10 Things to do in Ljubljana During Your First Trip

Whether you’re visiting Ljubjana as your main destination or as a precursor to Lake Bled or the Slovenian mountains, there is no lack of things to do in Ljubljana during your stay. From funky art displays to elegant violins and accordians hiding behind every corner, I found Ljubljana to be a very romantic and amusing place to visit. And I promise by the end of your trip, it will be much easier to spell 😉

Here’s my list of things to do in Ljubljana:

Hike up to the LJUBLJANA CASTLE

The castle is on everyone’s list of things to do in Ljubljana. Seeing that the castle sits high above the city center, it’s the key landmark of Ljubljana and impossible to miss. From here, you can see a 360 degree view of the city, and even grab dinner or lunch at one of the two restaurants located inside.

Walk across the famous TRIPLE BRIDGE

The Triple Bridge (and the rest of Ljubljana’s river front) is one of the most scenic areas of the city. The river is lined with outside cafes, restaurants, and musical performances. The Triple Bridge connects Ljubljana’s historical town to the modern city of Ljubljana. The best view of the Triple Bridge may be from one of the river front restauarants on the water. It’s especially beautiful at night.

Speaking of bridges, there’s also Dragon Bridge and Cobbler’s Bridge, and Butcher’s bridge (covered in padlocks).

Go Urban WINE TASTING

Walking through the cobblestone streets of Ljubljana, you’ll begin to notice signs for wine tastings quite frequently. Now, I’m no conosseiour, but Slovenia has some pretty good wine. Not to mention, most of Slovenia’s wine is drinkin domestically rather than exported, so now may be your only chance. Go to a tasting, take a tour, or grab a glass with dinner.

Go Trail Running in TIVOLI PARK

Since I’m constantly trying to stay in shape while I travel, I decided to head to Tivoli Park to run. To my surprise, I discovered a ton of well maintained trails in the woods of the park. These are perfect for trail running, and you can even run up to the top of the nearby mountain to get better views of the city. If you would prefer biking instead, you can also rent bikes in the city to take to the park.

See All of the Funky STREET ART

From cool little sayings scribbled across buildings to funky drawings behind every corner, Ljubljana was a heaven for lovers of street art. Check out some of the one’s I found below.

Order Some of Ljubljana’s BEST CUISINE (and horse if you’re adventurous)

Now, I may get some flack for this. I went to this restaurant called Compa that I would highly recommend. They specialize in meat, and in particular horse. Yes, I felt guilty tasting horse, but damn it was good. Compa also has other meat to order as well, and dishes for non meat eaters. The decor is really pretty inside and it’s worth a visit even if meat isn’t your thing.

Get Lost in the Alleyways of Ljubljana’s OLD TOWN

The historical parts of European cities are always my favorite. Check out some of these cool alleyways and picturesque houses.

Experience Sleeping in a PRISON

Hostel Celica is a converted military prison where cells are now works of art. The hostel offers rooms, a cafe and live music for those willing to take the plunge. If that’s not for you, there’s also a ton of street art in the Metelkova district behind the hostel. Metelkova is a work of art made out of abandoned military barracks.

Grab a Cocktail for SUNSET

Head to Nebotičnik (also known as the Skyscraper) to end your evening and watch the sunset over the city. It’s a 70 meter high skyscraper, which by our standards isn’t really a skyscraper at all. However, at the time it was built, it was the highest building in Yugoslavia and the tallest residential building in Europe. That was also in 1933 of course.

Get Out of Ljubljana

Of course, the main reason for visiting Ljubljana is to visit other areas of Slovenia, such as Lake Bled, Triglav National Park, or the Predjama Castle. Rent a car and head out of the city for a few days!