Ljubljana (Slovene: Ljubljana) is the small but charming capital of
Slovenia. While the city's population has grown to 295,500 in 2020, sights
and amenities are concentrated in the quaint old center. It's full of
artists, museums and galleries, it's friendly and easily accessible, and
it's a good base from which to explore the rest of the country.
Ljubljana stands at the entrance to the plain in a mountainous region, at
the confluence of several river valleys, so it has been the focus of
settlement, trade and transport since prehistoric times. The first known
city was the Roman Colonia Iulia Aemona; in the Middle Ages it became
Laibach and this name is still used by some German-speakers (as well as
modern Slovenia's most significant export, the ensemble of that name). It
fell under the weight of Austria-Hungary and was a principality or province
of the Habsburg Empire until 1918. For most of the 20th century, it was part
of Yugoslavia until independence in 1991. This means that Ljubljana was
simply the capital of the region and has been the national capital of a
relatively small country for several decades. This reflects the city's
landscape: compact and walkable, cozy and friendly, not grand. There are no
sweeping ceremonial boulevards, glittering palaces, or imperial fists of
fortifications. This is not a place where you jump around ticking off
must-see sights like a selfie-stick worm to an antenna. Relax, walk around
and enjoy the atmosphere.
No one really knows where its current name
comes from: it resembles ljubljena in Slovenian – “beloved”, but it seems to
be just a happy coincidence. It is located in the valley of the Ljubljanica
River, surrounded by green hills on both sides. The river forms a right
angle, with the castle and the oldest parts of the city on a hill in the
southeast quadrant. To the north of the river stretches the 19th-century
grid of streets, and to the west and north is the modern city. Three natural
disasters shaped the city's architecture. The earthquake of 1511 caused an
extensive reconstruction in the Renaissance style, and the stone to limit
the fires of the wooden town. Another earthquake in 1895 caused
reconstruction in the style of the Viennese Secession. It was repeatedly
flooded by the river until in the 18th century the Gruber Canal was cut
through the south-eastern quadrant, turning the castle hill into an island.
As such, the mainstream avoids the old centre, which was protected from the
devastating floods in the Danube basin region in 2010. The "Triple" and
"Dragon" bridges remain intact as proud symbols of Ljubljana.
Ljubljana is a year-round destination, but you have to dress for the Balkan
climate. Summers are warm, during the day the temperature reaches 30 ° C.
Public events and festivals are frequent, and the streets transform from
thoroughfares into party spaces, but afternoons can be damp with
thunderstorms and downpours. Early summer and fall enjoy more even
temperatures, and university hours are in full swing. It's nearly freezing
in winter, often with snow and piercing winds off the hills, but as
Christmas approaches, the streets are decorated with thousands of lights and
food and drink kiosks spring up along the riverbank. February is gray before
the city blooms in spring with flowers planted in its streets and
crossroads.
The main language of the city is Slovenian. Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is also understood by most and is usually spoken fluently by people over 40. Many Ljubljana residents also speak English, especially those under 30, and some of them may also speak German, Italian, French, Spanish and/or Russian. Any major European language you speak is worth trying.
By plane
Joze Pučnik Airport (Brnik Airport IATA: LJU) (27 km
north of Ljubljana). This airport serves flights from Amsterdam
Schiphol, Brussels and Charleroi Airports, Paris Charles de Gaulle,
][Belgrade]], Nis, London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton),
Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, Helsinki Airport, Madrid Barajas,
Warsaw, Podgorica, Zurich Airport, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport and
Istanbul, as well as seasonal flights to Mediterranean resorts. The
new Terminal A opened in June 2021 and serves Schengen flights. It
is connected by a short corridor to the old Terminal B, currently
used for connections from outside the Schengen area. Both have the
usual airport amenities, see the map on the website, but B is small
and frankly dirty. There are over a dozen car rental agencies, with
all the big names represented.
Ground transportation:
-
Arriva Airport Bus takes 50 minutes to the main bus and train
station ("Ljubljana AP", stand 28), with several stops. It runs from
05:00 to 19:30, every 30 minutes most of the day. The fare is €4.10,
pay the driver when boarding. - Departure from the city, other buses
go from the airport to Bled, so it runs every hour and takes 30
minutes. - The bus to Kranj runs every hour or two, taking 20-40
minutes. - Several operators offer shuttle transfers which can be
€15-€20 per person if shared, more for a private door-to-door
transfer. These include Goopti, Airtrail Slovenia and TuamV. It is
strongly recommended that you make your reservation as soon as
possible. - You can pay 40 euros for a taxi into town. - View the
airport page for many car rental agencies. When leaving, follow the
one-way system and go west then left onto the connecting road which
takes you onto the A2 towards Ljubljana.
Other airports that
require a longer transfer but may prove convenient include Trieste,
Venice Marco Polo and Treviso (Italy); Vienna Airport, Klagenfurt
and Graz (Austria); and Zagreb in Croatia.
By car
Ljubljana is at the center of the Slovenian road network, which
means that if you are not driving towards the border, you are
getting closer to Ljubljana. Traffic can be frustrating during peak
hours, but it's generally less than in major European capitals.
However, in the event of an accident or roadworks, huge traffic jams
can occur, so consult the traffic information center or listen to
Radio Si, which offers regular traffic information in several
European languages.
There are several car parks in the city
center and cheaper ones on the outskirts of the city. They offer
all-day parking with a return ticket for the city bus included in
the price. Most car parks are operated by a municipal company.
Short-term on-street parking in the blue zones is charged at parking
meters scattered around the city (€0.7/hour in the city center,
maximum 2 hours; €0.4/hour further, maximum 3 hours; parking on
Saturday afternoons and Sundays are free). Parking meters do not
return change, but they also accept the Urbana card (see below).
Renting a car is also an option, especially for exploring rural
areas outside the city.
By rail
Trains from Munich run 6
hours. 15 min, with one direct and one change during the day and one
sleeper train, via Salzburg, Villach and Lesce (for Bled) and
splitting in Ljubljana to Rijeka or Zagreb. In early 2021, this
route was interrupted by engineering works in the tunnel under
Villach, but is now normal. From Paris and points north, drive via
Munich.
Trains from Vienna take 6 or 7 hours; most involve
change but there is one direct service via Semmering, Graz, Maribor
and Zidani Most.
Trains from Budapest run daily, taking 7
hours. 30 mins via Zidani Bridge. Connections lasting 9 hours are
available every hour.
Trains from Zagreb run 4 or 5 times a
day, taking 2 hours 30 minutes via Dobova (border) and Zidani Most.
Trains from Rijeka run twice a day, taking 3 hours via Opatija
and joining the Munich train in Ljubljana.
Trains from
Trieste run twice a day, taking 2 hours 30 minutes via Villa Opicina
at the border. With other destinations in Italy changing in Trieste,
the direct train from Venice has been cut off.
The Ljubljana
railway station is located 1 km north of the river and the bus
station is located on its southern flank.
By bus
Ljubljana
Bus Station (avtobusna postaja) is next to the train station and has
services throughout Slovenia as well as to other countries. The
station has several useful timetable search engines (also in
English) for developing connections. Generally speaking, a bus can
take you almost anywhere in Slovenia within a few hours.
Direct international connections: Trieste (2 hours), Zagreb (2
hours), Venice (4 hours with DRD), Banja Luka (5 hours), Bihac (6
hours), Bologna (6 hours), Budapest (6 hours with Eurobusways) ,
Munich (7 hours), Florence (8 hours), Tuzla (8 hours), Zenica (8
hours), Belgrade (8 hours), Ulm (9 hours), Stuttgart (10 hours),
Sarajevo (10 hours), Niš (12 hours), Karlsruhe (12 hours), Mannheim
(13 hours), Frankfurt (14 hours), Skopje (15 hours), Tetovo (16
hours), Sofia (16 hours), Pristina (18 hours), Copenhagen (19 hours)
hours). hours), Malmö (20 hours), ][Göteborg]] (24 hours), Linköping
(28 hours), Örebro (34 hours), Stockholm (36 hours).
Turanus,
☏ +38640802525. Turanus offers transportation to every destination
in Slovenia and several European airports.
Luggage left behind
(available upon request at the ticket offices at the Bus Station).
€3.50.
By shared rides
The main website is Prevoz.org
(click on "mednarodni prevozi" for international journeys). The
website is only in Slovenian, but navigation is simple. The columns
are "from", "to", "time" (departure) and "cost", you can sort them
by clicking on the top row or use the search engine at the top. You
need to register to see the phone number, you can use an existing
account. Most drivers speak enough English to arrange a ride.
However, please note that there is no rating system and no payment
system - you pay the driver in cash. Generally, the price is around
€5/100-120 km in Slovenia, usually a bit more abroad. If you are
arriving with your own car and would like to pick up several
passengers, you can of course also post this on the site.
Hitch-hiking
Most traffic in the country goes to or from
Ljubljana. For outbound routes, you need to know the main anchor
points:
Northeast to Maribor and Austria: at Dunajska cesta
west of the train station take bus 6, 8 or 11 north to Smelt and the
World Trade Centre, 15 min. Turn right and you will see the entrance
ramp to the H3 motorway.
Southwest to Koper, Rijeka and Italy: at
Dunajska cesta or Kongresni trg take bus 6 south to the end of the
line at Dolgi most. The motorway is in front of you, with the
entrance ramp to the A1 and A2 just to your left - you want the A1.
You'll also see the entrance to the house's parking lot, stand there
as vehicles will pull in better.
East to Novo Mesto and Zagreb:
at Dunajská cesta take bus 3 south to the end of the line in Rudnik.
Continue 200 m along Dolenjska cesta to the intersection and the
entrance ramp opposite the railway crossing. You want the A2 heading
east.
On foot
The center of Ljubljana is small enough to
be covered on foot. A free city map can be picked up at the tourist
information center or at the train station. Navigating or finding
streets is easy as streets are clearly marked.
By bike
Bicycles can be rented at the Slovenian Tourist Information Center (next
to the Central Square) as well as at some hotels in the area (€2 for 2
hours, €8 for the whole day ending 7pm-9pm depending on the season).
There is also a system called "BicikeLJ" where you can rent bikes
(first hour free, second hour €1, third hour €2, each extra hour €4). It
is intended for short-term rental. It has 300 bikes at 30 stations in
the city center and you can subscribe with an online credit card.
Another bike can be taken after one hour at no cost.
By bus
The LPP municipal transport authority operates 22 bus lines that are
clean and run regularly (every 5-10 minutes, 15-30 minutes on weekends
and in summer). Most bus lines run from 05:00-22:30 (Sundays from
06:00). Night routes are: N1 (22:30-05:00), 2, 5 and 6 (03:15-00:00), N3
(21:00-05:00) and N11 (03:15-05:00) )). On Saturdays and Sundays it does
not run on routes 22, 24, 28 and 29. On Sundays it does not run on
routes 7L, 8, 18, 20, 21, 27.
To ride the buses, you first need
to buy an Urbana card (similar to the Oyster card in London). They can
be purchased at self-service stations ("Urbanomat") located at major bus
stops throughout the city, at LPP outlets, tourist information centers
and press agents for €2 and must be charged between €1 and €50. After
boarding the bus at the front door, you need to touch the card to the
reader to pay for the route. Confirmation is a soft beep and illuminated
green light, while a negative response is a louder beep and red light.
Then you proceed to take your place/stand.
The cost per trip is
€1.30 and includes unlimited free transfers within 90 minutes of first
boarding the bus.
Most lines run at least once every 15 minutes.
Timetables have departure times
Taxi
The cheapest taxi
companies:
Taxi Ljubljana.
Taxi Laguna, Freephone: 080 11 17
(domestic only).
Taxi Metro, Freephone: 080 11 90 (domestic only).
Intertours Taxi, ☏ +386 80 311311.
These are toll-free numbers
(all numbers starting with 080 are free in Slovenia), so you can use a
payphone to make a free call. Not all taxis charge the same fare.
While taxis ordered over the phone are cheap, people waiting on the
street usually charge through the roof, and you can pay 25 euros for a
short ride! Unless you are in a hurry, always order a taxi by phone!
by boat
You can also see the center of Ljubljana thanks to
frequent boat trips that last about 1-2 hours.
In 2021, seven works in Ljubljana by architect Jože
Plečnik were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are the
Trnovo Bridge, the green promenade along Vegova Street, the promenade
along the embankments and bridges on the Ljubljanica River, the Roman
walls in Mirje, the Church of St. Michael, the church of St. Francis of
Assisi and the Garden of All Saints (Zale Plečnika).
1 The Triple
Bridge (Tromostovje) is in the heart of the old town. The middle span
dates from 1842: it became a bottleneck, so in the 1930s footbridges
were added on each side, slightly widening. On the northern shore, they
lead to Prešeren Square, decorated with a statue of the national poet
France Prešeren (1800-1849). It is an obvious meeting point in the city;
the area is closed to vehicular traffic. TIC is the southern end of the
bridge.
2 Old Town Between the castle hill and the river Ljubljanica,
the old town is wedged in with two squares, Mestni trg (town square)
with the Robba fountain and the town hall behind it, and then Gornji trg
(upper square). The well-preserved medieval buildings now house local
designer shops and several popular cafés and restaurants. Although they
may look scary, the perfectly safe narrow streets lead to cute little
squares and buildings.
3 Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most) Completed in
1901, designed by Croatian Yuri Zainovich. It is guarded by four
detailed dragon statues from the city's coat of arms. Look out for the
dragon theme throughout the city. Be careful around the Dragon Bridge
area as it is on a main busy road just outside the pedestrian zone and
there are often times when inattentive tourists and traffic are nearby.
The dragon bridge is located at the end of the open market in Ljubljana,
just a block or two downstream (northeast) from the triple bridge.
4
Ljubljana Castle (You can catch the funicular or go upstairs). The tower
offers great views of the entire city. In the distance you can also see
the Sava River and the Kamnik Alps. Includes a 3D movie showing the
history of Ljubljana from prehistoric settlement through the Roman
Empire to modern times (€6.50 for adults, €3.00 for students and
seniors). Entrance to the castle courtyard, chapel and gift shop is
free, but there is a charge for access to the tower.
5 Republic
Square Crowds gathered there when Slovenia declared its independence
from the Yugoslav Federation in 1991. The square is very important in
Slovenian history as it has been the site of important public gatherings
(and demonstrations) in the past. Across the street is the Slovenian
Parliament. Its façade is decorated with artistic nude sculptures of
Slovenes working and resting. The square also houses the International
Business Center.
6 Roman ruins A short walk west of the city center
are the remains of the Roman city walls, including several pillars from
the entrance gate.
7 Krakovo The rural part of the city connecting
the center with the suburb of Trnovo.
8 The city of Metelkova A
self-proclaimed place of autonomous culture where alternative artists,
many subcultures and youth meet. What used to be military barracks is
now full of underground entertainers, bars and nightclubs. Metelkova can
be crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. It is a 5-minute walk from the main
train station and is home to the famous Celica Hostel.
9 Tivoli Park
to the west is the city's main park, with a large pond at the
southwestern end and Rožnik hill behind it.
10 Zoo (take bus 23).
09:00-16:30 (winter) (open until 19:00 in summer). Closed on Christmas
Day. One of the most beautiful zoos in Europe. €5.50-€8.
11
University Botanic Gardens, Ižanska cesta 15, ☎ +386 1 427-1280.. open
daily, 07-19/04-06, 7-20/07/07, 7-19/09, 7-17/11-17 . The Tropical
Greenhouse has reduced hours: daily 10:00 - 16:45. The Botanical Garden
in Ljubljana is the oldest Slovenian cultural, scientific and
educational institution. It was founded in 1810, during the time of the
Illyrian Provinces, as a garden of native flora and a section of the
Central School (École Centrale). There is also a tropical greenhouse in
the garden. free gardens, tropical greenhouse €2.80.
12 Tomb of
National Heroes a tomb and monument of national heroes of World War II
resistance in Slovenia, created in 1949.
13 Church of the Ursulines
of the Holy Trinity Baroque style church built in the years 1718-1726.
14 Plac Kongresowy One of the central squares, built in 1821. In 1988,
the first free mass demonstration took place here, which was the
beginning of the Slovenian Spring, which led to the declaration of
Slovenian independence in 1991.
15 Nebotičnik A 13-storey skyscraper
built in 1931, designed by Vladimir Šubic, with a café and a bar on the
top floor.
16 Church of St. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church has
five domes with golden crosses on top. It was built between 1932 and
1936, with interior frescoes painted between 1986 and 1997.
17
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Built
in the years 1646-1660, with a later front façade and a belfry.
18
Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas (cerkev sv. Nikolaja) was built in
1701-1706 on the site from 1262. The beautiful interior contains a
fresco painted by Giulio Quaglio between 1703 and 1723.
19 Ljubljana Architecture Museum, Pot na Fužine 2, ☎
+386 1 540-9798.. Mon-Fri 09:00-15:00, Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-15:00.
It hosts a permanent exhibition of works by Jože Plečnik. Student €1,
adult €2.
20 Ljubljana Architecture Museum: Plečnik Collection,
Karunova 4,, ☎ +386 1 280-1600, e-mail: pz@aml.si. 1921-1957. The house
contains rooms with valuable original furniture and the artist's
personal items, an archive of his sketches and plans, and a collection
of clay, plaster and wooden models, a library, Plečnik's correspondence,
a photographic archive, diploma works of Plečnik's students, and an
archive of the Academy of Architecture Collection. Access only for
guided tours of no more than 7 people, booked at least five days in
advance.
21 Museum of Modern Art, Cankarjeva cesta 15 Tue–Sun
10:00–18:00. For those who prefer contemporary art, MG+ has a national
collection of 20th-century Slovenian art (paintings, sculptures, prints,
drawings, photo, video and electronic media collections), a collection
of works from the former Yugoslavia and an Eastern European collection
"Arteast 2000+". €5 adults, €2.50 students.
22 National Gallery,
Prešernova 24 Definitely worth a visit if you care about art. It
presents two important permanent collections that contain works by some
of the best and most famous Slovenian (Impressionist) painters (Jama,
Grohar, Jakopic, Azbe). There you can also see the restored original of
the Robby Fountain, which is a monument of national cultural heritage.
23 National Museum of Slovenia - Prešernova, Muzejska ulica 1, ☎ +386 1
241-4400, fax: fax: +38612414422, email: info@nms.si.. daily
10:00-18:00, Thursday 10 :00-20:00, closed on holidays. The oldest and
largest Slovenian museum. It was founded in 1821. The existing museum
building on Museum Street was built in 1888 and was the first building
dedicated exclusively to culture in Slovenia. Today, it stores a rich
collection of valuable items. The oldest come from the Stone Age, but
there are also newer ones that are still used in our daily lives.
Important pillars of museum activity are also the rich museum library
and the team for conservation and restoration. Free admission every
first Sunday of the month
24 National Museum of Slovenia - Metelkova,
Maistrova 1, ☎ +386 1 230-7030, fax: fax: +38612414422, email:
info@nms.si.. Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed on public holidays. In the new
building of the Slovenian National Museum on Metelkova Street,
collections of applied arts from Slovenia are exhibited. The permanent
exhibition brings together objects of applied art from the 14th century
to the present day.
25 National Museum of Modern History, Celovška 23
(walk through the pleasant Tivoli Park to get here.), ☎ +386 1 300-9610.
The 20th-century museum of Slovenian history gives you a real
roller-coaster ride in the country through regime after regime. Its
immersive exhibits include a World War I ditch walk. The last exhibition
presents the events around the Declaration of Independence from
Yugoslavia and the Ten-Day War with the Yugoslav Federal Army. All
exhibits are translated into English, and some also into German.
26
Slovenian Museum of Natural History, Muzejska 1, ☎ +386 1 241 09 70.
Fri-Fri 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00. It contains an almost complete
skeleton of a 20,000-year-old mammoth found near Kamnik in 1938, a
200-million-year-old petrified fish skeleton found in Triglav National
Park, and a new 13-meter whale skeleton. It also has a large collection
of minerals.
27 Tivoli Gallery - International Graphic Center, Pod
turnom 3, ☎ +386 1 241-3800. Open Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-18:00.
It specializes in artistic shows, often in cooperation with
international institutions. Adults €5, families €9, other discounts
apply
28 Ljubljana City Museum Tue–Sun: 10:00–18:00. History of the
city and temporary exhibitions. €6.
Hot air balloon rides (Balonarski center of Barje), ☏
+386 1 512 9220, info@bcb.si. These depart at sunrise for one-hour
flights, weather permitting. The starting point is chosen on the day
when the wind carries you over the historic center. The entire program
takes around 4 hours, so expect a very early start. From €180 per person
1 Watch Football - Watch the home match of Olimpija Ljubljana who plays
football in the PrvaLiga, the Slovenian top flight. Their home ground is
Stadion Stožice with a capacity of 16,000; it's off the ring road 2 km
north of the city centre.
water parks
2 Water City of Atlantis
(located in the BTC City shopping district, take bus 27 (27K on
Sundays)). Water park with 14 swimming pools, thermal baths, slides and
saunas. A special section is for children. 6-14 euros.
3 Laguna Fun &
Spa (located within the Ljubljana Resort, take bus 27 (27K on Sundays)).
only open from June to September. It offers outdoor pools during the day
and theme parties at night. €6-12
Opera and Theatre
4
Cankarjev Dom, vstopnice@cd-cc.si. Huge arts and convention center with
concerts and performances.
5 Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
(Slovenska Filharmonija). The orchestra dates back to 1701.
6
Slovenian National Theater (Narodno Gledalisce), Erjavceva 1.
7
Puppet Theater (Lutkovno Gledalisce), Krekov Trg 2.
8 Opera in
Ljubljana.
9 Open air theater Križanke (Poletno gledališče Križanke).
used for summer festivals.
10 Municipal Theater in Ljubljana (Mestno
gledališče ljubljansko).
cinemas
11 Kinoteka, Miklošičeva 28.
Open daily, but closed on Sundays and in July and August. Lovely film
museum in Ljubljana where they have at least two movies a day. The
movies range from classics to cult films, from trash and horror to
artistic masterpieces. All films are presented in the original audio
language with Slovenian and sometimes English subtitles. On Saturday
mornings they have special screenings for children. There are also
special events, roundtables, premieres, etc. all the time. This is a
must-visit for any film lover. It also has a nice little cafe with small
prices of €3.
12 Kinodvor, Kołodvorska 13 (next to the train
station). This is a small and very cool cinema that mainly shows new
movies that don't play blockbuster movie complexes. It also has lots of
special events, a great cafe and movies for kids (Sundays). 3-5 euros.
13 Arena Play & Party (in BTC City Shopping District, bus 27). A great
place to spend the evening. Key features include bowling, a swimming
pool, laser games and a state-of-the-art 3D XpanD cinema. Movies from
€4.59 to €7.93.
14 Colosseum Cinema (within the BTC City Shopping
District, by bus 27). Ljubljana's main cinema multiplex. Unlike many
other countries, all films are presented in the original audio language
(usually English) with Slovenian subtitles. Only some shows of animated
and computer-rendered films are dubbed for children, which is noted.
from €5.85 to €6.55. Special discounts on Tuesdays
Hiking in the
hills
Šmarna Gora (662 m) is located on the northern edge of the
city, so it is popular, even crowded on sunny weekends. For 30-60
minutes of easy climbing you will be rewarded with a nice view of the
whole city. Take bus 8 to Tacenski.
Krim (1107 m) was a military and
civil telecommunications center; the military post has been dismantled
and the area is open to the public, with great views. The climb takes
2-3 hours (beware of bears!). By car it takes 30 minutes as the last 4
km of the road is unpaved and narrow.
Hiking around Ljubljana
describes more possibilities.
There are a lot of foreigners working in Ljubljana and there are many freelancers who like to spend several months here because of the good value for money. Co-working options are available, one center of gravity is a former tobacco factory where, for example, there is Poligon [, Slovenia's largest co-working space (located in the Tobačna 5 building, which also houses the public administration body "Upravna enota" and space for startups of Hekovnik.
Part of the hype around Ljubljana is the large student population. The University of Ljubljana has 64,000 students with faculties throughout the city. The Slovene Language Center within the Faculty of Arts offers language courses.
Ljubljana's main shopping areas are the BTC City
Shopping District (Bus 27), located on the northeastern edge, and the
Rudnik Shopping District (Bus 27) on the southeastern edge of the city.
However, there are several department stores in the city center such as
Maximarket, H&M, Müller, Nama. Additionally, Čopova Street and the Old
Town have a dense collection of small shops.
Sunday flea market,
Gallusovo nabrezje. Daily 08:00-14:00. Two dozen stalls selling
expensive trinkets. Postcards, €10. Tito and Disney memorabilia, broken
Chinese trivia, rusty military paraphernalia.
Main Market, Vodnikov
trg (right bank of the Ljubljanica River, 200 m from the Triple
Bridges). The central open-air market offers a wide selection of local
produce (exact items vary depending on the season) as well as local
cheeses, breads and cold cuts in the building next door. If you're
lucky, you can still find vendors who brought their vegetables on foot
from the south of the city center (Krakovo) - although they are a dying
breed. Open every morning and early afternoon except Sunday; most lively
on Saturday mornings. On Fridays, you can also visit the "open kitchen"
from 08:00 to 21:00, from March to October.
Cheap
1 Odprta Kuhn April-October on Fridays
10:00-21:00. Odprta Kuhna means "open kitchen". This is a collection of
food stalls on Pogačarjev trg, south of the Triple Bridge.
2 Hot
Horse, BTC City, Šmartinska 152; Tivoli Park, Celovška 25, e-mail:
info@hot-horse.si.. Mon–Sat 10:00–22:00, closed Sun and holidays.
Horse-burger chain with four city outlets. Huge burgers and other
dishes; you order and pay first at the machine. 4-12 euros.
3 Nobel
Burek, Miklosičeva 30 24 hours Open non-stop so it's popular late at
night. Different types of burek (leaf pastry filled with minced meat or
cheese).
4 Klobasarna, Ciril Metodov trg 15 (next to Sokol and
Mediterano), ☎ +386 51 605 017. Daily 11:00-16:00. A hole-in-the-wall
fast food restaurant serving seasonal Slovenian soups with traditional
sausages and bread. You order and pay first at the vending machine.
5
Govinda's, Žibertova 23, Ljubljana - Šiška, ☎ +386 590 58381.. Mon-Fri
11:00-17:00. Self service buffet with vegetarian and vegan Indian food,
great value.
6 Café Capri, Petkovškovo nabrežje, 33, Ljubljana -
Šiška, ☎ +386 70 187 228. Daily 08:00-14:00. A cozy cafe in the very
center of Ljubljana, just a few steps from the famous Dragon Bridge,
offers healthy, tasty and affordable breakfasts and brunches. All the
food here is made from scratch and cooked fresh. A full bar is always
available with a variety of drinks: fragrant coffee, tea, freshly
squeezed juices and homemade lemonades, Italian and Slovenian wines,
beer, spirits and cocktails.
Moderation
7 Gostilna Portal,
Zaloška cesta 110 (bus 11, 20, 25), ☎ +386 1 5400 166, e-mail:
portalm@siol.net. Sun-Thu 09:00-23:00, Fri Sat 09:00-01:00. This is a
B&B in the eastern suburbs, but better known for its Serbian restaurant
- helps if you like meat. Loud music on weekends.
8 Cantina Mexicana,
Knafljev prehod 2 (50 m west of Trzy Mosty.), ☎ +386 1 426 9325..
Sun-Tue 10:00-01:00, Wed-Sat 10:00-02:00. A lively Mexican restaurant
located in a small yard off the main square.
9 Da-bu-da, Šubičeva 1a,
☎ +386 1 425 3060. Mon-Fri 11:00-22:00, Sat 12:00-22:00. Thai food and
cocktail bar, great atmosphere.
10 Figovec, Gosposvetska 1, ☎ +386 1
426 4410. Daily 11:00-23:00. Popular place serving pony steaks, horse
stew and traditional Slovenian food.
11 Foculus, Gregorciceva 3, ☎
+386 1 421 9295. Daily 11:00-22:30. Extravagantly decorated pizzeria and
salad restaurant.
12 Čad, Cesta na Roznik 18 (near the zoo), ☎ +386 1
251 3446. Daily 11:00-23:00. It specializes in grilled dishes from the
Balkans; good value.
13 Gostilna Sokol, Ciril Metodov trg 18, ☎ +386
1 439 6855.. Mon-Sat 07:00-23:00. Authentic Slovenian cuisine and
service in traditional costume. So inevitably it's touristy but good
food in large portions and very good value for money.
14 Joe Pena's
Cantina, Cankarjeva 6, ☎ +386 1 421 5800. Mon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun
12:00-22:00. A popular Mexican restaurant.
15 Julija, Stari trg 9, ☎
+386 1 425 6463. Daily 11:30-00:00. hearty Italian pasta and risotto
dishes.
16 Cafe Romeo, Stari trg 6 (Facing Juilia), ☎ +386 1 40 706
070. Mon-Sat 10:00-01:00, Sun 10:00-00:00. Cafe by the river, their
specialty is pancakes.
17 Jurman, Zaloška 151, ☎ +386 51 358 358.
Daily 10:00-22:00. Family friendly, reliable, comfortable place to eat
in the suburbs.
18 Ljubljanski Dvor, Dvorni trg 1, ☎ +386 1 251
6555.. Mon-Sat 10:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00. Pizzeria with a nice patio
overlooking the river, food quality is uneven.
19 Pri Škofu, Rečna 8,
☎ +386 1 426 4508. Wed Thu 12:00-21:00. Mostly Trad and Mid fare, with
vegetarian options.
20 Šestica, Slovenska 40, ☎ +386 1 242 0855..
Mon-Fri 10:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-17:00. It serves hearty
meat dishes such as sausages, horse fillets and steak, as well as pasta
and risotto.
21 Špajza, Gornji trg 28, ☎ +386 1 425 3094.. Mon-Sat
11:00-21:00. It is larger than it looks from the street, with several
candle-lit rooms leading to an outside terrace. Traditional cuisine,
good reviews for quality and service.
22 Zhong Hua, Trubarjeva 50, ☎
+386 1 230 1665. Daily 11:00-21:00. Decent Chinese restaurant near
Dragon Bridge.
23 Gostilna Pod Vrbo, Ziherlova 36, ☎ +386 1 280 8892,
e-mail: gostilna@podvrbo.si.. Mon-Fri 11:00-22:00, Sat 12:00-22:00. Huge
selection of Slovenian fare, generous portions
Exclusive
24 AS
Aperitivo, Copova Ulica 5A (north side of the Triple Bridge), ☎ +386 1
425 4168. Sun-Thu 10:00-01:00, Fri Sat 10:00-02:00. A trendy place with
two zones, for casual dining or a restaurant. Mostly positive reviews.
25 Cubo, Šmartinska 55 (north side of the Triple Bridge), ☎ +386 1 521
1515. Mon-Sat 12:00-22:00. Med kitchen always wins good reviews.
26
JB, Miklošičeva 17 (south flank of the railway station), ☎ +386 1 430
7070, e-mail: info@jb-slo.com. Mon-Fri 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00, Sat
18:00-23:00. Modern international fare, expensive by local standards and
mixed reviews on food quality.
27 Krpan, 24 Ob Ljubljanici, ☎ +386 1
521 1220. Good seafood restaurant but remains closed in 2021.
28
Manna, Eipprova 1A, ☎ +386 31 592 974. Wed-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun
12:00-17:00. Excellent traditional dishes with skillful friendly
service.
29 Strelec, Grajska planeta 1 (In the castle), ☎ +386 31 687
648, e-mail: strelec@kaval-group.si. Tue-Fri 18:00-23:00, Sat
12:00-22:00. It is located in the Archer's Tower in the castle, with a
terrace overlooking the city. So you're paying for a great location, but
the food scores points too.
Most bars in Ljubljana tend to be clustered in the
streets that run parallel to the river, radiating from Prešernov trg,
which is Ljubljana's main square. The more interesting bars tend to be
in the back alleys rather than directly on the river. Part of the joy of
this city is stumbling around in these places, but that's not much to
start with.
Free tap water locations
The application
phttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/tap-water-ljubljana/id563888400Tap Water
Ljubljana] is intended for all those who want to quench their thirst and
refresh themselves with freely available water from the fountains
located in 17 locations in Ljubljana, mainly in the city center. The
application is available in the App Store.
Cafes
1 Cafe
Antico, Stari Trg 17. Great atmosphere - bare wooden floors, high tables
and stools, and vaulted ceiling.
2 Čajna Hiša (Tea Room), Stari trg
3. Closed Sun. This is a quirky little coffee shop and tea room offering
many variations on these warm drinks as well as basic breakfasts and
lunches. The background music is immaculately cool and the atmosphere is
perfect for a classy loaf. Connected to the café is a tea shop selling
drinking accessories and plenty of different fruit-flavored teas, 100g
each.
3 [Le Petite Cafe, Trg Francoske Revolucije 4. A very popular
corner cafe.
4 Sax Hostel & Sax pub, Eipprova 7. Really cool,
colorful, spray-painted cafe/bar along the canal. The place also
functions as a hostel.
5 Zvezda, Wolfova 14. Cafe with great ice
cream and cakes
Bars
6 Cutty Sark, Knafljev Prehod 1 (opposite
Cantina Mexicana). Lively pub with a noisy atmosphere. Usually has live
music.
7 Lepa Žoga, Celovška 43 (Near Tivoli Park). The main sports
cafe/bar with sports regalia along the wall and a good mixed crowd most
nights. It shows international rugby, football matches of all kinds
(European, English, Italian and other leagues) and other sports live. It
has the best TV coverage in the city, from Sky Sports to local TV
stations.
8 From Žmavec sosed pa ud brother prjatu (Žmavec's neighbor
and my brother's friend aka Žmavc), Rimska cesta 21, ☏ +386 1 251 0324.
Markets to the "creative urban type". Burgers, coffee and alcoholic
drinks.
9 Patrick's Irish Bar, Prečna 6 (near Trubarjeva), ☏ +386 1
230 1768. Mon-Sat 16:30-22:30. Standard Irish pub with Guinness and
local beers on tap and good bar food, TV sports.
10 Pod Skalco,
Gosposka 19 (opposite the Križanke Auditorium, next to the Ljubljana
City Museum, behind the National and University Library). Mon-Fri
06:30-03:00, Sat Sun 17:30-03:00. A popular student pub with almost 150
years of tradition, visited almost exclusively by locals. Loud music.
11 Vinoteka Movia, Mestni trg 2 (next to the town hall). Anyone
interested in wine should visit here. The cozy, candle-lit wine bar is
staffed by experienced bartenders who can recommend wine based on your
tastes. The wine glasses are huge so hard to tell if they were stingy or
just spread out. Be careful when asking for "samples" as they charge
full price. Prices can vary from modest to remortgage.
12 Sir
William's pub, Tavčarjeva ulica 8a, ☏ +386-599-44-825,
sirwilliamspub@gmail.com. Mon-Fri 08:00 - 01:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00 and
19:00 - 01:00, Sun 17:00 - 24:00. Located in the Art Nouveau part of the
center of Ljubljana, it offers over 120 types of beer and a large
selection of teas and wines. It's bustling in the evenings with themed
parties and beer tastings, while during the day it's more of a café-like
atmosphere, offering guests the chance to browse a newspaper or read a
book in peace. The staff speaks several languages. Free Wi-Fi is
available.
Clubs
Ljubljana has some good nightclubs (discos).
The clubs have special events, some nights play a certain style of
music, etc. Some also impose a strict dress code and age restrictions.
13 Metelkova mesto, Metelkova 8 (next to the train station). Daily
22:00-04:00. It's a squat with 6 clubs, each with its own music style
and program. Gala Hala is the largest and the music is very diverse -
from funk nights to hip-hop and indie to rap and odd pop music. It also
has concerts and a garden where it also barbecues in the summer. Gromka
is smaller, usually free admission, and the music also varies from
evening to night. It's usually rock/alternative hits, rockabilly or fun
90s music. It also has concerts. Menza pri Koritu is the most
alternative and has mainly alternative, metal, punk concerts and after
parties. Channel Zero is more electronic (including concerts) - d'n'b,
dub, electro, house. Jalla Jalla is the smallest, with sometimes
obscure, experimental music. Tiffany is a gay club that usually hosts
electronic parties. Metelkova has a place for everyone (usually the
weekends are the busiest) and you can just walk from one club to another
and see what's going on (if there is no admission). free or up to €10.
14 K4, Kersnikova 4. Tue-Sun 22:00-02:30/04:00. DJs from home and abroad
play electronic music.
Summer Festival in Ljubljana. An opera, ballet and theater festival held in July and August.
Cheap
1 Aladin Hostel, Tugomerjeva 56, ☏ +386 41
666 477, info@aladin-hostel.com. Small friendly hostel. Dormitory €15.
2 Celica, Metelkova 8 (south side of the train station), tel. +386 1 230
9700. It was a military brig, get caught in the city without a pass and
spend the night in Cells. Then they dragged the designers in, how is it
that Guantanamo never really got into this concept? Good to know: each
cell has been individually designed by a Slovenian artist. Dorm €20.
3 Hostel Tabor (Dijaški dom), Kotnikova 4, ☏ +386 1 234 8840, fax: +386
1 234 8855, hostel@ddt.si. Clean friendly dorm place, only open in July
and August. In 2021, the dormitory is not available. B&B double €50.
4 Fluxus Hostel, Tomšičeva 4. A small, clean, central place with an 8-
and 6-bed dormitory. Dorm €21 per person
5 Most Hostel, Petkovškovo
nabrežje 41 (at the Dragon Bridge), ☏ +386 41 662 266. Lovely friendly
hostel, very central. Dorm €21/person, double €60.
6 Vila Veselova,
Veselova 14 (near Tivoli Park), ☏ +386 5165 5254. Budget/hostel rooms in
a 100 year old villa in the western part of the city.
Moderation
7 BIT Center Hotel, Litijska 57 (2 km east of the center, by bus 5, 9,
13 or 22), ☏ +386 1 548 0055. Basic functional place where there is also
a hostel. Dorm €15, B&B double €50.
8 City Hotel, Dalmatinova 15, ☏
+386 1 239 0000. Decent central place with clean rooms, thin walls. B&B
double €110.
9 Hotel Park, Tabor 9, ☏ +386 1 300 2500, fax: +386 1
433 0546, info@hotelpark.si. Clean central medium and budget hotel with
145 rooms. In the past, they also offered "hostel" rooms, cheaper but
empty; they are not available in 2021. B&B double €90.
10 Hotel
Katrca 1905, Rožna Dolina I/26 (Tivoli district), ☏ +386 1 422 8840.
Nice place in a quiet neighborhood, only five rooms. B&B double €80.
11 M Hotel, Derceva 4 (bus 1, 3, 15 or 16 to Kino Siska), ☏ +386 1 513
7000. A box modern place 2 km northwest of the center with neat,
spacious rooms. B&B double €90.
12 Pension Tavcar, Cesta v Šmartno 7
(bus 12 to Hrastje, go back 200m and turn right), ☏ +386 1 546 6970.
Clean, well run place on the north east end of town.
13 Hotel Mrak,
Rimska 4, ☏ +386 1 421 9650. Colorful rooms, nice restaurant and great
central location. There is no parking so you will pay high rates for
central parking.
Exclusive
14 Austria Trend Hotel, Dunajska
cesta 154, ☏ +386 1 588 2525. Modern slab with 214 rooms, spacious and
well soundproofed. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, safe,
minibar, hairdryer, flat screen TV, satellite TV and radio. B&B double
€140.
15 Best Western Premier Hotel Slon, Slovenska 34, ☏ +386 1 470
11 00, fax: +386 1 251 71 64, sales@hotelslon.com. Modern chain hotel
with clean and comfortable rooms. There is no information about pets on
their website, but it is said that in 1552, Archduke Maximilian stayed
at the inn here, accompanied by an elephant. Double B&B €120.
16
Grand Hotel Union, Miklosiceva 1, ☏ +386 1 308 12 70. Magnificent Art
Nouveau building. Large, comfortable rooms, albeit showing their age,
some have a view of the castle. Restaurant, fitness center, sauna and
rooftop pool. B&B double €140.
17 Hotel Lev, Vošnjakova 1 (at Tivoli
Park), ☏ +386 1 433 21 55. A glass skyscraper, elegant and comfortable.
In 2020/21 it was locked down and guests were moved elsewhere -
're-protected' is their wonderfully hypocritical euphemism for it. B&B
double €100.
18 Central Hotel, Miklosiceva 9 (300 m south of bus and
train stations), ☏ +386 1 308 43 00. Central, boxy modern hotel,
comfortable and brightly decorated. The reception is on the 7th floor:
apparently this is a "concept". B&B double €90.
19 Four Points by
Sheraton (formerly Hotel Mons), Pot za Brdom 4 (5 km west of the city
centre), ☏ +386 1 470 2700. Four-star business hotel on the forest
western edge of the city, convenient for drivers. With spa and fitness
center. B&B double €110.
Next
20 Ljubljana Resort (formerly
Avtokamp Ježica), Dunajska 270 (5 km north of the center, take bus 6, 8
or 11), ☏ +386 1 589 0130, resort@gpl.si. Campsite and caravan on the
outskirts of the city on the Sava River. It also has B&B rooms plus a
swimming pool, sauna, fitness center, badminton, volleyball, bowling
alley, playground and restaurant. Camping €12/person
21 Hotel
Grandvid, Dolenjska 336, Lavrica (7 km southeast of the center), ☏ +386
1 360 2200, info@granvidhotel.si. Clean modern place with a restaurant,
on the bus route into town. B&B double €85.
22 Kongo Hotel & Casino
(dawniej Motel Grosuplje), Ljubljanska 65, 1290 Grosuplje (15 km na
południowy wschód od Lublany na A2, autobus miejski 3G), ☏ +386 1 781
0200, info@kongo.si. 4-gwiazdkowy hotel przydatny dla kierowców i osób
podróżujących służbowo. Wygodne pokoje, restauracja i oczywiście kasyno.
B & B podwójne 80 €.
As of June 2021 Ljubljana has 4G from A1 and Telemach
and 5G from Telekom.
Internet
The city center is covered by a
Wi-Fi network called WiFreeLjubljana, which offers free access for 60
minutes a day.
Free internet access is also available at:
Faculty of Computer Science and Information Sciences and Faculty of
Electrical Engineering, Tržaska 25.
Simobil, Čopova (in the direction
of McDonald's from the Triple Bridge) - phone shop, but laptops upstairs
have free internet access.
Nearly free internet access is available
at:
Slovenian Tourist Information Centre, Krekov trg 10.
Ljubljana is probably one of the safest capitals you
will ever visit. Extremely safe day and night, as a tourist you should
have no problems providing you are not desperate for trouble.
Even the more rugged parts of Ljubljana far from the city center are
relatively safe if you don't show your valuables. These areas, rarely
visited by tourists, are Fužine, Rakova Jelša, Štepanjsko naselje and
parts of Šiška, Moste and Šentvid.
Tivoli Park is generally a
safe and very popular place for picnics or afternoon walks for the
average Ljubljana, but as with anywhere in the world, it is advisable to
stay vigilant and avoid large groups of teenagers hanging around late at
night as it has been reported theft and sexual assault.
Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre, Stritarjeva (next to the triple bridge), ☏ +386 1 306-4583, tic@visitljubljana.si. Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00. It also offers three sightseeing tours in the summer at 10:00, 14:00 and 17:00 for €10. There are nice souvenirs and a free map