How to plan a holiday to Ljubljana, Slovenia

I’ve spent the last few weeks telling everyone that they just HAVE to take a weekend away or a short holiday to Ljubljana. If you’re not convinced, take a look at my post 10 reasons to love Ljubljana.

So, for all those people who are starting to get the message, this is for you…

How to plan a holiday to Ljubljana

How to get to Ljubljana

Fly to Ljubljana airport. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city centre and it’s easy to arrange a transfer with a company like GoOpti. I flew with Swiss Airways from Manchester. My flight out there stopped in Zurich for four hours and my flight home was direct. The Zurich stopover wasn’t ideal but it’s an incredible airport with great shopping and free wifi so I managed to keep myself entertained and get some work done.

There are plenty of direct flights from London with EasyJet and WhizzAir and direct regional flights available if you can be flexible with your days.

Fly to Venice airport. This is a more popular option because flights to Venice are much more affordable and they’re usually direct. It’s a two hour drive from Venice to Ljubljana and, again, you can arrange a shared transfer through GoOpti for around €32. It’s likely you’ll save a couple of hundred pounds by flying to Venice.

Fly to Trieste airport and then take a bus to Ljubljana. The drive is just over an hour.

During a cruise – The first time I visited Ljubljana was during a cruise with Celebrity Cruises. It was a nice little taster and introduction to the city.

During a train holiday – Railbookers have a 7-night train holiday through Zagreb and Ljubljana via the Alps. This is a good option if you’d like to see the surrounding countries making it perfect if you’re visiting from outside of Europe and want to see as much as possible.

Where to stay in Ljubljana

Central Apartments - I’d recommend Central Apartments Tour As and suggest opting for a city center apartment. I loved my apartment and felt right at home while I was there.

Read More: Review Central Apartments Tour As

Hostel Celica - If you’re on a budget and you’re looking for somewhere quirky and unique, check out Hostel Celica. The hostel is within an old military prison and has been renovated by over 80 artists.

 

 

Where to drink

Skyscraper – The official name is Neboticnik, Slovene for Skyscraper. It may only be 13 stories high but for Ljubljana this building is a giant and has incredible views over the city and directly across to the castle.

Jazz Club Gajo – The high hedges surrounding Jazz Club make it feel more like a secret garden than a club but hidden within those leafy walls you’ll find some of the best live jazz in town.

 

Sax Pub – Apparently this is what happens when an unruly youth inherits a country cottage and turns into a club for all their mates. Sax Pub is chilled out during the day but comes to life with live music at night.

 

Metelkova Mesto – If you’re looking for an alternative night out you can’t miss a few drinks (or an all night party) in the art district of Metelkova Mesto. Cheap beer is served in cans while everyone mingles outside to create a huge party atmosphere. Klub Tiffany, Ljubljana’s only gay club is a lot of fun and stays open until sunrise (I have no recollection of what time that was, I just remember it was light).

Cirkus Club - If you want to party all night, this is the place for you.

 

 

What to do in Ljubljana

Visit the castle - The castle overlooks the city and you’ll get some great views from up here.

 

 

See Triple Bridge, Preseren Square, Dragon Bridge and Butcher’s Bridge - These are the main sights in the city and if you’re in Ljubljana for a few days you’ll be really familiar with them all as they’re central and often used a meeting points for friends and if you’re taking a tour.

 

Take a foodie walking tour - Take a foodie tour with Ljubljananjam as soon as you possibly can after arriving in Ljubljana. Iva will show you all the best places to eat and drink in the city and give you loads of suggestions based on your preferences. You get to sample a little bit of everything in some hidden gems but you’ll definitely want to go back for a full meal.

Go for a bike ride - I recommend a Watermelon bike ride tour. You’ll get to see the outskirts of the city and places tourists wouldn’t normally visit.

 

 

Take a walking tour - If you want to learn as much as you can about Ljubljana, take a walking tour with Get your Guide. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and within a couple of hours you’ll feel like you know all the important facts and history of the city.

 

Visit Tivoli Park - Tivoli Park is a beautiful place to relax under the shade of a tree. Take a picnic and chill out or check out things to do in Tivoli Park.

 

 

Visit St Nicholas Cathedral - From the doors on the outside to the ornate paintings inside, St Nicholas Cathedral is gorgeous.

 

Visit the city market - If you only buy one thing while you’re in the market, make sure it’s a huge bag of cherries. They are delicious!

 

Got longer than a weekend?

If you’ve got a few extra days in Ljubljana, why not use the city as a base to explore the rest of the area. I took two tours with Roundabout Travel and my highlights were Lake Bled, Predjama Castle and Piran.

Read more: Visiting Lake Bled with an Alpine Fairytale Tour

Visiting the Karst and Coast of Slovenia - recommended tour