A beautiful city in a beautiful country, the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana has a rich history and a beautiful modern art scene. With the many attractions available it can be daunting to decide where to visit first, luckily we’re here to help.
Get the most of Ljubljana with these 12 things to do …
MUST-DO
Ljubljana Old Town
Your first stop in Ljubljana should be a walk through Old Town and exploring what these streets have to offer.
The entire old town center is a pedestrian only area, this makes for a delightfully relaxing time as you wander around at your own pace and admire some of the area’s gorgeous architecture. Between the architecture and the lack of cars you could be fooled into thinking you had stepped back in time to the Slovenia of old.
St. Nicholas Cathedral
One of the many buildings you will find in the old town is Ljubljana Cathedral, a 300 year old baroque church that’s somewhat understated outside hides disguises the magnificent interior.
Narrow streets surround the building making admiring the exterior of the church difficult, luckily its the interior we’re here for. Whether it be the incredible artwork that lines every wall and ceiling, or the magnificent Baroque organ that takes up center stage this church has so many beautiful things to see. Our personal highlight is the pair of large bronze doors, intricately sculpted with the history of Slovenia.
Open Kitchen Festival
If you’re visiting during the summer months then you do not want to miss the Open Kitchen Festival.
The festival takes place every Friday all day and has a lot on offer. This is where chefs from across the country get together and show off their absolute best dishes for you. Whether you’re in the mood for modern cuisine, produce from local farmers or traditional Slovenian meals there is no shortage of variety on offer. With your meal consider trying some of the locally sourced wine and beer which make for delightful accompaniment.
Ljubljana Castle
One of the most unique castles you can visit, not just in Slovenia, but in all of Europe because instead of taking the usual walking tour or just exploring on your own this castle is complete with a built in escape room puzzle/scavenger hunt.
The scavenger hunt consists of five challenges that will take you all around the castle while hunting down clues and solving puzzles. The challenges are oriented towards families with early teenage kids so of course if the escape room isn’t quite your style you can still take an audio tour if you would rather explore the castle in a more traditional way
Prešeren Square
The central square of Ljubljana, Prešeren Square is a must visit sight during your trip to the country.
Named for famous Slovenian poet, France Prešeren, Prešeren square is one of Ljubljana’s most important landmarks. Most notably next to the square stands the vibrant pink Franciscan Church which you can of course, step inside in order to check out the stunning interior. The square also plays host to a wide variety of concerts, political events and festivals.
OTHER AMAZING THINGS TO DO
Explore The City’s Many Bridges
Bridges are one of the things that Ljubljana is most famous for and this is because the city is absolutely full of them and they are all completely unique.
The three most notable bridges across the city are;
- Triple Bridge – a single bridge constructed out of three connected bridges, hence the name Triple Bridge
- Dragon Bridge – a bridge named for the four giant dragon statues that decorate either end of the bridge
- Butcher’s Bridge – decorated with frog sculptures and figures from Greek Mythology, however the bridge is most notable for the padlocks that couples have locked onto the bridge as a symbol of their everlasting love
Ljubljana Central Market
Just about every city in Eastern Europe has a traditional market where you can try all manner of fresh local produce and Ljubljana Central Market is no exception.
Whether you’re in the mood for some home-made bread, some freshly caught fish, or locally grown fruit and vegetables this two story market has almost anything you could want. This beautiful market follows the curve of the river and you can reach it by crossing the marvelous Dragon Bridge. If you’re not one for cooking yourself, the market also offers freshly cooked meals using these same local ingredients.
ROG Factory
Once a bicycle factory and now an artistic squat, full of unique artwork. The ROG Factory is one the most unique places you can visit during your time in Ljubljana.
Due to the city battling with the squatters to reclaim the property, this space could disappear any time so you must visit the area while you still can. The area has art galleries, cultural events and even the biggest skate park in the Balkans so there is plenty to do on your visit to this beautiful part of Ljubljana.
Tivoli Park
Central Ljubljana’s largest park, Tivoli park is the perfect place to relax between exploring the rest of the city.
Spanning around five square kilometres, it’s easy to spend several hours wandering around admiring the greenery and fauna on display. As well as the plants there’s a few unique spots scattered around the park we recommend you visit. The best of these spots are Cekin Mansion and Tivoli Castle, two beautiful buildings that are well worth a look.
Take A Bicycle Tour
Similarly to a lot of modern cities, Ljubljana has embraced cycling as the primary mode of transport around the city.
Because of this it’s worth you taking up a pair of wheels yourself and experiencing the city as locals do. There are stations around the city where you can rent a bicycle for the day. Due to the lack of cars it is also a much safer city to cycle around than some others.
Hostel Celica
This is the most unique place you can stay in Ljubljana and that’s because this hostel was once a prison.
Hostel Celica is an old prison that has been transformed into a traditional hostel where you can stay. While more traditional common rooms are on offer, the real reason to stay here is the cells. Artists have been given funding and free reign to design the cells however they please making each room totally unique.
Admire the Street Art
Though not one specific place the entirety of Ljubljana has some of the most impressive street art you can find.
The Street art scene is alive and well in Ljubljana and you’re certain to see it as you explore. It’s well worth setting aside some time to explore and admire the artwork the locals have created across the city.
Street art isn’t just paint though. There’s also performances, music, dance and much more on display, as much a part of the city’s heart as artwork.
