Slovenia

Stunning Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the national capital city of Slovenia and also the nation’s cultural, educational, and economic center. Once upon a time, the region used to be Roman city named Emona. You can still see Roman influence on many places to visit in Ljubljana. You can see major influence of roman and Italian styles of architecture among Ljubljana tourist attractions. The city faced a devastating earthquake in 1895, but was revived with extreme care and artistic flair. You can see marks of renovation among several things to see in Ljubljana. But, for majority of the Ljubljana attractions, it is almost unnoticeable. Architect Joze Plecnik was one of the most prominent visionaries responsible for developing several Ljubljana sights with his Art Nouveau and Renaissance revival architecture. There are also several sightseeing places named after him.

Many people from former Yugoslavian regions visit Ljubljana for the city’s eponymous festival. This festival is among the oldest ones in Yugoslavian region. Even besides Ljubljana Festival, the city hosts hundreds of local, national and international events and festivals. So no matter when you embark on Ljubljana travel, you can be part of at least one cultural activity.

One of the most popular venues for many of the best things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia is Preseren Square. The public square hosts a variety of events and activities. It is also among top places to see in Ljubljana. You will find a statue of France Preseren in the square, the poet after whom this Ljubljana attraction is named. It is a great place to begin Ljubljana sightseeing as many of the tourist attractions located at a walking distance.

Though the popular attraction among places to visit in Ljubljana is the city’s eponymous castle sitting atop a hill overlooking the city. You can either hike to the regal castle on foot, which is among top things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia or you can take a train to get up there. The castle underwent evolution with changing times and regimes. It remains among top Ljubljana sights, because this 900 year old daunting wonder is a marvel on its own and a great spot for taking in views of the city. The castle is also known for other top things to do in Ljubljana besides being a tourist attraction. You can enjoy a nightclub, restaurants and galleries here. One of the biggest Ljubljana attractions is the “Time Machine Tour” which is held at the watchtower in the castle complex. The tour shows the journey of the city in form of 3D animations, it is among the best things to do in Ljubljana as a history lesson.

Another one of city’s eponymous wonders is the Ljubljana Cathedral. This Ljubljana tourist attractions has undergone many changes as it was victim of several disasters including earthquake, fires, and war. Several artists have contributed to the Baroque style of architecture of this Ljubljana attraction. While the interior of the Cathedral boasts works by Francesco Robba, Angelo Putti, Giulio Quaglio, and Gropelli Brothers. There are several major frescos, paintings, sculptures and other things to see in Ljubljana presented at this Cathedral.

As you explore various places to see in Ljubljana, including churches, museums, bridges, parks and more; you will learn why Ljubljana is a popular tourist destination to visit. It is also cheaper to visit Ljubljana compared to other European cities.

Visit The Top Tourist Attractions in Ljubljana in 2 Days (Travel Itinerary)

In this section we list out major places to see in Ljubljana in 2 days. The list is drawn out based on the popularity of the tourist attractions and their proximity to one another. This itinerary allows you to cover all major Ljubljana sights quite efficiently.

Day 1

1. Ljubljana Castle

The castle is undoubtedly among top things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The castle holds many treasures of history as it was attacked and rebuilt by different rulers. You will need at least 2 hours for the castle.

Ljubljana Castle

2. Ljubljana Cathedral

This 18th century cathedral has one of the most beautiful interiors among all things to see in Ljubljana. You will need about an hour to admire the beauty of this church.

Ljubljana Cathedral

3. Butcher’s Bridge

Despite the gory name, this bridge is popular among lovers for its famous love locks. Though there isn’t much to see here, just watch couples lock in their lover by putting actual locks on the bridge. You can do that too if you are traveling with your significant other. Eitherway, you don’t need more than 30 minutes for this Ljubljana tourist attraction.

Butcher’s Bridge

4. Triple Bridge (Tromostovje)

This bridge used to be a wooden bridge and was then renovated. The bridge is known for its design and architecture. You can explore all angles of this bridge in 30 minutes.

Triple Bridge (Tromostovje)

5. Prešeren Square (Presernov Trg)

This large square is one of the most popular places to visit in Ljubljana. It is surrounded by several important historical and cultural landmarks. If you are interested in history and architecture, you can easily spend an hour here.

Prešeren Square (Presernov Trg)

6. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

This church is one of the Ljubljana tourist attractions located at Presernov Trg. You will need one hour to explore this church.

Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

7. National Gallery of Slovenia

Also known as Narodna Galerija, it is the main art gallery of Slovenia featuring works by numerous artists. You will need about 2 hours to go through all the exhibits here.

National Gallery of Slovenia

Day 2

1. Central Market

This historic market was revitalized in 1930. The market stretches between the Dragon Bridge and Triple Bridge. More than just a place for shopping, this market is a cultural experience for the tourist. You can easily spend an hour or more here.

Central Market

2. Neboticnik

The rooftop cafe is one of the most popular places to visit in Ljubljana for locals as well as tourists. Keep aside 1 hour for this place and you can incredible views of the city from the top.

Neboticnik

3. National Museum of Slovenia

This museum is among the oldest in the country. It is quite large and several exhibition areas, so you will need at least 2 hours for this place.

National Museum of Slovenia

4. Museum of Modern Art

The museum is divided in 2 sections, one dedicated to modern art and another to contemporary art. You will need about 2 hours to explore both sections.

Museum of Modern Art

5. Tivoli City Park

This is the largest park in the city. You will find several top things to do in Ljubljana in the park. It is also a popular venue for several events, festivals and activities. You will need an hour an half to explore this Ljubljana attraction.

Tivoli City Park

If you visit Ljubljana for more than 2 days or you want to explore more tourist attractions, you can check out our detailed list below. It contains all major and minor Ljubljana attractions you can explore.

Things to do in Ljubljana

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Ljubljana

  1. Ljubljana Castle
  2. Ljubljana Cathedral
  3. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
  4. Robba Fountain
  5. National Gallery
  6. National Museum of Slovenia
  7. Museum of Modern Art
  8. Slovenian Ethnographic Museum
  9. National & University Library
  10. City Museum of Ljubljana
  11. Museum of Slovenian History
  12. Natural History Museum of Slovenia
  13. Plecnik House Museum
  14. Preseren Monument
  15. Railway Museum
  16. Museum of Contemporary Art
  17. Zale Chapel
  18. Museum of Architecture
  19. St. Michael’s Church
  20. St. Cyril & Methodious Church
  21. National Museum of Slovenia
  22. Pivovarski Muzej Beer Museum
  23. Zupnija SV Katarina
  24. Church of St. James
  25. Slovenian School Museum
  26. Old Castle above Smlednik
  27. Tivoli Castle
  28. St. Ana Church
  29. St. Peter’s Parish Church
  30. Roman Wall
  31. Jable Castle
  32. Cerkev Jozefa Catholic Church
  33. St. Ulrich’s Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Ljubljana

  1. Ljubljanica River
  2. Ljubljana Marshes
  3. Mount Saint Mary
  4. Mount Krim
  5. Lake Podpec
  6. Lake Zbilje
  7. Koseze Pond
  8. Grmada Mountain
  9. Tosc Mountain
  10. Tivoli Roznik in Sisenski Hrib Nature Park
  11. Besnica River
  12. Krajinski Park
  13. Roznik Forest
  14. Iski Morost Nature Reserve
  15. Ljubljana Basin
  16. Lake Trboje
  17. SV Jakob Mountain Peak
  18. Museum of Puppetry

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Ljubljana

  1. Metelkova Art Center
  2. Ljubljana Zoo
  3. House of Illusions
  4. Ljubljana Botanical Garden
  5. Cankar Center
  6. International Center of Graphic Arts
  7. Ljubljana Opera House
  8. Woop Trampolin Park
  9. House of Experiments
  10. Enigmarium Escape Room
  11. Pub Crawl
  12. Castle Funicular
  13. Kulturni Center Tobacna
  14. Pravljicni Sumberk Amusement Park
  15. Ljubljana Puppet Theatre
  16. Vodno Mesto Atlantis Water Park
  17. Termalni Aqualuna Water Park
  18. Laguna Mestna Plaza Water Park

Shopping in Ljubljana

  1. Central Market
  2. Ljubljana Flea Market
  3. Cop Street
  4. Preseren Square
  5. Wolf Street
  6. BTC City

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Things to Do in Ljubljana

  1. Paddleboat Tour
  2. River Boat Tour
  3. Ljubljana Bike Tour
  4. Hiking
  5. Camping
  6. Hot Air Balloon Ride

Sightseeing in Ljubljana

  1. Dragon Bridge
  2. Tivoli Park
  3. Preseren Square
  4. Triple Bridge
  5. Neboticnik Observation Deck
  6. Congress Square
  7. Town Hall
  8. Butcher’s Bridge
  9. Cobbler’s Bridge
  10. Town Square
  11. Vodnik Square
  12. Republic Square
  13. Cankarjevo Nabrezje Street
  14. Stari trg Street
  15. Plecnik Trnovo Bridge
  16. Jakopic Promenade
  17. Fabiani Bridge
  18. Park Spica
  19. Crystal Palace
  20. Trnovo Bridge
  21. Ledene Sculpture Rismondo

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Ljubljana

  1. Kararna Cacao
  2. JB Restaurant
  3. Cajna Hisa
  4. Gostisce Gric
  5. Restauracija Strelec
  6. Luda Restaurant
  7. Manna
  8. Montera Bistro
  9. Valvas’or
  10. Ek Bistro
  11. Spajza
  12. Moji Struklji Slovenije
  13. Lolita Cafe
  14. Klobasarna
  15. Julija
  16. Hood Burger
  17. Slascicarna Zvezda
  18. Pop’s Place
  19. Most
  20. Gelateria Romantika

How to Reach Ljubljana?

By Air

Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport is the largest airport in Slovenia and is the best option for Ljubljana travel. You can direct flights to visit Ljubljana from several European cities including London, Berlin, Istanbul, Brussels, Warsaw, Helsinki, Belgrade, Amsterdam, Moscow, Paris, Lisbon, Tel Aviv and so on. There are also airports in Austria and Croatia which fairly close to the city hence used for Ljubljana travel. You can visit Ljubljana from Zagreb Airport, Rijeka Airport and Klagenfurt Airport as well.

Once you reach the airport you can get bus, shuttle bus and taxi to reach the places to visit in Ljubljana. Buses run almost every hour between the airport and the city for Ljubljana travel. You can also book a shuttle bus to visit Ljubljana tourist attractions. You can get a taxi for Ljubljana sightseeing from the airport or you can book one in advance. Though it should be noted that taxi charges at the airport are fairly high. If you have a valid license to drive in Slovenia, you can also get a rental car to visit Ljubljana sights at your leisure.

By Road

There are several international trains connecting Ljubljana to nearby countries . You can get direct trains to visit Ljubljana from Zagreb, Rijeka, Graz, Salzburg, Pula, Vienna, Munich, Belgrade, Frankfurt, Zurich and so on. The bus network for Ljubljana travel is more widespread than train network. You can get a bus for top things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia from Munich, Stockholm, Ulm, Karlsruhe, Trieste, Tuzla, Bologna, Copenhagen, Venice, Sarajevo, Zenika, Frankfurt, Banja Luka, Stuttgrat, Bihac, Florence, Belgrade and many more.

If you are driving to visit Ljubljana tourist attractions then there are three routes you can take to reach the city, namely E57, E61 and A2. You can also explore some of the places to visit in Ljubljana located on the outskirts of the city and near the city along the way. People from Austria and Croatia make day trips for several top things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia by these routes.

By Water

As Ljubljana is a landlocked city, you would have to use air and land modes of transport to visit Ljubljana. You can enjoy river boat rides among best things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia within the city. But, these can’t be considered among options for Ljubljana travel.


Image Reference

Mustafa Natalwala

Mustafa is a content writer and digital marketing expert at WideWorldTrips.com His mainly interests are into travelling, photography, film-making

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