If you’re visiting Europe, Slovenia is one of the countries that you definitely need to visit, and here’s how you should spend one day in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city.
Ljubljana is incredibly charming and romantic, and I would highly recommend spending at least one day in Ljubljana while travelling through Slovenia. I’ve visited Ljubljana many times, and here’s exactly how I would spend one day in this lovely city!
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WHERE IS LJUBLJANA
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia, a small country in Central Europe. Slovenia is located between Croatia, Italy, Austria, and Hungary, so it’s easy to reach it from these countries. As Croatians, we visit Slovenia quite often, and Ljubljana is probably the place we go to the most. Ljubljana is located in the central part of the country, near the Ljubljanica River, which is the symbol of the city. It’s known for its charming old town, green spaces, and lively cultural scene, so a fun and relaxing day is guaranteed!
HOW TO REACH LJUBLJANA
You can reach Ljubljana by air, train, bus, or car, depending on where you’re located. All options are pretty comfortable and quick, but here’s an overview of all of them:
By Air
If you’re not coming from one of the neighboring countries, flying is probably the easiest way to get to Slovenia. Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport (LJU) is the main international airport, located about 25 km from the city. It’s very well-connected to many European countries, so it shouldn’t be a problem finding a flight to Ljubljana. From the airport you can quickly and easily reach the city center by shuttle bus or taxi. If you’re planning on exploring Slovenia more thoroughly, I would highly recommend renting a car at the airport!
By Train
If you love a good train ride, you can easily reach Ljubljana by train from many neighboring cities. Ljubljana is well-connected by international trains to Vienna, Zagreb, Trieste, Munich, and Budapest. Additionally, you can also choose from domestic trains from Slovenian cities like Maribor or Koper. The main train station is in the city center so you can easily walk from the station to the Old Town.
By Bus
There’s plenty of international bus companies that connect Ljubljana with other cities around Europe. FlixBus and Nomago are two of the most popular companies that connect Ljubljana to Italy, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, and other countries. The buses aren’t expensive, they’re actually the cheapest way to reach Ljubljana, so keep that in mind if you’re on a budget. The bus station is right next to the train station, so again you can easily walk to the Old Town.
By Car
Travelling to Ljubljana by car is the easiest and most comfortable way, and this is how we always visit Ljubljana from Zagreb. You can easily reach Ljubljana from anywhere using highways, which are excellent and very well-signposted. Keep in mind you’ll need a vignette (toll sticker) to drive on the highways. There’s no way of getting a ticket at the toll booth because they don’t exist in Slovenia.
Once you’re in the country, you just drive as usual. They will check if you’ve got the vignette by scanning your license plate with highway cameras. You can buy the vignette online before your trip or at the first gas station after crossing the border. I would recommend doing it online before just to avoid unnecessary stress.
IS LJUBLJANA WORTH VISITING
Yes, Ljubljana is definitely worth visiting. It’s a charming, walkable city with a picturesque old town, pretty riverside cafés, and a lovely castle offering stunning views. It’s a peaceful, less touristy gem in Central Europe with a lot of great highlights, so it’s perfect for a relaxing but exciting getaway. I would especially recommend visiting Ljubljana’s Christmas Market in December, it’s amazing!
IS ONE DAY ENOUGH FOR LJUBLJANA
Yes, one day is enough to see the main highlights of Ljubljana, but it will be a busy day. The city is compact and walkable, so you can experience a lot in a short time, but there are quite a few fun things to see and do!
HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN LJUBLJANA
If you’ve only got one day in Ljubljana, here’s exactly how I’d spend it. It’s a full itinerary with all the must-sees, but of course, feel free to change it depending on what you’re into!
MORNING: OLD TOWN & THE DRAGON BRIDGE
Start your day by exploring Ljubljana’s Old Town. The Old Town is incredibly charming, and it feels like you stepped into a fairytale. Firstly, walk along the Ljubljanica River. There, you’ll pass several beautiful embankments with plenty of restaurants and bars, as well as many cute bridges.
Stop by the famous Dragon Bridge, which is one of Ljubljana’s most iconic landmarks. It goes over the Ljubljanica River, and it has four dragon statues perched at each corner of the bridge. After the bridge, visit the Ljubljana Central Market, which has several interesting shops including food, drinks, hand-made products, and souvenirs.
Continue on to Presern Square, a charming main square. There you’ll find the iconic pink Francisan Church, as well as the famous Triple Bridge. While walking through the Old Town, you can also visit the St. Nicolas’ Cathedral and Cobblers’ Bridge.
LUNCH BY THE RIVER
Ljubljana has got many incredible restaurants, but the most charming ones are situated at Cankarjevo Nabrezje – an embankment on the Ljubljanica River. You’ll get some of the most amazing views of the Old Town, all while trying some local Slovenian food!
AFTERNOON: CABLE CAR, AND LJUBLJANA CASTLE, AND TIVOLI PARK
After lunch, visit the Ljubljana Castle. You can either walk up, or use the cable car. If you had a big lunch, the cable car is definitely the better option. This is one of the fastest and most affordable cable cars in Europe, so I would highly recommend at least taking it up. You can later walk back down to get both experiences (that’s what we do!). The cable car is only 6 euros for a return trip, and 3.30 euros one way.
Once you’re up there, make sure you explore the castle in great detail. Ljubljana Castle is a historic fortress with stunning panoramic views of the city. Some of the things you must do is climb the Viewing Tower so you can see the incredible views of Ljubljana and the surrounding Alps. You should also visit the Museum of Slovenian History, as well as stop for a drink at one of the few cafes up there.
After coming back to the city, take a walk to Tivoli Park. This huge park is the perfect place for a relaxing walk or a picnic! It’s Ljubljana’s largest and most popular park, and since it covers approximately 5 square kilometers, there’s space for everything. From charming walkways, hills, and ponds to children’s playgrounds, there’s something for absolutely everyone in this park. Make sure you have at least an hour to enjoy a nice stroll in the nature!
IF YOU’VE GOT EXTRA TIME…
If you’ve got extra few days you can use in Slovenia, here are some great attractions you might want to visit!
- Lake Bled – Slovenia’s most beautiful lake and most popular attraction
- Postojna Cave – an incredible cave which is one of Slovenia’s most beautiful natural wonders
- Logar Valley – a breathtaking alpine glacial valley located in the Alps with amazing waterfalls and hiking trails
