Stunning Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Ljubljana

October 1, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 4106 Views

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.

Table of Contents

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Cathedral
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
Robba Fountain
National Gallery
National Museum of Slovenia
Museum of Modern Art
Slovenian Ethnographic Museum
National & University Library
City Museum of Ljubljana
Museum of Slovenian History
Natural History Museum of Slovenia
Plecnik House Museum
Preseren Monument
Railway Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art
Zale Chapel
Museum of Architecture
St. Michael’s Church
St. Cyril & Methodious Church
National Museum of Slovenia
Pivovarski Muzej Beer Museum
Zupnija SV Katarina
Church of St. James
Slovenian School Museum
Old Castle above Smlednik
Tivoli Castle
St. Ana Church
St. Peter’s Parish Church
Roman Wall
Jable Castle
Cerkev Jozefa Catholic Church
St. Ulrich’s Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Ljubljana

Ljubljanica River
Ljubljana Marshes
Mount Saint Mary
Mount Krim
Lake Podpec
Lake Zbilje
Koseze Pond
Grmada Mountain
Tosc Mountain
Tivoli Roznik in Sisenski Hrib Nature Park
Besnica River
Krajinski Park
Roznik Forest
Iski Morost Nature Reserve
Ljubljana Basin
Lake Trboje
SV Jakob Mountain Peak
Museum of Puppetry

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Ljubljana

Metelkova Art Center
Ljubljana Zoo
House of Illusions
Ljubljana Botanical Garden
Cankar Center
International Center of Graphic Arts
Ljubljana Opera House
Woop Trampolin Park
House of Experiments
Enigmarium Escape Room
Pub Crawl
Castle Funicular
Kulturni Center Tobacna
Pravljicni Sumberk Amusement Park
Ljubljana Puppet Theatre
Vodno Mesto Atlantis Water Park
Termalni Aqualuna Water Park
Laguna Mestna Plaza Water Park

Shopping in Ljubljana

Central Market
Ljubljana Flea Market
Cop Street
Preseren Square
Wolf Street
BTC City

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

Paddleboat Tour
River Boat Tour
Ljubljana Bike Tour
Hiking
Camping
Hot Air Balloon Ride

Sightseeing in Ljubljana

Dragon Bridge
Tivoli Park
Preseren Square
Triple Bridge
Neboticnik Observation Deck
Congress Square
Town Hall
Butcher’s Bridge
Cobbler’s Bridge
Town Square
Vodnik Square
Republic Square
Cankarjevo Nabrezje Street
Stari trg Street
Plecnik Trnovo Bridge
Jakopic Promenade
Fabiani Bridge
Park Spica
Crystal Palace
Trnovo Bridge
Ledene Sculpture Rismondo

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Ljubljana

Kararna Cacao
JB Restaurant
Cajna Hisa
Gostisce Gric
Restauracija Strelec
Luda Restaurant
Manna
Montera Bistro
Valvas’or
Ek Bistro
Spajza
Moji Struklji Slovenije
Lolita Cafe
Klobasarna
Julija
Hood Burger
Slascicarna Zvezda
Pop’s Place
Most
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

Ljubljana Castle – Johann G / Flickr
Ljubljana Cathedral – Jorge Láscar / Flickr
Butcher’s Bridge – Bex Walton / Wikimedia Commons
Triple Bridge – Johann G / Flickr
Prešeren Square (Presernov Trg) – stevekeiretsu / Flickr
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation – Shawn Harquail / Flickr
National Gallery of Slovenia – Jason / Flickr
Central Market – Jorge Franganillo / Flickr
Neboticnik – stevekeiretsu / Flickr
National Museum of Slovenia – Žiga / Wikimedia Commons
Museum of Modern Art – Michael R Perry / Flickr
Tivoli City Park – Mister No / Wikimedia Commons