The 10 Best Things To See in Ljubljana, Slovenia's Charming Capital

Legend has it that Jason and the Argonauts passed through Ljubljana in their search for the Golden Fleece, stopping long enough to fight a local dragon before sailing on. The Slovenian capital became known as the City of Dragons, and today you'll see those mythical creatures all over Ljubljana, with dragons on bridges, statues, drain covers and souvenirs. Such fierce-looking protectors shouldn't fool you though, as you'll also discover what a friendly, pretty, leafy place this is. Gorgeous historical buildings in the cobbled Old Town give way to abundant parks and willow-shaded riverbanks lined with lovely spots to eat and drink. Learn more about the city's many attractions with this list of the essential things to see in Ljubljana.

Once you've checked into the ibis Styles Ljubljana Centre, get your bearings at nearby Prešernov trg Square, once a medieval crossroads and entry point to the walled city. Among the first things to see in Ljubljana is the pretty pink façade of the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, an 18th-century landmark right on the riverfront. Deeper into the cobblestoned Old Town, former market square Stari trg leads past beautiful Baroque and Rococo buildings on streets lined with café terraces. St. Nicholas’ Cathedral rises over the whole scene with its magnificent green dome and twin belfry towers. Make sure to check out the gorgeously gilded and frescoed interior too.

The Old Town may be the heart of the city, but its soul is the river, where some of the best things to see in Ljubljana are laid out along the embankments. Stroll or cycle to viewpoints and rest stops under weeping willows, or take a boat tour along the river itself. You've got a choice of operators, but for a gentle, traditional and eco-friendly voyage from the city centre, step aboard Barka Ljubljanica – a handmade wooden vessel with an electric motor.
 

Barka Ljubljanica

• Breg 1, near Novi trg, Ljubljana
• +386 41 386 945; info@barka-ljubljanica.si
• 50-minute tours €15 for adults, €7 for children aged 6-12

Head to the Old Town's Central Market for a real slice of local life. Laid out across two bustling squares and framed by elegant columns, the stalls supply everything you need for a picnic: fresh fruits, hot snacks, Slovenian wines, sweet štruklji dumplings and even delicious local cow milk tapped from a special vending machine.
 

Every Friday from March to November (weather permitting), the market also becomes a focal point for Open Kitchen, a buzzing culinary project where you can sample street foods, craft beers and boutique wines supplied by local restaurants, bars and visiting chefs.

• Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 6
• Open 7am-4pm Monday to Friday, closes 2pm on Saturday and all day Sunday

Ljubljana Castle rises out of the Old Town on a grassy hilltop that looks across the rooftops and beyond to the Kamniške Alps. If you're looking for the perfect sunset vista, this is the place. User-friendly exhibits tell the full story of the fortress, but the grounds also host a busy programme of historical-themed “escape” games, art shows and regular concerts. On summer weekends, grab a book and a deck chair for the Reading Corner by the moat, or head up after dark to watch a movie under the stars.

• Grajska planota 1, 1000 Ljubljana
• Open daily 9am-8pm
• Tickets €15 for adults, €10.50 concession

You'll find some of Ljubljana’s coolest places to shop, eat and hang out just a little outside the Old Town. Tucked behind the river is Trubarjeva Cesta, one long cobbled street of mid-20th century buildings where you can stop for artisan coffee, shop for vintage clothes or sip Slovenian orange wine while listening to some live jazz.
 

If you’re more into underground music and art, try the clubs and galleries of the Metelkova district. Originally built as barracks for the Austro-Hungarian army, it’s now a Bohemian culture hub brightly coloured by eye-popping street murals. At night, all sorts of alternative bands and DJs play in spaces once reserved for soldiers.

Tivoli Park is to Ljubljana what Central Park is to New York, a lovingly manicured sprawl of lawns, ponds, rose gardens and greenhouses. Designed in 1813 by French engineer Jan Blanchard, then refined over the last 200 years, it's ideal for picnics in quiet spots home to nesting birds and native butterflies. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the elegant tree-lined avenues, or get your boots on for a longer hike along the trails of the adjoining Rožnik Hill. In the evening, keep the outdoor vibe going with a stay at ibis Styles Ljubljana The Fuzzy Log, an ecohostel just a short walk from Tivoli Park.
 

Ljubljana has so much parkland, wetland and moorland, in fact, that it was voted European Green Capital in 2016. At the edge of town, the rewilded marsh at Koseze Pond is great for fishing or birdwatching, while a little further out you can escape the city altogether by walking or biking across the Ljubljana Moors.
 

Tivoli Park

• Tivoli, 1000 Ljubljana
• Open 24 hours
• Free to enter

Rainy day? The city's museums give you plenty of indoor things to see in Ljubljana. Egyptian mummies and woolly mammoths at the National Museum of Slovenia, for example. There's also a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal flute said to be the world’s oldest musical instrument. (Open 10am-6pm, closes 8pm Thursday and all day Monday, admission €6 adults, €4 children and students.)
 

The Museum of Modern Art, meanwhile, will introduce you to some dynamic work by Slovene talents (open 10am-6pm, closed Monday, admission €7). And for anyone with the slightest interest in trains, the Railway Museum shows how vital they've been to Slovene history. It's set in a former station with well-preserved steam locomotives, old posters and a cute model railway too (open 10am-6pm, closed Monday, admission €8).

The local gastronomy can be incredibly satisfying and extraordinarily filling, with lots of cheese and cream – sometimes in the same dish! Slovene foods are often pretty meaty too, including leteči žganci (fried chicken) and kranjska klobasa (a pork sausage seasoned with black pepper and sea salt), but there’s no shortage of heavy-duty options for vegetarians. Hat-shaped, potato-filled pasta dumplings known as Idrija žlikrofi are a national treasure.
 

You can try many of these in picturesque surroundings at Bistro Švicarija, a favourite lunch spot styled like a farmhouse on a forested hill. Sunday set menus are specially curated to include Slovenian staples in each course, often with a subtle modern twist.

• Pod turnom 4, 1000 Ljubljana
• Open 10am-6pm, Tuesday to Sunday

Walking around Ljubljana means zigzagging back and forth across the river, with 17 main bridges linking the Old Town to newer quarters. Almost every one has a story behind it, and unique design features to look out for:

• Dragon Bridge is probably the most iconic thing to see on the Ljubljana River, with its signature statues of the city's mythical mascot. You'll pass four cast in copper at each corner, and make sure to stop for a photo – some say if you don't get a picture with a dragon, you've never been to Ljubljana at all.
• Butcher’s Bridge takes you from the Central Market to the lively opposite bank at Petkovškovo nabrežje. It's nicknamed Lovers' Bridge because of padlocks since attached to it by local couples, but you might find yourself more intrigued by the odd little fairytale creatures sculpted by Jakov Brdar (who designed a whole laneway of similar grotesques along nearby Ključavničarska ulica, or Locksmith Street).
• Cobbler's Bridge spans the river where the city's oldest medieval wood bridge once stood. This replacement was built in artificial stone about a century ago. Lamplights on elegant pillars make it one of the most beautiful things to see in Ljubljana after dark.

Design-wise, the city ranges from Vienna Secession-style buildings such as Hauptmann House to striking modern Brutalism around Republike Square. You'll also notice the personal touches of visionary architect Jože Plečnik, the genius behind so many things to see in Ljubljana, from the Central Market to Cobbler's Bridge and the stately limestone Triple Bridge. You can also tour Plečnik House, where he lived, worked and tested out creative designs on his own home.
 

Plečnik House

• 6 Karunova ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana
• Open 10am-6pm, closed Monday
• Admission €6

With so many things to see in Ljubljana, you'll be amazed how much you can pack into even one day, so start planning your adventure today! Keen to discover more hidden-gem European capitals? We've got you covered with our insider guides to Zagreb and Bratislava.