15 Best Things to See in Ljubljana (Slovenia)

If Ljubljana is somewhere you’ve never been, you’d better have a good reason. A modern, spotless city with an Italian influence is located in the middle of Slovenia. Some of Ljubljana’s beauty is due to a tragedy: In 1895, an earthquake left entire neighbourhoods in ruins. However, this merely gave visionaries like Joe Plenik carte blanche to create Art Nouveau masterpieces out of nothing. In a region of Europe that isn’t generally recognised for being environmentally friendly, Ljubljana is youthful, very trendy, and as green as they come. In fact, it was named the European Green Capital in 2016. There is a new bike network, and low-emission public transportation, and the city centre is now largely car-free. Hipsters and live music lovers frequent the squat-turned-cultural district of Metelkova, which features nightspots, clubs, and public artworks inside an ancient barracks. Let’s examine the top activities in Ljubljana:

Ljubljana Cathedral

Due to fires and battles, this monument has undergone a few different forms since the 13th century. Although the magnificent dome was added much later, in the 1840s, the existing Baroque design had been in place from the beginning of the 18th century. It’s a magnificent structure filled with works of art by numerous Italian Baroque artists. The interior’s frescoes, paintings, and sculptures were created in the 18th century by artists such as Francesco Robba, the Groppelli brothers, Angelo Putti, and Giulio Quaglio the Younger. The magnificent dome fresco, painted by Slovenian Matev Langus in 1844, and the main gateway door, whose relief depicts Slovenia’s history, are both from more recent periods.

Republic Square

Instead of having the lavish architecture of Preeren Square, this stern Communist-era square was designed as the city’s contemporary heart in the 1960s. Many of the Roman artefacts in the National Museum were discovered unintentionally during that period while a shopping centre and parking garage were being constructed beneath the square. The massive TR3 and Ljubljanska Banak office buildings, the 1975 Monument to the Revolution, the Slovenian Parliament, and the square itself give the area an ominous air. It also has real significance as it was the location of Slovenia’s 1991 declaration of independence. The square has a sizable skating rink in the middle of winter that can accommodate ice hockey games.

Dragon Bridge

The four menacing dragons that guard this bridge’s four corners serve as the city of Ljubljana’s symbol and can be seen all over the place. They were created by the bridge’s architect Jurij Zaninovi in sheet copper at the A. M. Beschorner workshop in Vienna, and when taken from the coat of arms, they are remarkably lifelike (if dragons existed!). The bridge was built in the Viennese Secessionist style, an outgrowth of Art Nouveau, and it was unveiled in 1901. One of the first reinforced concrete bridges in Europe at the time, it was also a technical feat.

Tivoli Park

The Ljubljanica is only a few streets away from a grassy area that extends for more than two kilometres. This starts with the formal avenues and gardens that were created in 1813 and continues up the hill to the more untamed Ronik Hill, which is crisscrossed with nature trails. Dignified mansions like the Baroque Cekin Mansion, which houses the Contemporary History Museum, can be found in the lower reaches. Along with a pond, Tivoli Park is home to a tropical greenhouse run by the city’s Botanical Gardens. The Jakopi Promenade, an arrow-straight promenade that leads from the eastern entrance up to the Neoclassical Tivoli Castle, is the only real incentive to visit, though.

Congress Square

There have been several significant events in Slovenian history that have taken place in this elegant central square. Here, in 1918, the declaration of independence from Austria-Hungary was made, and in 1945, Josip Broz Tito addressed the crowd from the university building’s balcony. Later, the first unrestricted demonstration took place here in 1988 as part of a campaign that culminated in the independence of Slovenia in 1991. Bill Clinton finally performed the Slovenian National Anthem’s opening verse in front of a crowd in this square in 1999. This impressive area, which dates back to 1821, is surrounded by municipal structures and palaces on all sides, with Zvezda Park in the middle. The magnificent Slovenian Philharmonic and the replica of a Roman bronze statue that was unearthed here in 1836 are two sights to take notice of.

The National Museum of Contemporary History

The 20th century in Slovenia was a particularly interesting era in the history of the nation. And it’s all laid out for you in this modern museum inside the opulent walls of the Cekin Mansion. The First World War will be the starting point, followed by the turbulent interwar years, the Second World War, Tito’s government, and Slovene independence in 1991. Each time period is supported with actual artefacts and documentation, such as clothing, furniture, weaponry, medals, photographs from the past, farming equipment like an old tractor, and much more.

Central Market

Along with the Triple Bridge, this market was part of the stunning set piece created by Joe Palenik in the early 1930s. It is situated on the site of a historic diocesan college for girls that was destroyed by the earthquake in 1895 and hugs the riverbank between this bridge and the Dragon Bridge. On the edge of Preeren Square, under that attractive colonnade, are shops selling handicrafts, herbs, and spices. Further on are shops selling bakery items, cured meat, dried fruit, nuts, dairy products, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Except on Sunday, the market is open every day. Covered areas of the market have significantly shorter opening hours than outside stalls.

Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

This church, built in the middle of the 17th century in an early Baroque style, is a serious presence in Preeren Square. The pastel colour used to paint the exterior has special significance for the Franciscan order. It has pinnacles, pilasters with Ionic capitals, niches, and a figure of the Virgin and Child on the pediment, making it one of the square’s most impressive structures. Although the Baroque frescoes were ruined by seismic cracks, the interior is beautifully decorated. The 18th-century altarpiece by Francesco Robba is the centrepiece of the chapel, but it’s also worth looking around to view a stone cross by Joe Plenik in a side chapel. Matej Sternen, an Impressionist, painted the ceiling frescoes in the 1930s.

The National Museum of Slovenia

This museum is located in two buildings in Ljubljana and is devoted to the history and culture of Slovenia. The main exhibition is located on Preernova Street, and the applied arts department has a new facility on Metelkova. There are some incredible artefacts to look out for in the former that date all the way back to prehistory. One is an object that was carved from a bear femur 60,000 years ago and is thought to be a piece of a Neanderthal flute (Divje Babe Flute). Models, animated movies, and unearthed artefacts like a treasure of coins reveal Ljubljana’s Roman past as the city of Emona. The lapidarium, which has 200 inscribed stones on the ground floor and in a glass pavilion, is the most fascinating of these.

Prešeren Square

Preeren Square, which is close to Ljubljanica, is where the city congregates and celebrates. There is a significant likelihood that this location will host an event if one is taking place in Ljubljana. The square, which has a rough triangular layout and is where several important arteries meet, got its present luxurious aspect following the earthquake in 1895. The medieval homes that had previously stood here were replaced at this time, joining the 1795-built Baroque Church of the Annunciation. The poet France Preeren, whose poem “Zdravljica,” or “A Toast,” became Slovenia’s national song in the 19th century, is credited with giving the plaza its name. His statue is located close to the Central Pharmacy, across the street from Julija Primic, his unrequited love and inspiration.

Town Hall

Since the 15th century, the municipal seat has been situated on Town Square. The first Gothic structure was renovated in the Venetian Baroque style at the beginning of the 18th century using designs created by Italian architect Carlo Martinuzzi. A plaque from the city’s earlier Gothic structure bearing its coat of arms, as well as a sculpture of Hercules and the Nemean lion from a long-gone fountain from the 1600s, may be found in the entryway. The Town Hall is accessible during exhibitions, and you can register for a tour of areas often off-limits to the general public. A magnificent fountain by the artist Francesco Robba that features Narcissus is a highlight in the main courtyard.

Triple Bridge

Three bridges that lead you out of Preeren Square are outfitted with lamps and stone balustrades. The oldest of the three bridges, the central one, was built in 1842, while the flanking two are much newer. This was intended for road traffic, while the two alongside were added for pedestrians at the start of 1930 and were the work of Joe Plenik, Ljubljana’s most revered architect. Also dating from this project are the riverside terraces lined with poplars, and the temple-like flower shop that connects with the colonnade of the Central Market on the right bank.

Metelkova Mesto

A dilapidated army barracks from the Austro-Hungarian Empire was inhabited by squatters shortly after the country gained its independence in order to prevent it from being demolished. This expansive area in the city’s centre has evolved into an independent urban enclave akin to Copenhagen’s well-known Freetown Christiania. It’s a refuge for an alternative culture, where brilliant murals and graffiti adorn nearly every wall. Visit during the day for shots and return at night when it comes to life. After hours, live bands and DJs are scheduled by bars and clubs, and during the summer, outdoor concerts are held.

Ljubljana Castle

Looking up from Ljubljana’s squares, the castle appears to be intimidatingly tall. You can try to ascend there on foot if you have the strength, but there is also a tourist train and a funicular railway. Since the castle’s construction began 900 years ago, a lot has changed. The early stone, wood, and stone fortification were replaced by more useful military structures, and in the 16th century, it was transformed into an arsenal to serve as a local defence against an Ottoman invasion. A cafe, nightclub, gallery, and restaurant are located in the main courtyard, which is open to the public. The cost of climbing the watchtower to get a view of Ljubljana includes a “Time Machine” tour. This narrates significant historical occurrences in Ljubljana using 3D animations and docents dressed historically. Tour suggestion: Tour of Ljubljana and the Ljubljana Castle

The National Gallery of Slovenia

Fronting The most important historical art museum in Slovenia is Tivoli Park, which features pieces from the Middle Ages through the 1900s. It is housed in a Revivalist palace from the late 19th century with contemporary additions constructed in the early 1990s and 2001. More than 600 pieces are available for viewing, ranging from Gothic liturgical artwork to works by Italian Baroque artists and sculptors who won numerous commissions in Ljubljana in the 1700s. Additionally, works by Richard Jakopi, Ivan Grohar, and Matija Jama provide insight into the Slovenian Impressionist movement. Francesco Robba’s Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers, however, stands out as a particular highlight. The most famous fountain in Ljubljana’s original sculpture was moved to the contemporary glass expansion for weather protection.