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Places to visit in Ljubljana

10 Best Places to Visit in Ljubljana in One Day

Home » DESTINATIONS » 10 Best Places to Visit in Ljubljana in One Day

Last Modified: August 17, 2023 //  by Anda //  33 Comments

Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, is one of the friendliest cities I ever visited. Unlike other European capitals, Ljubljana is small and easy to walk, which makes it easy to explore in one day. Although there are many attractive places to visit in Ljubljana, they are all within walking distance from each other.

walking along the Canal, one of the best places to visit in Ljubljana:
Best places to visit in Ljubljana

Table of Contents

  • Best Places to Visit in One Day in Ljubljana
    • 1. Ljubljanica River Canal
    • 2. Prešeren Square
    • 3. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
    • 4. Ljubljana Castle
    • 5. Triple Bridge
    • 6. Dragon Bridge
    • 7. Tivoli Park
    • 8. Central Market
    • 9. Ljubljana Cathedral
    • 10. Town Hall
  • How Much Time Do You Need to Explore Ljubljana
  • Where to stay in Ljubljana

Best Places to Visit in One Day in Ljubljana

Strolling through Ljubljana makes you feel like you are in an amusement park: there is music, lights, and joyous crowds everywhere. Especially after dark. The there are always groups of young people walking along the Canal, or gathered for drinks and food at one of the sidewalk cafés, bars or restaurants.

Sightseeing Ljubljana after dark
Ljubljana after dark

1. Ljubljanica River Canal

You can start your day in Ljubljana at the river canal. The Ljubljanica River Canal is undoubtedly the most attractive and picturesque place to visit when sightseeing Ljubljana!

The river meanders through the historic center, flanked by beautiful buildings with an interesting architecture, cozy cafés and romantic restaurants. The Canal was once part of a major trade route, but today is the heart of the city’s social life.

Ljubljanica River Canal
Ljubljanica River Canal

There are people paddle boarding and lots of boats going up and down. some boats offer 45 minute narrated tours in several languages. Some very unique bridges cross the River Canal, like the famous Triple Bridge, Butcher’s Bridge, Dragon’s Bridge and the Cobbler’s Bridge. 

2. Prešeren Square

If there’s an event happening in Ljubljana, chance are it will take place in Prešeren Square. This is where the city meets up to celebrate. The place where festivals, carnivals, concerts, and even protests take place.

Prešeren Square, places to visit in Ljubljana
Prešeren Square (photo credit: Laszlo Galffy)

The existence of the Prešeren Square goes back to the 17th century, when the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation was built. The area was first named St. Mary’s Square, after the church. In the 19th century the square took the name of France Prešeren, the poet who created Slovenia’s national anthem.

3. Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

You cannot fail to notice this salmon-pink landmark in Ljubljana. The Church of the Annunciation provides a beautiful backdrop for most pictures you’ll take in the old town.

Best Places to Visit in Ljubljana - Church of the Annunciation
Church of the Annunciation (photo credit: Laszlo Galffy)

The Church of the Annunciation replaced an older church that stood on this site. The current church was built in the second half of the 17th century with the exception of the façade which was built a century later.

 The church was originally red, which is the symbolic color of the Franciscan monastic order. In time the color has faded to the current pink that you see today, but the locals liked it so it stayed that way every since.

Sightseeing Franciscan Church in Ljubljana
Franciscan Church in Ljubljana

The interior of the church is grandiose, with one nave, six side altars and a very large choir. The high altar was designed by the Italian sculptor Francesco Robba. Above the altar there is a beautiful painting portraying the scene of the Annunciation. 

4. Ljubljana Castle

Perched on top of Castle Hill above the Old Town, the Castle of Ljubljana is hard to miss. Visiting the restored cellars and storerooms is really fun, especially if you are a history lover. There is also a chapel, a prison, a gunpowder room and a lookout tower.

We visited the castle with an audioguide and found it very useful. The guided tour takes visitors through the most significant periods of Ljubljana’s history.

Prices for visiting the castle with funicular and audioguide are:
Children: 10.50 €, Adults: 15.00 €, Family: 36.50 €.
Prices without audioguide are: Children: 9€, Adults: 13€, Family: 31€

Ljubljana castle
Ljubljana Castle (photo credit: Laszlo Galffy)

If you are looking for a little adventure while visiting the fortress, Ljubljana Castle offers an interacting game with elements of the “escape room.” You’ll have an opportunity to solve some knightly trials and even save the famous Ljubljana dragon!

Tip: If you plan to participate in the Escape Castle adventure, you’ll need to reserve your time slot in advance.
Ticket cost is 13.00 € without funicular and 15.00 € with funicular ticket included.

The castle has two restaurants, restroom facilities, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and a museum. From up here you’ll also have some of the most beautiful vantage points in Ljubljana.

Interior courtyard of the castle
Ljubljana castle

To reach Ljubljana Castle, you can either take the Urban Train or use the the property’s funicular that will take you from Krek Square to the top. If you are in a good physical shape, you can also choose to walk up there from the Ljubljana Old Town. It is however a steep and quite exhausting trek! We used the funicular on the way up and then walked down from the castle.

5. Triple Bridge

One of the biggest attractions in Ljubljana is the Triple Bridge. One end of the bridge end up in Prešeren Square while the other sits within walking distance of the medieval Ljubljana Castle and Ljubljana Cathedral.

View of the Triple Bridge i
The Triple Bridge

This bridge is quite unique, featuring a three-bridge design that includes a central stone bridge and two matching side bridges. Although it’s considered one of the most romantic places in Ljubljana, the Triple Bridge has actually a very practical use: to help bicyclists and pedestrians cross the Ljubljanica River. 

6. Dragon Bridge

Flanked by four dragon statues and adorned with parapet lamps, Dragon Bridge is a photographer’s dream!  The Ljubljana dragon is a trademark and the symbol of the city and has its roots in an old legend. The dragon is also the mascot of various sports clubs in the capital and appears in many Slovenian tales and songs.

Vie of The Dragon Bridge
The Dragon Bridge (photo credit: Laszlo Galffy)

Erected in the early 1900s in Art Nouveau style, Dragon Bridge was the first structure in Slovenia to be paved with asphalt. The concrete bridge replaced an old wooden bridge known as the Butchers’ Bridge, which had stood on its site from 1819. 

7. Tivoli Park

Covering an area of approximately five square kilometers, Tivoli Park is the largest green space in Ljubljana. The park stretches from the city center all the way to the slopes of the Rožnik Hill. Not many European cities enjoy this kind of unspoiled nature right in their center. This is a great place to visit in Ljubljana if you have time.

Tivoli Park
Tivoli Park

Tivoli Park is crossed by three grand alleys lined with chestnut trees and landscaped with ornamental flower beds and numerous statues and fountains. You can come here to relax, hike, make a picnic, swim, listen to concerts, or skate on ice in the winter. The park has also a small botanical garden.

8. Central Market

The Central Market of Ljubljana is lovely bustling place, with a vast array of fruit, vegetables, honey and other wares. It’s an interesting place to soak in the local culture and atmosphere, but if you are not a fan of markets there is not much to do here.

Central Market, places to visit in Ljubljana
Central Market

The market that opens very early morning and closes at 6:00 p.m. during the weekdays. However, we dropped by around 4:00 p.m. and some merchants were already packing up, so if you plan to visit it come early.

Not many of the sellers can speak good English, but hand gestures and some basic words work quite all right. Quite an interesting place to visit.

READ NEXT: Cheapest (Yet Beautiful) Countries to Visit in Europe

9. Ljubljana Cathedral

Also known as St. Nicolas Church, the Ljubljana Cathedral is one of the best places to visit for a bit of quiet in the middle of the city. The cathedral has two stunning bronze sculpted doors depicting the history of Christianity in Slovenia and the bishops of Ljubljana. The doors were added by Pope Paul II, when he visited the cathedral in 1996.

Ljubljana Cathedral
Ljubljana Cathedral

The interior of the cathedral is stunningly beautiful, designed in Italian Baroque with sculptures and ceiling frescoes.

Places to visit in Ljubljana - St. Nicholas Cathedral
Ljubljana Cathedral

10. Town Hall

Just a short stroll from the Triple Bridge, in the quaint Town Square (Mestni Trg) is the Ljubljana Town Hall. The building which dates to the late 1400’s was renovated in the current Venetian style in the mid 1700’s. Ljubljana Town Hall features four exhibition spaces that showcase projects by the Municipality of Ljubljana.

Ljubljana Town Hall
Lubljana Town Hall

In the center of Town Square is the Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers (Robba Fountain), a beautiful Baroque monument modeled after the famous Roman fountains.

How Much Time Do You Need to Explore Ljubljana

Ljubljana is really small and most people manage to visit it in one day. We had a couple of days in Ljubljana which gave us plenty of time to visit the most attractive places at a relaxed pace. Nonetheless, we could have seen everything in just one day.

If you have three or more days, that will give you time for excursions around Ljubljana. You can take a day trip to Lake Bled, or to Maribor.

drinking coffee in Ljubljana
Drinking coffee in Ljubljana

Where to stay in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. The city is really charming, but not all its neighborhoods will be of interest to you, as a visitors. If you are in town for sightseeing, my recommendation would be to spend your day within the main city centre, as near as possible to Ljubljana Old Town Pedestrian Zone.

We stayed at the Galeria River Hotel, right next to the River Canal. The hotel was nice, but unfortunately our room was on the 4th floor in a building with no elevator. I encourage you to check before renting a room if the building has an elevator. Many of the old buildings in Europe do not have elevator.

For Hotel reservations we usually use Booking.com, but you can also check VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) which is especially nice when you are traveling with a big family or in a big group.

Interested in visiting Slovenia and other countries in the Balkan Peninsula? Read about our Balkan Road Trip Itinerary which in addition to Slovenia also included Croatia and Montenegro.

If you enjoyed reading this post, please pin it to help other readers find information about Ljubljana:

Best places to visit in Ljubljana

Category: DESTINATIONS, Europe, SloveniaTag: Destination Guides

About Anda

Anda is an award winning travel writer, avid globetrotter and passionate photographer. She is the voice behind "Travel Notes & Beyond," a collection of stories and travel impressions from her wanderings around the world. When she is not busy writing, traveling, or editing photographs, you can find her hiking in the foothills behind her house together with her husband and their dog.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ami Bhat

    February 20, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    The two places in this list that are bound to take up majority of my time are the castle and cathedral. Both have so many enriching tales to share. The Tivoli gardens seem perfect for a picnic while enjoying the local vibes. Am so glad that you shared a market place too – nothing better than that to get the true vibes of the city.

    Reply
    • Anda

      February 20, 2020 at 11:42 pm

      I think you are right, Ami. No better place to get the true vibe of a city than the market.

      Reply
  2. Debra Schroeder

    February 20, 2020 at 12:27 am

    Slovenia looks intriguing. I love that very walkable and that you can paddle board in the river. The Escape Castle adventure sounds like a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

    Reply
  3. Yukti Agrawal

    February 19, 2020 at 11:40 pm

    It is good to know that Ljubljana which is Slovenia’s capital, is one of the friendliest cities as compared to other European capitals and I love friendly cities a lot. Therefore adding Ljubljana in my list. Good to know that all attractions are withing walking distance. Prešeren Square looks nice place to admire the architecture of 17th century. Town hall too looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing all details.

    Reply
  4. Adele Gee

    February 19, 2020 at 10:07 pm

    You nailed it with your post on Ljubljana. I am there at least twice a month and it got difficult for me to write about it. I read your post with anticipation and went , “yeah of course” and “why didn’t I think of that..” Thanks for the nice summation of this nice compact capital city.

    Reply
    • Anda

      February 19, 2020 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you Adele. I know what you mean. I live in Los Angeles and it took me a long time to decide to finally write a post about it.

      Reply
  5. Hailey

    February 19, 2020 at 11:29 am

    I would love to spend a weekend walking about Ljubljanica and checking out all of these places! How you described it, friedly, busy, easy to walk reminded me of my time in Salzburg. It had a similar vibe to me. The Ljubljana Cathedral is stunning and I love the dragon statues on the bridge.

    Reply
    • Anda

      February 19, 2020 at 12:04 pm

      You are right, Hailey, Ljubljana is really stunning.

      Reply
  6. Elizabeth

    February 18, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    I love walkable cities with a lot to do so I think I would enjoy visiting Ljubljana. It would be a lot of fun to paddle board in the river cruise and see the city from that perspective. I would want to visit the Central Market too as I always enjoy visiting markets when I travel. It’s challenging, yet fun having to communicate with hand gestures!

    Reply
  7. Agnes

    February 18, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    It is an excellent guide to Ljubljana. I will gladly use it when I go to Slovenia. It is such a charming city; I hope I will visit it soon. I like these bridges. I wonder how they look at night because I love night photography. I have not heard of Tivoli Park before so I would also like to visit it.

    Reply
    • Anda

      February 18, 2020 at 4:37 pm

      Hope you’ll visit Ljubljana too, Agnes.

      Reply
  8. Rhonda Albom

    February 18, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    I love the style of this city – it’s so ornate and picturesque. It’s great that it’s such a walking-friendly city. Those are rare to come by these days. The central market sounds fun, especially that they sell honey. Is it in jars, orb the proper honeycomb stuff? We usually try to go to markets because we tend to make our own food when we travel. And that baroque cathedral? Those frescos are so stunning.

    Reply
    • Anda

      February 18, 2020 at 4:37 pm

      They sell the honey both in honeycomb and in jars, but I personally don’t like honey too much so I didn’t try it.

      Reply
  9. Linda (LD Holland)

    February 18, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    Slovenia is still on the growing travel wish list. And we would not miss a chance to see Ljubljana. Love cities like this that are small and easy to walk to key points of interest. And a walk on the canal seems like a great idea. I will be sure not to miss the Castle of Ljubljana. I would love the view from that high viewpoint. A stop at the Tivoli Park looks like a great way to slow down the pace and enjoy some green space.

    Reply
  10. Nina

    February 16, 2020 at 9:27 am

    Slovenia looks amazing! I love the bridges there. I have been wanting to go there and this is making me want to go even more. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Agness of Fit Travelling

    August 23, 2017 at 6:21 am

    Ljubljana seems breathtaking and magnificent, Anda! What shouldn’t we miss when there?

    Reply
  12. Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

    August 10, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    That reflection photo is fantastic. I like that Ljubljana is so lively after dark.

    Reply
  13. Anisa

    August 6, 2017 at 3:10 pm

    Slovenia is definitely on my list. I have heard nothing but good things about Ljubljana and I really want to visit Lake Bled. Hope to make it there soon.

    Reply
  14. Lolo

    August 5, 2017 at 11:22 pm

    For some reason I find that bridge so difficult to take a picture of, but there you go making it look all easy and amazing! Now I need to go back a THIRD time! What a shame hahaha.

    Reply
    • Anda Galffy

      August 6, 2017 at 11:45 am

      I’d love to go back to Ljubljana too, Lolo. I didn’t spend enough time there this time. It’s such a lovely city!

      Reply
  15. Michelle | michwanderlust

    August 5, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    That’s an incredible photo of the bridge. You have such a great eye for photos, Anda!

    Reply
  16. Melinda Crow

    August 5, 2017 at 3:10 pm

    You are SOOO making me want to hurry back to Slovenia! Your photos and descriptions are enchanting, as usual!

    Reply
    • Anda Galffy

      August 5, 2017 at 3:22 pm

      Thank you, Melinda. Coming from you, this is a great compliment.

      Reply
  17. shere

    August 4, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    The first picture is really cool! We enjoyed Ljubljana, but only during the day. It has indeed a great atmosphere.

    Reply
  18. Ruth | Tanama Tales

    August 4, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    I had to take several looks at the first photo since I thought the bridge had two levels. The reflection is perfect. I like places where locals are around during night time. I like to take a stroll after dinner and it feels better when there is a joyful vibe around.

    Reply
  19. annette @ A French Collection

    August 4, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    What unusual names the bridges of Ljubljanica have. I wonder how their names were chosen? Thank you for the link up again Anda #TheWeeklyPostcard

    Reply
    • Anda Galffy

      August 4, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      You are welcome Annette. Hope to see you here more often.

      Reply
  20. Mary {The World Is A Book}

    August 4, 2017 at 5:28 pm

    I have always heard such great things about Ljubljana. It’s always a joy to wander around smaller European towns but night time is always seems magical. Love the reflection on that first photo!

    Reply
    • Anda Galffy

      August 4, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      You are right, Mary, night time always seems so magical.

      Reply
  21. Lydia C. Lee

    August 4, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    The reflection in the water is lovely!!

    Reply
  22. Esther

    August 4, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Wow, that looks amazing. I really want to visit Slovenia, I heard amazing things about it.

    Reply
  23. jill

    August 4, 2017 at 7:11 am

    I’d never even had this city on my radar and now there is a possibility that I will be going there next year. I’ve only heard wonderful things about it – and am looking forward to my visit if it happens. Beautiful photos!

    Reply
  24. Rhonda Albom

    August 4, 2017 at 4:45 am

    Ljubljana looks picturesque and sounds very social. I like your photo of the bridge reflection.

    Reply

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