10 best things to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia is SO beautiful. It’s such an underrated destination, and I absolutely loved visiting this off the beaten track country. I was honestly blown away by its mountains, lakes, and gorgeous towns – and none more so than the capital city, Ljubljana. We spent 3 nights here in April and despite incredibly variable weather, we had the best time. Here are 10 of our tried and tested best things to do whilst in the city!
Climb to Ljubljana Castle
The current castle in Ljubljana dates back to the 15th century, when it was built as a seat for the ruling Habsburgs and part of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1815 the castle then became a prison, and later a home for the poor which it remained until the 1960s when it was renovated and opened to visitors.
We spent about 4 hours at the castle but I think a normal visitor would only need 1. We spent 2 hours in the Slovenian history exhibition reading all the virtual boards from Roman times to the fall of Yugoslavia as we found it fascinating, and we did the full audio guide and prison tour as well. We also ate an incredibly tasty lunch at the castle restaurant, which was made only with local produce.
Enjoy Triple Bridge & Prešeren Square
One of the most famous landmarks of the city, Prešeren Square is actually a circle, with lots of beautiful avenues off it and the striking pink church. There are also really beautiful views along the river up to it, which I managed to capture a perfect light for on my first evening in Slovenia.
Get lost in the Old Town (incl. Dragon Bridge)
Ljubljana old town is a small area and really nice for a stroll. It’s full of interesting architecture and a really good selection of shops and restaurants. The old town also has a river running through it and strolling along the riverside and enjoying all the different bridge views, and crossing the famous Dragon Bridge, is also a good way to while away an hour or so.
Relax in Congress Square
One of Ljubljana’s main squares, Congress Square is a lovely area to sit and take in a bit of sunshine, or at one of the street side cafes due to it’s spectacular view up to the castle. We chose this spot for dinner on our first night and were glad we did as we managed to see a bit of sunshine!
Cocktails at Nebotinik rooftop bar
Another spot for a wonderful view of the castle is Ljubljana’s skyscraper, Nebotinik. It’s also home to a rooftop bar, restaurant and café so is a nice stop for dinner and some drinks. We just stopped in for some cocktails with a view.
Take time to wonder at Ljubljana Cathedral
The cathedral was built in the 1700s, in a stunning baroque style. I had it all to myself as I went inside and with only a 2 Euro entrance fee, it’s well worth it. Just look at that ceiling!
Learn about Slovenia’s History at Tivoli Park & The National Museum of Contemporary History
As anyone who reads this blog knows, I love a good museum. The National Museum of Contemporary History sits in beautiful Tivoli Park in the west of Ljubljana. It covers Slovenia’s modern history from 1914, when it entered WW1 as part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, through to WW2 when it allied and was then occupied by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy – before being liberated by the Allies and voting to be included in the newly formed Communist Republic of Yugoslavia – right through to the fall of communism and founding of an independent Slovenia in 1991.
Of course I managed to spend 3.5hrs here when a suggested visit is 1hr, but I love my modern history. If history isn’t your thing there are also a plentiful supply of art museums to choose from as well.
Marvel at the magic of Lake Bled
Lake Bled is perhaps the most famous day trip from Ljubljana and all I can say is WOW – this has to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to on planet earth. Enjoy the views, row out to the church and take in Bled Castle.
It’s worth at least a full day trip from Ljubljana but I actually thought it looked so beautiful I decided to spend my fourth night in Slovenia there and enjoy 2 full days exploring the lake and its surrounding hiking trails. It was so worth it.
Explore Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave
Another perfect short trip from the centre of Ljubljana is a visit to the amazing Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle. Both the cave and the castle are out of this world beautiful and so unique. I’ve never seen anything like them, and if you have the chance to visit then I highly recommend it.
Get in to nature in Škofja Loka
And finally, another trip option only a short distance from the centre of Ljubljana is to visit the historic town of Škofja Loka. There is lots to do here and you can easily spend a day in the town visiting the castle, hiking to the church of the Holy Cross, exploring the old town and lots more. We also absolutely loved the ancient bridges and found the town to be really off the beaten path with no other tourists around.
I am so happy to have explored some of stunning Slovenia, and I would totally be doing Mr Travelling Han (MTH) a disservice if I didn’t share the amazing extent he went to to plan this trip as my birthday present.
The present was given to me in the form of a fully hand made, designed by MTH, escape room board game. The premise of the game was that a Roman artifact had been stolen from the British Museum and I had to travel the breadth of the Roman Empire to find it. Each country in the game (England, France, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, Greece and Turkey) had a box with multiple puzzles – leading to codes to move on to the next location. The puzzles were personalised, referencing our own travels, my favourite books and more. The final puzzle lead to a card announcing a trip to Slovenia….and that’s how we came to visit!
This trip will forever hold a special little place in my heart. Slovenia is the only country in the world with the word ‘love’ in the middle of it. And I absolutely fell in love with it – it’s such a beautiful country and if you ever get the chance to visit, I totally recommend it! Stay safe and happy travelling everyone.
