Discover Ljubljana in 3 Nights: The Best Ljubljana Travel Itinerary

Helpful Information about Ljubljana

Getting from the airport

Pre-book your ride with Welcome Airport Pickups for a smooth transfer to the city centre.

Where to stay in Ljubljana

I chose to stay at The Sion Hotel on the modern side of Ljubljana, just a stone's throw from its medieval centre. It offered comfortable rooms, a good breakfast buffet and a charming bar to enjoy a drink after sightseeing in Ljubljana.

Check out availability and pricing for a wide selection of hotels in Ljubljana.

Best time to visit Ljubljana

Winter is cold, and snow falls in March, so the best time to visit Ljubljana is mid-spring or autumn. Summer is full of festivals and events, so it is busy with locals and tourists. It can also get quite warm, so it is not ideal for walking around all day.

I visited in September, and the weather was a mixture of scattered showers and sunshine - very much like the UK's temperamental weather!

Day One

Walk around the historic city centre

Ljubljana is a walkable city, and its delightful architecture is a large part of its charm. It combines Art Nouveau and Baroque buildings designed by one man, architect Jože Plečnik.

He is one of the world's most important pioneers of modern architecture and has also shaped the cities of Prague and Vienna. In Ljubljana, UNESCO has recognised its legacy, and parts of the town have been placed on the World Heritage List.

His design influence on Ljubljana's bridges, buildings and facades is unmissable, making the city one of the most beautiful in Eastern Europe.

Crossing Preseren Square, named after the 19th-century Slovene poet, we saw the pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. It is one of the most photographed buildings in Ljubljana.

We continued to the Triple Bridge (three bridges that meet at one point), which led us into the old part of the city.

Eat Authentic Slovenian Food

Our city break in Ljubljana started on a Friday, which allowed us to check out the Friday Open Kitchen Food Market at Pogačarjev Trg Square. Here, you can experience the delights of freshly cooked traditional food from Slovenian chefs, all served from stalls.

The market is a great way to experience local fare. It is open on Fridays from March to October, from 10 am to 10 pm (or until the stalls sell out!).

Choose your dish, grab some cutlery, sit on the steps, and tuck into authentic food. I tried the Prekmurska Gibanica, a pastry similar to strudel, which was delicious.

We enjoyed the Friday market and tried a few local dishes. Afterwards, we headed to one of the riverside bars for a coffee.

Hike up to Ljubljana Castle

The city's main attraction is the 13th-century Ljubljana Castle, which stands high above the town. The castle can be reached on foot or by the funicular railway for the less energetic.

We chose to take the scenic hike up to the top, which was quite challenging. We kept hoping a friendly passerby would offer us a piggyback ride to the top, but we had no such luck.

The view over the orange and red-roofed houses from the tower was worth our effort, and as we watched other visitors exit the funicular, we felt a real sense of resentment - sorry, I mean achievement!

Ljubljana Castle houses an exhibition on Slovenian history, a puppet museum and several medieval rooms that you can view.

Still, our favourite was the restaurant, where we sipped a chilled white wine before our slightly easier descent back down the hill.

You can book online if you would prefer to join a guided tour of Ljubljana Castle, including the funicular ride.

Old Town Ljubljana

Back on terra firma, we checked out the Old Town. We followed the lattice of cobbled streets that took us to the famous Dragon Bridge.

You may be wondering about Ljubljana's connection to dragons. They are the city's mythical protectors, sitting on each side of the Dragon Bridge. You will see them displayed on Ljubljana's coat of arms, symbolising power, courage, and wisdom.

The bridge is a tourist hotspot, and you can't leave Ljubljana without taking at least one photograph of the dragons.

Legend has it that Jason the Greek (of the golden fleece fame) founded Ljubljana after fighting and conquering a dragon that lived in a nearby Slovenian lake.

Afterwards, the dragon became the city's emblem. Whatever the true story, the dragons are a crowd-pleaser.

The old town also has plenty of cultural monuments to visit. On a Ljubljana walking tour, you will hear about the history and traditions of many of them.

Another way to see the beautiful buildings along the Ljubljanica river embankment is to take a 45-minute cruise on the city's tourist boat. You can buy tickets at the Ljubljana tourist office.

Discover Strange Local Delights

As we wandered along the streets, we realised that Ljubljana is a must-visit place in Slovenia.

We saw things that fascinated us, things we had never encountered before and things that were just downright bizarre, including a machine that dispensed milk into bottles and a sign for human fish beer.

Travel gives you new encounters, and that was definitely the case here.

There was also a stall selling candles in jars to buy and take into Ljubljana Cathedral. As someone who always lights a candle to remember loved ones who have passed, I found this a beautiful idea.

Day Two

Exploring Lake Bled, Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves

As Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most beautiful landmarks, an organised Lake Bled tour, a visit to Predjama Castle, and a Postojna Cave Tour from Ljubljana is a must.

Ljubljana is so close to these tourist spots that you just can't come here and miss them. Lake Bled rekindles childhood fairytales with its hilltop castle and medieval church in the middle of a glistening glacial lake.

It is in a romantic, surreal location and certainly highlights Slovenia's beauty.

Read more about A day trip to Lake Bled, Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves.

Predjama Castle is another fascinating place to visit. It has a secret to tell; the story will unfold once you are within its walls. Constructed into the side of a mountain and fortified to keep invaders at bay, this castle oozes with history and is worth exploring.

You can travel independently by bus from Ljubljana to Bled if you only want to see the lake. A guided tour from Ljubljana is easier if you want to combine a visit to Lake Bled with Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves.

When you have finished at Predjama Castle, you will be taken to Postojna Caves, where you will hop aboard a small train to go underground. Here you will see stalactites, stalagmites and the "white dragons" that live in these caves. If you wonder what they are, I won't spoil the surprise; you'll have to see for yourself!

Day Three

Visit the Sunday Morning  Flea Market

Held every Sunday morning along the riverside near Cobbler's Bridge, a flea market comes to town selling antique goods and bric-a-brac from furniture to WW2 artefacts.

This isn't something I typically enjoy, but since we were miles from home, I was curious what was for sale.

We wandered along the riverbank, mesmerised by what was on display.

So much was WW2 memorabilia, including decommissioned military guns, bullets, Gestapo lapel badges, and the like. It gave us insight into life in this part of the world in the past.

We both preferred the calming vibe of the vintage jewellery, clothing and instrument stalls, but found it a quirky place to visit on a Sunday morning.

We also noticed how much modern art was scattered around the city, a real contrast to the old Bohemian structures that give the old town its identity.

Stop for a cocktail in a museum

Ljubljana has many museums, including the National Museum of Slovenia and the Museum of Modern Art.

On our way to Metelkova, we stopped at Cafe Moderna at the Museum of Modern Art and enjoyed a few drinks in their garden area. It's a popular spot for tourists and students.

Stay overnight in a Prison (or visit for the day)

As someone who gravitates towards graveyards, epitaphs, bone churches, weird art and anything out of the normal, I had to check out this once-political prison!

Celica Hostel is in Ljubljana's rather run-down, bohemian Metelkova Mesto area. This former artist squatter's colony is now a cultural and social centre that spotlights street art, music, and creativity.

Metelkova reminded me of Christiania in Copenhagen, an autonomous, alternative community I had visited a few years earlier.

Celica had previously held political prisoners but has been re-established as an art hostel. Guests can now spend the night in a cell.

It's not as bad as it sounds. The building is full of art and has a great vibe, and I found the place's quirkiness quite endearing.

You can visit the former prison whether or not you plan to stay the night. An exhibition explains the 100 years prisoners were locked up here.

If you are fearless, you can go into the solitary confinement cell to experience it firsthand. We went in and found it extraordinarily eerie and thought-provoking.

It reminded me of a similar experience I had at the Port Arthur Historical penal settlement in Tasmania, Australia. Being shut in a dark cell is quite frightening for the faint-hearted.

Tivoli Park

Tivoli Park is not to be confused with the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, which is Ljubljana's city park. It is just on the outskirts of town and is a nice place for a stroll.

Before heading home after three nights in Ljubljana, try visiting the charming Tivoli Park and watching families and couples enjoy this beautiful green space in their free time.