I’ve been exploring Ljubljana on foot and by bike for fifteen years. I now know all the nooks and crannies of the Slovenian capital, and it’s on the basis of my explorations that I’m writing this article. Use it to discover the most unusual and interesting places in Ljubljana.
Discover a totally unusual Ljubljana!
The list in this article will help you organise a visit to Ljubljana that’s off the beaten track and far from the tourist circuits of the tour operators. In fact, you’ll even discover places that my Slovenian friends don’t know about.
Visit Ljubljana by canoe or SUP
The Ljubljanica runs through the old centre of Ljubljana. It passes under the famous three bridges of the central square (Place Preseren). Tourists don’t know it, but you can rent a canoe or a SUP(stand up paddle) I think this activity is simply brilliant.
A magical and unforgettable experience of Ljubljana on the water
As you paddle along, you’ll be able to enjoy completely new views of Ljubljana’s most beautiful buildings. Having done it several times already, it’s a memorable experience. I can tell you that from the banks, other tourists will look at you with great envy and wonder where you got your SUP or canoe. In short, paddling is an extraordinary way to visit Slovenia’s capital.
UPDATE: Since this article, several of you have asked me for a good address: you can contact Damjan, who was recommended to me by a Slovenian friend. He works during the day as an IT consultant and after work introduces people to his passion, SUP. I paid €35 for the lesson, the ride on the water and all the equipment and it was great! So I can highly recommend him.
Damjan – email: supklub@siol.net – tel: 386 40 855 396
Tasting the best coffee in Ljubljana (and maybe in your life)
Alexander is a Colombian married to a Slovenian. For the past six years, he has been lovingly serving his customers the best coffee in the capital. He meticulously prepares his coffees using three methods that he has spent dozens of hours developing. If you want to discover what an excellent coffee is, with complex aromas on the palate, come and see him! It’s in the most beautiful old street in the centre of Ljubljana.
Tip: In summer, try one of his excellent iced coffee cocktails (without alcohol) for around €5. A real treat! In 2020, Alexander had a baby and spends a little less time in his shop. He is no longer open every day and only for a few hours.
Crno zrno – Gornji trg 17
Free rides in electric taxis
7 electric taxis operate in the centre of Ljubljana and they’re free! Anyone can take one. They look like little golf carts.
- Call them on the phone
- Tell them where you are
- 5 minutes later, a Kavalir taxi picks you up.
And it’s free: It will take you wherever you want to go in the centre of Ljubljana without you having to pay anything. This service follows the pedestrianisation of a large part of the centre of Ljubljana. In particular, it enables Ljubljana residents with heavy objects to carry or who have difficulty walking to reach their homes, but remember that the Kavalir are there for everyone. They are in service from 6am to 10pm.
If you’re interested in new ecological solutions, this is a must-try because these Kavalirs meet all the objections to pedestrian zones.
Call one of the following two numbers. 386 31 666 331 or 386 31 666 332
Metelkova, an amazing squat with concerts, DJs and bars
Just one kilometre from the old centre of Ljubljana, you’ll find a legendary venue in the Slovenian capital, Metelkova. Since 1993, the headquarters of the Yugoslav army in Ljubljana has gradually been transformed into a festive, colourful squat. The seven military buildings are now decorated with colourful wall art. Every weekend, concerts and DJ nights are organised here. In this squat, which is the size of two football pitches and has a similar feel to Copenhagen’s Kristansen district, you’ll find :
- clubs for partying,
- ljubljana’s Gay Club
- two bars with a destroy atmosphere
- places to chat outside and meet Slovenians while sipping a 0.5L can of Union or Lasko beer.
This is the place to be if you want to go out at night in Ljubljana
Don’t go to Metelkova at the beginning of the week or during the day, but on Fridays, as this is the busiest evening of the year. In July and August, it will be a little less busy than usual because the students are away on holiday, but there can be weekday evenings, particularly at Gala Hala. Full name: Avtonomni kulturni center Metelkova mesto.
Getting there : The best way to get to Metelkova from the centre is via Trubarjeva.
Metelkova – Metelkova ulica 10
The railway museum, old and poorly maintained but great
Although I’m not particularly interested in trains, this is my favourite museum in Ljubljana! You can admire old locomotives in a surreal setting. In the museum’s backyard, with its cranes and rusting locomotives, you’ll think you’ve reached Siberia.
If you have children, they’ll love playing and climbing on the locos.
Those with Instagram accounts will be able to take some amazing photos. In short, this is the museum to see in Ljubljana. With a little effort, you can get there on foot from the centre, otherwise take a taxi for around €4. Just next door is Ljubljana’s beautiful new white mosque.
Mountain biking in Golovec
An immense undulating forest penetrates the heart of Ljubljana. It’s called Golovec. I ride my mountain bike through it once a week. The ground is not very rocky, so it’s nice and rolling.
Here’s the route to follow:
- Climb up Pot na golovec to the observatory,
- Follow the main path along the ridge and then the POT gravel path again along the ridge.
- Later, don’t wind your way down the POT, head towards the village of Orle.
Ask for directions from the many Slovenians who walk and run every day in this gigantic forest in the heart of the capital. I often bump into the mayor of Ljubljana, who has come here to get some fresh air with a short walk. He lives at the foot of Golovec.
The green path around the city in 1943
During the Second World War, Ljubljana was surrounded by barbed wire. This 30km-long fence surrounded Ljubljana for 1,170 days and was dismantled in 1945. Today, it has become a wide path that runs all the way around the capital.
A pleasant path where Slovenians go for a walk or a jog after their day’s work
Better still, cycle the most beautiful part of this path by following the detailed map for this 1h30 ride. In my opinion, this is a must-do activity if you’re staying in Ljubljana for more than two days, as it will allow you to discover a completely different side of the Slovenian capital.
An umbrella repair shop
This is the front of a truly extraordinary little shop in Ljubljana. Just off the main square, on my favourite street trubarjeva, you’ll pass this shop that still repairs umbrellas! Push open the little light blue door and you’ll meet Marija, who has been patching and repairing umbrellas for over 30 years. She started out at the age of 23 to help her father, who was losing his sight. The shop was in fact set up by her father in 1966 (He worked in an umbrella factory before setting up his own business). You’ll see that the shop window and stall look just as they did in 1966. At that time, there were no fewer than 5 shops in Ljubljana repairing umbrellas
One of the last umbrella repair shops in Europe
The shop is owned by Marja, which means she can afford to pay her rent without charging inflated prices. Since I’ve come to know this shop, I don’t throw away my umbrellas any more, because a few simple touches in Marija’s expert hands are often all that’s needed to get them working again. The shop is called Dežnik, which means umbrella! Marija doesn’t know whether her two children will take over her shop one day.
Deznik – Trubarjeva 13
The immense Tivoli Forest
In the heart of Ljubljana, there’s a forest with two large ski jumps. They are in the middle of the Tivoli Park forest. A green space bigger than Central Park in New York! You can often climb to the top of one of the jumps and get a great view. Go there only if you want to take a walk in the forest.
My advice : Once you’ve reached the heights of the Tivoli forest, leave the main avenues and get lost on the smaller paths. You’ll inevitably come across a large path and a signpost again – it’s impossible to get lost, so get out there and explore the park.
Ljubljana Orthodox Church
This splendid church is in the city centre at the entrance to Ljubljana’s Tivoli Park. If you’ve never been inside an Orthodox church before, you’ll want to put this religious building on your itinerary, as you’ll be in for a real treat inside. It is very close to the centre, right next to the Museum of Modern Art. Admission is free.
Can you find out how to operate this secret fountain?
This sculpture in a small alleyway is also a secret fountain. Tourists don’t know that. It is in an alley Ključavničarska between the old Mestni trg street and the bank of the Ljubjanica Cankarjevo nabrezje. Can you find the secret to turning it on? The water will then flow into an unusual and astonishing 30-metre-long work of art by Jakov Brdar, with 700 bronze faces set into the ground. It’s a great game to play with friends or family.
Tip : Try a little harder.
Neboticnik, the “American” skyscraper
To find out more about Neboticnik, a must-see on any visit to Ljubljana,
Neboticnik stands out as an emblematic symbol of the Slovenian capital. Standing proudly in the city centre, this imposing structure is not only a unique skyscraper, but also a witness to Ljubljana’s evolution over the decades. Built in 1933, Neboticnik was the tallest building in Yugoslavia.
Neboticnik is distinguished by its Art Deco architectural style, which was in vogue at the time of its construction. At 70 metres high, it offers a breathtaking view of Ljubljana from its café-terrace. The thirteen-storey building houses offices, shops, restaurants and this rooftop bar, which I recommend you visit for the view.