Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ljubljanadeservesatleastafullday.Ratherthancheckingoffalistofmuseums,spendmost
of your time strolling the pleasant town center, exploring the many interesting squares and
architecturalgems,shoppingattheboutiques,andsippingcoffeeatsidewalkcafésalongthe
river.
Here's the best plan for a low-impact sightseeing day: Begin on Prešeren Square, the
heart of the city. Cross the Triple Bridge and wander through the riverside produce market
before joining the town walking tour at 10:00 (at 11:00 in Oct-March). If the Jože Ple
č
nik
Houseisopen(likelyclosedthroughspringof2015—confirmfirst),wandersouthalongthe
LjubljanicaRiverandthroughtheKrakovogardenstotourit.Intheafternoon,commitsome
qualitytimetopeople-watchingatariversidecafé,window-shopatsomecolorfulboutiques
(perhaps following my self-guided shopping walk in the Old Town), or do more sightsee-
ing (good options include the City History Museum, near several Jože Ple
č
nik landmarks
downtown; the Serbian Orthodox Church and Tivoli Park, with the Contemporary History
Museum, west of downtown; or the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum and other sights in
Metelkova, north of downtown).
Plenty of good day trips are a short distance from Ljubljana. With a second day, visit
LakeBled(seenextchapter),orheadforoneofthetwoimpressivecaves(ŠkocjanorPosto-
jna) and nearby sights in the Karst region south of the city (see the Karst chapter).
Ljubljana is sleepy on Sundays (virtually all shops are closed and the produce market is
quiet, but museums—except for the Jože Ple
č
nik House—are generally open, a modest flea
market stretches along the riverfront, and the TI's walking tour still runs). The city is also
relatively quiet in August, when the students are on break and many locals head to beach
resorts. They say that in August, even homeless people go to the coast.
Ljubljana—with narrow lanes, architecture that mingles the Old World and contemporary
Europe,andcobblesuponcobblesofwonderfuldistractions—canbedisorientingforafirst-
timer. But the charming central zone is compact, and with a little wandering, you'll quickly
get the hang of it.
The Ljubljanica River—lined with cafés, restaurants, and a buzzing outdoor mar-
ket—bisects the city, making a 90-degree turn around the base of a castle-topped mountain.
Most sights are either along or just a short walk from the river. Visitors enjoy the distinctive
bridges that span the Ljubljanica, including the landmark Triple Bridge (Tromostovje) and
pillaredCobblers'Bridge(
Č
evljarskiMost)—bothdesignedbyJožePle
č
nik.Betweenthese
twoisaveryplainwoodenbridge(withgreatviews)dubbedthe“UglyDuckling.”Thecen-
