26 Jul Travel Guide | Best things to do in underrated Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia is one of the smallest countries in Europe, however, it is one of the most beautiful and charming countries I have ever been to. The capital is lively and the mixed Austrian, Slovenian and Italian influences on the architecture are amazing. The food and coffee scene is great here. You will be surrounded by breathtaking nature, from mountains to crystal-clear rivers that flow with life. So make sure you put Slovenia on your travel bucket list!! There are several things you can do in the country- wine tasting, kayaking in the rivers, skiing in winter, hiking or simply relaxing at a riverside café.
In this article, I have compiled some of the best things we did whilst visiting Ljubjana. I hope this will be helpful and inspire you to make a stop in this country.
Top things to do in Ljubjana
Walking tour
In my opinion, walking tours are one of the best ways to get to know a city. You see some of the main sites and you get an explanation of the history behind them. The best part is that some walking tours are completely free.
House of Illusions
The weather wasn’t so good on the first day we arrived in Slovenia, so we decided to check out the House of Illusions and it was so much fun. You really enter the tricky world of optical illusions. You could see that the adults were just astonished and puzzled by all the exhibitions and illusions as much as the kids. I highly recommend it. Also, if you do the walking tour the guides usually offer a voucher with a discount for the House of Illusions and other attractions.
Food Market
Honestly, the food market in Ljubljana is probably my favourite one. They have food for all tastes from all over the world, the fruit is so fresh, and I was surprised by their size too – they were huge. I loved trying all the different types of cheese and sitting by the river whilst listening to the birds. Yes, that’s right you can listen to them even though we’re in the city centre, this is something impossible in cities like London.
Make sure you try their traditional soups and stews with buckwheat. They also have a traditional sausage that is only made in Slovenia and nowhere else in the world.
In the food market, you will be able to buy local produce such as fresh eggs, milk vegetables, fruits and so on.
Metelkova Mesto
An alternative city within the city. This place is so unique and completely different from the rest of the capital. It is an artsy, crazy place and it is a must-visit!
It was formerly army barracks but now is a place for creative minds, with street art, exhibitions, music and much more.
Tivoli Park
Tivoli Park is Ljubljana’s largest park and It was designed in 1813 by the French engineer Jean Blanchard. It’s perfect for an evening stroll, this was the last thing we did before returning to our hotel. It was a very hot day, so it felt nice to have a stroll and eat our snacks at the park.
Ljubjana Castle
Ljubljana Castle is a must-visit. It is free to enter the Castle and soak up the stunning views. The castle is situated on a hill, and you reach either by foot, or you can take the funicular. If you want to see some of the exhibitions and explore the towers you need to pay for a ticket.
• €10.00 per person for adults
• €7.00 per person for children and young people aged 7-18, students, senior citizens, and groups of more than 15 people
• €24.00 for families of up to two adults and at least one child aged 7-18
The ticket includes entry to the Viewing Tower, Virtual Castle (a short movie about the Castle’s history), Slovenian History exhibition, Museum of Puppetry, and Once Upon a Time exhibition. For more info click here.
Old Town
Slovenia The old town is filled with bridges with lots of character, charming buldlings, fountains, cafes and restaurants. The architecture has Austrian and Italian influences. It is so beautiful. In 2016 Ljubljana won the title of European Green Capital, this is due to environmental awareness, the central part of the capital is closed to traffic, and it is perfect to stroll around the old town.
You can spend an entire afternoon/ evening just eating ice cream or having a coffee by the river and people-watching.
Preseren Square
Prešernov Square is the heart of historic Ljubljana city. It is named after the poet, France Prešeren (1800–1849), who wrote mostly in Slovenian and is best known for his sonnets, was one of Europe’s great Romantic poets.
This is where the free tour begins and is very nice to walk through. Often there is people playing their instruments and singing here.
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
The square is dominated by the Franciscan church of the Annunciation- The parish church of Ljubljana – Annunciation Parish. Its red colour is symbolic of the Franciscan monastic order.
Triple bridge
Also, you can see the famous Triple Bridge, a group of three bridges that cross the Ljubljanica River. the side bridges, intended for pedestrians, were added to the original stone bridge to a design by the architect Jože Plečnik,
Now all three of them are for pedestrian and bicycle use only.
Neboticnik
A skyscraper with a rooftop terrace- one of the very few high buildings in Slovenia. It offers astonishing views of the city, and it is free to enter. You can also have a drink or something to eat at the restaurant/bar.
Day trip to Lake Bled
You can’t miss visiting Bled when in Slovenia. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the country.
You can stroll around the lake, sit on the bench relax and appreciate nature or you can do canoeing in the turquoise lake waters and admire the fairy-tale castle on a small island in the middle of the lake.
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