8 good reasons to travel to Ljubljana

Visit Ljubljana: Why does the Slovenian capital remain an indispensable part of your trip to Slovenia?

The Slovenian capital has long been a subject of confusion for the whole world. Often unknown by tourists, forgotten in the country, its name has been saved more than once. Ljubljana (pronouncing lyoo-BLYAH-nah) has no globally recognized tourist attraction and undeniably, this is where all its charm resides. Far from the clichés of metropolises, the capital offers a quiet and authentic face, rejuvenating almost over time. Ideal destination for a weekend, city for discovery and atypical character... It’s not for nothing that we surname Ljubljana the next Prague For already a decade.

Many are the reasons to discover the Slovenian capital, the first being that Ljubljana is not yet one of the flagship destinations taken by mass tourism. An authenticity both precious and fragile that it would be a shame to see from another angle! So it's still time, here's why.

1. The charm of Prague without mass tourism

Ljubljana owes much to the Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik , who worked on various projects at the Prague Castle, and is responsible for a large part of the architecture of the old city. This is the case of the Three Bridges ( Tromostovje ), real city DNA.

If Prague remains a great place to visit, it is now invaded by tourists at all times of the year. In Ljubljana, you have the equivalent of the Czech capital, without mass tourism that, between cultural visits and the rates practised, literally impact your stay.

2. Affordable travel budget

Although Ljubljana is not as cheap as some other cities in Central and Eastern Europe, your budget will suffer much less than in most capitals, as in most capitals. Vienna For example. You can stay at an affordable price but that’s not all: in restaurants, there is an unstoppable trick to consume at the same rate as a local... At noon, ask the menu Kosilo (this is a password): the latter may be up to twice as expensive as the menu that the staff presents to you!

3. English as a second language

Okay, you may not speak English yourself... But you certainly know the foundations that break the language barrier . Thus, you can get lots of recommendations and information useful to the visit and discovery of LA city, including the best addresses for nightlife. You can believe it, it is a real advantage to understand and get understood.

4. Walking tours

Or almost. The old centre of Ljubljana is full of monuments, museums, and curiosities. discover in a day . As the Slovenian capital is small enough, you will not have to fill the program of your stay without moving too much.

But what to see in Ljubljana? - ♪ Three Bridges (Tromostovje) and the Dragon Bridge that flood the river Ljubljanica are among the must-sees. - The Old Town it, is taken for its atypical and preserved architecture. By walking around the alleys, you will find yourself facing some curiosities... - A little everywhere, green spaces like Tivoli Park illustrate a natural parenthesis in which two museum visits are appreciated (GRATUITS for the majority). - A little higher, meet up. medieval castle of Ljubljana the indestructible of the capital. Overlooking the city, it offers a historic visit. - For art lovers, go to the Krakovo district. Underground address of the city, Krakovo hosts real artistic kneads, from its walls to its cafes, of course through the Architecture and Design Museum .

5. Free cultural monuments

Another advantage of Ljubljana, many activities and visits can be done... for free! Here is a list that could in time become flexible:

• Guided tour with Ljubljana Free Tour
• Tivoli Park
• Botanical garden
• Château de Ljubljana (except the entrance to the tower)
• museums every 1st Sunday of the month
• Central market
• Bridges (Triple, Dragons, Lovers)
• Places
• The fountains and statues
• Roman City of Emona
• Colline of Rožnik
• Šmarna Gora Hill

6. A cultural animation all year round

Ljubljana can boast of being active in terms of cultural animation. And for cause, it hosts festivals throughout the year and in all categories (music, gastronomy, sport, art, etc...), bringing famous artists and attracting crowds from all over Europe. Among them, the no less known Ljubljana Festival in summer, Wine Festival in November, Jazz Festival end of June or festival dedicated to the film November.

7. The warm atmosphere

With its almost entirely pedestrian streets, markets, nightlife, cultural heritage and numerous artistic events, Ljubljana enjoys an exceptional reputation. Known to be a city where it is good to live, it is also renowned for the warm welcome of its inhabitants who warm up in a few words/smiles, the cold climate of the capital. On Christmas, Ljubljana is also dressed in her most beautiful white coat, which gives her an almost magical atmosphere.

8. Easy access to the rest of Slovenia

While a weekend in Ljubljana will be enough to visit all the attractions of the capital, the country is compact enough to change scenery simply and quickly. Since Ljubljana is located exactly in the centre of Slovenia, you can easily enjoy a day or two to explore the other treasures of the country such as the Lake Bled at 2h drive, or opt for a ski session on the side Kranj in the Slovenian Alps. In summer, enjoy the coasts on the Adriatic Sea, very pleasant in season. Also know that Ljubljana is a good step to start on Zagreb by train (2h30), or Venice bus (3h).