How to Spend a Perfect Day in Ljubljana

Things to do in Ljubljana in a day

Ljubljana is the fairly small capital city of Slovenia, a country that by itself is pretty small. Oh, and it’s also the biggest city in Slovenia.

Its size, though, betrays how wonderfully charming the city is.

Contrary to its name (pronounced “lyoob-lyAH-nah”), Ljubljana as a city has an relaxed vibe. It also has the largest and oldest university in Slovenia, and one of the oldest in Europe (psst… incidentally, Melania Trump studied here 😉 ). The bustling student population juxtaposes perfectly with the medieval character of the city,

How Many Days do You Need in Ljubljana?

For a quick visit, one day in Ljubljana should be enough. The city center is fairly small and houses most of the city’s attractions.

The entire perimeter of the central area is car-free, and you can spend a beautiful day in Ljubjana walking around and admiring its elegance.

Where to Stay in Ljubljana

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Ljubljana. About 2.5 km outside the city center, this is a fairly new property and maintains a very high level of hygiene. They provide free breakfast, and also bikes on a first-come, first-served basis. You know, exploring a European city on a bicycle is a whole other experience! Besides the city has a flat terrain so is perfect for biking.

Ljubljana also has some great hostels, some of the best ones being:

AdHoc Hostel
Turn Hostel
Villa Veselova

Airbnb is another brilliant option, especially if you’re new to the sharing economy platform (you get upto EUR 50 off on your first booking – THIS IS GOOD!). There are tons of great airbnbs in Ljubljana city center. Take your pick!

One Day in Ljubljana: Things to Do

1. Prešeren Square

The central square in the city is named after one of Slovenia’s greatest poets, France Prešeren, who wrote the country’s national anthem.

This is the key location for all the big events in the city. You’ll spot a conspicuous statue of France Prešeren, here, with an unclothed woman (presumably his muse that he dedicated all his songs to) ‘blessing’ him. Think of it as a metaphor.

Bang opposite to it is the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. Story goes that the church wasn’t pleased with the statue of a naked woman in front of it, so a tall tree was planted in between to ‘cothe’ her in a way. Too many metaphors? Ljubljana can be a surprisingly romantic, stimulating city!

[Related: Slovenia Itinerary - Lake Bled + Ljubljana]

2. Triple Bridge

Diverging from Prešeren Square are three identical stone bridges culminating on the other side.

The central one is the oldest and was initially intended for traffic flow, while the other two were added later for pedestrians.

Presently, all three bridges are completely vehicle-free, and you can enjoy walking atop the Ljubljanica river, stopping to take photos here and there.

From the point of convergence of the three bridges, take left for the Open Market. If you go straight, you’ll arrive at the Old Town.

3. Ljubjana Castle

The castle is easy to spot, perched on a hill, from the Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square. You can catch a tourist train from the bridge, or a funicular from Krek Square. Price per adult for a funicular ride is EUR 4 return.

How to get to the castle:
You can also drive up to the castle. Or if you’re feeling guilty about all the delicious food you’ve been eating, and are looking to get some exercise, you can do a (pretty steep) hike up the hill.

Once at the top, access to the castle courtyard, chapel and gift shop is free. There is also a viewing tower, entry to which costs EUR 5 and affords a panoramic view of the city with the Sava River and the Alps in the distance.

Even from the courtyard though, you can catch some beautiful views. We drove up to the castle at night and the whole city looked lit up like fireflies!

4. Old Town

Ljubljana’s Old Town is sandwiched between the castle hill and the Ljubljanica River. It has the City square (Mestni Trg), with the unmissable Robba Fountain and the city hall behind it. Further on, you’ll find the Upper square (Gornji Trg).

All lanes in the Old Town are lined with outdoor cafes and restaurants. I personally felt there was a major Viennese vibe in the city.

Stroll through cobbled streets, get a cup of coffee (Slovenia has REALLY good coffee), enjoy the food, and take the time to appreciate the slow pace of this part of the city.

Handy protip for where to eat in Ljubljana

If you’re vegan, you’re in for a surprise – Ljubljana has a remarkably large number of vegan restaurants! We visited Gujžina (Slovenian food) and Kucha (lots of cakes, desserts). You can find many more options for vegan restaurants in Ljubljana here.

5. Dragon Bridge

Dragons are ubiquitous in Ljubljana.

You’ll see them on souvenirs, outside gift shops, and more notably, on the city’s Coat of Arms.

According to a legend, it transformed from being the bad guy (a monster, if you will) to the symbolic protector of Ljubljana, personifying courage, power and wisdom. You can read more about the story of the city dragons in this article.

Just a block down from the Triple Bridge is the Dragon Bridge. The name is a dead giveaway. It is guarded by a total of four formidable dragon sculptures, two on each side of the bridge.

6. Central (Open) Market

200 m from the Triple Bridge is Ljubljana’s famous open-air market that opens daily on weekdays from 7:00 until 16:00, and on Saturdays from 7:00 until 14:00.

Visitors can buy all sorts of local produce, fruits, vegetables, breads, etc., sourced from all over the country.

Between March and October, there is also an ‘Open Kitchen’ on Fridays where one can try Slovenian cuisine.

Stopping at the Open Market is a great way to get a flavor of the local life in the city. The market is closed on Sundays.

7. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

The church really stands out in its pastel red color and a recognizably Baroque architectural style.

The interior is just as impressive, with vibrant frescos adorning the ceiling. An important highlight is the main altar, which was built in the 18th century by a famous Italian sculptor Francesco Robba.

The church is free to visit but is closed during the day between 12:30 and 13:30.

8. Tivoli Park

One of the absolute best things you can do in most European cities, is to find a park and spend an afternoon there.

There’s no dearth of sprawling green spaces in Europe and this is a very local activity – you’ll often see locals unwind in parks, doing picnics and soaking in the sun.

Tivoli is the largest park in Ljubjana, and it sits at the Western end of the city center. There is also a children’s playground, and plenty of walking space.

Even if you have just one day in Ljubljana, pick up some Union (the most popular Slovenian beer), and perhaps a sandwich from a deli, and have lunch in the park as you people watch.

9. Square of the Republic

When Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, this was where the crowds gathered to celebrate.

The Republic Square has also hosted several important demonstrations and public gatherings in the past. It naturally has cultural and historic significance.

On the other side of the road is the Slovenian Parliament building. In the winter, a large ice-skating rink is placed in the square.

10. Art Nouveau Architecture

Throughout our walking tour (with United Europe Free Tours), our guide mentioned Art Nouveau a bunch of times – and I just stared blankly at her.

I pretend to be a smartass but my vocabulary of architectural styles didn’t include this term until my visit to Ljubljana.

Turns out, from 1890 to the start of WW1, Art Nouveau was abounding in all of Europe.

It’s aesthetic is defined by long, curving lines, and brazen symbolization of nature in various shapes and forms, from animals and plants to folklore and geometry. You can spot anything between flower buds and insect wings. A lot of wrought iron is used. A lot of symmetry. The style is contemporary but vintage.

While the city predominantly has Baroque architecture, it’s easy to notice a lot of Art Nouveau pieces as well (once you get what it looks like!).

Take the Grand Hotel Union, for example – the city’s first modern hotel built in 1905. Or the Hauptmann House, bang across from Prešeren Square.

To sum up, here are the top things to do in Ljubljana in a day:

1. Prešeren Square
2. Triple Bridge
3. Ljubljana Castle
4. Ljubljana Old Town
5. Dragon Bridge
6. Central Market
7. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
8. Tivoli Park
9. Square of the Republic
10. Art Nouveau Architecture