The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is a quiet, cozy, and beautiful city without any unnecessary pomp. It still retains the atmosphere of old Europe, with its castles, knights, and tales of dragons. Although it may not be a standard travel destination in Europe, Ljubljana offers a wide range of attractions for tourists to explore. In fact, there are so many attractions that it can take a significant amount of time to see them all.
Nevertheless, by taking the selection of the most interesting and most worthy of attention as a basis, you can watch enough in a short amount of time!
So, what should you see in Ljubljana in 2 days, and where should you go first?
The Old Town has a picturesque riverfront along the Ljubljana River.
The Old Town of Ljubljana (Ljubljana Old Town, Ljubljanski grad) can be called an open-air museum, which becomes quite obvious when you look at the sights of Ljubljana in photos with descriptions.
In Old Ljubljana, you can visit the Franciscan Church of Our Lady, the Town Square, the Town Hall, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the ancient Ljubljana Castle with an observation deck on the main tower, and the vibrant ancient frescoes in St. George’s Chapel. Even if you don’t know the names of these landmarks, it’s still an interesting experience to explore them.
The Old Town is a pedestrian area, so tourists traveling by car will have to leave their cars outside the area. For example, you can use the paid parking at the nearest shopping center.
The center of Ljubljana is also permeated with the beautiful Ljubljanica River. The Triple Bridge, the Dragon Bridge, and the Shoemaker’s Bridge are all popular tourist attractions in the capital of Slovenia. For tourists, this turquoise river and its elegant bridges symbolize romance, while for locals, it represents life itself. The picturesque banks of the River Ljubljanica Kanal are surrounded by lush vegetation, and the river is lined with pleasure boats and excursion vessels. For example, a pleasure boat departs every half hour from the Lovers’ Bridge, adult ticket – 10€.
It makes sense to tell about some of the sights of the Old Town separately. So, let’s start with Preschern Square.
Prešerna Square
This irregularly shaped central square in Ljubljana was formed in the 17th century and was originally named after the Virgin Mary. Since then, it has been home to the beautiful Baroque Church of the Annunciation.
The square was named Preseren Square in 1905 in honor of the prominent Slovenian poet Franze Prešeren, who wrote the lyrics for the Slovenian national anthem. Around the same time, a monument to Prešeren was erected in the square, facing the window of the house where the poet’s muse once lived.
Now Presern Square is not just a landmark of Ljubljana (Slovenia), it is the heart of the city. Almost all city roads lead to this landmark, so it is impossible not to find it. Concerts and folk festivals are organized here, and many tours of Ljubljana depart from this place.
Moving further along the square, we reach the next point on our route, the Triple Bridge.
Triple Bridge
The main feature of the Triple Bridge is its construction: it consists of three bridges that have a common origin and fan out on the other side of the Ljubljana River.
When the old stone bridge, built in 1842, could no longer handle the increasing traffic of cars and pedestrians, it was planned to be demolished and replaced with a new one. However, the architect Jozse Plechnik proposed preserving the historical monument and developed a unique design. In 1931, in addition to the old bridge, two new pedestrian bridges were constructed using concrete, all adorned with white “Venetian” railings.
Located in the historical center of Ljubljana, the Triple Bridge connects Prešern Square with another square, Mestni, and the attractions located in its area.
Cevljarski Most
Mestni Square and two other squares – Stari and Upper Gornji-form the core of the historic city. Mestni Square smoothly turns into Stari, and a little to the side there is a descent to the river, where you can see the bridge of Shoemakers (Cevljarski Most).
In the Middle Ages, the bridge was made of wood and had a roof with small shoemaking workshops underneath, which is where the name of the attraction comes from.
There was also a main city gate here, but when Ljubljana expanded in the 19th century, the gate was no longer needed. The wooden bridge, which was a fire hazard, was removed, and a stone structure without a roof was built in its place. Although the shoemakers and their workshops spread throughout the city, the name remained.
In the early 20th century, the Sapozhnikov Bridge was reconstructed under the supervision of the famous architect Plechnik, after which it began to resemble a square more. A distinctive feature of the structure is its decorative columns, which are made in the ancient Roman style.
By the way, this bridge-square could be called a music square: orchestras, bands, and solo musicians often play there.
The Sapozhnikov Bridge has another very remarkable feature: it offers a wonderful view of the ancient castle and many buildings in the Old Town. This includes St. Nicholas Cathedral.
St. Nicholas Cathedral
When planning what to see in Ljubljana, you can not leave without attention the active Cathedral of St. Nicholas – it is located at Dolnicharjeva ulica 1, very close to the Central City Square. The Cathedral, built in the ХVIII century, stands on the same place where there was once an ancient Romanesque church.
A special place in the interior of the church is occupied by frescoes, which Giulio Quaglio and Matej Langus decorated the walls and vault of the structure. The entire interior can be compared to an exhibition of sculptures created by the masters of the Ljubljana school. The baptismal font and the bishop’s chair were designed by the renowned architect Jože Plečnik in the 20th century.
But the greatest miracle of this unique temple is its entrance door, which is one of the 10 most interesting and unusual doors in the world.
For the arrival in the capital of Slovenia of Pope John Paul II, the sculptor Mirsad Begic engraved on the copper door pictures from the history of Slovenian Christianity. The spectacle is impressive.
On your way from the cathedral, you can climb the Castle Hill and not only enjoy the view of the city from above, but also see the ancient Ljubljana Castle.
Piran – attractions and recreation in a Slovenian resort
Ljubljana Castle
The castle with its fortress wall is located on the highest point of the Old Town, exact address: Ljubljana, Grajska planota, 1.
This fortress, which has a long history, is not only a symbol of the Slovenian capital, but also an interesting tourist attraction. References to the castle that stood on this site can be found in 12th-century chronicles, but the current structure was built in the 15th century. At the same time, a chapel was constructed on the fortress grounds, and the watchtower was added in the late 19th century.
Since the 1960s, the castle has undergone extensive reconstruction work, which was completed only by the 1990s.
On site, tourists can visit the Slovenian History Exhibition and watch the 20-minute Virtual Castle projection.
The Ljubljana Castle has a very interesting Puppet Museum, which introduces visitors to the centuries-old history of Slovenian puppets and the various techniques used to create them. Tours of the puppet exhibition are available by prior arrangement, and after viewing the exhibits, visitors can test their own talents in puppetry.
Cafes with cozy outdoor verandas are constantly open in the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle. There are also many small shops where you can buy a variety of souvenirs, but it is most profitable to buy them in the Gallery Rustika (Galerija Rustika).
The Ljubljana Castle offers many historical, cultural, and entertainment events throughout the year. The schedule is as follows:
- January – March, November – from 10.00 to 18.00;
- April, May, and October: from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- June to September: from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- December: from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The day off is Sunday.
Entrance to the territory of the attraction is:
- for an adult — 10€, including 2-way cable car travel — 13€
- for children from 7 to 18 years old, students, pensioners, and groups of 15 people – 7€ (9€ with the funicular).
The official website of the castle is www.ljubljanskigrad.si.
How to get to the castle
You can walk up to the hill where the ancient fortress stands. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the center of the Old Town.
From the southern part of the Triple Bridge, a tourist train runs directly to the castle gates. The train ride to and from the castle costs 4€ and takes up to 10 minutes.
You can also take the funicular to the castle, which is located in the Old Town on the Market Square. The funicular car is made entirely of glass, so it’s a great way to explore the city in good weather, with stunning views of Ljubljana. The funicular takes about 10 minutes to travel, and the round-trip fare is 4€, with a one-way fare of 2.2€. You can also purchase an audio guide for an additional fee.
The funicular station operates according to the following schedule:
- January, February, and March: from 10:00 to 18:00;
- April, May, and October: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- June, July, August, and September: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- December: from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Central Market
The Central Market is located on Vodnikov trg, in the old part of Ljubljana. It is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday is a day off. Given its opening hours, it is advisable to visit the market early in the morning, which can be the starting point for your second day of exploring Ljubljana.
Central Market is clean and tidy. Here you can buy almost any products: fruits and vegetables, honey, meat and fish, and much more.
If you come to Ljubljana in the fall, when local winemakers hold a tasting fair at the market, you will have an unforgettable experience. By leaving a small deposit, you can rent a glass wine glass and walk around, sipping the aromatic drink, from tent to tent. You can also purchase local cheeses, smoked meats, and sweets as a snack. If you particularly like a wine, you can purchase as many bottles as you can carry.
After visiting the market, you can go to the Museum of Illusions.
Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions is located among the new buildings of Ljubljana, on the opposite side of Vodnik Square, near the University of Ljubljana.
- The exact address is Kongresni trg 13.
- The museum is open every day from 11:00 to 19:00.
- The ticket price for adults is 9.95€, for children from 5 to 15 years old – 5.95€; family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) – 24.95€.
- Website: www.houseofillusions.si.
This is a museum that allows you to experience the limits of your perception. It features 40 exhibits, including holograms, optical illusions, installations, and photographs. These exhibits change, appear, and disappear in a completely unexpected and unpredictable manner. The most unusual illusion rooms include:
- a rotated room where reality is shifted by 90°;
- an anti-gravity room where everything appears to be in violation of the laws of gravity;
- Ames Room, where visitors are visually enlarged and reduced;
- a vortex tunnel – everything seems to be spinning in it, and this makes you constantly want to keep your balance.
The Museum’s exhibits are described in several languages: Slovenian, English, German, and Italian.
It’s time to return from the world of illusions to the real world, as there are still some attractions to explore in Ljubljana, such as the Tivoli Park and the Ljubljana Zoo.
Tivoli Park
Tivoli Park is the largest park in Ljubljana, with an area of 5 km². It is located on the outskirts of the city, northwest of the center. This park was created during the time when Slovenia was under French occupation, which is why it was named after the Tivoli Gardens in Paris.
You can walk to the park from the center of Ljubljana in just 20 minutes, or you can take buses 18, 27, and 148.
By the way, it is very convenient to ride a bicycle through the park, as well as throughout the city of Ljubljana.
Bicycle rental points (BicikeLJ) are located throughout the city, including in the park. You can rent a bicycle at one point and return it at another.
To rent a bike, you need to register on the en.bicikelj.si website in advance, choose a short-term subscription, enter your PIN, and pay for the service online. After that, you will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to pick up your bike at any of the 36 city rental locations.
In the park, you can walk along well-maintained paths with trimmed bushes and spreading trees, and explore the large flower garden. If you feel hungry, you can visit the Gostilna Cad restaurant, which is located within the park.
The most important attraction of Tivoli Park is the castle of the same name, located at the foot of the Rozhnik hill. The castle was rebuilt in the 17th century on the site of an ancient Jesuit building. In the 19th century, the castle was given a modern appearance and rebuilt in the neoclassical style. Since 1864, the castle has been guarded by four cast-iron dogs, created by the Austrian sculptor Ferdinand Förnkorn. These animals do not have tongues, which has led to rumors that their creator committed suicide due to this mistake. Currently, the castle is home to the International Center for Graphic Art, which features over 4,000 prints by modernist artists from around the world.
On the territory of the park there is another very interesting object – the Tsekine mansion. It was built in the 18th century, the author of the project was the architect from Vienna Fischer von Erlach. Somewhere from the middle of the 19th century in this building is located the National Museum of Modern History Republic of Slovenia.
You can also visit the Sports Palace, which was built in 1965. It is a complex of two indoor arenas that can accommodate up to 7,000 spectators at the same time.
The Ljubljana Zoo, which is also located in Tivoli Park, deserves special attention.
Ljubljana Zoo
The zoo occupies a small area in the south of Tivoli Park, at the foot of Mount Rožnik. Its exact address is Vecna pot 70, Ljubljana. The official website is www.zoo.si.
You can also get to the zoo directly from the city. By car, you need to drive from the ring road exit No. 16 – Brdo to Vecna pot, or take bus No. 14. During the warmer months (May-October), there is a dedicated zoo bus that departs from the train station.
- Children under 2 years old are allowed to enter the zoo for free.
- tickets for preschoolers cost 4.5€,
- for school children — 6€,
- for students and pensioners — 8€,
- for adults — 9€.
You can see the animals all year round:
- in January, February, and December (25 December is a day off) – from 9:00 to 16:30,
- in March and November, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- in October, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
- from April to September, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The zoo contains almost 150 species of animals, with a total of 600 individuals. All of them live in comfortable conditions that are very close to their natural habitats. The enclosures and cages are so spacious that the animals have almost unlimited freedom of movement, and the zoo’s location in a forest creates a sense of being surrounded by wildlife.
Only once a season, and only if there is a full group, the zoo offers a Photo Safari tour. This tour allows visitors to explore areas of the zoo that are normally closed to the public.
There is another very attractive side to visiting the Ljubljana Zoo, especially for children. By prior arrangement, visitors can spend time with any animal, take care of it, and feed it.
By the way, about the food. Odprta kuhna – during your stay in Ljubljana, this event is not to be missed.
Open Kitchen (Odprta kuhna)
Only during the warm season (from late March to October) and only on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Odprta kuhna is held in the heart of Ljubljana, at Pogacharjev trg 1, almost next to the Triple Bridge.
The open kitchen is an amazing place, a real festival of delicious food. There are many stalls and open tables offering Far East cuisine, dishes from almost every country in the world, and vegetarian options. In addition to the excellent food, you can also find good quality wine, craft beer, and various non-alcoholic beverages. The prices are quite affordable compared to local restaurants.
What is the Odprta kuhna event in the city of Ljubljana – a sightseeing or a food event? Both! Have a nice stay and enjoy your meal!
