This was my second visit to this beautiful country and I was very excited to see it again and see how it compared to my trip 12 years ago. I planned three full days to explore Ljubljana, visit Lake Bled (again), as well as Postjna Caves and Predjama Castle (new for me!). Three days was the perfect amount of time to take this all in.
Arriving into the old town of Ljubljana, all my memories from my previous trip came flooding back. The beautiful Ljubljanica river, with the colorful buildings and cafes that line it; the dominating castle on the hill above, and the famous Triple Bridge with the bright pink Franciscan Church in the background in Preseren Square. The weather was great, I had my walking shoes on and this small capital city was ready to be explored.
Dragon Bridge
Dragon Bridge is a must-see landmark. It was built in 1901, and while it was considered beautiful and stylish, it was also quite modern at the time, being one of the very first reinforced concrete bridges in all of Europe. On each corner of the bridge, guarding the city, are the dragon statues giving the bridge its name. One of my favorite photo spots in the city is here at the corner of the bridge with the Dragon in the corner and the castle on the hill in the background.
Why So Many Dragons?
Why Dragons? Dragons are the symbol of Ljubljana and even feature on the city’s coat of arms. The legend behind the adoption of this symbol is that the Greek hero Jason, of Jason and the Argonauts, once passed through this area and defeated a dragon in the nearby marshes. And just like that, the dragon became part of the city’s identity!
Keep an eye out for dragons everywhere in the city – sculptures, artwork, shops and of course bridges 🙂
Fun “Fact”: There’s a local myth that the dragons wag their tails when a virgin crosses the bridge (no one’s officially confirmed it 😄)
Metelkova Mesto
Metelkova Mesto is quite reminiscent of Christiana in Copenhagen. The area is a former military barracks turned art scene and nightlife district. It’s a self-managed cultural centre run by artists and collectives, full of street art, sculptures, and installations that cover every surface. Compared to my visit here back in 2014, this area seems a bit more dilapidated and run down now. Some of the sculptures that I was fascinated by then were broken and had seen better days. The area was undergoing some renovation, so perhaps it will see a bit of a revival in the near future. It’s still a fascinating place to visit though.
Ljubljana Cathedral
Also known as the Cathedral of St Nicholas, Ljubljana Cathedral sits in the Old Town just off the central market area. Dating back to the early 18th century, this Baroque cathedral seems quite understated from the outside, apart from its striking bronze doors. Once inside though it’s much more impressive, with richly decorated interiors and beautiful painted ceiling frescoes.
Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square
As its name implies, Triple Bridge is a group of three bridges spanning the Ljubljanica River. It was originally a single bridge but was redesigned in the 20th century to improve pedestrian access between the Old Town and the New Town. The bridge, along with the beautiful pink Franciscan Church dominating Prešeren Square, is one of the most photographed spots in the city. The square was named Slovenia’s national poet Frank Prešeren and it’s a bit of a lively cultural hub with street musician and performers.
Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle sits on a hill right above the city and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Ljubljana. You can see it from almost everywhere in the center, which makes it a useful point of reference. The castle dates back to medieval times, although much of what is seen today comes from later rebuilds and renovations. You can reach the castle either by a steep hike or taking a funicular.
If you do want to take the funicular and visit the castle, be sure to buy the castle ticket, as it includes both. Purchasing online also saves you a bit. Tickets – Ljubljana Castle. The ticket gets you entrance into the viewing tower, permanent and temporary exhibition halls, museum of puppetry and the 4d film of the castle.
I thought the view from the top of the viewing tower made the ticket worth it but will say the other parts of the castle were a bit of a letdown. It is important to know that you can also visit the majority of castle grounds without a ticket.
Bars and restaurants
Lbjubljana has loads of great resturants and bars to choose from. Grabbing a drink by the river is definitely a must though. Here are some of the places I recommend.
Cacao Cafe – great coffee shop in the city centre only steps away from Triple Bridge.
RawPasta – gotta love a place that focuses on what they specialize in. The pasta here was fresh and so tasty! The portions are actually more filling than they look, so don’t be fooled.
Top Pizza – small pizza place just outside the city centre on Igriška ulica, just 5 mins from Triple Bridge. The pizza was incredible and very good value for money!
Patrón Tacos & Bar – sits just below Ljubljana Castle hill in a small square called Gornji trg. The best cauliflower tacos I’ve ever had!
Nebotičnik – Skyscraper – here is the most famous roof top bar found in a 1930s high-rise building. The rooftop café/bar has some great panoramic views over the whole city and castle hill.
Wine bar Most – great spot next to the river with a wonderful selection of Slovenian wine. I’ve heard food is great too.
PROJEKT Beershop & Bar — excellent craft beer bar/shop with a strong Slovenian selection. Staff were really friendly in helping us choose the perfect beer!
Wrap up
Ljubljana is a small city and you easily explore all the above in a day or two. If you have longer, I’d recommend taking day trips to Lake Bled and Postjna Caves. We managed it all in 3 days and it still felt very relaxed. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a beautiful weekend getaway!
