Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia , is a perfect destination for a multi-day getaway. It is a small but lively city, full of attractions both in the historic centre and just a few kilometres away, with a castle that offers unforgettable sunsets and some rather curious pets: dragons. But don't be scared, they are not made of flesh and blood and they no longer spit fire. Today we are going to tell you the best 20 things to see and do in Ljubljana .
What to see and do in Ljubljana
Before we talk about the places to visit in Ljubljana, let us tell you a couple of things:
– How many days should you spend in Ljubljana? One day is enough to see the must-sees in Ljubljana. But we always recommend spending at least 3 days to make a couple of getaways. One to the Postonja Cave and the nearby Predjama Castle , and the other to Lake Bled and the Vintgar Gorge . Obviously there are more things to do in Slovenia , but these four are close to the capital.
– How to get to Ljubljana? It is difficult to find cheap flights to Ljubljana. One trick is to fly to Italy (to Venice, Treviso or even better to Trieste) and travel from there to the capital of Slovenia by car or bus ( Flixbus has some great deals).
Now, let's go with the 20 things to see and do in Ljubljana :
1. Dragon Bridge
Cross the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most) , it is located in the city center and is a symbol of Ljubljana. They say that when a virgin girl passes by there, the 4 dragons that dominate the bridge move their tails XD. Here we tell you more about Ljubljana and its dragons .
The dragon is the symbol of Ljubljana . It represents strength and courage. You have to go back to the legend of Jason and the Argonauts to fully understand it.
Legend of Jason and the Argonauts
According to this, Jason and his group of heroes called Argonauts set out on a journey to Colchis to recover the Golden Fleece (which was nothing more than a fleece of hair from a ram, the son of Poseidon and Theophane). Apparently, by recovering the fleece he would also regain his king's throne and achieve great fame.
On their way aboard the ship Argos, they reached the grounds of the present-day city of Ljubljana and a huge dragon blocked their path. Jason had to kill it to continue his journey, but the spirit of the dragon remained protecting this place. Today it is the symbol of the city and can be found represented in many places, such as the aforementioned Dragon Bridge.
2. Metelkova Mesto, the alternative neighborhood to see in Ljubljana
One of the visits we enjoyed the most in the city was Metelkova Mesto . It is a somewhat quirky neighborhood full of street art and with a peculiar past: it was an area full of military buildings during the time of the former Yugoslavia. The sober architecture of that time combined with the colors and underground sculptures of today, form an eccentric but charming combination. For us, without a doubt one of the best things to see and do in Ljubljana.
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3. Prešeren Square
Prešeren Square is the main meeting place in Ljubljana and you will pass by it again and again. It is always very lively and there are several bars around it where you can try a typical wine or toast with a beer. The square owes its name to the statue of France Prešeren , a famous poet from the 1800s who was also the author of the Slovenian national anthem.
4. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
Another Ljubljana icon is also located here: the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation , in baroque style and with a curious pink colour. So it is a place that will please religious people and… Instagrammers!
5. Church of St. Nicholas
Since we started with churches, we cannot leave out the Church of San Nicolás . Not so much for its architecture, but to see its side doors, where the history of the country is detailed.
6. Triple Bridge
In Ljubljana there is one of the most curious bridges we have ever seen: the Triple Bridge (Tromostovje) , which crosses the Ljubljanica River from one side to the other . By the way, if you are one of those who enjoy seeing cities from the water, you can take a mini cruise along the river.
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7. Ljubljana Central Market
Another thing to see and do in Ljubljana is to take a stroll around the Central Market, which is located right next to the river. It is best to go early in the morning, when the locals go to buy vegetables, cheeses and everyday products. It is a great place to get to know the typical products. It is open every day except Sundays.
8. Eating, one of the best things to do in Ljubljana
If you're feeling peckish after your visit, you should definitely try some of the most famous dishes in the Balkans, such as cevapi, sausages (more like elongated meatballs) made from spiced minced meat. Slovenia offers some truly delicious cuisine, and there are self-guided tours of the city (supported by an app), with visits to various establishments where tastings are included.
9. Ljubljana Castle
Walk up to Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad) : although the walk is a bit steep, it is very pleasant and rewarding. Although for the laziest there is a funicular that will take you up in a few seconds. Once at the top you can visit the inside of the castle or do as we did: walk around the courtyard and breathe in its good atmosphere and head to the next point…
10. Best viewpoint in Ljubljana
… Just a short distance from there you will reach our favourite spot in Ljubljana (and probably of all its inhabitants). It is a panoramic point from which you have one of the best views of the city at sunset. You will see that it will not take you long to find it once you have left the castle. Don't miss it for anything in the world, for us, it is without a doubt the best thing to do in Ljubljana.
11. Republic Square
We did not find Republic Square to be one of the most charming places in the city, but from a historical point of view it is of incalculable value: it is here, in fact, that on 26 June 1991, Slovenia declared its independence from the (former) Yugoslavia.
12. Tivoli Park
Tivoli Park is the green lung of the Slovenian capital. If you want to relax under the trees or fancy an improvised picnic, this is the place to be.
13. Nebotičnik Restoration
And speaking of views… When we were in Ljubljana we did a food tour and our guide showed us a spectacular spot: Restavracija Nebotičnik . The really interesting thing about this café-restaurant is its panoramic terrace with 360-degree views over the city. It’s a good place to have breakfast (the Prekmurska Gibanica cake we ate brought a tear to our eye) and, although it’s a bit more expensive than the others, the prices are still reasonable considering the location.
13. Sleep in a prison, something original to do in Ljubljana
Did you know that in Ljubljana you can sleep in a prison ? We are talking about the Hostel Célica Art , which according to them “is an example of how art can transform a place with such a dark and complex history into a completely opposite environment, full of positive vibes.”
15. Bar crawl
At night, there's nothing better than having a mojito (or whatever) in one of the many bars that line the riverbanks . The Chill Out Bar is a good option, but if you prefer, you can join a pub crawl and meet new friends while visiting several bars and clubs in the city.
More things to see and do in Ljubljana
We already told you: there are plenty of things to do in Ljubljana and its surroundings, so here are some more ideas:
- An original place to visit, perfect for a rainy day, is the Museum of Illusions , where you can enter, among other things, an anti-gravity room or the upside-down room, where reality seems deformed…
- Take your time to wander around the historic centre of Ljubljana . You will be surprised to see how such a small city has such suggestive corners (those pastel-coloured houses drive us crazy!).
- And as you walk, head to Mestni Trg , the square where the city hall stands.
- If you only have two days , one idea is to spend the first day getting to know Ljubljana and the second day doing this best of Slovenia tour . It concentrates the best of the country in a single excursion.
- But if you have enough time in Slovenia, we recommend taking several excursions (beyond the ones we mentioned at the beginning of the article). Two that we love are the one that takes you to Trieste , the least Italian Italian city, or an express visit to Zagreb , the capital of Croatia. There are daily buses with Flixbus to both destinations, so you can take the excursions on your own without having to rent a car.
Are you eager to discover the capital of Slovenia and its charms? We're sure you now know the best things to see and do in Ljubljana , and if you've been there and think we've forgotten something, leave us a comment!
