Special Day Trip in Ljubljana

Start your day with one of the most popular Ljubljana activities: coffee in a cafe. The Ljubljana cafe culture provides a fascinating introduction to the city. If the weather is nice, sit outside and watch the city wake up. The people watching is phenomenal. Locals can linger over a cup of coffee (or beer…anything goes!) for hours – but if you are trying see Ljubljana in a day, you will need to fuel up and get moving!

Most Ljubljana attractions are located in the city center – making it easy to see the top Ljubljana sights on foot. Hike up to the hilltop castle, cross Triple Bridge into Preseren Square and photograph Dragon Bridge – these are all essential items for your checklist of things to see in Ljubljana. However, there is more to discover in Ljubljana than just the iconic Ljubljana sights – so you will want to plan your route of where to go in Ljubljana in advance of your trip. We’ve made it easy with our list of 17 Ljubljana Sights – all labeled on a helpful map!

The motto at Ljubljananjam is ‘Eat like a local, with a local,’ and that’s exactly how Iva runs her culinary tours. The small tours – max 6 people – are personalized and guided by a local (usually Iva!) to the best eateries in town. This food tour is a must-do in Ljubljana!

On our tour, we requested local cuisine and craft beer and we got it! We were led through the city to the hottest spots and hidden gems as we sampled locally sourced products, feasted on traditional cuisine and sipped on the newest additions to Slovenia’s craft beer scene. The highlights for us: soup made from locally-grown vegetables, perfectly prepared rumsteak and an Istrian dish of prosciutto served in teran wine sauce with polenta (and these were just the highlights!). Tell Iva what you like – whether it is local food, hidden gems, wine, craft beer…or all of the above! – and she’ll create a tour designed to suit you.

There is no better place to go after a big Slovenian lunch than one of the Ljubljana parks. And, it just so happens that spending time in the city parks is one of the top Ljubljana, Slovenia things to do! Whether you hit the trails in Tivoli City Park (where you will find the Tivoli Castle, another one of the Ljubljana points of interest) or climb to the top of Roznik Hill or slowly stroll through the Botanical Gardens, the parks are a wonderful place to spend a few hours of your Ljubljana one-day trip.

With a day in Ljubljana, anyone can walk on the streets of Ljubljana and seek out graffiti, but on the Ljubljana Graffiti Tour, the fascinating street art scene is introduced to groups by a local guide. Our tour was led by Dasa (pronounced Dasha) and it was like walking through an outdoor art museum. Not only does she explain the history of the art form, but she also tells tales of the artists – or writers – behind the work. Taking the Graffiti Tour is one of the cool things to do in Ljubljana. The tour starts in the historic city center and wanders through some of Ljubljana’s most colorful streets (literally) and ends in the edgy and artsy Metelkova district – one of the more alternative places to see in Ljubljana.

With the popularity of craft beer around the world, some may not think sipping a Slovenian craft beer is an essential Ljubljana experience, but the craft brew in the city is some of our favorite from around the world – and we think it’s one of the Ljubljana top things to do. New breweries, like Tektonik, are opening in the heart of the city (not open yet to visitors, but sold around town and mighty tasty!) and more bars and cafes are offering local suds. A handful of outdoor cafes along the river serve Slovenian craft beer, but Sir William’s Pub has the widest selection in stock. For a completely unique Ljubljana experience, stop by one of local beer shops, like Za Popent Pivoteka , let the staff help select a few local beers and choose a spot along the river to taste test.

End your Ljubljana one-day tour with a stroll around the city after dark. Ljubljana is a walkable city that glows under the street lights. Ramble through the city and you are sure to find unique happenings or events during your visit. We’ve been pleasantly surprised to find pop-up food markets in Preseren Square – and on summer Fridays, Open Kitchen (Odprta Kuhna) is a gathering spot for locals and tourists to sample fare from a variety of restaurants. Street performers will certainly be around (we’ve seen everything from a single man playing the accordion to a heavy metal band rocking out), but we’ve also found organized music events – like swing dancers taking over the street in front of the Grand Hotel Union. Wander around and see what unique Ljubljana things you discover!