This chocolate box style city, surrounded by forested mountains and glistening blue lakes, is an underrated and often overlooked European destination. This is perhaps because of the tiny airport or the fact Slovenia is sandwiched between the tourist behemoths of Italy and Croatia. Either way, its worth a stop on any decent European itinerary.
Please note that these are all my personal recommendations and are not sponsored in any way.
Getting There
Ljubljana airport is pretty small yet its still the only one worth mentioning in the whole country. From the UK, it is served by direct flights from Heathrow with British Airways and then other London airports, Edinburgh and Manchester by easyJet.
From further afield, there is a direct flight to New York operated by United and flydubai have a connection to Dubai. Besides this, you’ll be confined to various European national carriers serving their respective countries.
It is also simple to get to Ljubljana by land, with buses operating to many international destinations, such as Budapest, Trieste or Zagreb. The largest operator is probably Flixbus. There are also international trains, mainly to Hungary, Austria and Italy.
Slovenia is part of the EU, meaning that UK and US citizens can visit for up to 90 days in a 180 day period without a visa. You will also be required to go through EES so expect some long queues at the border. More information can be found here for UK citizens and US citizens.
City Highlights
The highlights of Ljubljana include:
- The Old Town – full of beautiful houses, nice cafés and bustling restaurants
- Ljubljana Castle – accessed by a funicular railway or on foot, panoramic views
- Lake Bled – possibly Europe’s most famous lake and just an hour away
- Weekend markets – a Ljubljana institution at the edge of the Old Town
Getting Around
Ljubljana isn’t a big city and most places can be walked to, especially within the largely pedestrianised Old Town. That said, you will quickly notice that there are white and green golf carts travelling around the cobbled streets – these are free to use taxis which will take you anywhere within the Old Town. Just hail and empty one or call the number on the back if you have a local SIM.
The castle is the only other point where you may reconsider walking. It is possible and not particularly difficult to walk to the top, but the €3.30 funicular is a fun and slightly different experience. Catch it at the bottom of the hill here.
The airport is not walkable to the city centre. Instead, take a bus from the airport bus station to the city centre. Where its headed will be marked by a placard in the windscreen but ask the driver if you’re in doubt. These buses do operate to a timetable, which can be found here.
Chances are that you’ll also want to get to Lake Bled while visiting Ljubljana, which is best done by bus (but also possible by infrequent train). Head to the bus station in Ljubljana and queue up for the next departure; all departures are listed on a board on the side of the small ticket office.
If you do want a taxi, both Bolt and Uber operate within Ljubljana, though remember that they won’t be able to drive into the pedestrianised Old Town.
Accommodation
One of the more unique experiences which you can have in Ljubljana is staying in a former prison which has been converted into a hostel. Though it may feel more like a hotel, with its smaller rooms and calm atmosphere, Hostel Celica is worth a look. A bed in a dormitory is around £20 per night.
There are also any number of hotels in the city to suit any budget. Cheap rooms can be found for around £50 to £60 per night, whereas a stay in the InterContinental will set you back £170 per night.
Money
Slovenia uses the Euro, which is readily available worldwide. That said, you likely won’t need cash in most situations as most places in Ljubljana accept card payment.
If you do need cash, NLB seem to be a good bet for withdrawing without having to pay commission, though this does vary by location and card provider.
Other Points
There aren’t actually a huge number of attractions in Ljubljana. Instead, this is more a place to wander around the streets and absorb the beautiful architecture and laid-back buzz of the city. As such, a walking tour is an excellent thing to do as part of your visit and Ljubljana Free Tour operate them year round.
There are also a large number of great pleaces to eat and drink in Ljubljana. If traditional Slovenian food is your thing, check out Slovenska Hiša Figovec or, if you want one of the world’s best pizzas (according to actual judges rather than just myself) head to Pop’s Pizza for a full, wood-fired, Neopolitan experience. For drinks, there are any number of places along the river, though Premier Pub seemed a nice one.
