Slovenia had long been on my bucket list, which meant I’d certainly want to explore the capital city of Ljubljana while there. The old part of the city totally stole my heart instantly. I wrote this Ljubljana itinerary to help you plan the perfect 2 days in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I hope it’s helpful!
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About Ljubljana
Admittedly, I knew next to nothing about Ljubljana or Slovenia in general before visiting. Whenever I travel somewhere new, I’m usually motivated to learn as much as possible while I’m there and sometimes spend months afterwards catching up on podcasts to better educate myself.
History of Ljubljana
The largest city in Slovenia, Ljubljana has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Early settlers around 2000 BC lived in the marshes using canoes and pile dwelling homes. In the 6th century, Slavs moved into the area.
The middle ages were a complex time with changing rule but it seems Ljubljana was settled around the mid 12th century. From 1555 until 1804, Ljubljana was owned by the House of Hapsburg, an Austrian dynasty. In 1511 there was a large destructive earthquake. This led to the city being rebuilt in the Renaissance style and with a new wall. Later, a number of foreign architects transitioned the city to Baroque style.
From 1809 to 1813, Ljubljana was the capital of the Illyrian provinces under Napoleonic Rule then returned to Austria in 1813 and was the administrative center of the Austrian Empire. Another large earthquake occurred in 1895, leading to a rebuilding period known as “the Revival of Ljubljana” from 1896 to 1910 when there was a modernization in architecture style and urban developments.
In 1918 after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the region joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, aka Yugoslavia.
In 1941, fascist Italy occupied southern Slovenia, which included Ljubljana, while Nazi Germany annexed northern Slovenia until Italy’s surrender in 1943, when Nazi Germany took complete control. Following the end of WW2, Slovenia became the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with Ljubljana as the capital city.
They remained one of six republics forming Yugoslavia until the late 1980’s after Tito’s death and the Yugoslav government and economy became strained. Their revolution began with demands for democratization and constitutional amendments. Slovenia held their first democratic elections in 1990 then became independent in 1991.
Two days later, the Ten Day War began which was a brief conflict against the Yugoslav People’s Army after Slovenia announced their independence. A truce was reached and the Yugoslav Army withdrew.
Modern Day Ljubljana
Slovenia joined the EU in 2004. Today, Slovenia is made up of 92% ethnic Slovenes, descendants of Slavs who probably migrated from Russia around the 6th century CE. The two main ethnic minorities are Italians and Hungarians. Culturally, Slovenes have more in common with northern Italians, Germans, and Swiss rather than the Balkans.
In 2016, Slovenia was named the very first Certified Green destination in the world. There is a grading system with criteria like air quality, water and waste treatment, wildlife, etc. to rate countries’ “greenness” and Slovenia earned a whopping 96%. More than a third of the country is set aside as conservation land. Ljubljana has consistently been in the top rated cities for sustainability over the last decade. They have a really great waste system throughout the city with underground bins for recycling and waste.
What to Know for Travel in Ljubljana
Ljubljana is an incredibly easy city to take on as a tourist. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some things to know to make it easier.
Getting around Ljubljana
If you’re just visiting the city, you definitely don’t need a car. In fact having a car would be a bit of a pain unless you’re staying outside the old town.
Walk
The old town is small and compact and walking is your best way of getting around.
Rent a Bike
The city has a bike system called BicikeLJ System where you can rent bikes from terminals for free for the first hour and quite cheaply for each hour after. You just have to register an account to use it. They have a map that will tell you where the bike stations are and how many bikes are currently available for use.
Alternatively, Ljubljana Bike provides a free 4 hour bike rental with the Ljubljana Card from the Tourist Information Center!
Take the Bus
Outside the old town, you can take the bus. It is free with the Ljubljana Card or you can buy the Urbana Card that can be topped off as needed from the Tourist Information Center.
Kavalir
You may notice a few green electric vehicles similar to a golf cart cruising around Ljubljana. These ecofriendly options are intended to help get people with mobility challenges shuttled around the historical old town. You can hail them as they go by or telephone them.
Taxis or Bolt
We didn’t need to use these but Bolt is great for getting a ride to or from the airport.
Currency and Costs of Travel in Ljubljana
Slovenia has used the euro since 2007. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. We encountered maybe one food truck style place that only accepted cash.
Tipping is not considered mandatory or as high as in the US. Rounding up the bill or leaving about 10% is common, so have some euro coins or small bills. The tip typically can’t be added to the card.
The cost of travel in Ljubljana is somewhere in the mid-range in comparison to other European countries. I found it really tough to find a hotel room for less than $100/night in the old town during high season. A main dish at a typical restaurant varies from $15-20. A flat white or latte at a specialty coffee shop is around $4.
Language in Slovenia
The Slovenian language, or Slovene, is a South Slavic language with almost 50 dialects and it was the first written Slavic language. The modern Slovene alphabet was developed with 25 letters as recently as the 1840’s and modeled after the Czech alphabet. We found that everywhere we went, people could understand and speak some English.
Religion in Slovenia
Slovenia is predominantly Catholic with other small Christian minorities as well as Islam. A large proportion of Slovenes also consider themselves atheist or non-religious.
Safety in Ljubljana
We felt incredibly safe walking around Ljubljana for a few days both day and night 99% of the time. Slovenia is consistently rated one of the safest countries in Europe. However a few small things happened that made me question this, although I don’t think they are the norm. First, our walking tour guide mentioned to watch your valuables and pay attention around the market due to pickpockets. This is common in European cities, so nothing new.
Secondly, we witnessed three men breaking into a car and grabbing a women’s purse on a main street a couple blocks outside the old town in broad daylight. When we reported it to a restaurant worker, they didn’t think much of it. Again, not so different from many other places including the US.
In another instance, we witnessed some people snorting drugs right in the open on a pedestrian street in the old town.
Lastly, my boyfriend was sitting alone on a bench along the river in front of a restaurant while I wandered to take a photo a few minutes away. While I was away, three men suddenly showed up and surrounded him on a bench on both sides and were clearly on drugs. They got abnormally close to him and started asking him questions. If I hadn’t walked up a second later and said, “Ready?” so he could get up and walk away, we’re not sure what they would have done. This was also in broad daylight on a tourist pedestrian street. Otherwise, Ljubljana felt quite safe in the old town and I think this was an isolated rare thing.
We walked through a neat artsy area called AKC Metalkova Mesto. This used to be military barracks but has been squatted in since the 90’s. There is street art, quirky art installations, and an alternative hipster culture. We found it fascinating but it didn’t feel as safe as the old town in my opinion. I think it would be a ton of fun to go when there is an event with lots of people though.
How Long to Spend in Ljubljana
Ljubljana, the largest city in Slovenia, is a surprisingly small city for a capital. With a population of around 289,000 the actual touristy old town feels much smaller than that. It is one of the most walkable cities I’ve ever visited. In fact they made the majority of the old town pedestrian and bike only beginning in 2007 as a step towards transforming the city into a sustainable and enjoyable place for residents and visitors.
The walk from one end of the old town to the other is less than 2 km and only takes 10-15 minutes tops. Some people just spend one day in Ljubljana. It is absolutely possible to get a feel for the downtown and see some sights in a day. We stayed 3 nights which was plenty. But I really think you need to spend 2 full days in Ljubljana to enjoy the old town and learn some history, not to mention try some of the food!
What to Do and See in Ljubljana
The old town straddles the Ljubljanica River below Castle Hill. You’ll want to spend your time in this area and stay here as well. Even though there is so much more to Ljubljana outside of the old town, if I’m being honest, I didn’t find it all that appealing. The buildings are more modern, a bit grungy and the new part is not as compact and walkable. That’s not to say there isn’t more to see and do, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll focus on a Ljubljana itinerary for the old town.
Take a Free Walking Tour of Ljubljana
I always love taking a walking tour in a new city to get my bearings. Typically, I do it at the beginning if possible so I have a better understanding and appreciation for the city while I’m there. You can just Google “free walking tour in ___” and sign up with whatever website has the best reviews. In Ljubljana I used Ljubljana Free Tour and chose the classic tour which lasted about 2 hours. They have other more specific tours too that focus on communism, the castle, etc. Just remember the tour guides are volunteers and they make their money based on tips only. So definitely tip well if you enjoy the tour.
Take a Boat Cruise of the Ljubljanica River
Admittedly we didn’t do this but I think the price is reasonable and it would be fun. There are multiple cruise company options but prices are all the same or similar. For adults, the price is 14 euros and 7 euros for children up to 12 years.
The Ljubljana Tourist Boat lasts 45 minutes, holds 32 people, and in the winter it is heated. You get one free boat cruise ride with the Ljubljana Card so this may be a good reason to get the card (more on that soon). The departure point is: Ribji trg pier.
There is also the Barjanaka Tourist Boat located at the Dvorni trg pier in front of Pizzeria Ljubljanski Dvor. Rides are either 30 or 60 minutes and 7 or 14 euros. They also have longer live music tours in the summer sometimes.
Then there is the Leah Tourist Boat located at the pier below the Butchers’ Bridge (Mesarski most) which is 14 euros for 45 minutes.
There is also the company Barka and their wooden boat named the Ljubljanica with the same prices which departs from the Breg embankment pier. They also offer custom tours and special arrangements.
Ljubljana Castle
The Ljubljana Castle sits on castle hill overlooking the old town of Ljubljana. Unlike many castles I’ve visited, this one has more than just history and tours. There are events hosted here, there is a castle cafe, restaurants, a wine shop, and featured experiences.
To get to the castle from the old town, there is a funicular you can take up the hill or you can walk the trail from near the Central Ljubljana Market in Vodnik Square which takes about 10 minutes. We chose to walk just to get some exercise and save some money. A roundtrip funicular ticket costs 6 euros per person without castle entry. If you’re walking, look for this relatively inconspicuous sign directing you to the trail.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I felt like the Ljubljana Castle was somewhat overrated. It wasn’t extremely obvious to me at the time, but you can walk around the castle grounds without a ticket. Tickets are required for entry into the towers, museums, and more. Personally I found it overpriced at 12 euros, or 16 euros with funicular or 20 euros with funicular and an audioguide. But maybe the experiences are more interesting.
Take a Bike Tour
I had no idea before visiting that Ljubljana was such a bike friendly city. The entire old town is closed to traffic so pedestrians and bikes are all you’ll find. Many residents ride their bikes around town. Check out this highly rated tour:
Triple Bridge
The Triple Bridge in Ljubljana is one of the most famous sights of the city. It connects the oldest, most historic part of the city on the southeast bank of the river with the newer part (still considered old town) in Prešeren Square. The first wooden bridge to span the river here dated to around 1280. It had been rebuilt a couple of times until the 1930’s when architect Jože Plečnik redesigned and expanded it to have the two smaller footbridges at angles on either side of it. Later it was renovated in 1992 and was used for vehicles until 2007 when old town became pedestrian only.
Dragon Bridge
The Dragon Bridge is a road bridge on the edge of the pedestrian only area of Ljubljana old town. Two dragon statues sit on either side of both entrances. It was one of the first reinforced concrete bridges built at the beginning of the 19th century during Austro-Hungarian rule to replace the wooden bridge before it. It has since been renovated in the 1980’s. Many dragon stories and legends are a part of Ljubljana’s history.
Mesarski Most
This is the bridge between Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge and is also known as the Butcher’s Bridge. It is a much more modern bridge than the others built in 2010. The steel wires on the sides have been adorned with visitors “love locks” over the years. The bridge also features some fascinating sculptures by Jakov Brdar that some describe as “grotesque.” That’s an accurate description as they are pretty dark.
Visit the Central Market
If you cross the Dragon Bridge to the Vodnikov Trg square you’ll find the open air market with fresh produce stands, food stands, etc. along the river. Inside the “Plečnik’s Covered Market,” designed and built by the same architect as the Triple Bridge in the 1940’s, is the indoor market with fish, meat, bread, cheeses and more. The market is daily (except Sunday) from morning till afternoon or evening, depending on the season.
Visit Saint Nicholas’s Cathedral and Franciscan Church
St. Nicholas’s Cathedral, aka the Ljubljana Cathedral, is located close to the Central Market Square. It stands out with its green dome and twin towers. The site has been occupied by churches since the 1200’s but has gone through numerous replacements and reconstructions. The bronze doors to the church are some of the coolest I’ve ever seen. One has a depiction of Slovenian history carved into it and the other has faces of 20th century Slovenian bishops.
The Franciscan Church is located on the other side of the river in Prešeren Square and is most notable for its coral colored facade. Two, or possibly three churches once stood in the 1600’s where it now stands today.
Visit the National Museum of Slovenian History
The country’s oldest museum, The National Museum of Slovenian History celebrated 200 years in 2021. It’s located near Tivoli Park and shares the building with the Natural History Museum. The museum has a 60,000 year old Neanderthal flute, considered to be the world’s oldest musical instrument! Admission is 8 euros for an adult.
Visit Tivoli Park
This is the largest city park in Ljubljana. It features Tivoli Castle which is an old mansion from the 17th century, a pond, gardens, a playground, sculptures, trails, cafes, etc.
Take a Coffee Tour
You could absolutely do this on your own just by hopping around to the different specialty coffee shops throughout Ljubljana but there are quite a few and if drinking half a dozen coffee’s in one day makes you have an anxiety attack just thinking about it, then consider a tour! Viator has a 2 Hour Specialty Coffee Tour where you get a mini education on specialty coffee and then cup tasting, discussions, etc. I wish I’d known about this while in Ljubljana. Some of our favorite coffee shops in Ljubljana for different reasons were: Stow (and Stowe 2 Go), Črno Zrno, Male Pražarna, and Renaissance.
Go Paddle Boarding on the Ljubljanica River
Either take a tour if you’re a newbie or rent an SUP and take yourself on a leisurely paddle down the river.
Check out the SUP Tour Ljubljana or SUP Klub for rentals.
Take a Food Tour or Cooking Class
If you prefer to immerse yourself in the traditional food of a place, consider a food tour! You can combine this with a walking tour or combine it with a local wine tasting like THIS ONE. This way you get oriented with the city, learn a bit about the food and the history, and get a little tipsy all at the same time.
Want to get involved in cooking a traditional Slovenian dish like Štruklji, a traditional Slovenian dessert? Have a look at this COOKING CLASS that prepares a 4 course meal with a local chef.
Day Trip Ideas from Ljubljana
Slovenia is a small country which helps to be able to see a lot in just a short time. But it does take a while to drive places, whether it’s windy mountain roads or just traffic and parking, especially in high season. To explore the rest of Slovenia, I recommend renting a car. We always use DiscoverCars in Europe because it seems to have the best deals in my experience.
If you don’t want to rent a car, you can take a bus or train to other areas like Lake Bled. A taxi is another alternative but will be costly. Otherwise, day trips with Viator or Get Your Guide are an excellent way to have it all planned for you so you don’t have to worry about the details. Here are some examples of great day trips from Ljubljana:
Visit Lake Bled
Lake Bled is famous for the beautiful island with a church in the middle of the lake. There is also a castle on a hill overlooking the lake. We visited Lake Bled as an overnight stay in July and it was quite busy. Honestly, I found it a bit overrated and touristy but still worth at least a day visit. The main things to do are take a boat (either paddle one yourself or take one with a group) to the island to visit the church. There’s also a little cafe out there, visit the castle on the hill which is indeed, quite beautiful and apparently has some really good Slovenian cream cake at their cafe, walk the 6km around the lake, or hike one of the trails that provide views over the lake. The little town of Bled is cute too.
Visit Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is a less touristy (but still touristy) beautiful lake around an hour away from Ljubljana. You will pass by Lake Bled along the way so pairing the two together as a day trip is a great idea. Here’s a great tour option that even includes a visit to Vintgar Gorge along with the two lakes:
Visit the Postojna Cave
We’d planned to see this top rated attraction, but sadly didn’t make it. We ran out of time before we had to return our rental car. This cave displays impressive examples of stalactite and stalagmite formations. This tour with Viator is one of the top rated from Ljubljana.
Visit the Predjama Castle
Unfortunately this was another sight we didn’t take the time to see but honestly it looks really cool and its close proximity to the Postojna Cave makes the two a perfect pair to see together. Here’s a tour that combines the two, but make sure to read the fine print as it doesn’t include the entrance ticket in the cost but when you add that in, it seems to be cheaper than the tour that includes both tickets.
Visit the Škocjan Caves and Piran
The Škocjan Caves are less developed and less popular than Postojna Cave and look very beautiful with a huge “wow” factor. Tours commonly pair the caves with the beautiful coastal town of Piran. This tour has fantastic reviews:
Visit Triglav National Park
Triglav National Park is the reason we missed out on seeing a number of other sights in Slovenia. We drove our rental car to the countryside along the Soča River and stayed in a quaint Airbnb for 5 days. We drove all over the national park finding beautiful swimming spots and hiking trails. If you visit this area, I highly encourage you to stay for a few days. You can take a day trip independently with a rental car but make sure you have a plan and know where you want to spend your time. Otherwise take a tour like these I list here:
Go Wine Tasting in the Vipava Valley
This region of Slovenia looks really lovely and it less than an hour’s drive from Ljubljana.
Do You Need the Ljubljana Card?
The Ljubljana card can be purchased for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Current prices are 36, 44, and 49 euros respectively. It gives you free access to things like the funicular to the castle and the castle itself, the river cruise, a walking tour, unlimited bus rides (buses are only outside of the old town), admission to the zoo, museums among other attractions. You can check the details HERE.
If you think you’ll want to do a boat trip (14 euros), a walking tour (value varies but even with a free one you’re expected to tip 10-20 euros/person) and visit the castle (12 euros) or some museums, it’s probably worth it. We didn’t buy the Ljubljana card because we didn’t do a boat cruise, walked to the castle instead of taking the funicular, and didn’t visit any museums other than the ones at the castle. We also didn’t care to take the bus anywhere outside of the old town. But for someone who planned to do a few of those things, I think it would be worth it!
Where to Stay in Ljubljana
There are so many wonderful places with fantastic reviews in Ljubljana’s old town. Many are apartments where you have a small kitchen to make some meals and save money if that’s your desire. I only list places to stay that have great reviews and are in great locations.
Primus Apartments
We stayed here our entire time in Ljubljana and really loved it. They are great apartments in a wonderful location just on the edge of the pedestrian zone of the old town. There are tons of restaurants around and it’s incredibly walkable to everything.
Rates $85-$175/night depending on season and holidays
Hotel Heritage
Perfect location and absolutely stunning 4 star hotel that includes a highly rated breakfast.
Rates $120-$300 for lowest category rooms
Barbo Palace Apartments and Rooms
These elegant rooms in the Barbo Palace (built in 1755) have great reviews and are perfectly located.
Rates $80-$190/night
Stella Sky Apartments
Especially lovely for the summer time, these apartments feature a terrace with a swimming pool.
Rates $60-$140/night
Lesar Hotel Angel
Elegant and classy, this 4 star hotel is at the base of Castle Hill.
Rates $91-$280/night
April1550 Boutique Hotel
Absolutely stunning 4 star hotel with almost perfect reviews.
Rates $200-$250/night for the lowest category rooms
Old Quarter Residence
Beautiful apartments with old town views and well stocked kitchenettes.
Rates $140-$300/night
Ljubljana Center Apartments
Very central lovely apartments in a historic building from the 16th century but with modern amenities.
Rates $140-$150/night
Triple Bridge Ljubljana
The location of this beautiful apartment right on the square by the Triple Bridge is perfection, but you’ll pay for it.
Rates $280-$400/night
AS Boutique Hotel
Wow, what a stylish hotel with awesome reviews. They even have a rooftop jacuzzi.
Rates $170-$300/night
AdHoc Hostel
Great location and good reviews for a hostel. About as cheap as you can get for Ljubljana.
Rates $20-$40/night in mixed dormitory style
What to Eat in Ljubljana
Ljubljana has an amazing food scene. The old town is bustling with restaurants, cafes, bars, and coffeeshops.
Coffee
I absolutely love Stow Coffee Roasters. There are two in Ljubljana. The baristas we had at Stow 2 Go took so much pride in the flat whites they made me. What these baristas do takes time and skill. You can also ask for a cup to sip from while standing at a table people watching at the Prešeren Square instead of a to-go cup.
The full size Stow Coffee Roaster is located within the Ljubljana City Museum. You don’t have to pay to enter. It’s a huge coffee shop with educational espresso info on display. We tried one of the best espressos of our lives here with some really unique notes and a crazy price tag but worth it!
Črno Zrno is another tiny but beautiful shop run by a Colombian man who knows his coffee.
Renaissance Specialty Coffee also made a really nice coffee and has great reviews.
Mala Pražarna is a roaster with a cozy vibe.
Breakfast
EK Bistro had my favorite breakfast in Ljubljana. The French toast is heavenly. Chris liked his eggs Benedict too.
La Petit Cafe is very popular for breakfasts. They have everything from eggs, pancakes, crepes, eggs Benedict and a range of coffees. If you don’t like birds flying across your plate while you eat, this may not be the place for you.
Lunch/Dinner
For something quick and budget friendly, grab a sandwich from Dobra Vila Sendvičerija – Gourmet Sandwich shop.
Central Market has a vast array of produce and goods each day Monday-Saturday and then is larger and more impressive with international cuisine on Fridays.
Patrón Tacos and Bar for if you’re craving Mexican food, street taco style.
Veganika has healthy and colorful dishes for vegans (or not) with great reviews.
Pop’s Pizza and Sport has woodfire pizzas and burgers.
Gostlina Vida has delicious, healthy organic food. They also serve breakfast on the weekends. We loved our meal here.
Raw Pasta is a delicious homemade Italian pasta restaurant for dine-in or takeaway.
Slovenska Hiša – Figovec for tradiational Slovenian food. Reservations are recommended.
Sweet Treats
Kavarna Zvezda is a beautiful dessert shop where the decor is equally as beautiful as the treats.
Drinks
Kolibri Cocktail Bar has a stunning vibe and opens in the evening until late. They have a unique menu and bougie decor.
Pub Lajbah is a craft beer pub with Slovenian as well as international beers on tap.They also have food.
Wine Bar Šuklje has lovely outdoor seating and beautiful charcuterie presentations.
Ljubljana Itinerary Conclusion
Whether you have one day in Ljubljana or a week or more, I hope this post helps you plan what to do in this charming Slovenian capital city. When in Ljubljana, sometimes you feel like you are in Venice or Porto or Vienna or Amsterdam or even Paris. But Ljubljana is distinctly its own unique and beautiful city deserving of a visit. Let me know if you discover some other hidden gems!
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