According to legend, the picturesque Slovenian capital of Ljubljana (pronounced lyoo-BLYAH-nah) was established when Jason and the Argonauts, having stolen the Golden Fleece from King Aetes, navigated up the Ljubljanica River and defeated a dragon. Today, dragons are iconic in this charming European city, symbolizing the capital itself.
However, dragons are just one of the many reasons this enchanting city deserves a place on your travel list.
Ljubljana became the official capital of Slovenia in 1991, the same year the country declared its independence from Yugoslavia. Yet, its rich history spans more than 5,000 years.
Most visitors spend their time exploring the historic old town, featuring whimsical streets, cobblestone squares, and a hilltop castle that overlooks the pedestrian-friendly center. The serene Ljubljanica River flows through the heart of the city, once a vital trade route, now popular for scenic boat cruises.
As a compact city, you can easily discover the highlights in one day in Ljubljana. During our trip, Ljubljana was the first stop on our 10-day Slovenia itinerary, where we spent three nights and one full day. The city also served as a base for day trips to Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj.
If you’re planning a visit, this Ljubljana itinerary will guide you on how to get to Ljubljana, the best things to see, accommodation options, recommended dining spots, and day trip ideas.
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1-DAY ITINERARY FOR LJUBLJANA
Below, I’ve marked the main attractions in purple on the map to help you plan your visit, and I’ve organized the best way to spend your day in Ljubljana. Attractions appear in purple, accommodations in yellow, and restaurants in green.
Map courtesy of Google My Maps
Highlights of Ljubljana
- Ljubljana Castle may not be the largest castle, but it boasts a rich history, offering panoramic views of the city from its hilltop.
- Preseren Square is one of the main squares in the city center and a fantastic place for photographs.
- Open Kitchen is a foodie event held on Friday evenings from March to November, featuring a variety of local restaurants setting up stalls across from the central market.
- A boat tour along the Ljubljanica River is a delightful way to experience the city.
Day 1 in Ljubljana
Given the compact nature of Ljubljana, it’s easy to explore on foot. A self-guided walking tour is the perfect way to begin your visit, creating a loop through the city center to see all the main highlights of Slovenia’s capital.
While this itinerary covers many sights, it doesn’t include places like Tivoli Park, the city’s largest park. You might struggle to fit it in alongside other attractions, but if you have extra time in Ljubljana, consider a stroll through its lush pathways.
If you prefer a guided experience, the Ljubljana Free Tour offers daily walking tours led by local guides. You can choose between the Classic City tour and the Old Town and Castle tour. They also run a Communist Tour, which costs €15 per person.
Another great option, especially for history and architecture enthusiasts, is the City Tourism Office’s Jože Plečnik-themed walking tour. This tour follows the legacy of the famous urban planner who significantly shaped Slovenia’s capital. The two-hour walk includes notable landmarks like the Triple Bridge, the National and University Library, and the Križanke Summer Theatre, concluding at Plečnik’s house, now a museum.
If you’re interested in exploring Plečnik’s impact on Ljubljana, I also recommend the book Slovenology: Living and Traveling in the World’s Best Country by American author and art historian Noah Charney, which outlines a Plečnik-themed walking tour in one of its chapters.
Preseren Square
Kick off your day in Ljubljana at Preseren Square (Prešernov trg), one of the city’s key squares featuring the magnificent pink Church of the Annunciation. Adjacent to it is a statue of the famous Slovenian poet, France Prešeren. If you follow his gaze, you’ll spot a bust of his unrequited love, Julija Primic, located within a nearby wall. She inspired many of his poems.
In Preseren Square, you’ll also find a bronze model of Ljubljana. Though not a major attraction, it’s worth checking out while here, especially since it’s conveniently located near Stow 2 Go, an excellent coffee spot.
If you’re visiting during the summer and find it a bit too warm, consider revisiting Preseren Square later. Since Slovenia experiences around 300 days of rainfall each year, the city has installed a cooling sprinkler system in the square, allowing visitors to enjoy a unique micro-climate, as advertised.
Leading from Preseren Square is the iconic Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), a creation of architect Jože Plečnik, Slovenia’s equivalent of Antoni Gaudí. The three pedestrian bridges unite central Prešeren Square with the historic medieval town on the southeast bank of the river. Standing on the bridges and looking back towards the Church of the Annunciation offers a fantastic photo opportunity.
Central Market
After crossing the Triple Bridge, you will arrive at Ljubljana’s Central Market, which encompasses an open-air market in Vodnikov Square alongside the porticoed market. The renowned Plečnik’s Covered Market features an array of food shops, cafés, and restaurants along the river. Every Saturday, the marketplace buzzes with local vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and various Slovenian products, including honey and wine.
During our summer visit, we encountered local artisans selling their crafts under the shade of the covered market, including a talented glass artist offering exquisite hand-blown glass dragons.
Close to the market is one of our favorite spots in Ljubljana, Vigo Ice Cream. This ice cream parlor is renowned for serving some of the best handmade ice cream we’ve ever tasted, featuring delightful flavors like chocolate orange, coconut, and cheesecake.
While wandering the market area, you’ll come across Butchers’ Bridge, which connects the Central Market’s colonnade to the opposite embankment. The bridge gets its name from its location, where butcher stalls once stood; it was completed in 2010. Now it’s known as the city’s “love bridge,” adorned with countless padlocks.
Continuing on from the Triple Bridge, you will soon reach the renowned Dragon Bridge, one of the city’s most famous bridges (Ljubljana boasts a total of 17 bridges). The Dragon Bridge features magnificent sculptures of dragons perched atop its abutments.
Ljubljana Castle
Make your way up to Ljubljana Castle, initially built in the 11th century as a royal residence. It later served various purposes, including a military hospital, a prison, and a quarantine station for prisoners of war during WWI. Following WWII, it was occupied by the Nazis.
What stands today dates largely from the 15th century, housing a museum, an escape-room venture, and a Michelin-starred restaurant. We opted to explore the castle grounds, enjoying the views of the city instead.
You can reach the castle via a 10-minute walk or take a funicular. Regardless of how you get there, be sure to visit the large metal door near the funicular entrance; try knocking three times slowly and you might just hear a dragon roar.
Ciril Metodov Street (Ciril Metodov Trg)
After exploring the castle, stroll down the cobblestone Ciril Metodov Street and stop at Klobasrna for lunch. This cozy café specializes in various Slovenian delicacies, including Cheese Dumplings (Struklji). These rolled dumplings come with diverse fillings and are typically steamed; the walnut flavor was particularly delicious!
The café is conveniently located across from the Ljubljana Cathedral (also known as St. Nicholas’ Cathedral). Be sure to admire the bronze doors that depict Slovenian history, commissioned to celebrate the 1250th anniversary of Christianity in Slovenia. The side doors feature portraits of notable bishops.
As you continue along this street, you’ll encounter the Town Hall, which regularly hosts art exhibitions.
Mestni Street (Mestni Trg)
Ciril Metodov Street leads to Mestni Street, an ideal location for a leisurely stroll through Ljubljana’s old town. This charming cobblestone road is lined with various shops, restaurants, cafés, and bakeries.
A Boat Tour Along the Ljubljana River
When you’re ready, turn right down one of the lanes leading back to the riverside. Several boat companies operate on the river, so you can choose anyone; they all follow the same route and charge the same for a 50-minute tour along the Ljubljanica River.
This scenic cruise is a fantastic way to see Slovenia’s capital from a new perspective while learning some local history as you pass beneath the city’s many bridges.
As the boats head downstream, you’ll pass Center Rog, a former bicycle factory that produced the famous Yugoslav-era Rog bicycles. Today, it houses creative workspaces for designers and artists, along with a public library, cafés, shops, and TaBar, a trendy Slovenian-style tapas bar.
Heading upstream, the tours venture into the Ljubljana Marshes, a wetland area classified as a World Heritage Site. This vast wetland, the largest in Slovenia, has existed for millennia and is where the world’s oldest wooden wheel was discovered in 2002, estimated to be between 5,100 and 5,350 years old. You can see this ancient wheel displayed at the City Museum.
If time allows during your stay in Ljubljana, consider a day trip back to the marshes, known for rich wildlife. You can spot over 100 bird species, 89 butterfly species, 48 dragonfly species, as well as roe deer and otters.
Metelkova Mesto
Just a short walk from the Old Town is Metelkova Mesto, a vibrant “alternative cultural center” set within former military barracks. This colorful neighborhood boasts extensive street art and is home to some of the city’s trendiest bars and clubs.
Dinner at Baščaršija
One of our favorite dining experiences in Ljubljana was at Baščaršija, with interiors reminiscent of a small Balkan village. This restaurant serves traditional Balkan cuisine that is superb. Opting for the chef’s recommendations, we savored an outstanding meal, with the highlight being the Ćevapčići, a type of grilled meat typically accompanied by flatbreads, raw sliced onions, and kajmak, a butter-cream cheese blend.
Day Trips from Ljubljana
Due to Slovenia’s compact size, countless day trip options are available nearby.
Lake Bled
Lake Bled is only 55 km from Ljubljana, so you can row across this storybook lake in about 45 minutes, traffic permitting. If you don’t have a car, frequent buses depart from the city center to Lake Bled, taking approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
This stunning 2.1 km-long lake is famous for its picturesque scenery, featuring the Church of the Assumption perched on an island in the vibrant teal waters. You can reach the island by renting a rowboat or taking a gondola ride. Don’t forget to try the local delicacy, the cream cake, while you’re there.
Lake Bohinj
Another easy day trip from Ljubljana is Lake Bohinj, the largest lake in Slovenia. Despite its proximity of less than 30 km, it’s less touristy than Lake Bled.
We adored Lake Bohinj, spending a delightful afternoon swimming in its clear waters, dining at the excellent Restaurant Kramer on the lakeshore (famous for pizzas, burgers, and pasta), and jumping off the jetty. There are also walking trails to explore, including a family-friendly path to Savica Waterfall.
Kamnik
We discovered the charming town of Kamnik after reading Slovenology: Living and Traveling in the World’s Best Country and were thrilled to explore. Despite its small size, Kamnik features three castles, a beautiful botanical garden (with a maze), and remnants of medieval walls. It’s also home to the delicious restaurant Orient, where the portions of Ćevapčići are hefty and satisfying.
Radovljica
Radovljica is a short drive from Lake Bled, making it possible to visit both in one day if you have a car. It’s a tiny, picturesque town that might not warrant an entire day’s visit, but its charm is undeniable. The pedestrianized old town features numerous shops (don’t miss the outstanding Radolška čokolada chocolate shop) and the Museum of Pharmacy and Alchemy (which was closed during our visit). Be sure to grab some pizza at Baffi House of Pizza, which is fantastic.
Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave
Postojna Cave Park is Slovenia’s prime spot for underground adventures and is highlighted in advertisements at Ljubljana Airport. It features the first underground cave railway and the intriguing olms, a rare aquatic salamander once thought to be baby dragons.
Just a few kilometers away lies the remarkable Predjama Castle, built at the opening of a cave nearly 400 feet high. Constructed over 800 years ago by the knight Erazem of Predjama, the fortress includes a complex of caves and tunnels, best explored during a guided tour. If you plan to visit during peak season, be sure to book your tickets in advance.
Škocjan Caves
While Postojna Cave is the most famous, if you can visit only one cave system, I suggest the Škocjan Caves, known for housing one of the world’s largest underground river canyons. The astonishing caves can only be visited on a guided tour, where descending into the caverns feels akin to exploring the mines of Moria in Tolkien’s Middle Earth. If visiting during busy seasons, advance booking is advisable.
Dining in Ljubljana
Ljubljana boasts numerous delightful cafés and restaurants. During our stay, we enjoyed several, including the previously mentioned TaBar, known for Slovenian-style tapas, and our favorite, the Balkan restaurant Baščaršija.
It’s important to note that meat is a staple in most dishes, with limited vegetarian options available. For vegans, salads often come generously topped with cheese! Nevertheless, I have been referred to a good vegan restaurant, Güjžina, by a friend familiar with Slovenia, who also suggested Most and AFTR.
Where to Stay in Ljubljana
Given Ljubljana’s compact size, accommodations anywhere in or near the Old Town will serve you well during your exploration.
We opted for Hostel Celica, adjacent to Metelkova Mesto. The hostel is a unique and entertaining place to stay; it was once dubbed the “hippest hostel in the world” by Lonely Planet. Located in a former military prison, the converted cell blocks feature artistically designed private rooms, with each one uniquely styled.
If hostels aren’t your preference, Hotel Heritage is another excellent choice for accommodation.
You can find other lodging options in Ljubljana using the map below, which highlights hotels and holiday rentals.
Reaching Slovenia
Slovenia hosts three international airports: Ljubljana, Maribor, and Portorož. We flew directly from London to Ljubljana with British Airways, arriving and departing in the evening.
