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With quaint medieval and pretty Austro-Hungarian buildings lining the Ljubljanica River, the Ljubljana Castle and the surrounding Alpine mountains, Ljubljana is one of the most picturesque capitals in Europe. It is also one of the most advanced destinations when it comes to sustainability, turning congested inner-city streets into pedestrian walkways, and implementing bike and electric car-share schemes to get even more cars off the road.
We visited Ljubljana, Slovenia, recently and discovered a proud, green and cheerful city. We’ve now turned our experiences into this little itinerary for everyone else who’d like to explore Slovenia’s cute little capital.
Planning your trip to Ljubljana last minute?
Book your transportation to/from and around Ljubljana, keeping your carbon footprint in mind:
Find your perfect accommodation in Ljubljana with Booking.com. We recommend these traditional, small-scale and centrally located options near public transport:
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Dragons are everywhere in Ljubljana. They even have their own bridge.
The dragon is also in the city’s coat of arms, and there is even a Dragon bridge. So what’s with all those dragons?
Map of Accommodation, Points of Interest, Eateries and Transport
Below is a map of the recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals or stops mentioned in this article.
Where to stay in Ljubljana?
Where you stay in Ljubljana shapes how you experience the city. The historic centre is compact and walkable, so prioritising a central location will save you time and transport costs.
Accommodation ranges from small, locally run guesthouses to modern apartments. We focus on places that are well-located, practical for short stays, and offer good value for what you get.
We recommend booking in advance, especially between May and September, when demand is highest. We use Booking.com to compare options because it consistently offers flexible cancellation policies and a wide range of centrally located properties – useful when plans change, or availability is tight. This aligns with our preference for tools that are transparent, reliable, and easy to use.
| Name | Property Features | Type | Price Indicator | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Apartments | Central Old Town location (400 m to Cobblers’ Bridge), apartment-style stay with kitchenette and private check-in, strong review scores, and free parking. Best for short stays where you want walkability and flexibility. | Apartment (self-contained, no on-site reception) | $$ | Book Now |
| Hotel Slamic Ljubljana | Central location (5-minute walk to Preseren Square), set in a renovated historic townhouse with an on-site café and highly rated breakfast. Best for short stays if you want a comfortable, hotel-style experience within walking distance of everything. | Hotel (B&B-style, with on-site staff and services) | $$$ | Book Now |
| Vila Selena | Quiet residential setting within walking distance of the centre (15–20 minutes), offering spacious apartments with full kitchens, fast Wi-Fi, and on-site parking. Best for short stays if you want more space and a calmer base away from the busiest streets. | Apartment (self-contained, limited on-site service) | $$$ | Book Now |
| Oxford Apartments | Well-located near the train and bus stations, with easy access to the Old Town (10–15 min walk). Apartment-style units with kitchen facilities, strong Wi-Fi, and on-site bar. Best for short stays if you want transport access and basic self-catering. | Apartment (self-contained, likely limited on-site service) | $$$ | Book Now |
Why is Ljubljana the city of dragons?
Ljubljana’s origins can be traced to the legend of Jason and the Argonauts. Having seized the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes of Colchis (in modern-day Georgia), Jason and the Argonauts fled across the Black Sea. They couldn’t get through the Bosporus to return to Greece, so they entered the mouth of the Danube River instead. As they travelled up the Danube, they reached the Sava River (in present-day Belgrade) and finally the Ljubljanica River and a big marshland, where Jason and the Argonauts decided to camp. The marshland, though, was home to a swamp monster (or dragon), which Jason fought and eventually killed.
While Jason and the dragon are mythical creatures, the presence of a swamp is more likely: Some say Ljubljana’s name originates from the Latin word Alluviana (flooded river). And even the German name given to Ljubljana during Austro-Hungarian times, Laibach, means “marshland”.
How best to get around Ljubljana?
If you’re asking yourself this question because you’re thinking about hiring a car, let me give you the answer right up front: If you’re planning to hire a car to travel around Slovenia (after you visit Ljubljana), save yourself a few Euros and only hire it once you leave the capital. You can explore Ljubljana very easily by public transport, by bike or on foot. Don’t worry, we’ll show you how.
To/from the airport by bus
While about 25km north of the capital, Ljubljana airport [Google Maps location] has good bus connections to both the Ljubljana Castle and the surrounding towns and villages. The ticket to Ljubljana costs EUR3.60 per adult one way. You simply buy the ticket from the driver.
Around the city
Ljubljana has an extensive public transport system consisting solely of buses (if you don’t count the cable car to the castle). To use Ljubljana’s buses, you need a rechargeable plastic card (called the Urbana Card), as drivers do not carry cash.
The card can be purchased from various outlets, including newsagents and tobacconists, selected petrol stations and post offices, the main Bus Station [Google Maps location] and the Tourist Information Centres in Ljubljana [Google Maps location]. Some bus stops also have ticket machines, but we didn’t come across any.
If you buy your Urbana Card from the Tourist Information Centre (and keep the receipt), you can return your card at the end of your visit (to the same centre) and get the EUR2.00 fee back.
Before you buy the Urbana Card, calculate the amount you might need over the time you’re there, as you won’t get any money stored on the card back when you leave Ljubljana. You can always recharge the card as needed.
The good news is that one Urbana Card can be used by multiple people. Just tell the bus driver before you tap your card on the reader when you enter the bus. Purchasing a single ride allows you to change buses within 90 minutes at no additional charge. You can also use the card to pay for the cable car to Ljubljana Castle.
In the city centre
Once you reach the city centre, it is best explored on foot (or by bike).
Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre
We recommend that you drop by the Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre located at Adamic-Lundrovo nabrezje 2, next to the Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) to check out what is on at the city’s top attractions.
Ljubljana's city centre is best explored on foot | Image courtesy of Rok ZABUKOVEC on Unsplash
How to save money on transportation
Transport is one of the easiest costs to control if you stay flexible. Over years of long-term travel, we've found that small decisions - when you travel, how you book, and which tools you use - matter more than the destination itself. If possible, avoid peak seasons and fixed dates. We regularly use Google Flights and Skyscanner to scan entire months and identify cheaper days to fly.
For ground transport, we start with Busbud to compare routes and prices - it's often the quickest way to understand what's actually available. In Asia and beyond, 12Go is useful for combining bus, train, and ferry travel with transfers in one place. For European train travel, Rail Europe can help, although coverage varies by country. If ferries are involved, both Direct Ferries and Ferryhopper are worth checking, as routes and prices can differ.
If we don't know how to get from A to B, we use Rome2Rio to map out options across different modes of transport, then cross-check prices directly. For rental cars, we compare options using Booking.com, which consistently surfaces a wide range of suppliers in one place.
Our approach is simple: compare first, then book the option that fits the route, timing, and overall trip cost - not just the cheapest ticket. This is how we keep our average travel costs low over time while staying flexible.
Air Travel
Ideally, research in your browser's incognito mode, as cookies can signal to booking sites how interested you are in a particular trip, which may affect the price quoted. That applies to all online travel agents (OTAS), not just airlines. If you find a good deal, book it there and then, as prices change constantly:
- The best fares usually go first, so planning is essential for air transportation.
- The same applies to air points or miles, as only a limited number of seats are available on each flight.
If you plan to travel across multiple continents, you may want to compare passes that bundle multiple destinations, such as round-the-world (RTW) fares offered by OneWorld or Star Alliance members. If you travel during peak season, these multi-destination packages may be a better deal than booking each leg individually. You can do overland sections on RTW tickets, too, which means you could supplement your RTW ticket with bus and train rides or cheap flights between destinations.
Vehicle Rental (including Relocations)
Unless your trip takes you across oceans, another way to save on transportation is to look for vehicle or motorhome relocations. Websites in many countries offer massively discounted one-way rates (often including fuel and/or insurance) to those driving a vehicle or motorhome from A to B within a specific period. These deals are relatively last-minute, and A and B are usually more significant transport hubs. However, if that's an option, consider searching for vehicle or motorhome relocation services at your destination.
Speaking of vehicles, if you plan to hire a car at your destination, it's also a good idea to shop around. We often use aggregator websites that let us search across multiple car rental companies at once.
Hitchhiking
A final option to save on transport costs is… to hitch a ride. While Paul and I did it safely in Dominica on a public holiday (when there was no other option) and have taken plenty of people along in our campervan in New Zealand, there are many countries where we wouldn't feel safe hitchhiking. Judge for yourself where and when you can and can't do it.
You don't need to resort to hitchhiking to save money on transportation | Photo by Dmitry Shulga on Unsplash
Day 1 – Walking Tour, Arts and Culture
Start your first day with a walking tour to understand how Ljubljana fits together. The classic option is a free walking tour, which meets at the steps of the pink church at Prešeren Square and runs for around two hours through the Old Town between the Dragon and Cobblers bridges.
An equally good alternative is to explore at your own pace using an audio guide. We use VoiceMap for this. Their self-guided tours are GPS-triggered, so stories play automatically as you walk. You can start at any time in the morning, pause when you want, and avoid being tied to a group schedule. We’ve used VoiceMap in other destinations and found the experience reliable and easy to follow, although each tour depends on the local creator. You can browse available options here.
If you prefer a more structured experience, guided tours (including food-focused options) are also available, but the key decision is simple: join a group for interaction, or go self-paced for flexibility.
13:00
For lunch, we recommend that you sample Slovenian cuisine in one of the many traditional restaurants in town.
When in Ljubljana make sure you try some traditional Slovenian dishes | Image courtesy of Moji Štruklji Ljubljana
Afternoon
After lunch, head to the Metelkova Art Center to check out the street art and little hidden gallery spaces.
Visiting the Metelkova Art Center is like entering a different world
As you head back towards the Dragon Bridge and Old Town, visit the House of Experiments. This interactive little science museum is fun (whether you’re travelling with kids or not).
Evening
Enjoy the views over the city and watch the sunset from the Ljubljana Castle. Then head back into town for dinner.
Enjoy (sunset) views from Ljubljana Castle | Photo by warpmike on Pixabay
Day 2 – Nature, Culture and Music
Morning
We suggest you spend the morning of your second day in Ljubljana exploring the huge green space that sits smack in the middle of the capital: Tivoli Park, and the Rožnik and Šiška hills. You can walk/hike around the park and/or hire a bike at one of the many bike-share stations dotted all around the city. Signing up for the city’s bike-share scheme is super easy.
While Tivoli Park is nice and flat, inviting you to a stroll around its water lily-covered pond, and along Jakopič Promenade [Google Maps location] with its open-air gallery, the adjacent hills of Šišenski Hrib and Cankarjev Vrh rise to 429 metres and 394 metres, respectively. The hilly park is crisscrossed by gazillion hiking and bike trails – you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Check out Tivoli Park with its open air gallery along Jakopič Promenade and its water lily covered pond
A popular loop trail from/to Tivoli Park is Jesenkova Pot (marked blue on the map below). Named after Fran Jesenko, a Slovenian botanist, the educational trail explains the different tree species you encounter along the path.
Another loop trail (marked red on the below map), also from/to Tivoli Park, takes you along Podrožniška pot to Cankarjev Vrh. There you can visit the Church of St Mary’s Visitation (Cankarjev Vrh 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, +386 1 242 93 00) and enjoy a beer (and meal) at the old inn (in summer with a beer garden).
Tivoli Park, and Rožnik and Šiška hills are crisscrossed by hiking and bike trails – you’ll be spoilt for choice
From Cankarjev Vrh, you continue (along Pot na Drenikov Vrh and Tivoli) around Šišenski Hrib and back to Tivoli Park.
If that sounds complicated don’t worry. The same maps (as the picture below) are dotted around the park, and there are heaps of trail markers – you won’t get lost. Besides, there are always MapsMe and Google Maps.
If you cycle you could also include a loop around the Mostec ski jumping complex and past the Zoological Garden, along Večna Pot.
Enjoy views like this from Rožnik Hill | Photo by TravelDudes on Pixabay
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon of your second day in the Slovenian capital with a visit to the City Museum [Google Maps location] and/or Plečnik House [Google Maps location]. Both are located not far from Tivoli Park (and each other).
Housed in the historic Auersperg Palace, the City Museum is excellent if you want to learn more about Slovenia’s and Ljubljana’s history.
The City Museum is excellent if you want to learn more about Ljubljana’s (and Slovenia's) history
Speaking of Ljubljana’s history: Jože Plečnik is for Ljubljana what Antoni Gaudí is for Barcelona – the architect behind many of the buildings you have passed on your walks around the city (and the famous triple lane bridge).
Visiting Plečnik’s former home and studio, you can learn more about the architect who had such an immense impact on the development of Ljubljana as well as other cities in the former Austro-Hungarian empire, like Vienna and Prague. There are plans, sketches, photographs and models (including of projects that were never realised).
Around the world in 80+ travel movies
Looking for travel inspiration? Why not turn to the big screen? Movies can transport us to different places, spark our wanderlust and make us dream of new adventures. And with 80+ films to choose from, covering classics and hidden gems worldwide, you will be planning your next adventure in no time.
Evening
If you’re up for some live music or a dance theatre performance after dinner check out what’s on at Prulček and Plesni Teater Ljubljana [Google Maps location]. Both are conveniently located side by side in the Prule neighbourhood.
Want to carry on to Lake Bled the next day?
Plečnik House is full of plans, sketches, photographs and models (including of projects that were never realised)
Have you seen our other articles about Slovenia?
Discovering the local cuisine is part of the fun of travelling. It also makes for a more immersive and authentic experience if you eat in a local restaurant, chat with the wait staff/chef and learn more about the food on your table. So, while in Slovenia, make sure you taste a few traditional dishes. In our food guide for (Western) Slovenia, we talk about dishes to look out for on the menu (and where to have them).
And if you’re about to plan your trip and wonder how much to budget check out how affordable it is to visit Slovenia.
How to save money on experiences
Look for free and low-cost experiences
Many activities (and some of our most treasured experiences) have been free or cost little. On our journeys, we have
- Visited many museums free of charge (including the Colosseum and Forum in Rome, which are free on the first Sunday of the month);
- Attended free guided walking tours around the world (you tip at the end based on your budget and how much you liked the tour);
- Did countless self-guided walks and used public transport to get to know a city;
- Hiked in the Andes in Ecuador and climbed volcanoes in the Caribbean;
- Swam and snorkelled at countless beaches, using tree shade rather than paying for parasols and
- Attended free street performances and danced with locals in Argentina, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Search for free activities at your destination; chances are someone has already made a nice list.
Be selective about paid experiences
Paying for activities and attractions can add up quickly. Therefore, look out for special offers and discount coupons. If you travel in a group, you can also book a private tour and share the cost. And finally, shop around - here are some of the OTAs we use and can recommend:
If you have visited Ljubljana in Slovenia recently, what was your experience like? What other tips can you share?
I wrote this Ljubljana travel guide based on my experience. If you have been to Ljubljana and you have something to add, please feel free to contact me.
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