Ljubljana

Ljubljana Castle

The tower has magnificent views all over the city. You can also see the Sava River and Kamnik Alps in the distance. Included is a 3D Movie of the history of Ljubljana from a pre-historic settlement to Roman Empire to modern times (€6.50 for adults, €3 for students, seniors).

Jan-Apr,Oct-Dec 09:00-19:00; May-Sep 09:00-22:00 · Entrance to the Castle Courtyard, Chapel and Gift shop is free, but there is a charge for access to the tower · Limited wheelchair access

Metelkova

A self-declared autonomous culture place to gather for alternative artists, many subcultures and youth. What used to be a military barracks is now full of underground artists, bars and nightclubs. Metelkova can get crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. It is within 5 minute of walk from main Train Station, and it is home to a renowned hostel Celica.

Limited wheelchair access

Museum of Modern Art

MG+

For those who prefer contemporary art, MG+ houses the national collection of 20th-century Slovene art (paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photography, video and electronic media collections), a collection of works from the former Yugoslavia, and the Eastern European collection "Arteast 2000+.".

Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 · €5 adults, €2.50 students & 65+

National Museum of Slovenia - Prešernova

The oldest and the largest Slovene museum. It was founded in 1821. Existent museum building on the Museum street, was built in 1888 and was the first, building, assigned solely to culture in Slovenia. Today its stores a rich collections of valuable objects. The oldest spring back to the Stone Age, but there are also the newer ones, which are still used in our everyday life. Important columns of museum activity are also rich museum library and unit for preservation and restoring.

daily 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00, closed on public holidays. · Free admission each first Sunday of the month · Limited wheelchair access · Built 1880

Ljubljana Cathedral

ljubljanska stolnica

St. Nicholas's Church (cerkev sv. Nikolaja) was built between 1701 and 1706 on a site dating back to 1262. The fine interior includes fresco painted by Giulio Quaglio between 1703 and 1723.

Limited wheelchair access

National Gallery

Definitely worth visiting if you care about art. It exhibits two important permanent collections that include works of some of the best and most renowned Slovenian (impressionist) painters (Jama, Grohar, Jakopic, Azbe). You can also see there a restored original of the Robba Fountain, a monument of national cultural heritage.

Tue&Wed Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00 Thu 10:20:00 · Permanent Exhibitions Adults €8 Concessions €6. see website for others. · Wi-Fi

Dragon Bridge

Zmajski Most

Completed in 1901, designed by Croatian Jurij Zainovich. It is guarded by four detailed dragon statues from the city's coat-of-arms. Look out for the dragon motif throughout the city. Be careful around the Dragon Bridge area, as it is on a major busy road just outside the pedestrian zone and near misses (and worse) between inattentive tourists and traffic are common. The dragon bridge is located at the end of the Ljubljana Open Market, just a block or two down the river (north-east direction) from the Triple bridge.

Wheelchair accessible

Triple Bridge

Tromostovje

The central span is from 1842: it became a bottleneck so in the 1930s footbridges were added on each side, fanning out slightly. On the north bank these lead into Prešeren Square, adorned by the statue of the national poet France Prešeren (1800-1849). It's the obvious rendezvous point in town; the area is pedestrianised. The TIC is south end of the bridge.

Heritage listed · Wheelchair accessible

Railway Museum

Železniški Muzej

Covers all aspects of the railway, Great selection of steam locos.

Tue-Sun 10:00 14:00; Mon closed · Adults €8 Children, students, pensioners €4 group & family prices available · Wheelchair accessible

National Museum of Contemporary History

Muzej novejše in sodobne zgodovine

Slovenia's 20th-century history museum gives you a real sense of the country's roller-coaster ride through regime after regime. Its immersive exhibits include a walk-through World War I trench. The last exhibit shows the events around the Declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia and the Ten Day War with the Yugoslav Federal Army. All exhibits are translated to English and some to German too.

Adults €6, Children, Students 65+ €4 · Built 1755

Plečnik House

Plečnikova hiša

Devoted to great Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, who lived in this building from 1921 to 1957. The house contains rooms with the artist’s valuable original furniture and personal objects, an archive of his sketches and plans and a collection of clay, plaster and wooden models, a library, Plečnik’s correspondence, a photo archive, thesis projects of Plečnik’s students and an archive of the Academy of Architecture Collection. Access only by guided tour of not more than 7 people, booked at least five days in advance.

Tu-Su 10:00-18:00 · Adults €8, Concessions €6

Tomb of National Heroes

a tomb and a monument for the national heroes of the World War II resistance struggle in Slovenia, created in 1949.

City Museum of Ljubljana

Mestni muzej Ljubljana

City history and temporary exhibitions.

Tue–Sun 10.00–18.00 · Adults €6; +60 & other concessions €4

Museum of Contemporary Art

+MSUM

Opened in 2011 in the former military barracks complex this is complementary museum to the MG+. Opening hours and prices same as +MG. Adult combined tickets available.

Slovenian Museum of Natural History

Features an almost complete skeleton of a 20,000 year old mammoth found near Kamnik in 1938, a 200-million-year old fossil fish skeleton found in Triglav National Park, and a new, 13-m skeleton of a fin whale. Also has a large mineral collection.

Fri-Wed 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00

National Museum of Slovenia - Metelkova

In the new building of the National museum of Slovenia on the Metelkova Street, are exhibited collections of the applied art heritage of Slovenia. The permanent exhibition brings together objects of applied arts from the 14th century to the present day.

Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed on public holidays.

MGLC International Centre of Graphic Arts

Specialised in art shows, often in collaboration with international institutions. Normally on nearby sites but MGLC Tivoli Mansion is closed for renovation.

Open Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-18:00 · Adults €5, families €9, other discounts apply

University Botanic gardens Ljubljana

Ljubljana Botanic Garden is the oldest Slovene cultural, scientific and educational institution. It was founded in 1810, the time of the Illyrian Provinces, as a garden of native flora and a section of the Central School (École Centrale). In the garden is also tropical glasshouse.

Open daily, Apr–Jun 07–19, Jul–Aug 07–20, Sep–Oct 07–19, Nov–Mar 07–17. Tropical glasshouse has reduced hours: Daily 10:00–16:45 · Gardens are free, tropical glasshouse €2.80

Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica

The National and University Library (Slovene: Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, NUK), established in 1774, is one of the most important national educational and cultural institutions of Slovenia. It is located in the centre of Ljubljana, between Auersperg Street (Turjaška ulica), Gentry Street (Gosposka ulica), and Vega Street (Vegova ulica), in a building designed by the architect Jože Plečnik in the years 1930–31 and constructed between 1936 and 1941. The building is considered one of the greatest achievements by Plečnik.

Mo-Fr 08:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-14:00

Nebotičnik

A 13 storey high-rise.built in 1931, designed by Vladimir Šubic, with a cafe & bar on the top floor.

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church

Cerkev sv. Cirila in Metoda

An Orthodox Church has five domes with golden crosses at their top. It was built from 1932 to 1936, with interior frescos painted between 1986 and 1997.

Congress Square

Kongresni trg

One of the central squares, built in 1821. In 1988 the first free mass demonstration was held here, which was the start of the Slovenian spring, leading to the declaration of Slovenia's independence in 1991.

Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

Frančiškanska cerkev Marijinega oznanjenja

Built between 1646 and 1660, with a later front facade and bell tower.

Krakovo

A village-like part of the city connecting the centre to the Trnovo suburb.

Old Town

The old town has two squares, Mestni trg (City square) with the Robba fountain and the city hall behind it, and, further on, Gornji trg (Upper square). Well preserved medieval buildings now house local designer shops, and several popular cafes and restaurants. Although they may look creepy, the perfectly safe narrow lanes lead to charming little squares and buildings.

Republic Square

Where crowds gathered as Slovenia announced its independence from the Yugoslav Federation in 1991. The square has significant importance for Slovene history, as it was a place of important public gatherings (and demonstrations) in the past. Across the road is the Slovene Parliament. Its façade is decorated with artistic nude statues of Slovenes at work and leisure. The square also houses the International Business Centre.

Roman Ruins

A short walk west of the centre of town are the remains of the Roman City Walls, including a number of pillars from an entrance gate.

Prešernov trg

Prešeren Square (Slovene: Prešernov trg) is the central square in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is part of the old town's pedestrian zone and a major meeting point where festivals (like the annual Ljubljana Dragon Carnival), concerts, sports, political events, and protests take place. It was redesigned according to plans by Edvard Ravnikar from a funnel-shaped to a circular form in 1987–88 and renovated in 2007.

Wheelchair accessible

Ljubljana Mosque

An intricate set of buildings, the first mosque in the country.

For non-muslims - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu and Sat between 10 and 11 a.m., Exterior is free for all

Emona

Emona (early Medieval Greek: Ἤμονα) (or Aemona [short for Colonia Iulia Aemona]) was a Roman castrum, located in the area where the navigable Nauportus River came closest to Castle Hill, serving the trade between the city's settlers – colonists from the northern part of Roman Italy – and the rest of the empire. Emona was the region's easternmost city, although it was assumed formerly that it was part of the Pannonia or Illyricum, but archaeological findings from 2008 proved otherwise. The Visigoths camped by Emona in the winter of 408/9, the Huns attacked it during their campaign of 452, the Langobards passed through on their way to Italy in 568, and then came incursions by the Avars and…