About Ljubljana Old Town
Ljubljana Old Town is the historic old centre of Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. It is the most attractive and picturesque part of Ljubljana with all the most important tourist attractions like the Triple Bridge, Preseren Square, Ljubljanica River Canal, Ljubljana Cathedral, Franciscan Church, and many others.
Many visitors say that Ljubljana’s Old Town is one of the most picturesque city centers in Europe and we definitely agree.
Ljubljana Old Town Photo Gallery
Enjoy this beautiful photo gallery with 50 high resolution Ljubljana’s Old Town photos, all taken by professional photographers!
The salmon-pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and the Triple Bridge are the symbols of Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Aljaz Sedovsek, Nea Culpa, Slovenia.info)
The iconic Triple Bridge in the heart of Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Ales Fevzer, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana Old Town with the hilltop Ljubljana Castle in the background. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
A fountain at Novi Trg Square. (photo: Ales Fevzer, Slovenia.info)
The cobblestone Gornji Trg street in the heart of Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
An outdoor cafe in Ljubljana’s Old Town with the Ljubljana Cathedral in the background. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
The Robba Fountain, one of Ljubljana’s best known Baroque monuments, also known as The Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers, stands at the edge of the Mestni Trg square. (photo: Nikola Jurisic, Slovenia.info)
Enjoying a cup of coffee or glass of wine in one of the many riverside cafés and bars with outdoor seating is an essential part of the way of life in the Ljubljana Old Town. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Tourist boats offer a great opportunity to experience the historical city centre of Ljubljana, with its remarkable bridges, picturesque façades, and green embankments, from a completely different angle. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
You can see Ljubljana from a different perspective by going on a tourist boat ride. (photo: Mankica Kranjec, Nea Culpa, Slovenia.info)
Tourist boat rides offer an opportunity to see Ljubljana’s Old Town and its numerous famous buildings and bridges from a different angle. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
The Ljubljanica River flows through the Ljubljana Old Town. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
Stand Up Paddling on the Ljubljanica river provides an excellent way to see Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
The Ljubljanica River passes by and under many landmarks in Ljubljana’s Old Town – Plecnik’s market, Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, etc. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Vander Urbani Resort with a rooftop swimming pool in Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
The electric train Urban encircles Ljubljana’s Old Town every two hours, four times a day. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana is a city with a green soul. (photo: Mankica Kranjec, Nea Culpa, Slovenia.info)
In Ljubljana, the majority of Art Nouveau buildings are within the Old Town. (photo: Miran Kambic, Slovenia.info)
Krizevniska Street (‘Knights of the Cross Street’) is one of the oldest and cutest streets of Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
As a part of the urban intervention and greening project, the Krizevniska Street has become a new cultural quarter between the City Museum and the new Breg embankment. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Besides rich greenery along the cobblestone Krizevniska Street, white benches with quotes of the most important Slovenian architect, Joze Plecnik, are placed. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
Exploring the streets of Ljubljana’s Old Town by bike is a great way of sightseeing. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
With special cycling lanes and car-free streets, Ljubljana’s Old Town is a very bicycle-friendly place. (photo: Iztok Medja, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town is filled with cafes, restaurants and green surfaces where visitors can meet locals and enjoy the vibe of the city. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town Libraries Under The Treetops are, contrary to societal norms, spacious, green, airy, oxygen-infused affairs of relaxed bookish camaraderie. (photo: Mankica Kranjec, Nea Culpa, Slovenia.info)
Park Zvezda is located right in the centre of the Congress Square and overlooked by Slovenia’s cultural institutions. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Park Zvezda is known for numerous archaeological findings from the Roman period. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
In Ljubljana’s Old Town, Zvezda Park is favoured among the students, who like to hang there with friends. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Zvezda Park during the Independence Day celebration. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
There are numerous cafés with outdoor seating in Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: David Lotric, Nea Culpa, Slovenia.info)
The bridges in Ljubljana’s Old Town are very popular selfie spots among tourists. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
Slovenian folklore dance in front of the Town Hall. (photo: Ales Fevzer, Slovenia.info)
Every Friday from mid-March until the end of October, Pogacarjev Trg Square hosts a unique food market called Open Kitchen. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
Pogacarjev Trg Square with the Ljubljana Cathedral in the background. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
Every Friday, June until late October, Pogacarjev Trg Square in Ljubljana’s Old Town transforms into one big melting point of culinary and social excitement, as Open Kitchen takes over. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
Outdoor cafés are THE thing to do in Ljubljana’s Old Town. Sit down and experience a leisurely vibe. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Nights in Ljubljana Old Town is a mini festival that features performances by some of the best Slovenian and International musicians. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Nights in Ljubljana’s Old Town international music festival is among the biggest cultural events in Slovenia. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Nights in Ljubljana’s Old Town international music festival attracts more than 60,000 domestic and foreign visitors each year. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
The Ana Desetnica international street theatre festival is held at various outdoor venues across Ljubljana’s Old Town every summer. (photo: Mankica Kranjec, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town is worth visiting in all seasons. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
You will love strolling down the cobblestone streets. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
All of the cafe bars and restaurants in Ljubljana’s Old Town are open in the winter, and outside seating is still being utilised. How? Plenty of heaters (above and below tables) and throws and faux sheepskin covers for chairs and stools. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
Easily walkable, Ljubljana’s Old Town boasts striking architecture and a vibrant outdoor eating and drinking culture. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town in the festive season. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
Ribja Brv Footbridge connects two squares on either side of Ljubljanica river and occupies a stretch between two bridges by revered twentieth-century Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
The glassy Ribja Brv footbridge with the hilltop Ljubljana Castle in the background. (photo: Marco Coppo, Foto Video Coppo, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town is cut in the middle by the Ljubljanica river, an emerald green river. Stroll around the canal to admire the architecture of Ljubljana. (photo: Iztok Medja, Slovenia.info)
While you walk alongside the Ljubljanica river, pass from one side to the other through the numerous historical bridges. (photo: Anze Krze, Mediaspeed, Slovenia.info)
Castle Hill above Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Teddy Verneuil, Slovenia.info)
A lovely view of Ljubljana’s Old Town with its hilltop Ljubljana Castle. (photo: James Relf Dyer, Beautiful Destinations, Slovenia.info)
It’s amazing how beautiful Ljubljana’s Old Town looks when it snows. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town is at its most picture-perfect state during winter. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
The outdoor cafe bars and restaurants in Ljubljana’s Old Town are open in the festive season with plenty of heaters above and below tables and throws and faux sheepskin covers for chairs and stools. (photo: Adrijan Pregelj, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town is known for having one of the most original lights displays. (photo: Dean Dubokovic, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s incredible Christmas lights celebrate science with geometric forms, math equations, galaxies, planets, comets, shooting stars and more. (photo: Nina Kurnik, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s unique Christmas lights. (photo: Nina Kurnik, Slovenia.info)
Ljubljana’s Old Town with its hilltop Ljubljana Castle at night in the Christmas season. (photo: Adrijan Pregelj, Slovenia.info)
In Ljubljana’s Old Town, December is considered to be a month of events, and despite the cold, the streets are vibrant throughout the month. (photo: Dean Dubokovic, Slovenia.info)
Slovenia's capital Ljubljana has all the right ingredients for the perfect city break. It's one of the youngest and most liveable capitals in the European Union. It’s a city with a medieval heart, a city of the Baroque and Art Nouveau, with numerous picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river and the vast green Tivoli park, which stretches into the very city centre. |
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Overall Rating: 10/10 (Must-See) Ljubljana is a charming little capital and its Old Town is one of Slovenia's top tourist destinations that draws over one million visitors per year. It's a mix of impressive architecture, a picturesque river littered with fascinating bridges, plus heaps of lovely restaurants, bars and cafés. It's a very safe and easy area to wander around - the streets are pedestrianized so that makes it quieter and more relaxed. |
Overall Rating: Ljubljana Castle is the most prominent tourist attraction in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The castle is perched on top of a hill and can be seen from anywhere in Ljubljana, and you can see anywhere in Ljubljana from the castle. Majority of the castle is free to wander through and there is something for everyone (fantastic views, interesting exhibits, people in costume, lots to keep the children interested, good food, etc.). To visit the castle, you can walk up to it or you can take the funicular to the top. |
Overall Rating: Preseren Square is the center of Ljubljana’s Old Town, situated where the Triple Bridge crosses the Ljubljanica river and right in front of the pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. The square is cobblestone-paved and is an amazing place full of life, where both the locals and tourists hang out to socialize, listen to talented street musicians, people watch, and take in the views. |
Overall Rating: Triple Bridge or Tromostovje as it is called in Slovene is located perfectly in the heart of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. It connects the Ljubljana’s historic old town on one bank and the modern part of the city on the other. The bridge has a Venetian look to it – it was designed with a lot of Italian influence and looks like you would find it in Venice. It’s small yet lovely. There are usually buskers and other street entertainers on the bridge creating a lovely atmosphere. |
Overall Rating: The Ljubljanica river canal splits Ljubljana’s historic old town from the modern part of the city. A paved path exists along the entire way. The river’s banks are beautiful and you can spend an afternoon just wandering along and enjoy historic buildings and architecture, the many lively outdoor cafés and restaurants, and the vibe of the city. It's an excellent place to get a perspective on what living in Slovenia’s capital is all about. |
Overall Rating: Ljubljana Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of St. Nicholas) is the main church in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. It's not terribly impressive from the outside, but when you go inside it is magnificent. The amazing artwork adorns pretty much every inch of the inside of the building, with spectacular paintings (the cathedral has recently been refurbished so the colors are really vibrant), lots of gold leaf, intricate frescos on the ceiling and a magnificent pipe organ. |
Overall Rating: The church is located in a prime position in the heart of the Ljubljana old town. You cannot fail to spot this salmon-pink church as it provides an attractive backdrop to the main Preseren Square at the end of the Triple bridge. The inside is worth a look for the painted ceiling and walls and the main altar, which was executed by a famous Italian sculptor Francesco Robba. |
Overall Rating: Dating back to 1821, this large square in the centre of Ljubljana is surrounded by some of the city's most important and well known buildings and is a popular venue for large outdoor events. |
Overall Rating: Almost every visitor to Ljubljana will pass by Ljubljana Central Market as it's located in the historic city centre. The market is divided into outdoor and indoor areas. It's more than just a convenient place to buy food, it offers a perfect location to meet friends and people-watch and there’s a lot of pleasure to be had by just strolling around and seeing what's happening. |
Overall Rating: The Dragon Bridge spans the Ljubljanica River at the eastern side of Ljubljana's historic city centre, On each of the four corners of the bridge sits a huge, almost real-looking dragon made from sheet copper. |
Overall Rating: The Cobblers' Bridge was built in 1931 by Joze Plecnik and encapsulates his style perhaps better than any other structure in Ljubljana: it's simple, with clean lines and adorned with classical columns. |
Overall Rating: The Butchers' Bridge spans the Ljubljanica River between the colonnaded Central Market and Petkovskovo Nabrezje Embankment in Ljubljana's Old Town. It features glass panels near the edges and some rather disturbing sculptures. Soon after the bridge opened in 2010, it also became home to the lovely tradition of couples affixing 'love locks' along the length of its steel wires. |
Overall Rating: The glassy Fishmarket Footbridge spans the Ljubljanica River in the midst of Ljubljana's Old Town. The bridge itself was designed to be as minimal and transparent as possible and isn't especially noteworthy, but it's a popular spot for strolls and offers a dazzling view of the iconic Triple Bridge and the salmon-pink Franciscan Church in one direction and the Cobblers’ Bridge in the other. |
Overall Rating: Situated centrally within Ljubljana's Old Town, the historic Town Hall is a major landmark in Slovenia's capital and a key part of what is probably the most picturesque spot in the city. |
Overall Rating: Just across the Ljubljanica river from Ljubljana's historic city centre lie seven dilapidated buildings which are covered in graffiti and art. This is Metelkova – one the largest, and arguably most successful, urban squats in Europe. |
Overall Rating: Housed inside a beautiful neo-Renaissance palace, this wonderful gallery features the very best in Slovene art from the 13th century up to the first half of the 20th century, |
Overall Rating: The Slovene Ethnographic Museum is a wonderful museum in Ljubljana that takes you on a fascinating trip through Slovenian culture and history. |
Overall Rating: The Museum Of Modern Art in Ljubljana focuses mainly on showcasing a diverse and exciting collection of Slovenian and international art dating from the 20th and 21st centuries. |
Overall Rating: Designed by Ljubljana's most revered architect Joze Plecnik in the 1930s, the Ljubljanica Sluice Gate marks the point at which the Ljubljanica river leaves Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. |
Overall Rating: The Technical Museum of Slovenia, with its extensive collections of technical heritage, is one of Slovenia’s most important and visited museums. It is housed in the 13th-century Bistra Castle. It might not be the easiest to get to, but for the technically minded this museum, 20 kilometres from Ljubljana in Bistra, is well worth the journey. |
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Overall Rating: Situated south of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana Marshes is the largest marsh area in the country. It covers 163 square kilometres or almost one percent of the total territory of Slovenia. Since 2008, the major part of the Ljubljana Marshes, covering an area of 135 square kilometres, has been protected as a landscape park. |
Overall Rating: It may not be as famous as its namesake in Copenhagen, but Ljubljana’s Tivoli Park is one of the most popular places to visit in the Slovenian capital. At 5 square kilometres, the park is the largest green space in Ljubljana and the perfect place to relax in nature and escape from the city rush. |
Overall Rating: Sprawled in an area of 20 hectares, Ljubljana Zoo has more than 120 species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and arachnids and a total of more than 500 animals. |
Overall Rating: Diners CUBO Golf Ljubljana is a beautifully manicured and well-maintained 18-hole course situated only a 15 minute drive from Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. Opened in 2008, it is one of the newest courses in the country and the only one that is open 365 days a year. It features fast greens, wonderful fairways and wide teeing areas. The terrain is very flat and without trees or other natural obstacles, which allows extremely dynamic play. |
Overall Rating: Golf Arboretum Ljubljana is considered one of the best and most beautiful golf courses in Slovenia. The course was designed by the famous Italian golf architect Marco Croze in the nineteen-nineties and offers stunning views of the nearby Kamnik-Savinja Alps on nearly every hole. At 5,452 metres, Arboretum Ljubljana is a relatively short course by modern-day standards, but the course itself is in great shape, immaculate and challenging to play. |
Cuisine: International A wonderful fine dining restaurant situated in the middle of Ljubljana old town. The menu is a selection of modern European dishes along with some traditional Slovenian favorites. The food is absolutely delightful and delicious, food quality is excellent with very pure ingredients and they know how to make the dishes look mouth-watering. OVERALL RATING: PRICES: |
Cuisine: International | Italian | Slovenian A lovely little restaurant situated in the heart of old Ljubljana’s pedestrian section. The menu is diverse enough to please anyone. There are a lot of Italian dishes but also some Slovenian classics. It’s not exactly fine dining, but pretty close. The food is delicious and beautifully presented and the ingredients are always fresh. OVERALL RATING: PRICES: |
Cuisine: Mediterranean | Slovenian This charming and intimate restaurant is located on a quieter street in Ljubljana Old Town. It’s housed in a lovely medieval building. The menu is designed around local foods and has many different options for meat, fish, and game – all complemented by local wines. The food is prepared perfectly and most portions are generous. OVERALL RATING: PRICES: |
Cuisine: Mediterranean | Slovenian The restaurant is located about 10-15 minute walk from Ljubljana’s Old Town. The food is delicious, a great blend of Mediterranean and Slovenian cuisine. The service is excellent and the serving staff puts you at ease to enjoy your meal with a detailed description of each dish and wine. OVERALL RATING: PRICES: |
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The accommodation options in Ljubljana can be divided into five main categories: hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, apartments and hostels. |
Finding a hotel that suits your needs and fits your budget can be a hassle. Slovenia's capital Ljubljana has more than 40 hotels ranging from super luxurious to boutique style hotels to a nice choice of affordable 3-star hotels. Find out which hotels in Ljubljana we recommend and why. |
Ljubljana guest houses are definitely a nice, safe option for a place to stay as they are comfortable and homely with owners who take an interest in their guests. Many guesthouses have a good on-site restaurant and offer not only delicious breakfasts, but also a wide range of meals for lunch and dinner. There are more than 40 guest houses in Ljubljana, so read on and find out which one would best suit your needs, style and budget. |
Ljubljana bed and breakfasts are family-run places that range from small homes renting out two or three spare bedrooms to large guest houses with more than a dozen rooms. In essence you get a room and usually also a private bathroom in someone's house, with breakfast included in the price. Find out which B&Bs in Slovenia's capital we recommend and why. |
Many local residents in Ljubljana offer apartments for rent in their houses. Each apartment has one or two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. Some also have a living room and a balcony or a terrace. It's a very popular budget-friendly option when you are staying in Ljubljana, but choose carefully, the price and quality vary considerably. Here you will find apartments that we think are the best ones in Ljubljana right now. |
Hostels are a very popular option for those seeking wallet-friendly accommodations in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. Most spaces and amenities are usually shared, but even if you’re not up for the cheapest option - a bed in a dorm room - you can often get a basic private room at a Ljubljana hostel for significantly less than the cost of a low-end hotel or privately rented room. Competition between Ljubljana hostels has grown over the past 10 years so the quality has risen considerably. There are now some really nice hostels in Ljubljana, find out which are the ones that we recommend and why! |
Stay close to Slovenia's capital Ljubljana on a farm stay and you'll combine the best of both worlds. Styled after traditional B&Bs, farm stays offer comfortable lodging, low rates, generous breakfasts and direct access to farm animals, fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs. On some farms you can also join in with farm tasks, including feeding and egg collecting. Find out which farm stays in the vicinity of Ljubljana we recommend the most. |