Things to do in Ljubljana

Ljubljana’s old town is an impressive mix of ancient history and contemporary thrills. Under the watchful eye of the Ljubljana Castle and flanked by the banks of the Ljublanica River, the old town features a fabulous open market, endless shops and countless photo ops. You could spend a day in this compact but action-packed neighborhood. The street-café culture gives way to a sparkling nightlife after dark.

Perched on a hill overlooking the entire town, you’d be hard-pressed to miss the spectacular Ljubljana Castle. The new funicular train makes the climb to its gates significantly easier than before, and wandering around the centuries-old castle is free. It’s worth it to pay the small admission fee, however, to gain access to the observation tower, where generations of royalty got the best view of their subjects.

Throughout Ljubljana, landmarks, bridges and squares have their own story to tell. The popular Prešeren Square (Prešernov trg) was built in honor of Slovenia’s most famous poet. The ornate Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Mosti) marks the spot where Jason and the Argonauts slayed the fabled dragon. The popular Triple Bridge leads visitors to Robba Fountain (Robbov vodnjak) – a symbol of the three rivers that feed Carniola, a region of Slovenia.

Ljubljana’s gorgeous Tivoli Park is an expansive stretch of well-kept nature, where locals love to stretch out and relax in the sun. The park also houses the fantastic International Centre of Graphic Arts, and further up, the Museum of Modern History. Families and kids will want to travel even further into the park, to enjoy the Ljubljana Zoo at the far end. Tourism sites suggest bringing nuts to feed the plentiful squirrels.