Ljubljana simply is likely to be certainly one of Europe’s coolest cities. These six suggestions will information you to the perfect issues to see and do within the Slovenia capital.
After I advised a number of of my Berliner pals that I used to be visiting Ljubljana, I received a combined response. Some thought it fascinating; others had been curious how or why I’d’ve determined to journey there. However these pals who had visited Ljubljana earlier than — they knew what was up. They usually had nothing however pleasure for my journey.
You see, it appears Ljubljana is a type of hidden secrets and techniques of Europe. It’s a type of cities most individuals in all probability miss out on throughout a Eurotrip and, actually, it’s a type of cities the place you usually right here, “What nation is that in, once more?” Properly, Ljubljana is in Slovenia and after spending 4 nights there, I’ve received nothing however reward for this little capital.
Slovenia is among the world’s latest international locations, solely gaining independence in 1991. However Ljubljana’s historical past goes a lot additional. With its location on the sting of Italy, and nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps – town has lengthy been conveniently positioned for a lot of of Europe’s most infamous conquerers. Napoleon’s armies marched by means of right here and the Romans used Ljubljana’s strategic location as a stronghold, calling town Emona (this 12 months marked with a 2000 12 months anniversary)! Ljubljana has historical past.
However Ljbuljana is a lot greater than its historical past. As a comparatively new nation, and a brand new capital, town (very similar to Berlin) has needed to reinvent itself. Due to a improvement scheme which noticed town’s river, Ljubljanica, come to life with new eating places, bars and markets — Ljubljana’s downtown has come to life with an environment stuffed with languorous (however not lazy) life. Ljubljana has power.
Why do I examine Ljubljana to Berlin? Most cities are arduous to match to 1 one other, however everyone knows Berlin has its personal particular sense of favor and ambiance — one very distinctive to Europe (and possibly the world). However my prolonged weekend in Ljubljana solely taught me that there’s fairly a little bit of cool in different cities as nicely. And in Ljubljana, there’s an entire lot of it.
The Coolest Issues To Do in Ljubljana
Go to Metelkova – Former squat, now nightlife haven
Undoubtedly the good a part of Ljubljana is the realm known as Metelkova Metropolis. A former army barracks, it’s now an autonomous area of Ljubljana. The Yugoslavia military as soon as had its base there, together with a jail, however quickly after Slovenia gained its independence, the realm was squatted by artists. The world is now dwelling to town’s finest boutique hostel and numerous bars & golf equipment. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover some actually distinctive public artwork and graffiti.
Go to Metelkova by day to take a look at the road artwork, or on Friday nights for the perfect nightlife on the town.
- Hostel Celica: One of the crucial distinctive “jail” hostels I’ve ever seen. In addition to every room having been designed by native and worldwide artists, there are a number of eating places and cafes on the bottom flooring and a museum within the basement. Cease by every afternoon at 3pm for a free tour and historical past lesson concerning the hostel and the Metelkova district.
- Tiffany Membership: It’s Ljubljana’s hottest homosexual membership however on Fridays it’s additionally simply certainly one of Ljubljana’s hottest golf equipment – homosexual or straight. Extra data and opening hours on the membership’s Fb web page and web site.
Drink craft beer on the good tour on the town
I’d by no means taken a beer tour earlier than being on Iva’s “Craft Beer Tour” by means of Ljubljana so I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. I’ve taken brewery excursions, however a tour nearly beer? By no means earlier than. It was an off-the-cuff strolling tour and we visited 4 totally different bars to pattern beer and a few tapas in every. We realized a tiny bit about every of the breweries however what I loved most was the corporate. This didn’t really feel like a tour however extra like a day of hanging round with pals. Plus apart from discovering not less than two beers that I actually fell for, three of the 4 bars had been locations I undoubtedly was desperate to return to–whether or not for his or her meals, beer or ambiance! It was the proper introduction to town and that particular “Ljubljana ambiance.”
- Ljubljananjam: This small, native tour operator is your go-to useful resource for any meals & drink excursions by means of Ljubljana. In addition to the craft beer stroll (the place you pattern native Slovenian beers), there are additionally particular walks only for desserts and different native Ljubljana meals! Extra data on the Ljubljananjam web site (bonus factors for those who can work out how one can pronounce that!).
Greatest method to get round? On a motorbike!
Ljubljana isn’t an enormous metropolis and in reality I spent most of my weekend there strolling between locations. However subsequent time (and there *will* be a subsequent time!) I’ll undoubtedly hire a motorbike. The town has loads of bike lanes and the roads appeared comparatively protected. Plus like many different cities world wide, Ljubljana has its personal official bike share program. The primary hour of the bike rental is free and you may register for every week to have the ability to use the bikes at your leisure for simply 1€/week! Extra data at bicikelj.si.
Eat. Each. Native. Meals. You. Discover.
As I discussed earlier, I’d heard good issues about Ljubljana earlier than visiting, however one thing that everybody by some means missed out on telling me was how good the meals was. My go to to Ljubljana was timed with the launch of Style Ljubljana—an initiative by the official tourism group to advertise native culinary meals and recipes. So throughout my lengthy weekend in Ljubljana I had the possibility to pattern a number of the finest native delicacies – from cottage cheese pancakes (yumm!) to fried rooster and beef tongue… nearly every little thing I put in my mouth whereas in Ljubljana left me hungry for extra!
There are additionally numerous high quality eating places in Ljubljana. It appears the locals know how one can reside the great life and are after contemporary elements and high quality meals of their meals. My prime three meals had been on the JB Restaurant, Restaurant As and Gostlina Na Gradu. Look out for extra about them afterward on this weblog.
- Open Kitchen: This weekly meals market is the place to be each Friday. Over 50 totally different cooks take part on a weekly foundation and also you’ll discover each native and worldwide delicacies on the market. I used to be advised to look out for the fried rooster (a Ljubljana meals speciality) and it was scrumptious! The Open Kitchen (Odprta Kuhna) market is in its second 12 months and doesn’t look like it’ll cease anytime quickly. Be sure to go to! Extra data on their web site odprtakuhna.si.
- Culinary Slovenia cooking class: If one of many metropolis’s many meals tour choices aren’t your factor, attempt a cooking class as a substitute. Whereas I didn’t take a cooking class myself, you may see extra about it on the Savoir There weblog. Test occasions and details about cooking courses on the Culinary Slovenia web site.
Spend your time hanging out by the river
Most cities with rivers working by means of them are inclined to focus quite a bit on the riverside. And Ljubljana is not any totally different. Due to some political foresight, the realm across the Ljubljanica River has been developed over the previous decade to change into the “it” place to be in Ljubljana. From markets to a number of the metropolis’s finest bars and eating places, everybody appears to spend their time alongside the river.
- Sunday Market: Each Sunday open from 8:00am to 14:00, there’s a flea market the place you’ll discover random knickknacks, classic postcards and different quirky memorabilia. Within the metropolis heart alongside the river.
- Boat rides: There are quite a lot of firms provide boat excursions down the Ljubljanica river, however you’ll wish to go together with the prettiest. The Laker Craft wood boat is probably the most picturesque boat and prices the identical as the opposite excursions. Extra data and images on their web site.
Go to Ljubljana’s artwork galleries
I like visiting artwork galleries in surprising locations. And I’m unsure why, however Ljubljana has greater than its fair proportion of artwork galleries, photograph exhibitions and museums for a metropolis of its measurement. With a Ljubljana vacationer card, a number of the museums and galleries provide free admission, however some are freed from their very own proper regardless. Listed here are my picks for the perfect museums/galleries:
- Jakopič Gallery: I noticed an unimaginable photograph exhibition from Josef Koudelka at this small gallery. Situated on an historical Roman web site, the small gallery was spectacular with its assortment and its area. Discover present details about their exhibitions on-line at mgml.si.
- Metropolis Museum (Mestna Galerija): Situated within the metropolis heart, this small museum & gallery often exhibits up to date artwork exhibitions. Throughout my go to, that they had an exhibition about Web artwork. Extra at mgml.si.
- Fashionable Galerija: A part of the Museum of Fashionable Artwork, the Fashionable Gallery has a everlasting assortment of Slovenian and worldwide up to date artwork, with common exhibitions of the identical. Extra on-line at mg-lj.si (and notice that the museum is free the primary Sunday of each month!).
- Artish Market: This month-to-month artwork market within the metropolis heart options native merchants and artisans promoting every little thing from jewellery to customized artwork. It takes place the final Saturday of each month. Test their web site & weblog for extra data.
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Getting There
Ljubljana is serviced by a world airport with flights to different European cities. Nevertheless, it’s typically extra handy and cheaper to fly into one of many neighboring international locations’ airports and take an airport switch to Ljubljana. From Berlin, I used to be capable of get an inexpensive sufficient flight on EasyJet direct to Venice, after which it was only a 2.5-3 hour switch by way of GoOpti. GoOpti provide airport switch routes between locations in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia.
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I visited Ljubljana with the journey weblog group The Journey Mob and with the help of Go to Ljubljana. Extra details about the #TasteLjubljana weblog journey could be discovered right here. Particular thanks additionally to the blokes from Luxurious Slovenia for lots of the suggestions right here.
