Discover the Lovely Capital of Slovenia: 6 Must-Do Things in Ljubljana for a Memorable Experience
Ljubljana is Slovenias capital, which is an enchanting European city that combines history with modernity. The Old Town gives you a view into the old architecture, while the iconic Ljubljana castle overlooks the city! Also, this city is sparkling with nature as there are a lot of lush parks and the tranquil Ljubljanica river.
You might also like: 5 Unforgettable Things to Do around Lake Bled
For your information, all these pictures were taken in September & October 2023.
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Some information about Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, but also the biggest city of the country. In the meantime, it’s also the smallest capital of Europe. It’s inhabited since prehistoric times and is located along a trade route. A dragon is the symbol of the city and is depicted across Ljubljana: on top of the Ljubljana castle tower and on the Dragon Bridge. It represents power, courage and greatness.
How to get to Ljubljana?
Ljubljana is located in the middle of Slovenia and is easy to reach different ways. As Slovenia is also central of Europe, there are a lot of European transportation routes. It’s easy accessible by train, with a bus, with a plane or from the highway.
1 | By bus
You can take the bus to Ljubljana from a lot of different neighbouring European cities. There are multiple buses to the capital and the best you can take is with the Flixbus. It’s a great way if you want to travel cheap around the country.
2 | By train
There is a train station in Ljubljana and a lot of trains from different cities arrive here. The countries you can travel from are: Austria, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary and Slovakia. You can find more information here.
3 | By car
Slovenia lies in the heart of Europe and is quite easy to reach from different European countries. There is only one thing you shouldn’t forget when entering in Slovenia, and that is to purchase a vignette. These must be purchased before entering the country and can be bought at petrol stations at the border of neighbouring countries. You can buy a weekly, half-yearly and yearly vignette and prices differ per vehicle. Find out more here.
4 | By plane
It’s possible to enter Ljubljana by airplane if traveling by car, bus or train is too far away. The airport is 26 kilometers away from the capital, but it’s still easy to reach Ljubljana after arriving at the airport. There is a regular bus line that connects the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport and the Ljubljana Central Bus Station (bus stop no. 28).
Best time to visit Ljubljana
I visited Slovenia in two different seasons: in summer and in autumn. And I would say that I loved the autumn season much more than the summer season. And the biggest reason is that it was way hotter and there were way more tourists in summer, which made it harder to take pictures and enjoy the country in general.
1 | Winter season (December - March)
Except for much colder days and a layer of snow during the winter months, if you don’t mind, this also has something very magical. This would be the perfect time for Christmas markets! In Ljubljana, they begin every year on the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent and ends in the first week of January.
2 | Spring season (April - June)
This is probably the best period to visit Ljubljana as the days get longer and warmer and there are way fewer tourists.
3 | Summer season (June - August)
During the summer months, there are a lot more tourists. This makes it a lot harder to find parking spots, camping, or hotels nearby. Also, the prices rise remarkably.
4 | Fall season (September - November)
Autumn is just like Spring a good time to visit Ljubljana. And it’s also a perfect time if you want to see some nearby activities for the foliage. If you decide to visit in November, the leaves will already be gone, so it’s better to come a bit earlier.
Best things to in Ljubljana
1 | Walk around the city center
The simplest thing to do in Ljubljana is to just stroll around the city center and its old town. The city has such lovely and picturesque streets marked by different historic periods. Wander through these streets and peek inside the cute shops, that are Slovenian owned or walk next to the river called Ljubljanica and enjoy sitting on a terrace.
2 | Visit Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana castle is a castle that rises high above the city. It’s a key landmark of Ljubljana. The castle was probably constructed in the 11th century as a medieval fortress, which was used as a defence structure.
It’s always a good idea to climb up to Ljubljana castle, as you get a stunning view over the city. It’s only a short 20-minute walk from the city centre. The price for a ticket is €12 for an adult and €8.40 for children. For opening times, check the website below.
3 | Have a look at the Franciscan Church
You won’t visit Ljubljana without seeing this church, as it’s absolutely a statement with its red colour. It’s a Franciscan church located on Prešeren Square in the middle of the city. The Franciscan Church was built between 1646 and 1660 and its facade was finished in 1700. It got its red colour as a symbol of the Franciscan monastic order.
4 | Find the dragons on the Dragons Bridge
The Dragon Bridge is an iconic bridge that you must have seen at your visit to Ljubljana. It’s a road bridge that connects Kopitar Street with Ressel Street and crosses Ljubljanica River. It’s one of the most famous bridges in Ljubljana and has the symbol of the city. There are four dragon statues across this bridge and they look almost real (if you believe in it!).
5 | Explore the Central Market
The central market is right in the center of Ljubljana and is traditionally a place for locals to meet each other, but also consists of shops! The market consists of an open-air market and is located in a colonnade.
Every Friday from mid-March until the end of October, there is a food market where Slovenian chefs lets you taste their cuisine. At the same time, you can also shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at the market!
6 | Have a drink at Nebotičnik Skyscraper
This was my all-time favourite place to finish my city trip! The Nebotičnik Skyscraper is a perfect place to watch the sunset and catch a glimpse of the Ljubljana castle. The cafe on the rooftop is open almost all-day long and the prices were quite cheap.
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Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!
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