should go to the Skyscraper building, the Neboticnik. If you are coming from North America, the building will not seem tall at all but by the time it was constructed, it was. The Skyscraper is a 13-storey tower which in its construction in 1933 became the tallest building in the Balkans and was in the top ten for Europe.

The bar gives you a view of the old town and the castle.

Ljubljana Castle

The castle is a short 15 min from the pretty Ljubljana town hall.

The medieval castle overlooks the city, perched on the top of the hill, around 60 meters above the Old Town. To get the best views of the city you must go to the Viewing Tower and the ramparts. It is said that on a clear day, you can see almost a third of the whole country!

The medieval construction dates back to the 15th century. The castle has been restored into a museum, a venue for cultural events and a high-end restaurant. Who doesn’t like to dine in a castle? You can read our review of the restaurant here. Spoiler alert it was delicious!

The original castle was built as a defence against Ottoman invasions. Through the centuries, it has been used as a war hospital, a prison, and a quarantine station. Today’s building is a replica from the 1940s as the original fell into despair in the 17th century. The museum inside the castle is the Puppet Museum.

To reach the top of the hill, you have several options: you can go by car, by bus, by funicular or you can take a short hike. I would suggest hiking as it takes approximately 15 minutes and you can enjoy the park and the views of the city. Once at the castle, take a moment, once again, to enjoy the beautiful views. If you go during the sunset, you will have a full spectacle of the castle with the warm colours of the sunset.

Tivoli Park

Think about the Tivoli park as Ljubljana’s central park, the lung of the city. While the city is proclaimed the greenest city in Europe, the park is a must-do. Enjoy a nice walk among the trees, and if you are visiting in the summer, this place will definitely give you a chance to cool off. Inside the park, there is a botanical garden and several old mansions. The park was designed in 1813 by a French engineer. It covers 5km2. Right by the park, you will find the Union Brewery.

Museums

The city has more than 10 museums, from classical art to modern art to history museums. We visited the National Museum of Contemporary History. This museum covers the country’s history back from WWI to its adherence to the European Union in 2004. We chose this museum because I was very curious to know why there was such a significant contrast between Slovenia and other former Yugoslavian countries and former USSR countries, like Bulgaria. Before visiting, we had the wrong assumption that all the “eastern countries” were similar.

For modern art lovers, head to the Museum of Modern Art located near Tivoli Park. The museum displays Slovenian artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.

The National Gallery of Slovenia is the fine arts museum of the city. The museum highlights the works from the High Middle Ages to the 20th century and it also has a permanent exhibition of works by Zoran Mušič, Europe’s leading modernist painters. The museum has over 600 works of art. Ethnographic Museum or the Illusion Museum are other great options to visit during your stay.

Metelkova

The praised alternative cultural center is a hub for local artists, bars and clubs. Although we visited the place in the morning, and we did not get a chance to visit it to the maximum, I found it a little weird and creepy. It hosts regular concerts, performances, exhibitions and even a festival. It’s a great place to appreciate a bit of street art and for an amazing night out.

Metelkova has a history that dates back to the 1990s when a group of 200 artists and intellectuals occupied the old Austro-Hungarian army barracks in the form of protest. The project was branded an “autonomous cultural centre.”

If you like these alternative vibes, then Rog might be for you. This is an independent factory or squatter building that used to be a bicycle manufacturer and now has art galleries and two skate parks.

Where to eat in Ljubljana

Due to its geography and history, Slovenian cuisine is a yummy mix of cuisines from Italy, Austria, Hungary and the Balkans. Seriously, the food in Slovenia is delicious! If you are a foodie like us, you will love the country! The city has a total of 2 one-star restaurants and 2 bibs.

For dinner, go to TaBar to enjoy tapas sizes bite, a mix of traditional and modern cuisine. The restaurant has an extensive list of Slovenian wines that will perfectly pair with your meal. It is recommended to take around 5 dishes for 2 persons. The city has also plenty of craft beer bars to enjoy. This is considered to be a bib restaurant.

If you ever dreamt of eating in a castle and feeling like you are royalty then I have the place just for you! The Strelec restaurant is located in the Ljubljana Castle. The decor and the food are phenomenal. The restaurant is a one-star Michelin star. The restaurant is in the Archers Tower which gives you phenomenal views of the city. They offer a tasting menu. You can read more about it in my Strelec review.

We did a few appetizer tours during our itinerary, here is the list, I hope it gives you plenty of ideas for restaurants.

For lighter bites, you can head to Niša v Galerji Dobra Vaga. Here, we had Preko Mure, buckwheat bread, cottage cheese with prosciutto while the second bite was buckwheat bread with a white pea spread. Both toasts were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle and were accompanied by a wine spritzer. This eatery is located in the basement of the old fish market and shares its space with an art gallery, so take your time here and enjoy the contemporary art of the Capital. The cafe is hiply decorated with mid-century furniture and has a view of the river and architectural houses along the banks that give an indistinguishable style to Ljubljana.

Moji štruklji Slovenije specializes in traditional Slovenian dumplings made with cottage cheese. Here, you can choose between a salty or a sweet dumpling. My favourite was the sweet one as it was made of chocolate. The dumplings date back to the 16th century. You can order a refreshing homemade iced tea. The restaurant eatery is located in Plečnik's Covered Market, part of Ljubljana's central market. This part of the market was designed by the famous architect Jože Plečnik and is now home to young cooks who put their creativity to the test with local food.

Slovenska Hiša (Slovenian House) serves innovative and yet traditional dishes to its guests. The manor house is overlooking the river and has a gorgeous terrace perfect for do-it-yourself food tours. We had a prosciutto plate that went through a long drying process, in a traditional Kras cellar. The Prosciutto was perfectly paired with a glass of Slovenian red wine.

Vino & Ribe (wine and fish) offers a variety of fresh seafood and fish, all from the Slovenian Istria Peninsula (where Piran is located). The Vino & Ribe is located on Stari Trg, a buzzing street full of other restaurants and shops. We only had a quick tapas of grilled sardines served with marinated vegetables on a baguette.

Wine Bar šuklje is located inside an old mansion and the sumptuous architecture is a delight for your eyes as well. Here we had an appetizer of smoked trout paired with a glass of Slovenian white wine.

If you are going during the summer, you might want to go for Ice cream and I have the place just for you! The Gelateria Romantika is one of the highly-rated ice cream places in the Capital as it was voted one of the best gelaterias by Lonely Planet. All the ingredients are carefully sourced with a preference for organic, free-trade growers and producers. The outside benches, located in front of the gelateria, give a stunning view of the Ljubljana Castle, perched high up on the mountain.  I had a delicious watermelon sorbet.

2 day Ljubljana itinerary

So after all of this, you might be wondering if 2 days in Ljubljana is enough? The answer is yes! You might be able to do everything in one day but you will be missing the chill vibe and you will miss experiencing the amazing restaurants and bars that the city has. Ljubljana is a small city, with all the major attractions within walking distance. Another great option is to rent a bike!

Now that you know about all the things to do, here is a suggested itinerary for Ljubljana. As always, feel free to mix and match!

Day 1

You should start your itinerary by doing a guided tour. You can either take a free walking tour, take a food tour or do both. Tours are great ways to learn about the history of the city.

Then after you have taken all the info needed, head to the Central Market for a bite or two. Then, walk along the Ljubljanica River and cross the many bridges. Then finish your Ljubljana one-day itinerary with a visit to the Castle and dine there!

Day 2

Start at Tivoli Park, then go check a museum where 2 are in the same district. After visiting the museum, you can go for a drink or a bite at the Skyscraper building and then walk around the city to spot the Baroque or Art Nouveau buildings. You finish your day at Metelkova. Here you can go to a club for live bands and DJs, and if you are in luck, you can catch outdoor concerts in summer.

Day 3

You can choose to stay an extra day and go do day trips, the whole country is almost within driving distance. Ljubljana is a great central city to other of the country’s destinations like the fairytale town of Lake Bled. You can see all of the possible day trips here.

Practical Information & travel tips

Getting around 

The city is very walkable and in fact, the city center is closed to all motorized vehicles.

There are also many public bike stations making it easy to navigate the city. Public transportation will take you from one place to another for a very affordable fee.

Like many European cities, you can get a city card to have transportation and attraction discounts. Ljubljana Tourist Card ( €23/30/35 for 24/48/72 hours) which gives free entry to 15 attractions and unlimited use of public transport.

Where to stay in Ljubljana?

We stayed at the three-star B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park Hotel. The hotel is rated the #1 most eco-friendly hotel in Ljubljana and is centrally located. From the hotel, you can walk for less than 5 minutes to Metelkova or to the city centre with its main attractions. The eco-friendly features are visible through the plants, quirky messages encouraging you to take the stairs and much more. The hotel is committed to reducing energy and waste by using renewable energy. Also, this hotel is decorated with a green colour scheme which gives a pleasant look to the facility. I would suggest booking one of the rooms with a view. You can choose to see the Ljubljana city center, the Castle, or the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

The hotel offers complimentary breakfast to its guests. The buffet offers cold cuts, different cheeses, bread, eggs, croissants and fruits. Perfect to give you all the energy to kickstart your day of sightseeing. The hotel is part of the European hotel chain B&B Hotels.

Getting in and out of the city

The capital is centrally located in the heart of the country. Most of the other country’s attractions are located between 1 to 3 hours drive so I would highly suggest renting a car and visiting this beautiful country! If you are a mountain person, I would suggest going to Velika Planina, only 30 minutes away. Plus, Slovenia borders many other countries like Italy and Croatia so it's perfect for a European road trip. On our part, we decided to take a 10-day road trip through the country, you can read more about it here.

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (IATA: LJU) does not have many direct flights so accessing the country by air can be a little difficult. It might be easier to arrive at a nearby airport and drive to the country. Venice airport is not very far away. If you choose to arrive at the airport, you can get a daily bus. You can also choose to take the train in connection with other countries.

Ljubljana Railway Station is the central station for trains and buses. The city has great connections with other internal cities and surrounding countries.

WHEN TO GO

Slovenia has 4 seasons, so it all depends on which season you prefer to travel to and the things that you like to do. I enjoyed going in summer to enjoy the parks and al fresco dining.

SAFETY

The country is extremely safe! However, everyone has their own experiences.

CURRENCY

Slovenia has been using the Euro (€) since 2004.

TAP WATER

You can drink your tap water. So ditch your plastic bottle and fill your reusable bottle wherever you want! Remember that in Europe you have to pay for your water at restaurants, so you better not forget your water bottle!

POWER

Slovenia uses the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. The plugs are characterized by two or three round pins in a row. They use plugs Type F, C and E.

After this long post, do you think Ljubljana is worth visiting? Let me know in the comments!

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Disclaimer: We enjoyed our stay at the Park Hotel thanks to Ljubljana tourism board. A big thank you! All opinions are my own, as always.

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