One day in Ljubljana, Slovenia: top things for your itinerary

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Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, is charming, and the perfect destination for a day trip.

The draw of nearby places such as the stunning and magical Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, and the coastal resort of Piran means that if you have limited time, you might be tempted to bypass the country’s capital.  But if you can squeeze it in, I’d recommend setting aside time to visit.

Ljubljana has a charming old town lined with beautiful historic buildings, a picturesque riverfront, scenic views from the medieval castle on the hill, and a relaxing, laid-back vibe that makes it a great place to visit.

It’s also a small, compact city, so it’s easy to get around and see the top sights in just a few hours.

If, like me on my recent trip to Slovenia, you fancy a short trip to the city, here’s my suggestions for the top things to see in Ljubljana. I’ve also included some information on how to get there and have answered some of the top frequently asked questions at the end.

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The best things to do in one day in Ljubljana

Below I have listed some of the best places to see on one day in Ljubljana.

How to get to Ljubljana

Getting to Ljubljana is easy, whether you’re arriving by plane, train, or bus.

If you’re coming by plane, the airport is around 25 kilometres from the city centre. You can take a bus (number 28) to the centre.

The journey takes around 45 minutes and then it’s just a short walk to the old town. You can also take a taxi, which will be quicker, but will cost more.

You might also be coming into the city by train from other destinations – either within Slovenia or other countries. The train station is not far from the bus station and is also just a short walk from the centre of the city.

From Lake Bled

You can catch a train from Lake Bled that takes anything from 40 minutes to over an hour (and depends on whether you go to Lesce-Bled or Bled Jezero).

However, note that if you want to do this, the train station is a few kilometres outside of Bled town. So if you only have one day in Ljubljana, you might prefer to book a shuttle to the city.

On my second trip to Slovenia – when I based myself in Lake Bled – I did this, and it was convenient. I booked this in the small tour office next to the bus station in Bled and got to choose which outward and return journey I wanted. The drop-off point was the bus station in Ljubljana.

To Lake Bled

If you’re staying for a short time in Ljubljana, having arrived from another country, you should try to fit in time to take a day trip to Lake Bled. It is gorgeous and the reason why many people base themselves there and day trip to Ljubljana.

As mentioned above, you can catch a train to Bled. However, if you want to make the most of your time, I suggest booking a guided tour that will take you there directly and give you the services of a tour guide.

There are plenty of tours that you can book onto.

This tour takes you to Bled and includes stops at the castle and lake.

You can then choose to go inside the castle or on a pletna boat trip across to the small island in the middle of the lake (the latter is something I’d recommend).

You can browse other Lake Bled trips here.

And if you want to see Lake Bohinj as well as Lake Bled, click here.

From neighbouring countries

There are also train connections from various neighbouring European cities, such as Zagreb in Croatia (on our first trip we arrived this way). This is a journey of just over two hours on the direct train.

Trieste in Italy can be reached in just under three hours, and Graz in Austria is just over three hours. Do check timetables in advance though, as there may only be a couple of trains a day running between these cities.

How to get around Ljubljana

Even though it’s the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a small and compact city so if you can, I recommend walking between the sights. It’s a great way to see everything at your own pace.

However, if you want to walk around the city while learning more about its history, you can book guided walking tours.

You can also book food tours where you can sample some traditional Slovenian cuisine.

This food tour combines a walk around the main sights in the old town with the chance to try different dishes and wines from the country.

You can also catch the Urban Electric Train, a small tourist train that leaves from a stop near the Town Hall. The route goes via many of the main sights in the city and takes one hour and 15 minutes. It is free with the Ljubljana Card.

The best things to do in Ljubljana in one day

Ljubljana old town

A visit to the old town should be at the top of your Ljubljana itinerary. It’s walkable and is full of old historical cobbled streets, squares, and attractive, coloured buildings.

Prešeren Square and the Triple Bridge

I’d start in Prešeren Square by the Ljubljanica River. If you’ve arrived in the city via either the bus or train station, you may reach this by wandering down Miklosiceva Street. This is lined with some beautiful Art Nouveau buildings.

Once in the square, you’ll see more grand buildings, including the magnificent 17^th century pink-coloured Franciscan Church (or Church of the Annunciation). On another side is the statue of the 19^th century Slovenian national poet, France Prešeren.

With your back to the church, you can then look at the famous Triple Bridge. This unique construction consists of three stone walkways across the water.

It was originally a single central bridge, dating from the mid 19^th century. The two side pedestrian bridges were designed by architect Jože Plečnik and added in the late 1920s and early 1930s, along with lamps, balustrades, and steps leading down to terraces.

The Town Hall, nearby sights and Ljubljana Cathedral

Walk across the bridge and continue straight down through Stritarjeva Street. You’ll pass Trubar’s House of Literature, the city’s oldest building, before coming into a street that runs both left and right.

This is another street with beautiful buildings lining it. It’s worth spending time strolling through this street and admiring the architecture.

Right in front of you when you first step into the street is the striking Town Hall building with its green clock tower. To the right of the building is the City Art Gallery and a few steps to the left is an obelisk-type statue.

Beyond the Town Hall is the baroque Cathedral, the Church of St. Nicolas. This attractive church has pastel-coloured twin towers topped off with green spires. It dates from the early 18^th century, having been built after fires destroyed the previous two churches on this spot.

In between the Town Hall and Cathedral, there are small gift shops, as well as cafes and restaurants. This includes Gostilna Sokol, a restaurant in a traditional townhouse serving Slovenian food.  

More bridges and the river

After exploring this part of the old town, I’d recommend taking a quick look at the two other bridges at this end of the old town.

Butcher’s Bridge (Mesarski Most) is a more recent construction than the Triple Bridge. It is adorned with love locks and an interesting sculpture in the middle of Prometheus.

There’s also the Dragon Bridge, designed in Art Nouveau style. It is flanked with four dragon statues on its corners in homage to the creature being the symbol of Ljubljana.

If you cross the river from the markets via either of these bridges, you can then wander along it. On this side, there are more great restaurants and bars with outdoor seating that offer nice spots to sit in while watching the city goers milling about.

Or you could take a short boat ride along the river. This departs from a pier further down the old town near Ribji Square.

The Central Market

After exploring this part of the riverfront, head to the city’s Central Market. This comprises an open-air market as well as a covered section.

It’s another lively area, where locals and tourists alike meet to chat over a coffee or lunch and buy from the stalls that sell local fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers. There were also some food stands dotted around when we visited.

By the Butcher’s Bridge, there are also some cosy cafes and shops in the covered market. If you haven’t grabbed anything from the food stalls, this is an ideal spot to stop for lunch.

Choose from places selling and serving cheese, meat, wine, nougat, pastries, and other traditional food. If you don’t fancy sitting inside, there are some seats on the outside terrace.

Ljubljana Castle

When you’re by the Dragon Bridge, you’re not far from the funicular that will whisk you up to Ljubljana Castle, a medieval fortress on a hill 375 metres high.

If you want to take the funicular ride up, head towards Krekov Square to find this. The journey only takes a minute and is free with the Ljubljana Card.

You can also reach the castle on the Urban Train, by local bus, or on foot up the pathways winding around Castle Hill. If you decide to do the latter, it’s around a 10 to 15 minute walk.

Once you enter the castle, you’ll come into an open courtyard surrounded by walls and towers. You can climb up the Outlook Tower and onto a terrace for views out across the city.

And then, if you have enough time, you can browse the information on displays about Slovenian history. There is also a puppet museum here. This has a permanent exhibition where you can learn about the history of puppetry in the country, which apparently has a significant place in Slovenian culture.

You can check out tickets for the castle and funicular here.

Tivoli Park and museums

After wandering around the old town and looking out over it from the castle, I’d suggest going over to Tivoli Park. This is the largest park in the city, covering around 5 square kilometres. It’s around a 15 minute walk away once you’re back on the other side of the river.

If you go to the park via Prešeren Square and cross Slovenska Road, you’re likely to go past the Neo-Renaissance National Gallery. It is regarded as ‘Slovenia’s foremost museum of historical art‘, so if you’re an art fan, it would be worth stopping off here.

Nearby is the Museum of Modern Art.

For anyone who is more interested in history museums, there is the Slovenian Museum of Natural History nearby. This is also housed in a large, grand palace.

Many of these museums are free with the Ljubljana Card.

Tivoli Park

When you get to the park, a wide boulevard – Jakopič Promenade – will be directly in front of you. This is another part of Ljubljana that was designed by the architect Jože Plečnik. The pathway is lined with large pictures – serving as a kind of outdoor art exhibition – that you can stop and look at.

The boulevard winds upwards towards Tivoli Mansion, the oldest building in the park.  This is now the home of the International Centre of Graphic Arts, another museum that you can go into for free with the Ljubljana Card.

In front of it is a small fountain, ornamental flower beds, and steps leading up to the mansion. There are small dog statues in front (strangely, these dogs have no tongues…).

Off the boulevard and around the mansion are other walking paths, green open spaces, a small pond and a botanical garden.

Even if you don’t have time to go to the exhibition in the mansion, it’s worth spending at least a short time in the park. It’s a fabulous and relaxing spot to take a stroll around, and the perfect place to get some fresh air.

The Nebotičnik Skyscraper

After walking around the park, I’d recommend stopping off for a drink in the Nebotičnik Skyscraper. This is not far from the National Gallery and enroute back to the old town.

The building is a stark contrast to the architecture of most of the other buildings in the centre of the city and was built more recently in the 1930s. At just over 70 metres, it was the tallest in the Balkans at the time.

It’s worth going inside and taking the lift to the top. There’s a small café here with an outside observation deck where you can get some spectacular views over to the castle on the hill.

It’s a great place for afternoon tea or an early evening cocktail. There is also a gorgeous wooden spiral staircase going down to the toilets!

You can then make your way back towards Prešeren Square and the old town for an evening meal or drinks and more sightseeing, or to head back to the bus or train station.

Visit a museum

As part of seeing the sights covered above, you might want to stop off and visit a museum that interests you.

If you do want to do this while you’re in Ljubljana, and have enough time, there’s no shortage of choices. And the great thing is that many of these are free with the Ljubljana Card.

You can choose between a few art museums, covering both art from the Middle Ages and more modern exhibitions, and several history museums.

There are also a few quirkier or niche museums. These include the House of Illusions, the Slovenian Railway Museum, the Technical Museum of Slovenia, and a museum on the history of banking.

Spot the sculptures

One other thing I’d suggest doing during your one day in Ljubljana is spotting the various sculptures and pieces of street art dotted around. You can do this when moving between the different sights and places I’ve covered above.

In the old town, there are statutes in Prešeren Square, and the old town. Notably, there are the dragons adorning the Dragon Bridge.

However, there is also a range of more modern (and sometimes unusual sculptures) that you’ll no doubt see as you walk around.

On the Butcher’s Bridge, for example, there is a large statue of Prometheus. In another part of the old town there is a statue to Napoleon, and in Tivoli Park there are the dog statues, which have no tongues.

And on the walk between the old town and the park, we spotted several other modern sculptures, including a statue that is said to be of a potato!

So, make sure you look around you as you walk through the centre – you never know what you might spot!

Frequently asked questions

I hope the itinerary and information above will help you plan your one day in Ljubljana. Below I have also answered some of the frequently asked questions people have.

Is one day in Ljubljana enough?

One day in Ljubljana is enough time to see the main sights and get a feel for the city. I’ve visited Slovenia twice now, spent a day in the capital both times, and had a great time.

It’s a small and walkable city. Consequently, it’s feasible to see the old town, go to the castle, walk around Tivoli Park and along the river, and stop off somewhere to try some Slovenian food in just a day.

Depending on when you arrive in the city, you may also be able to squeeze in a museum or two.

Having said this, there are also plenty of things to do in Ljubljana that more than justify spending more than one day here.

Many people seem to slot in a day while visiting other places in the country, such as Lake Bled. But with flights to Ljubljana from several locations around Europe, going directly to the city and spending a weekend or short break would also be worthwhile.

Is Ljubljana worth visiting?

Yes! If you’re in Slovenia or a city that is close by, then I wouldn’t miss the chance to visit Ljubljana. There’s lots to do here, but not so much that you feel like you’re rushing around.

Combine this with the laid-back city vibe and the fact that nowhere feels packed with people, and you’ll get a culturally interesting but relaxing city break if you visit.

How do I get from Lake Bled to Ljubljana?

As outlined above, you can catch a train from Lake Bled that will take you to Ljubljana in around an hour.

However, the fact that the train stations are a few kilometres outside Bled town means that you may prefer to book a shuttle directly to the city. You can book these in the tour agencies in Bled town.

What are the free things to do in Ljubljana?

If you’re travelling on a budget, then it’s still worth going into the city. You really don’t have to spend much money – other than the transport costs to get there.

You can walk around and see the wonderful, coloured buildings in the old town for free, stroll around Tivoli Park, and wander along the river and around the Central Market.

In addition, you can also walk up Castle Hill and skip the funicular. Even if you don’t go into the castle and the museums there, you’ll still be able to go into the courtyard and see the views from the top of the hill.

And if you want to see some art, look at the pictures lining the boulevard in Tivoli Park.

What can you do in Ljubljana on a rainy day?

There’s plenty to do in Ljubljana if the weather is not kind to you (as I found out on the afternoon of my second trip!). Although you may need an umbrella to walk between the different sights, these don’t tend to be far apart, so it’s not too bad.

Alternatively, you could sightsee using the Urban Train.

You can then take advantage of all the museums in the city, wander through the covered part of the market, and take in the views from the inside of Nebotičnik Skyscraper through the plate glass windows here.

You’ll also still be able to take a boat ride on the river. The boat is covered, and is heated in winter.

Other ideas for short breaks in Europe or day trips

If you’re looking for inspiration for other short trips or days out in Europe, check out some of my other recent posts on trips I have taken.

These include the top things to do on one day in Bratislava (a perfect place to visit on a day trip from Vienna in Austria), and on one day in Frankfurt in Germany (which you may be visiting as part of a layover on the way to other places or as a base from which to day trip to nearby places such as Heidelberg).

I also have several posts on short trips in Italy, such as two days in Bologna, two days in Venice and two days in Milan.

For Swiss trips, you can choose between itineraries for trips to Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Schaffhausen and Neuchatel.

For French trips and the French Riviera, I’ve covered Bordeaux, Lyon, Monaco, Montpellier, and the Loire Valley.

And for Belgium trips, I have posts on places that include Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and Cologne.

Written by Emma Marshall

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