If you’re thinking of visiting Ljubljana Christmas Market, this blog post is for you!
Ljubljana is one of the smallest, but also most charming capitals in Europe, and it’s a great city to visit all throughout the year. If you’re considering a visit to the Ljubljana Christmas Market, this blog post will help you decide whether it’s worth it, what you can do and see there, and where to find the markets in the city.
Keep reading for the ultimate Ljubljana Christmas Market guide.
WHERE IS LJUBLJANA?
Before we start talking about Christmas, here are some important facts about Ljubljana.
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. It’s surrounded by the Alps and the Karst region, making it a quite picturesque city. Ljubljana is known for its parks, the Ljubljanica River, and its historical landmarks such as Ljubljana Castle and the Triple Bridge. It’s a great day or weekend trip – due to its small size, you don’t need much time to explore it.
How to Reach Ljubljana
There are a few different ways you can reach Ljubljana. Firstly, you can do it by air. Ljubljana has an international airport Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU), located about 26 km (16 miles) north of the city center.
If you’re not planning on flying, you can reach Ljubljana by train from many other European cities like Vienna, Munich, Zagreb, and Venice. You can also come from other parts of the country by train as well.
If the train is not an option, you can visit by bus. You can find buses to Ljubljana from nearby countries such as Croatia, Italy, Austria, and Hungary. They are usually quite cheap and great for city hopping around Europe.
Finally, if you’re somewhere fairly close, the easiest way to reach Ljubljana is by car. Slovenia has a well-maintained road network, and Ljubljana can be easily reached via highways from neighboring countries. We came from Zagreb in less than 1.5 hours, but you can also come from various other cities in Europe. If you’re coming by car, make sure you buy the e-vignette, otherwise you cannot use their highways.
IS IT WORTH VISITING LJUBLJANA CHRISTMAS MARKET?
Ljubljana Christmas Market is small but incredibly charming. You can see it in half a day, and there aren’t many locations all over the city.
If you’re coming from cities nearby such as Zagreb, Venice, Trieste, or Graz, it’s worth it. The reason why is because you’re not taking a long trip to get there. You’ll enjoy the gorgeous Christmassy vibes of Ljubljana and return home. It’s also worth it if you’re already visiting multiple Christmas markets nearby. That way, Ljubljana is going to be another charming stop in your itinerary.
It’s not worth visiting Ljubljana Christmas Market if you’re thinking of flying to Slovenia specifically for the Christmas market, or if you’re thinking of travelling for 3+ hours from some other country. I’m afraid you’d expect a bit too much and end up disappointed.
WHAT ARE THE LOCATIONS OF LJUBLJANA CHRISTMAS MARKET?
Here are the locations of Ljubljana Christmas Market where you can find various food and drink stalls, Christmas-decorated bars and restaurants, and incredible Christmas lights installations.
Breg embankment
Breg embankment is a location with the most Christmas stalls by the river, and most of them sell handmade crafts such as jewelry, winter gear, and other great Christmas gifts.
There are also a few food stalls with sweets such as churros, pancakes, candy and so on. The scenery is gorgeous with the stalls, river, and the castle in the background, so make sure you stroll through it. These stalls are open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m./midnight.
Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment
This is one of the most charming parts of the city. If you’re someone who loves sitting down for a drink or a meal surrounded by Christmas decorations and songs, this is the place for you.
It’s situated on the banks of the Ljubljanica river and it’s full of restaurants and bars where you can enjoy dinner or a nice cup of mulled wine on the outdoor terraces full of Christmas decorations, blankets, and warm heaters. It’s a magical space with stunning views of the river and Ljubljana Castle. The stalls and most restaurants work from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Gallusovo nabrežje embankment
Once you walk through the Cankarjevo nabrežje and pass the Šuštarski Most (Cobblers’ Bridge), you’ll be strolling through Gallusovo nabrežje. As this is already quite far from the center of the Christmas Market activities, there’s not much to do here.
You’ll find a few food stalls, but the main reason why you should visit is the massive nativity scene with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph all made out of hay. It’s a really unique piece of Christmas art, and it’s worth walking to see it!
Prešernov trg and Stritarjeva Street
Prešernov trg is one of the main landmarks in the city, and it’s the most beautiful part of the Ljubljana Christmas Market. The main square of the city houses a stunning Franciscan Church and the Triple Bridge which are lovely to see at all times, but especially when dressed in their winter decorations.
Next to the church there’s a huge, beautiful tree, along with five to six food stalls where you can get something to eat or drink. Standing in front of the church and looking over the bridges, you’ll see some of the most beautiful Christmas lights displays in Stritarjeva Street.
The light displays have a space theme, making them uniquely different from those at other Christmas markets. From the same spot you can also see the Ljubljana Castle gorgeously lit up.
It’s a location you absolutely must visit. The working hours of the stalls there are from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Kongresni trg (Congress Square)
While this is also a spacious square, Kongresni Trg is less impressive than the Prešernov trg, but still worth checking out. There are 2-3 food stalls where you can grab something to eat, but the cutest thing to see there are the beautiful lanterns displayed at the Park Zvezda right on the square. The working hours of the small stalls are 10 a.m. to midnight.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO WHEN VISITING LJUBLJANA CHRISTMAS MARKET?
Here are a few activities you cannot miss if you visit Ljubljana Christmas Market!
WALK AND SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Strolling through the city and seeing the Christmas lights should be your number one priority. The Christmas lights are the best part of this whole Christmas market, so don’t just come and sit at a bar/restaurant and miss out on all the stunning light installations.
There are plenty of them all over the town, and they’re space-themed. You’ll get to see stars, planets, NLOs, various small organisms, and many other creative light displays. They’re most beautiful at Stritarjeva Street and on most bridges of the Ljubljanica River.
TAKE A BOAT TOUR
If you want to enjoy the Christmas lights warmly, you should book a boat tour on the river. The boat tours are 10 euros per person, they last for around 30 minutes, and you can enjoy scenic views of the city on a warm boat with a cup of tea in hand. There are various points at Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment where you can book this tour.
GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT
There are so many food stalls where you can get something excellent to eat, it would be a shame to miss it. There are both local and international delicacies available, so choose whatever you prefer.
Most of the food on the stalls are meat dishes, such as sausages (€6.50), hot dogs, cevapi (€12), and hamburgers (€10). If you’d prefer something sweet, you can choose between pancakes (€6.50), roasted chestnuts, pretzels (€2.50), and so on.
DRINK SOME MULLED WINE
There’s no Christmas market without a cup of mulled wine. At Ljubljana Christmas Market you’ll find mulled wine all over the city, from 3.5 to 5 euros. If you’re not a fan of mulled wine, there are many other options you can choose from. There’s mulled gin (€5), hot chocolate (€4), coffee (€2), and various beer and soda options.
VISIT THE LJUBLJANA CASTLE
Finally, make sure you visit the Ljubljana Castle. The castle is situated on a hill overlooking the city, and it attracts many visitors all throughout the year due to its rich history and gorgeous panoramic views. It’s especially charming during Christmas time because it’s decorated with various Christmas decorations and light installations. You can easily reach it by the funicular, a return ticket is 6 euros per person.
