by Marcel Haring / CC BY-SA 2.0

Rediscover Picturesque Ljubljana: From the Ashes of 1895 to the Art Nouveau Revival

A. About Ljubljana

Nickname: The Dragon City

With a lovely, laidback feel to it, Ljubljana combines all aspects that make a charming city the ideal weekend destination.

The capital of Slovenia features an interesting mix of Gothic, Baroque, and art nouveau architecture, some interesting museums, and pulsating alternative culture.

Largely destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1895, Ljubljana was rebuilt by visionaries such as Jože Plečnik with numerous Art Nouveau masterpieces.


The Good:

Ljubljana enjoys a scenic location on the pasture-lined river Ljubljanica.

The city delights visitors with great sights and delicious food.

Furthermore, the city is very safe, clean, and possesses numerous pedestrian zones, mainly in the old town.

The Not-So-Good:

Luckily, Ljubljana doesn't fall into any category with a low rating, showcasing its exceptional all-around appeal as a city.


B. Best Things to Do in Ljubljana in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than fifteen sights in Ljubljana. The following sights contribute to an impressive score of 6.10/10 in this most important category:

# TRIPLE BRIDGE (TROMOSTOVJE) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Made up of three elegant bridges, Tromostovje connects the historic medieval town to the modern city.

Slovenia's most renowned architect Jože Plečnik flanked the original bridge in 1930 with two pedestrian bridges.

Bridge World Heritage Site: since 2021 (Part of "Iconic Ljubljana architectural works designed by Jože Plečnik")

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Bultro / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Ljubljana Castle 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Standing on a hill surrounded by trees above the city for about nine hundred years, Ljubljana Castle offers the most beautiful views of the city.

To reach the summit you can take the property's funicular from Krek Square or hike to the top.

Castle 

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Ramón from Llanera / CC BY-SA 2.0

# Old Town 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Tucked away between the steep hill upon which Ljubljana Castle is set and the gushing Ljubljanica river, the city's, traffic-free historic core features a charming mix of Gothic, Baroque, and art nouveau architecture.

City District

by Andrew Milligan Sumo / CC BY-SA 2.0

# Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most) 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Opened in 1901, this famous bridge in the Viennese Secessionist style features four intimidating dragons, which stand sentinel on each corner.

Bridge  

by Thomas Ledl / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Cathedral of Saint Nicholas 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

This early 18th-century Baroque cathedral with its distinctive green dome and twin belfries is one of the most recognizable symbols in Ljubljana.

Note the exceptional wall paintings, the magnificence of its altar, and the gilt decoration of the organ.

Cathedral

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Pedro Szekely / CC BY-SA 2.0

# National Gallery (Narodna galerija)5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

The fine collection of this art museum gathers outstanding exhibits of Slovenian artistic creation from the Early Middle Ages up to the 20th Century as well as European artists of the 19th and 20th Century. 

Art Museum

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Michael R Perry / CC BY-SA 2.0

# National Museum of Slovenia (Narodni muzej Slovenije)5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Housed in a grand neo-Renaissance palace, this museum displays an extensive collection of archaeological artifacts and a permanent exhibition on the Slovenian language.

Among its treasures is a famous Neanderthal flute, which was made out of a bone.

Museum

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Ziga / public domain

# Prešeren Square 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Named after France Prešeren, Slovenia’s greatest poet, this beautiful square in the heart of the historic city center is lined by beautiful buildings.

Square

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Wolfgang Moroder / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Tivoli Park 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Take a walk along the winding peaceful paths of this large park and visit the Tivoli Castle, a rose garden, a botanical garden, and the Museum of Contemporary History.

Park Land Area: 5 km2 / 1235 acres | Created: 1813

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by kajikawa / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Mestni trg 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars 

This charming, elongated square takes you back to the medieval past and offers a beautiful view of the castle.

Square

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Ramón from Llanera / CC BY-SA 2.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Ljubljana

# Central Market 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Market

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Tiia Monto / CC BY-SA 3.0

 
    • Nebotičnik (Skyscraper) 5
    • CONGRESS SQUARE (KONGRESNI TRG) 5
    • Franciscan Church of the Annunciation 5
    • Cankarjevo nabrežje (Riverside Promenade) 5
    • Metelkova Mesto 5
    • City Museum of Ljubljana 5
    • ZALE CEMETERY 5
    • National and University Library 5
    • Gornji Trg 5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Ljubljana

Postojna Cave System 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Postojna is by far a less exhausting option than Škocjan Caves.

3.2 km of the cave can be visited by an electric train.

Cave Distance from Ljubljana: 57 km

by Ziva / CC BY-SA 4.0

 

SKOCJAN CAVES 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Be amazed as you tour the enormous, subterranean system of limestone caves. 

The Škocjan Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest underground canyons in the world.

Caves World Heritage Site: since 1986 | Distance from Ljubljana: 58 km

Best Things to do in Ljubljana

by Lander/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake Bled 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

This small bluish-green lake is one of Slovenia's most breathtaking natural wonders.

It features a pretty little church on an islet, a medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff, and stunning peaks of the Julian Alps in the background. 

Lake with Island Distance from Ljubljana: 55 km

by Edwardwexler / CC BY-SA 3.0

Mount Saint Mary or Šmarna Gora (Distance from Ljubljana: 11 km) 5.5


E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Ljubljana (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Ljubljana for at least two entire days. If you plan to do some of the excursions, you will need more time. 

TRIPLE BRIDGE 6

 Ljubljana Castle 6

Postojna Cave System 6

SKOCJAN CAVES 6

Lake Bled 6

Old Town 5.5

Dragon Bridge 5.5

Cathedral of Saint Nicholas 5.5

National Gallery 5.5

National Museum of Slovenia 5.5