Why Ljubljana in Slovenia should be your next city break
The history about Ljubljana
Ljubljana’s roots run deep - back to around 2000 BC, when early settlers built wooden homes above the marshes. Then came the Romans, who set up shop with Emona in 14 AD, a well-placed post between sea and river trade routes. It held strong until the Huns came knocking. Later, Slavic settlers moved in, and by 1144, the name "Laibach" popped up in the records. By 1220, Ljubljana had earned its city rights—officially on the map, so to speak.
From medieval markets to Napoleon’s brief visit (he liked it so much, he made it the capital of the Illyrian Provinces), the city has seen its share of drama. A major quake hit in 1511, reshaping more than just rooftops. Fast-forward to the 20th century - Ljubljana became the capital of Slovenia under Yugoslavia. Then came 1991, independence, and with it, a new chapter. Today, it’s a capital with history in its walls and a dragon on its flag. Not bad for a city that started in the swamp.
Why should i visit Ljubljana ?
Ljubljana in central Slovenia isn’t loud, it's a green capital. It’s not built to overwhelm. But somehow, it gets under your skin in the quietest way. You arrive, drop your bag, and suddenly everything feels like it's already working - no plan needed. There’s a castle watching over you, a river curving through the center, bridges that connect more than just streets. You wander. You sip. You look around and think: this is how a city should breathe.
The Old Town pulls you in without trying. Markets hum, cafés spill into alleys, and yes, there’s a dragon. Art shows up on the walls, music in unexpected corners. History’s everywhere but never in your face - Roman roots, medieval turns, post-war shifts, and now a place that knows how to slow down without standing still. You get space, not noise. Meaning, not must-sees. Ljubljana, Slovenia gives you the kind of travel that doesn’t need a checklist to feel complete.
European Best Destination in 2022
And in 2022? It got noticed. Voted European Best Destination by travelers from across the continent. More than 420 million people heard the news. Not because Ljubljana campaigned hard - but because it delivers without the show. Sustainable, smart, and genuinely welcoming. No fluff. Just a capital city doing things its own way - and apparently, Europe liked that. You probably will too.
3 must-visit attractions in Ljubljana
The city of Ljubljana doesn’t shout. It just waits. Small on the map, big in the feeling - you arrive, drop your bag, and realize you’re already in the center. So if you’ve only got one or two days in Slovenia’s capital and need to make it count, here’s your three-stop plan. Castle, bridges, and... something a bit unexpected.
Ljubljana Castle – start at the top
It’s right there. Watching you. Might as well go up. You can walk (if your legs are stubborn) or take the funicular (if your time is smarter). Once you’re up, everything clicks into place. You see how the Ljubljanica snakes through town, how the rooftops layer out like a board game. The walls whisper old stuff - battles, bans, and whatever happened before coffee was a thing. You don’t need to know every detail. Just stand there for a minute. Let it settle.
Triple Bridge & Old Town
Back down, across three bridges stacked like someone didn’t want to choose. Jože Plečnik made this happen. Still works. Cross them slow. The Old Town wraps around you - cobbles, chatter, the sound of spoons in cups. You’re not sightseeing here. You’re moving through something that’s been walked for centuries. You might grab a snack. You might just sit on a bench and listen to a violinist who knows only four songs but plays them like it’s all he’s got.
Metelkova Mesto - alternative cultural hub
The castle showed you (Slovenian) history. This? This shows you what happens after curfew. Metelkova Mesto is a former military barracks, now covered in street art and welded dreams. Some call it an art commune. Others, a controlled chaos. Either way, it’s where Ljubljana spills its thoughts - loudly, visually, unapologetically. It’s a place you walk through slowly, phone in hand, trying to capture whatever this is. You won’t. But it’s worth trying.
Three places. One city. A short stay in Ljubljana, Slovenia doesn’t have to feel short. Just walk the hill, cross the Ljubljanica river, enjoy a coffee in the city center. And if it rains? Even better. Makes the cobblestones shine.
Best places to stay at Ljubljana
Finding a place to stay in Ljubljana, Slovenia isn’t a problem. Choosing the just hotel? That’s where it gets tricky. The city’s compact, the options wide, and most places drop you right in the centre of the city, where old stories, modern sleep, and morning coffee all happen within 200 meters of each other.
You could go with Grand Hotel Union, a stone’s throw from Dragon Bridge and a fine nod to Art Nouveau charm. It’s been part of the city’s rich history for over a century, hosting everyone from diplomats to dreamers. Down by the river, places like City hotel Ljubljana and Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Ljubljana give you easy access to everything - bridges, markets, and that first espresso. And if you're into straight lines and skyline views, InterContinental Ljubljana does tall and modern without losing touch.
Want something with a twist? Hostel Celica was once a prison. Now it's an artsy sleepover, each room redesigned with its own soul. And somewhere between all of them, you’ll notice touches by architect Jože Plečnik - his fingerprints are all over the city, from promenades to columns. So wherever you stay, you’re not just booking a bed - you’re bunking inside a living museum with Wi-Fi.
Maybe you stay somewhere else at a boutique hotel in Slovenia?
Bonus: visit Tivoli Park
Tivoli Park isn’t just where Ljubljana, Slovenia breathes - it’s where it stretches its legs. Five square kilometers of green, right in the middle of the country’s largest city. Locals walk their routines here, tourists stumble into peace and don’t complain. You’re never far from Castle Hill, but somehow it feels like a world apart. Paths twist, trees lean in, and if you listen closely, you’ll hear echoes from the deeper history of Ljubljana - somewhere between the gravel and the bird calls.
Keep walking and things start to shift. There’s Tivoli Mansion, now filled with graphic arts. Then Cekin Mansion, holding pieces of the past inside the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia. These aren’t showy stops, but they stick with you. Around the pond, people sit like they’ve got nowhere better to be. And maybe they don’t. That’s part of the magic of Ljubljana tourism - slow, real, nothing screaming for your attention.
The Jakopič Promenade slices right through, lined with massive photo exhibits. It ends, if you follow it far enough, back near the edge of the old town - close to where the Dragon Bridge watches over the river, and not too far from the Town Square, where everything loops back into city life. But Tivoli holds its ground. It’s not just a park. It’s the soft middle of Ljubljana, where the rhythm slows just enough for you to feel it.
Mr Dominique
Dominique enjoys travelling around the world.
