Introducing Ljubljana Zoo
Ljubljana Zoo is a 20-hectare (48-acre) zoo in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. It serves as the national zoo of Slovenia and is open all 365 days a year. The zoo has more than 120 species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and arachnids and a total of more than 500 animals. The zoo was established on March 10th, 1949 and moved to its current location in 1951.
Since 1984, Ljubljana Zoo has been protected as part of the Tivoli–Roznik Hill–Siska Hill Nature Park. It lies on the southern slope of the Roznik Hill, only a 20-minute walk from Ljubljana’s city centre.
Ljubljana Zoo Review
Ljubljana Zoo is a mid-sized zoo located in Ljubljana that has a diverse range of animal species from all continents, but it focuses on animals typical of the area where Slovenia lies: the Alps, the Pannonian Plain, and the Mediterranean.
Some of the most popular animals at the zoo are conveniently housed near the main entrance, including the adorable alpacas and the cute meerkats (a.k.a. suricates) that always seem to be up to something and are extremely cute whilst doing it. Further, you’ll also get to see many other popular animals such as giraffes, elephants, red pandas, lions and tigers.
One of the highlights in the zoo are the Californian sea lions, who playfully demonstrate their skills twice a day during the feeding-time show (at 11am and 5pm).
At the zoo, you can also see many of the species that have become scarce or extinct in other parts of Europe, but are still present in Slovenia in significant populations, like lynx, wolves, brown bears, ibex and chamois.
The zoo’s interactive areas include a petting zoo where kids can interact with, feed and touch little pigs, goats and other farm animals.
Well worth visiting at the zoo is also a unique farm with various indigenous breeds of cows, sheep, pigs and others that have been bred over the centuries in Slovenia to meet specific needs of local farmers.
Another interesting place to visit at the zoo is a centuries-old cottage complete with period furniture, which features hidden animals and insects like mice, rats, and cockroaches.
There are two large children’s playgrounds at the zoo, the newer of which is African-themed and designed to be fun not only for the kids, but for the whole family.
Guided tours can be arranged in several languages (English, German, Italian, etc.) and are highly recommendable, as there are lots of educational presentations on display, but most of the content is only in Slovenian language.
The zoo also offers a great selection of programmes, where visitors can get to know their favourite animals up close. Visitors can arrange to be a caretaker for a day helping the keepers take care of the animals, feed the animals and prepare novelties and treats to keep them entertained.
The zookeepers are almost universally friendly, knowledgeable and willing to answer as many questions as kids can ask.
Other facilities at the zoo include a restaurant with a lovely terrace and delicious ice cream and a small but well-stocked souvenir shop with a wide selection of high quality stuffed animals and plush toys.
The zoo is easily reached by public transport, taxi (€3-5), bicycle (you can rent a bicycle in the city for free) or on foot (20-30 minutes).
Thanks to its position in the forest the zoo stays refreshing cool even in the summer months.
Cost of admission is €9 for adults, €8 for seniors and students, €6 for children between the ages of 2 and 18, €2 for persons with disabilities, €2 for dogs and free for children under 2.
Bottom line: While the Ljubljana Zoo can’t compete with world-class zoos in Europe, it has its own smaller-scale charm, and young kids love it. There’s a reasonable variety of animals and lots of interactive areas that kids appreciate.
The zoo is open year-round. Opening hours:
January, December: daily 9:00 – 16:30;
February, March, November: daily 9:00 – 17:00;
October: daily 9:00 – 18:00;
April, May, June, July, August, September: daily 9:00 – 19:00.
Tel.: +386 1 24 42 188
Website: www.zoo.si
Email: info@zoo.si
Map of Ljubljana Zoo
Ljubljana Zoo Photos
Alpacas are one of the most popular animals in the zoo. (photo: Zoo Ljubljana)
Siberian tiger. (photo: Zoo Ljubljana)
California Sea Lion during the feeding-time show. (photo: Zoo Ljubljana)
A petting zoo where kids can interact with, feed and touch little pigs, goats and other farm animals. (photo: Zoo Ljubljana)
A restaurant with a lovely terrace and delicious ice cream. (photo: Zoo Ljubljana)
A well-stocked souvenir shop with a wide selection of high quality stuffed animals and plush toys. (photo: Zoo Ljubljana)
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The 20-hectare Ljubljana Zoo contains some 500 animals representing almost 120 species, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and arachnids. |
Ljubljana Zoo Location On The Map
Address: Vecna Pot 70, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.052770, 14.472150
GPS coordinates: 46° 3′ 9.972” N 14° 28′ 19.74” E
Region: Central Slovenia
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: 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. |