Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nally
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city in Slovenia. The Dragon City, which straddles the Ljubljanica River, survived Roman, Habsburg, and Yugoslavian rule to lead the mountainous country into independence. Slovenia has become the Green Heart of Europe, while Ljubljana is one of the greenest capitals on the continent.
This charming city is home to less than 300,000 people. It's a university town, a tech center, and an artist's haven. The Old Town is full of Baroque buildings with red-tiled roofs, detailed bridges, and lively squares. Cafes with terrace seating line the river, which is used by kayakers and sightseeing boats. New hotels, restaurants, and wine bars keep popping up in this car-free area. While Ljubljana Castle stands on a hill overlooking it all.
The compact city is a central base for adventures all over the small country. But best of all: Ljubljana still feels like an under-the-radar destination. Go fall in love with this enchanting city before everyone else catches on.
This detailed guide includes:
Places: neighborhoods
Stay: hotels
Eat: cafés, pizzerias, restaurants
Drink: lounges, wine bars
Shop: antique markets, toy stores
Do: bridges, castles, cathedrals, churches, city models, fountains, funiculars, monuments, parks, puppet museums, rivers, sculptures, squares, statues
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Ljubljana
Ljubljana
@nally
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city in Slovenia. The Dragon City, which straddles the Ljubljanica River, survived Roman, Habsburg, and Yugoslavian rule to lead the mountainous country into independence. Slovenia has become the Green Heart of Europe, while Ljubljana is one of the greenest capitals on the continent.
This charming city is home to less than 300,000 people. It's a university town, a tech center, and an artist's haven. The Old Town is full of Baroque buildings with red-tiled roofs, detailed bridges, and lively squares. Cafes with terrace seating line the river, which is used by kayakers and sightseeing boats. New hotels, restaurants, and wine bars keep popping up in this car-free area. While Ljubljana Castle stands on a hill overlooking it all. The compact city is also a central base for adventures all over the small country. But best of all: Ljubljana still feels like an under-the-radar destination. Go fall in love with this enchanting city before everyone else catches on.
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Ljubljanica
@nally
The Ljubljanica is a river that runs through the center of Ljubljana. The short river originates in Vrhnika, a town 13 miles southwest of the city, and empties into the Sava River, a tributary of the Danube, just six miles later. Within the city, the green-tinted river is used by kayakers and sightseeing boats, crossed by historic bridges, and lined with cafes overflowing with terrace seating.
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Center District
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If you're only spending a few days in Ljubljana, everything you'll want to see and do is the Center District. Within the two-square-mile area, you'll find the Old Town and Ljubljana Castle. The Ljubljana train station forms the northern border. Tivoli Park, the city's largest park, sits on the western edge. While the Ljubljanica River runs through the center. Everything is easily walkable.
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Hotel Cubo
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Hotel Cubo, in Ljubljana's Central District, is perfectly positioned between Tivoli Park and the Old Town. Both are an easy, five-minute walk. The white building originally had apartments in the 1930s. It was renovated into a boutique hotel almost 15 years ago.
When you enter the hotel, you'll find a small check-in desk and the lobby bar. The staff is quick to help with room details, valet parking, and smartphones to use during your stay. Given the tight space at the entrance, the upper levels are surprisingly spacious. Double rooms feature full bathtubs and free minibars. The breakfast room is filled with sunshine. Its extensive buffet, which includes sparkling wine, is served until noon on the weekends. There's also a small gym and bikes for guests to use. This is a nice introduction to Ljubljana.
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Park Zvezda
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Park Zvezda (Congress Square) is one of Ljubljana's main squares. It was built upon the ruins of a medieval Capuchin monastery in 1821 and named after the Congress of Ljubljana, which was created to settle international issues after the Napoleonic Wars. In the 1930s, it was renovated by Slovene architect Jože Plečnik, whose works eventually became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of Ljubljana. During the communist period, the park was renamed Revolution Square and then Liberation Square. Mass demonstrations were held here in the late 1980s, as Slovenia demanded its independence. Congress Square's original name was reinstated during this time period.
The square is now surrounded by the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity, the University of Ljubljana, the oldest publishing house in the country, and the Slovenian Philharmonic. Festivals, live music, and parades are regularly held here, especially during the summer.
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St. James's Bridge
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St. James's Bridge (Šentjakobski most) crosses the Ljubljanica River at the southern end of Ljubljana's Central District near the Church of St. James. A wooden bridge was first built here in 1824. This reinforced concrete corbel bridge replaced it in 1915. It's now a main road through the center of the city.
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On Sundays Antique Fair
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Do you love searching for antiques? Every Sunday morning, there's an outdoor antique fair along the left bank of the Ljubljanica, south of Cobbler's Bridge. Vendors set up booths with everything from books to furniture to toys. It's an interesting place to browse, even if you don't have much room in your suitcase to bring things home.
Hours: 8 am - 2 pm
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nally
Big destinations. Little details.
I travel—a lot. I’m always taking notes, organizing quick getaways, plotting big holidays, and dreaming. I’ve been to six continents (I’ll get to Antarctica eventually), nearly 40 countries, and too many cities and islands to count.
Tons of planning, way more than is actually necessary, goes into each adventure. Your trips can benefit from my little addiction.
No two people are exactly alike. No two vacations should be the same either. These guides are designed to help you follow your passions, satisfy your cravings, and spark new whims. Think of them as starting points as you create your own exciting itineraries.
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DESTINATION(S) COVERED
Europe
Slovenia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Car-free
Boutique
Foodie
Wine
Art
Faith
History
People & Culture
Shopping
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Guides typically include detailed information and how-to’s about a destination as well as suggested places to try.
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