24 Hours in Ljubljana
Away from its turbulent past, Ljubljana has become a modern, metropolitan city and a very popular tourist destination in Europe. Although it is one of Europe’s smaller capitals, it has a rich cultural scene and an amazing historical background. Anytime is good time to make a tour de Ljubljana, but we recommend the warmer season, because the city is overrun by street performances, concerts and festivals. Visit Slovenia’s capital and discover its beauty for yourself!
09:00 – A perfect way to start your day is with a cup of coffee and a morning walk. Go to Ljubljana’s popular Cafe Čokl and enjoy the delicious Slovenian yoghurt and cheese and some warm bread for breakfast. After that, Tivoli park is your destination! Ljubljana’s biggest park is beautiful at any season of the year and stretches directly into city centre, so you can continue your tour without depending on the public transport. If you’re lucky enough, you may run into one of the exhibitions held throughout the year at Jakopič Promenade in the centre of the park, a well-known venue for large-format photographs.
11:00 – When in Ljubljana, the Old Town is a must-see! The city’s old centre draws over one million of tourists each year. The impressive architecture, a scenic river with beautiful bridges, cobbled streets, old buildings, wide array of shops, open market, traditional restaurants… the list goes on and on. Do not miss out on your chance to see the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, a baroque church originating from the 13th century and very attractive to the tourists, also located there.
13:00 – Continue your walk to Tromostovje, near the Town Hall. It is a group of three bridges across the Ljubljanica river which connects the historic and the modern part of Ljubljana. Cross the river to get to the Prešernov trg, make a few selfies and go in the direction of Franciscan Church, a salmon-pink church very attractive both on the outside and the inside. There is no charge to enter it, however it is closed between 12:30 and 13:30 every day (open 08:00 – 20:00).
14:00 – Lunch time! To try out delicious burgers, fast food or typical Slovenian cuisine, you’ll have to walk only 2 minutes from the Prešernov trg, to the Pogačarjev trg. There you’ll find Odprta kuhna (open kitchen market), with freshly prepared delicacies and innovative menus. Kranjska kobasa, potica roll cake, ćevapi, curry, chicken skewer and lots more are waiting for you!
15:00 – Ljubljana’s great characteristic is that everything is within a walking distance. Only 5m away on foot from your last stop is Dragon Bridge, across the Ljubljanica river, one sort of inheritance after Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Vienna’s Secession period. Follow the bridge to reach the Vodnikov trg, overfull with locals selling clothes, handicrafts and typical Slovenian products.
16:00 – Next stop is Metelkova. It is an art centre of Slovenia’s capital and one of Europe’s most successful urban squats. It is situated on the bank of the modern part of the city. Medieval fortifications, colorful churches, graffiti on the walls and dilapidated buildings are what make Metelkova Mesto the central point of city’s culture scene hosting more than 1,200 events a year. Don’t miss out on the Museum of Contemporary Art MG+MSUM as well, the entrance fee is only 5,00€. If you want to step into a completely different, urban world, then this is the place for you.
18:00 – Take a funicular to Ljubljana castle and climb to the tower to have an amazing view of the whole city and surrounding mountains. The castle is open to 20h and the entrance is free (apart from the museum, for which there is an admission fee), so the perfect time to visit it is in the evening, when the city’s lights help the romantic atmosphere and the view simply takes your breath away! Combined with the a return ticket for the funicular, it costs only 10€.
19:30 – Time to have a bite of something! Gostilna na gradu with Slovenian cuisine, on an excellent location near the castle on top of Grajski Grič, offers you a wide range of specialties adored by tourists, like Kranjska sausage, Karst prosciutto, Tolminc cheese, Idrija žlikrofi and so much more. This is the spot for every foodie traveler.
20:30 – A perfect way to end your sightseeing tour is to go to Nebotičnik (skyscraper), on top of which there is a Nebotičnik Cafe from where you get one last glance of Ljubljana while drinking the best coffee in town and enjoying delicious cakes.
22:00 – Finish your stay with a wild night out! Slovenia’s capital is a very safe city, even at night, bars and restaurants are full with locals hanging out with tourists. You can choose among Chill Out bar, Pr’Skelet, Shooters Club, Captain’s Cabin and many other places. For those of you seeking a bit quieter atmosphere, check out Pritlicje or Makalonca. Also, you can always ask a local for advice and who knows, maybe you’ll have the time of your life!
