Introducing Ljubljana
Few people know where Ljubljana is, even less can pronounce Ljubljana, but the capital of Slovenia has all the right ingredients for the perfect city break. It wouldn’t be revolutionary if we told you that the fame of a city doesn’t guarantee the quality of your experience there, and vice versa. Cities not included on lists of top recommended destinations in the world, can create some exquisite travel memories. This is exactly the case with Ljubljana.
Ljubljana, Slovenia’s largest city, is one of the youngest and most liveable capitals in the European Union. It has a 5,000-year-long and fascinating history including the remains of the Roman city of Emona and the old city centre with its medieval castle. It was formerly an Austro-Hungarian city called Laibach, and is heavily influenced by nearby Austria and Italy. It’s a city with a medieval heart, a city of the Baroque and Art Nouveau, with numerous picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river (which is perfect for boat trips) and the vast green Tivoli park, which stretches into the very city centre.
Ljubljana is quickly establishing itself as one of Europe’s must visit cities. It’s a safe, walkable place with lots to see, do, eat, and drink. Many visitors happily spend their time meandering along its cobbled streets or sitting in a pavement cafe in one of its squares, but Ljubljana also has a handful of museums, art galleries, festivals, a theatre, a bustling market, and a hilltop castle with views for miles. After dark, Ljubljana has enough chic bars, cosy inns with open fires and sophisticated restaurants to keep tourists entertained. The local people are friendly and helpful and most of them speak English really well. The city itself isn’t that large, but there’s enough there to fill a week, and then you can use it as a base to explore elsewhere in Slovenia. Distances between places in Slovenia are really short and within a single day you can visit the Slovenian coast and experience the Mediterranean climate or visit the mountainous region of Gorenjska and experience the Alpine and continental climate.
The most important attractions in the city are Ljubljana’s Old Town, Ljubljana Castle, Triple Bridge, Preseren Square, River Ljubljanica Kanal, Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Tivoli Park, Metelkova, National Museum of Contemporary History, Ljubljana Castle Funicular, Franciscan Church, Vodnik Square, Dragon Bridge, Town Hall, Ljubljana Zoo, National and University Library, Galerija Emporium, Butcher’s Bridge, Zale Cemetery, Shoemaker’s Bridge, Slovene Ethnographic Museum, Church of St. James, Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity, Technical Museum of Slovenia, Plecnik Collection / Architectural Museum Ljubljana, Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers, and Old Square.
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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. |
Ljubljana Pictures
Ljubljana with its hilltop castle as seen from the Neboticnik skyscraper. (photo: Jacob Riglin, Beautiful Destinations, Slovenia.info)
Triple Bridge connects Ljubljana’s historic Old Town on one bank and the modern part of the city on the other. (photo: Dunja Wedam, visitljubljana.com)
River Ljubljanica flows through Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Blaz Pogacnik, visitljubljana.com)
Ljubljana and its hilltop castle. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
The cobblestone Stari Trg Square in the heart of Ljubljana’s Old Town. (photo: Blaz Pogacnik, visitljubljana.com)
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)
Ljubljana is at its most picture-perfect state during winter. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
It’s amazing how beautiful Ljubljana looks when it snows. (photo: Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info)
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Hard to spell but easy to fall in love with, Ljubljana is one of Europe's greenest and most charming capitals. |
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. Situated right in the middle of Slovenia, Ljubljana means beloved in Slovenian, and there is a lot to love about this city. |
Slovenia's capital Ljubljana is a charming central European city with a medieval core. The central part of Ljubljana is completely closed for traffic, which makes it such a lovely city to stroll around in and because it’s so compact, it’s easy to walk everywhere. |
Tibor Lelkes is a passionate Dutch travel photographer who visited Slovenia's capital Ljubljana in August of 2017 and kindly shared his beautiful photos of the city with us. |
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. |
Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital and largest city. Within it, Ljubljana Old Town is the historic centre of the city where you’ll find cobblestone streets, charming bridges, pretty alleyways, open-air markets, and numerous outdoor cafes and restaurants. |
Ljubljana’s Old Town is the most popular tourist destination in Slovenia's capital that draws over a million visitors per year. It is located on the right (eastern) bank of the Ljubljanica River and at the foot of the Castle Hill. It is filled with history, culture, and fantastic restaurants and bars. |
Built in the 15th century, the Ljubljana Castle stands on top of a 375-metre-high hill above the historic old centre of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is Ljubljana's main tourist attraction where various cultural, historic and entertaining events take place regularly throughout the year. |
Ljubljana Castle is a medieval fortress dominating Slovenia's capital skyline to the south for the last 600 years. It is visible from any and all spots in the city centre. |
Ljubljana Castle is probably the main must see attraction in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. Because of its position, it is usually the first thing to photograph for those visiting Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. |
The Triple Bridge is a group of three separate bridges within a few meters of each other, crossing the Ljubljanica river right in the heart of Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. |
As the name suggests, Triple Bridge is a collection of three bridges across the Ljubljanica River. It’s the most famous of bridges in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, thanks to its distinctive design, connecting Ljubljana's Old Town with the modern part of the city. |
The Triple Bridge is one of Ljubljana’s major tourist attractions. It is a unique combination of a 19th-century road bridge and two 1930s pedestrian bridges designed by the most famous Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik. |
Ljubljana Cathedral, or the Cathedral of St. Nicholas as it is also known, is the main church in Ljubljana, the capital Of Slovenia. |
Ljubljana Cathedral isn't very impressive from the outside, but the interior is absolutely breathtaking. |
The Ljubljanica River Canal is the most attractive and picturesque part of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The canal is lined with beautiful historic buildings as well as al fresco cafes, restaurants and small shops. |
The Ljubljanica river, with its wonderful bridges and very picturesque embankments, is one of the most notable landmarks in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. |
The heart of the social life in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana are the Ljubljanica river embankments, densely scattered with lively cafés and bars offering outdoor seating. |
The Preseren Square is the main square in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is located in the pedestrian zone in the historic old centre of the city where festivals, concerts, and various other events take place throughout the year. |
Preseren Square is part of Ljubljana's Old Town. It's an ideal spot to snap a selfie and people-watch. In the festive season, the square is decked out in an array of Christmas lights. |
Preseren Square is named after the greatest Slovenian poet, Dr. France Preseren. Always bustling with activity, this square is exceptionally pedestrian-friendly and has become a popular meeting spot for both locals and tourists. |
With its attractive salmon-pink facade, the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation in Ljubljana is one of the most recognizable buildings in the capital of Slovenia. It stands on the main Preseren Square in the historic old centre of the city. |
The 17th-century salmon-pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation stands on the Preseren Square in the heart of Ljubljana's Old Town. The pink facade of the Franciscan Church is very striking and unusual, and is probably the most famous image of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. |
Built in the 17th-century, the salmon-pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation dominates the Preseren Square in the heart of Ljubljana's Old Town. The church is part of a larger complex that includes the adjoining Franciscan Monastery. |
Situated in the centre of Ljubljana, the Congress Square is one of the largest squares in Slovenia's capital. |
Ljubljana Central Market was designed by revered twentieth-century Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik between the years 1931 and 1939. |
Just a stone’s throw away from Ljubljana's city centre, Tivoli Park is a wonderful place to escape from the city rush and relax in nature. The park is more than 200 years old. |
The Dragon Bridge is an iconic landmark in Ljubljana, and a wonderful place to photograph. |
Designed by Joze Plecnik, the Cobblers’ Bridge is very elegant and features balustrades with pillars topped with either stone balls or lamps that are turned on during the night. |
The Butchers' Bridge is Ljubljana's love bridge, where numerous couples have symbolically padlocked their love and dropped the key into the Ljubljanica river which flows under the bridge. |
Built in 2014, the glassy Fishmarket Footbridge was designed to be as minimal and transparent as possible. |
One of major landmarks in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana and sometimes referred to as the Magistrat or Rotovz, the Town Hall was built in a Gothic style in 1484 and underwent a Baroque renovation between 1717 and 1719. |
The one-of-a-kind Metelkova lies in the heart of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. It's an autonomous social and cultural centre, an alternative city within a city, very similar to Christiania in Denmark, just a little smaller. |
Situated in the centre of Ljubljana, the National Gallery Of Slovenia is an art museum with one of the longest traditions in the country. |
Ljubljana Marshes Landscape Park is a very interesting and unique natural area of wetlands and peat bogs, known for its rare plant and animal species. |
With a size of 135 square kilometres (52 square miles), Ljubljana Marshes Landscape Park features a combination of meadows, fields, hedges and canals and is often flooded. |
In early spring, the damp, lowland meadows of the Ljubljana Marshes Landscape Park are a wonderful spot to see the beautiful snake's head fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris). |
The 20-hectare Ljubljana Zoo contains some 500 animals representing almost 120 species, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and arachnids. |
Nobody does Christmas like Ljubljana. The Christmas light displays that decorate the squares and streets of Slovenia's capital are something to behold. |
Location of Ljubljana on the map
Address: Mestni trg 1, 1000 Ljubljana
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.049845, 14.506966
GPS coordinates: 46° 2′ 59.4420” N 14° 30′ 25.0776” E
Region: Central Slovenia
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We're extremely proud to announce that Slovenia's capital Ljubljana has been crowned European Best Destination 2022. It trumped other popular European cities, including London (UK), Rome (Italy) and Vienna (Austria), which finished 7th, 13th and 17th respectively. |
One of the best times to travel to Ljubljana is in spring when the city is finally blanketed in green. |
Known for its rare flora and fauna, the Ljubljana Marshes is a wonderful spot to see the delightful snake's head fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris) in early spring. |
The colourful and beautiful spring has arrived in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana a few days earlier this year than the long-term average. |
Slovenia's capital Ljubljana has been ranked one of the most sustainable cities in the world by global travel publication, Lonely Planet. |
After winter hibernation and after the Coronavirus crisis, the Open Kitchen (or 'Odprta Kuhna' as the locals call it), a popular gourmet open-air food market in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, re-opened for the 8th season of mouth-watering gastronomic creations today at 10 am. |
Slovenia's capital Ljubljana and many other cities and towns across the country officially turned on their Christmas lights yesterday evening. |
The BBC’s Good Food project has listed Slovenia's capital Ljubljana among the top ten destinations for food lovers to visit in 2019. |
We're delighted to report that Slovenia's capital Ljubljana made it on Thrillist's list of affordable and beautiful European cities you should visit now. |
The capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana, has appeared on the list of top 10 winter city breaks in Europe compiled by the British newspaper The Guardian. |
Celica Hostel, a renowned hostel in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, has received another award – it has been named by the British newspaper The Guardian as one of the best luxury hostels in Europe. |
Slovenia's capital Ljubljana has been officially handed the status of European Green Capital by the outgoing city Bristol. |