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Ljubljana, The Prettiest City in Europe – Why You Need to Visit Ljubljana!

Planning to visit Ljubljana? If so then this list of Ljubljana attractions is for you! It is the capital of Slovenia and is truly stunning.


We arrived in Ljubljana towards the end of our train trip through Eastern Europe.  We had been on really nice trains and we had been on dilapidated trains.  

We had been in some beautiful Eastern European cities and we had been in some cities that weren’t so beautiful, cities that were re-inventing themselves, cities that had new cafes while at the same time many reminders of past wars and hardships.  

We were tired.  We were hot.  We were done. We were also ready to discover what to do in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

In this article, you’ll learn about:

Pink building in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Ljubljana historic center is Baroque and beautiful!

Pin Ljubljana for future planning!

You don't have to get to far from the center to see there's still work to be done.
You don’t have to get to far from the center to see there’s still work to be done
Visit Ljubljana and see some of the historic buildings there.

Arriving and Preparing to Visit Ljubljana

We dutifully disembarked our train, and found our way to our hotel. We had just booked it the night before as was common on the trip, and we were gobsmacked at the price.

It was one of the most expensive nights of the trip, and there just didn’t seem to be any choice. Even in that hotel, we’d picked one of the cheapest rooms. After all, we were trying to be the ideal budget travelers.

The first thing we noticed was that it was really a budget traveler’s place, and even though it was clean and sleek, it had an air of hostel about it.

However, we were eternally grateful for the air conditioning and the shower. We’d come from Belgrade and we were a little dusty, to say the least.  

Ljubljana has its share of statues and green spaces.
Ljubljana has its share of statues and green spaces
Street art still leaves a little to be desired.
Street art still leaves a little to be desired

After a good night’s sleep in the cool air, we were ready to explore the city of Ljubljana . We’ve been enjoying Slovenia little by little the last couple of years.

And one of the most memorable trips was a short jaunt in to visit the Skocjan Caves which are a UNESCO world heritage site not far from the border of Italy, and since we’d stopped so many places on our trip we really hadn’t researched much about the city at all.

We were just going to see how it went and discover what to do in Ljubljana while we were there.

An art installation in the center. Rain even on a sunny day.
An art installation in the center. Rain even on a sunny day.

We also love eating and what we’ve had has been delicious. If you are interested in reading more here is a good article about Slovenian food and a cooking lesson.

Many of the buildings in the center have been restored, and it really is one of the prettiest cities in Europe.
Many of the buildings in the center have been restored. It really is one of the prettiest cities in Europe!

What to do in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, and the very first thing we noticed as he headed into the center of town was how beautiful it is.

We idled down to the first square we came to, which just happened to be where we would be taking the elevator up to the castle.

We went to buy tickets and hopefully avoid the crowds, but the office didn’t open for two more hours at 10:00 AM, so we just kept walking and the city opened up to us.

Historic buildings in the city center.
Visit Ljubljana and see the scenic beauty of this amazing place.
The city has focused their restoration efforts along the banks of the Ljubljanica river which runs right through the middle of the city.

As we walked by beautiful art deco and baroque buildings all painted in bright colors and patterns, we gawked at the quaint little shops and the many amazing eateries, the pristine cathedrals, and the many statues that adorn the downtown area.

We enjoyed the river walk, the colonnade with its many vendors, and stopped to have a great coffee sitting outside with the other tourists as well as many locals.  

We were there on a Sunday, and there was a small second-hand market along the river where we enjoyed a great little breeze.

Some of the beautiful buildings in the capital of Slovenia.
Visit Ljubljana and you'll soon see how beautiful it is.

Ljubljana Attractions and Our Perceptions of the City

We noticed again how much more expensive everything was in comparison to the other cities we had recently visited. Even Budapest was a cheaper option.

However, it was also obvious that the Slovenians are putting all that extra money into infrastructure.

We watched the garbage men collecting the separated trash and their trucks were state-of-the-art.  The roads are clean and smooth. Well done, Slovenia, well done.  

Locals working during our visit to Ljubljana.

Visit Ljubljana – The Center of Town

After wandering the downtown area, we ambled into the old Town Hall where the free walking tour was just about to take place.

We passed on it, but overheard a few words and the guide was speaking great English.

Inside was some artwork. From there we made our way back to the fortress which had a long line, so we decided to hop the tourist train to the top for 4 Euros.

We were glad we did, because we not only enjoyed the breeze, but it was a pretty ride to the top looking at the trees and gardens.

Once at the top we found the view of the city was wonderful, but unfortunately, the castle itself is all rebuilt and is one big tourist trap with souvenir stands and pricey restaurants.

There was a “library in the castle” event where the local library brought a bunch of books and people of all ages were lounging around reading, but overall I found the castle a bit disappointing.

Find a seat in one of the riverside cafes and enjoy a nice coffee in the late morning.
Find a seat in one of the riverside cafes and enjoy a nice coffee in the late morning
Some parts of the castle are original stone but most of it is refaced concrete.
Some parts of the castle are original stone but most of it is refaced concrete.

We really enjoyed our day in the Ljubljana, and we think it’s a great place to spend the day while you are exploring some of the natural sights in the area, like Lake Bled and the various cave systems.

Even though Ljubljana is one of the post-Soviet bloc countries, it’s obvious that it is soon to become one of the most popular capitals in Eastern Europe.

With its location so perfectly sandwiched between Italy, Austria, and Croatia and its amazing natural beauty and adventure tourism, I predict that before long, everyone will plan to visit Ljubljana.

We finally found some interesting street art!
We finally found some interesting street art!
Street art in the capital of Slovenia.

Practical Tips for When You Visit Ljubljana

We stayed at the Hotel Park, which was the cheapest option for one night (and last minute) that we could find.  It was still pricey and quite nice, though.

Our hotel was right on the outside edge of the old town and a short walk to the center.
Our hotel was right on the outside edge of the old town and a short walk to the center.

Conclusion

We loved our time in this amazing and all the Ljubljana attractions we saw there. Tell us, are planning to visit Ljubljana?

Or have you already been? If you’ve visited, what was your favorite Ljubljana attraction? Any tips on what to do in Ljubljana?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

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Jetsettera

Wednesday 5th of April 2017

Sorry Corinne, I think you are a great writer and a great blogger, but I completely disagree with your article. Ljubljana is far from being the prettiest city in Europe. It is a charming, relaxing small town and I truly enjoyed my time there, but you cannot compare it to cities in Italy or even to Budapest or Tallinn or Stockholm.

Corinne Vail

Wednesday 5th of April 2017

Barb, I think all of those places are pretty, too! Don't worry!

Vlad

Monday 20th of June 2016

You're probably the fifth person I know who has been to Ljubljana recently. I hadn't considered it as a destination before (to be honest, I didn't know much about it), but now I really want to visit it soon, it's so pretty and colorful!

Jim Vail

Friday 24th of June 2016

Vlad, Definitely go. We can't wait to go back.

Michelle | michwanderlust

Monday 20th of June 2016

I've heard a lot about ugly Eastern European cities (won't name and shame) but I've recently seen lovely pictures of Prague, Budapest and now Ljubljana. Thanks for this great article! Would you say there's enough to see and do to keep you occupied beyond one or two days?

Jim Vail

Friday 24th of June 2016

Michelle, I think one day would be enough, but there's plenty to do within about an hour from the city so if you can get out there a few days would be great.

Lyn - A Hole in my Shoe

Monday 20th of June 2016

Corinne, we were in Ljubljana in December and have to say did not notice it was expensive. We do come from Perth and cost of living here is quit high, or was it because we found it such a pretty place we didn't notice the prices? Either way, we will definitely be returning as we were there less than a week and would like to spend more time there when it is warmer and green.

Jim Vail

Friday 24th of June 2016

Lyn, I do think it's about perspective as far as cost is concerned. We think it's well worth it, though.

budget jan

Monday 20th of June 2016

I agree that Ljubljana is a beautiful city. We stayed at an Airbnb place which we booked before hand. It is a beautiful city to walk around and close to Zagreb - only a couple of hours by train.

Corinne Vail

Monday 20th of June 2016

Jan, We trained right past Zagreb. I've got to get there sometime soonish.