Is Ljubljana Worth Visiting For a City Break In Slovenia

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and a fantastic city to visit. We stayed in Ljubljana in late spring and during the summer, and both trips were great.

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Ljubljana is worth visiting if you enjoy walkable cities with colourful architecture, riverside bars, museums and parks. It is not the biggest or busiest European capital, but that is part of the appeal.

Is Ljubljana Worth Visiting?

Ljubljana is well worth visiting as part of a tour of Central Europe. I enjoyed seeing the sights during my stays and found it to be a dog-friendly destination. It certainly is a beautiful place and was excellent for just walking around and exploring beyond the major attractions. It’s one of many nice places to visit in Slovenia. We visited twice, once in May and once in August; I preferred my stay in May.

May was quieter, which we really enjoyed, including exploring the sights, parks, and suburbs. We also met fellow travel blogger Terry from Strangers in the Living Room. The summer break was busy and seemed very popular with younger backpackers, including in the hostels. The younger crowd made it very vibrant in the evenings, including the city’s organised pub crawls.

Ljubljana City Break Guide

Some key points to help you decide whether it’s worthwhile to visit, along with a guide to help you along the way.

What Makes Ljubljana Worth Visiting?

Ljubljana is a beautiful city and a pleasant place to spend time. We found plenty of things to do in Ljubljana to fill our time. The beautiful architecture, combined with its clean, tidy feel, was a big plus for me. The key places of interest were engaging, too. Highlights for me were the riverside area, the central church buildings, the market square, and the walk on Castle Hill. The chilled vibe and bar scene were great too.

Where to Stay?

A few days are enough time to stay in Ljubljana and fully appreciate it. Ljubljana has options for hotels and other places to stay. Most of these are in or near the central areas.

You can find accommodation to suit various budgets, from cheap hostels to more luxurious hotels. A good place to find somewhere to stay is the Booking.com website. We stayed in two pet-friendly backpacker hostels. The first was Hostel DIC, a 20-minute walk from the main attractions. On a subsequent stay, we stayed at the unique Hostel Celica, which was a former prison.

Travel To The City

We have always travelled to Ljubljana by train, including from nearby countries. This includes Rijeka and Zagreb in Croatia. There are also options to travel by rail from Italy, Austria, and Hungary. During the summer, we found it to be busy with backpackers. You can also fly into the country’s major airport or, if on a budget, take a bus with one of the region’s bus companies. You can find travel options on the Omio website.

Eating & Drinking Out

There are lots of bars and restaurants in Ljubljana city. This includes those serving some local Slovenian food. Many of these are alongside the river and have splendid views of the city’s architecture. You can also find eateries for international cuisine and street food throughout the city. If you’re on a budget, places out of the main areas tend to be cheaper. Throughout the city, there are some nice bars and cafes for drinks, including quirky options and spots with outdoor seating and a view.

Practical Travel Tips

Sometimes cash is required, in my experience. To save money, there are options for free ATMs in the city. When travelling light or for the long term, laundry needs to be done. There are various laundrettes to choose from unless you have booked an apartment with a washing machine.

History of Ljubljana, the Capital of Slovenia

Ljubljana is the capital and the biggest city in Slovenia. As such, it is Slovenia’s cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative centre. The first mention of the city in historical documents dates from the first half of the 12th century.

However, a Roman city called Emona once stood here. It was on one of the trade routes between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube region. Ljubljana was under Habsburg rule from the Middle Ages until the Habsburg Empire was dissolved in 1918.

After the Second World War, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. This was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It then became the capital of Slovenia when it gained independence in 1991. Since its independence, Ljubljana has earned several accolades, including winning the European Green Capital Award.