Today I’m sharing the perfect 1 day Ljubljana itinerary.
Going into this trip, didn’t really know what to expect from Ljubljana. All we knew is that a handful of other travelers we met in Croatia INSISTED that we make time for it in our itinerary. There is nothing I trust more than a mid-trip recommendation from a seasoned traveler who’s just been somewhere they loved.
After we wrapped up our time in Croatia (see my blog posts about Korčula, Mali Ston, and Plitvice Lakes), we made our way up to Slovenia. The drive from Plitvice in Croatia to Lake Bled takes 3.5 hours, so we decided to break up the drive with a long afternoon in Ljubljana.
We were so pleasantly surprised and delighted by Ljubljana. The city was just as it was described to us: clean, charming, and a quintessential pastel Central European old town, rich in history and newly restored. If you’re considering a stop in Ljubljana on your central Europe itinerary, take this as your sign.
In today’s Ljubljana travel guide, I am going to share some general travel information abut planning a trip to Ljubljana. Then, I’ll walk through the perfect 1 day Ljubljana itinerary.
*Heading to Lake Bled, Slovenia too? Make sure to bookmark my guide here.
The Perfect 1 Day Ljubljana Itinerary
Ljubljana’s old town has undergone major restoration in recent years, giving the area a manicured feel that showcases its history but doesn’t feel, in my completely uneducated opinion, overly sterile.
We LOVED this area. There were so many cute shops and cafes to check out. Even through somewhat gloomy weather, this city managed to sparkle. One thing I really loved about Ljubljana is that most of the main sites are located in the old town area, so our visit felt very relaxed. As a capital city, Ljubljana is compact and quaint and very much “doable” in a day or two.
How to get to Ljubljana
If you’re flying, you’ll use the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU). If you’re traveling by train, Ljubljana is well-connected, and the train station is right in the city center.
Parking in Ljubljana
We traveled by car into Ljubljana. We parked at this parking lot which was right outside the old town area, making our afternoon pit spot so easy. The parking lot is underground but was very simple to get in and out of.
When is the best time to visit Ljubljana?
My answer to this depends on what kind of trip you are hoping to have. I personally think Ljubljana would be wonderful to visit under the caste of every season: pleasant in the summer, cozy in the fall, and festive during Christmas.
If, however, you want to combine your visit to Ljubljana with some outdoor Alpine adventuring, the weather will be the most pleasant in Slovenia from May to September. This is a great time to visit because all of the warm weather recreation activities will be open in the mountains.
*Take note to research your activities ahead of time, though. We visited Slovenia during the first week of June, and some of the recreation activities were still not open for the summer yet.
How many days to spend in Ljubljana?
I could have definitely spent a couple of days uncovering all that Ljubljana has to offer and felt like an afternoon was not nearly enough. I would sat, at a minimum, to reserve one full day to explore, but you could easily fill two very pleasant days exploring this city. It is, as I mentioned, a great stop to pair with a stay in Lake Bled.
And while we wanted a more serene stay and chose to use Lake Bled as our base in Slovenia, I could also easily see using Ljubljana as a base for exploring Slovenia. The city is perfectly positioned for day trips to the Postojna Caves, Triglov National Park, Lake Bohinj, and, of course, Lake Bled.
How to spend one day in Ljubljana:
Get coffee at Črno Zrno Specialty Coffee
First, coffee. Tyler’s number one priority is also coffee which, I suppose, is why our marriage has lasted this long. Črno Zrno Specialty Coffee was such a cute little spot, and the coffee was amazing.
Take a self-guided walking tour of Ljubljana’s old town
If you only have one day in Ljubljana, you’ll want to make sure to hit the “must see” sights in the historic old town area. Don’t miss the Ljubljana Cathedral, the Mestni trg (this historic plaza has been around since the 12th century!), and the open air Central Market.
Ride the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle
This funicular ride was a major hit with the girls. They got to learn how to say the word “funicular,” endured a physics lesson about counterweights from their dad, AND experienced a little thrill from the ride up the mountain. Then, we explored Ljubljana Castle on top of the hill. The views of the city from the top of the castle were well worth the ride up.
A round trip ride costs 6 euro per adult. It is free for children aged 7 and under (15 euro for a family ticket!).
Where to eat in Ljubljana: a traditional Slovenian lunch
We had lunch at Klobasarna, a small restaurant in old town that makes traditional Slovenian dishes. We ordered a couple of the sausage plates and, of course, one of the Štruklji rolled pastries. Everything was delicious and so satisfying on a cool, rainy day. The girls loved the sausage!
Ice cream in Ljubljana
A few different people told us not to sleep on the ice cream scene in Ljubljana. Who are we to not take a crucial piece of advice like that? There were so many shops to choose from, but we ended up getting scoops for the girls at Cacao Ljubljana. This was such a cute little shop right on the river.
Packing List:
More Guides From This Trip:
Our 3 week Europe trip Itinerary
Tips for visiting Paris with kids
Day trip to Mali Ston, Croatia
