The 8 Best Things To Do in Ljubljana

Being the capital of Slovenia, it also holds the title of being the largest city as well. The city has gained its major following for one of the most natural reasons- Greenery. It is known as the green capital of a green country. The area on either side of the river with its picturesque bridges and the central market owes its distinctive appearance to the great architect Jože Plečnik and plays the magnetic role of attracting a huge footfall of tourists every year.

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Popular as a quite a posh destination, Ljubljana caters to millions with its extensive variety of food and local delicacies, a rich treasure of historical locations and breathtaking views.

Where to Stay in Ljubljana
Visit The Dragon Bridge
Love on the Butcher’s Bridge
Explore the Slovenian Food Market
Riverside Cafes To Enjoy Local Dishes
Spectate The Ljubljana River
Enjoy A Tour Of St. Nicholas Cathedral
Traverse Through Metelkova
Roam Around The Ljubljana Castle

Where to Stay in Ljubljana

Due to how popular Ljubljana is, there is a good variation of accommodation. The below accommodations are all central.

Luxury – Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel is a stunning luxury hotel in the heart of Ljubljana. It features a restaurant and a garden area as well as offers a continental breakfast to guests in the morning. You can rent bikes for free at this hotel which is great for getting around Ljubljana. All rooms have air conditioning and free wifi.

Mid-Range – The City Hotel Ljubljana offers great central accommodation in the Slovenian capital city. There is a lobby bar and an a la carte restaurant for guests to enjoy at the accommodation. A great feature is the summer terrace with views over Ljubljana which is stunning during the summer months. All rooms have air conditioning and free wifi and a buffet breakfast is served each morning.

Budget – Central Hotel Superior is a budget-friendly hotel in the heart of Ljubljana that features a rooftop bar and a co-working space. All rooms have free wifi.

If you are more into the hostel scene when you travel, there are an unbelievable number of funky, cheap, and social hostels spread through the country. Browse the full range of hostels that Ljubljana has to offer and book your stay right here.

Visit The Dragon Bridge

The pride of the city, Slovenia, definitely portrays the incredible impact of DRAGONS. It is the symbol of the city and to experience its historical presence and impact, pay a visit to the Dragon Bridge.

Slovenia was once ruled by Emporer Franz Josef I and to celebrate his 40 years of reign, the bridge was initially named after him. It was not until 1919 that the name changed from ‘The Jubliee Bridge of the Emporer Franz Josef I’ to ‘ The Dragon Bridge’ alongwith other changes to the bridge.

Ivan Hribar, the then-mayor planned an urban renovation and it is believed that the bridge played an essential role in it. The older version of the bridge had the evident presence of oak but with the entrance of the changes in the said period created another historical mark.

The bridge became the first bridge at that time in Solvenia which was paved with asphalt. While it was creating history in Solvenia, it also became the first reinforced concrete bridge of Ljubljana and marked its place in the history of Europe by becoming one of the earliest reinforced concrete bridges. The title-grabbing activity didn’t stop here. At the time of its opening, it was also the third-largest arch in Europe!

There is also a legend associated with the bridge where the locals believe the Ljubljana was founded by a person named Jason and he and his Argonauts killed a dragon here. It further includes a belief that states that the dragons wag their tails whenever a virgin crosses the bridge.

Visiting this wonder should be on the top of the list of things to do in Ljubljana as it is a marvel worth admiration.

Love on the Butcher’s Bridge

While your visit to Ljubljana, you might stumble upon various interesting places to explore. Amongst the long list of such places, you might plan a visit to one of the much-anticipated bridges in Slovenia- Butcher’s Bridge.

The tourist-friendly Butcher’s Bridge is a footbridge which spans across the Ljubljanica River, making its way between the Central Market and Petkovsek Embankment in Ljubljana. This interesting bridge has grabbed attention due to its balance between beauty and grotesque elements.

The bridge portrays slightly grotesque frog sculptures and figures from Greek mythology for admiration whereas there is something else that excites the tourists. You can find a sculpture of Adam & Eva portraying their shame after their banishment from Paradise stating the tale to be true. While the mythological aspect takes over its showcase, the bridge is ironic to its name!

Considered as the love bridge in Ljubljana, the Butcher’s Bridge has hundreds of locks hung by love-struck couples with an idea associated with it. According to the legends, you can lock your souls together in a padlock, hang them on the bridge, and throw the key over the edge for eternal love and peace.

Sounds similar but feels absolutely different. Do include a visit to the Butcher’s Bridge in the list of things to do in Ljubljana.

Explore The Slovenian Food Market

One of the most interesting and economical places to see in Ljubljana would be the food markets. It is definitely a mecca for food lovers as the place offers a wide variety for your taste buds.

Locally known as ‘Odprta Kuhna’ or the Open Kitchen, is a fabulously colourful and varied street food market in one of the city’s prettiest squares which follows a simple rule- nothing brings people together like good food!

The place is filled with visitors and locals, binging on delicacies from all over the world. It offers fresh and exotic fruits for everyone to try and buy. Other than fruits, every stall present here is crowded for its aromatic dishes. Some of the dishes available here are Filled Dosa, Vietnamese Rolls, Chocolate Pudding, and of course, beer!

The presence of such food markets is quite essential for anybody to know and learn about a place. It showcases the rich flavour and essence of any location and the process of cooking carried on for generations simply portrays how harmonious any place is.

Riverside Cafes To Enjoy Local Dishes

As said before, to learn about a place, one should visit the local cafes and restaurants and to prove this point, we have included this section. A city suitable for leisure and enjoying quality time, Ljubljana has a variety for each and every one.

While cruising your way through the city, remember these tips to enjoy a leisurely evening:

Locate cafes with terraces: these provide you with a mesmerising view of the city and add on as a factor of enjoying a lavish evening.
Course through Petkovšek Embankment: a stretch between the Triple Bridge and the Butchers’ Bridge is hugely preferred by visitors (be it tourists or locals) as the location is filled with restaurants, cafes, and pubs.
Exploring Cankar Embankment and Gallus Embankment, Hribar Embankment and the Breg for amazing deals and a variety of food with the classic presence of various pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Visit Krakovo, Trnovo and Špica to enjoy subtle and entertaining views and points of the city amidst the natural beauty.

Spectate The Ljubljana River

One of the best places to see in Ljubljana would definitely be walking along the marvellous Ljubljana river.

As Eiffel Tower is to Paris, the Ljubljana River is to Ljubljana. Having such importance, this mighty river has changed to course of the city over time and played its crucial part every time.

This centre point of the city was once the trade route and helped the citizens build their life. With time, the lifestyle changed and now it shines with lively outdoor cafes and restaurants, street markets, and picturesque buildings lining the canals and tourist boats cruise up and down the river.

Enjoy A Tour Of St. Nicholas Cathedral

On your entrance to the St. Nicholas Cathedral, your eyes set on the rich Baroque architecture and eye-pleasing sacred art. The church holds a special place in the history of Slovenia as the seat of the bishop and the most essential Roman catholic church in Solvenia.

According to the legends, the first mention of the cathedral is in 1262. Built-in the honour of St. Nicholas Myra, the church was built in the exact location of today’s Ljubljana. The cathedral saw many changes over the years with major renditions and renovations were done to it while essentially preserving the natural yet initial structure and art.

Apart from the frescoes, the church dones an impressive green dome which usually makes an interesting impression on the visitors. Alongwith the dome, the cathedral also showcases two stunning bronze-structured doors supporting two different ideas. One of them portrays 1250 years of Christianity in Solvenia while the other portrays the recent bishops in Solvenia.

Definitely one of the most visited locations in Slovenia, try considering it in your list of things to do in Slovenia!

Traverse Through Metelkova

If you have an interest in exploring an interesting place in Ljubljana, try paying a visit to the Metelkova.

The place was once the base of the army but now with time and situational changes, has taken a new look inviting a huge amount of visitors. Covered in a psychedelic cacophony of naive art, graffiti, and punk rock visuals, Metelkova has seen its share of outrage and comfort over time.

Metelkova showcases its art onto the seven barracks, spread over three acres of land, abandoned by the Austro-Hungarian Army after Slovenia got independence from Yugoslavia.

While you admire the rich graffiti and you can pay a visit to the Alkatraz Gallery. It is a non-profit institution housed in the barracks’ old stable. It puts on experimental exhibits by both national and international artists. Mizzart Gallery hosts a second-hand market and child-friendly workshops for crowd gathering and pleasing.

Roam Around The Ljubljana Castle

Ljubljana Castle has been standing on a hill above the city for about 900 years, this castle is an architectural mishmash. Most of the castle was rebuilt after a massive earthquake hit the city in the early 16th century, but somehow, it was saved with the initial architecture intact.

The castle is home to some of the most astonishing and interesting centres like the Time Machine tour, Puppet Theatre, Chapel of St George, and Watchtower to name a few. Apart from these, the castle’s Outlook Tower and ramparts offer some of the most beautiful views of the city, offering a visual souvenir for visitors.

Nothing short of a marvel, the Ljubljana Castle has managed to grab the attention of various tourists from all over the world and yet has managed to maintain its beauty intact.

How to Prepare for Your Visit to Ljubljana

Before you set off on your trip to Ljubljana, there are a number of things you will need to organise to ensure a smooth and successful trip. These include what to pack for Ljubljana and what is the best travel insurance for your trip. Both of these will be discussed in the following section.

What is the Best Travel Insurance for Ljubljana

I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.

To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.

Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!

What Should You Pack for Ljubljana?

What you need to pack for Ljubljana will rely highly on when you make your trip there. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and rainy days. During the Summer, you are pretty much guaranteed nice weather with temperatures ranging from 20-35 oC. The hottest months are July and August, so these will be the most popular for a Summer holiday.

During the winter months in Ljubljana, the rain will become more frequent and the temperatures will drop to between 10-20 oc. If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.

When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Ljubljana is very strong, especially during the summer months. Apply a lot of sun cream regularly to prevent a nasty burn from ruining your trip. We use this specific sunscreen to protect us as it is not as oily and irritating as other sunscreens.

Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in Ljubljana, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.

You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.

Photography Equipment

Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera

Microphone – Shure VP83 Condenser Shotgun Microphone

Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8

Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8

Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod

Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod

Action Camera – GoPro Hero 9 Black and Insta 360 One RS

Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 2

Camera Bag – Lowepro Flipside 300 AW and The Nest by Tropicfeel

Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp

Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive

SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD

Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socket

Where to Stay in Ljubljana

Due to how popular Ljubljana is, there is a good variation of accommodation. The below accommodations are all central.

Budget – Central Hotel Superior is a budget-friendly hotel in the heart of Ljubljana that features a rooftop bar and a co-working space. All rooms have free wifi.

So there you have it, all of the best things to do in the beautiful city of Ljubljana.

If you have visited Ljubljana recently, let us know what you thought of the sights listed above, or if you have any suggestions let us know in the comments below.

As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this photo guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own Slovenia adventure. If you are planning the trip for yourself, make sure you have a look at the rest of our Slovenia content for more inspiration.

When you set off on your own adventure, be sure to tag us in your photos on Instagram and we will share them with the rest of our community. In the meantime, why not follow us over there to see what we are currently up to and keep up with us on our Instagram Stories.

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