20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN LIUBLIANA

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is a perfect destination to enjoy a multi-day getaway. It is a small but very lively city, full of attractions both in the same city and a few kilometers away, with a castle that gives unforgettable sunsets and some curious pets: dragons. But do not panic, they are not flesh and blood and no longer spit fire. Today we are going to tell you the best 20 things to see and do in Ljubljana.

But first let us tell you a couple of things:

- How many days to dedicate? One day is enough to meet the essentials of Ljubljana. But we always recommend spend at least 3 days to make a couple of getaways. One to the Postonja cave and the nearby Predjama Castle, and the other to Lake Bled and the Vintgar Gorge. Obviously there are more things to do in Slovenia, but these four are close to the capital.

- How to get to Ljubljana? It is difficult to find cheap flights to Ljubljana. One trick is to fly to Italy (to Venice, Treviso or even better to Trieste) and travel from there to the capital of Slovenia by car or bus (Flixbus has great deals).

Now yes, let's go with the 20 things to see and do in Ljubljana:

1. Cross the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most), is located in the center of the city and is a symbol of Ljubljana. They say that when a virgin girl passes by, the 4 dragons that dominate the bridge move the tail XD. Here we tell you more about Ljubljana and her dragons.

2. One of the visits we enjoyed most in the city was that of Metelkova Mesto. It is a somewhat quirky neighborhood full of street art and a peculiar past: it was an area full of military buildings during the time of the Soviet Union. The sober architecture of that time together with the colors and the underground sculptures of now, form an eccentric but charming combination.

3. The Prešeren Square It is the main meeting place of Ljubljana and you will pass here again and again. It is always very lively and in its surroundings there are a few bars where you can taste a typical wine or toast with a beer. The square owes its name to the statue of France Prešeren, a famous poet from 1800 who was also the author of the national anthem of Slovenia.

4. Here is also another icon of the city: the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, in baroque style and with a curious pink color. So it is a place that religious will like and ... instagrammers!

5. Since we started with churches we cannot leave the list off St. Nicholas Church. Not so much for its architecture, but for seeing its side doors, where the country's history is detailed.

6. In Ljubljana there is one of the most curious bridges we have ever seen: Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), which crosses the Ljubljanica river from one place to another. By the way, if you are one of those who enjoy getting to know the cities from the water, you can do a mini cruise on the river.

7. Give yourself a loop by Central Market It is located right next to the river. It is best to go first thing, when locals go to buy vegetables, cheeses and products for day to day. It is a great place to know the typical products. Open every day except Sundays.

8. If after the visit you get hungry, in Ljubljana you have to Try some of the most famous dishes of the Balkans, such as cevapi, some sausages (they are rather elongated meatballs) of spiced minced meat. Slovenia offers a really rich gastronomy, to try several specialties there are self-guided tours around the city (which are supported by an app), with visits to several places where tastings are included.

9. Go up to Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad) walking: although the walk is somewhat steep, it is super nice and rewarding. Although for the more vaguetes there is a funicular that will leave you up in a few seconds. Once up, you can visit the inside of the castle (€ 7.50 and € 12 with a funicular) or do like us: take a walk around the patio and breathe its good atmosphere and go to the next point ...

10.… A short distance from there you will reach our favorite place in Ljubljana (and probably all its inhabitants). Is a panoramic point from where you have some of the best views of the city at sunset. You will see that it will not take long to find it once you have left the castle. Do not miss it for anything in the world, for us, it is certainly the best thing to do in Ljubljana.

11. And speaking of views… When we were in Ljubljana we did a food tour and our guide discovered a spectacular corner: Restavracija Nebotičnik. The really interesting thing about this cafe-restaurant is its panoramic terrace with 360 degree views over the city. It is a good place to have breakfast (the Prekmurska Gibanica cake we ate took a tear) and, although it is somewhat more expensive than the others, the prices are still correct considering the location.

12. The Tivoli Park It is the green lung of the Slovenian capital, if you want to relax under the trees or you want to improvise a picnic, it is your place.

13. Do you know that in Ljubljana you can sleep in a jail? We talked about the Hostel Célica Art, which in his words "is the example of how art can transform a place with such a dark and complex history in a completely opposite environment, full of positive vibrations."

14. The Republic Square We did not find it one of the most charming places in the city, but from the historical point of view it has an incalculable value: it is here, in fact, where on June 26, 1991, Slovenia declared its independence from the (former) Yugoslavia.

15. At night nothing better than having a mojito (or whatever) in one of the many bars that are placed on the sides of the river. The Chill Out Bar is a good option, but if you prefer you can sign up for a crawl pub and meet new friends while visiting several bars and nightclubs in the city.

16. An original site to visit and perfect for a rainy day is the Museum of Illusions, where you can enter, among others, an anti-gravity room or the room upside down, in which reality seems deformed ... It costs € 9.5 (children € 5.5)

17. Take your time to wander through the historic center of LjubljanaYou will be surprised to see how such a small city has such suggestive corners (those pastel-colored houses drive us crazy!).

18. And in your walk, approach Mestni Trg, the square where the City Hall stands.

19. If you only had two days of time, an idea is to dedicate the first one to get to know Ljubljana and the second to make this tour of the best of Slovenia. The best of the country is concentrated in a single excursion.

20. But if you have enough time in Slovenia, we recommend you do several excursions (beyond those we told you at the beginning of the article). Two that we love are the ones that take you to know Trieste, the least Italian Italian city, or an express visit to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. There are daily buses with Flixbus for both destinations so you can do the excursions for free without having to rent a car.

Bled Lake

Did you want to know the capital of Slovenia and its charms? Sure now you know the best things to see and do in Ljubljana, and if you have been and think we have forgotten something, leave us a comment!

* Photocredit: Shutterstock

Video: 10 Things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia Travel Guide (April 2024).