Ljubljana is an incredibly green capital, but if you don’t leave the city centre, you won’t really notice. Once you’ve visited the old centre of Ljubljana, rent a bike and explore the outskirts, following the wonderful route described in this article. Starting from Copova, the Slovenian capital’s busiest pedestrian street, pedal for a kilometre and you’re already in the heart of an immense forest. It’s a great feeling!
A superb 2-hour cycle route through Ljubljana and its greenery
I’ve been cycling around Ljubljana every day for over 10 years. I’ve explored every possible route and street. I’ve created this route, which links the best parts of the Slovenian capital’s cycle paths to create a flat, easy-to-follow cycle route (you won’t have to look at a map).
I strongly advise you to do this cycling tour during your holidays. If you’re spending more than half a day in Ljubljana, you should set off to discover the best that the Slovenian capital has to offer outside the city centre. To do this, hire a bike for €10 for 4 hours (see below) and pedal off on a tour that will give you a taste of the quality of life offered by Slovenia’s multifaceted capital.
the Ljubljana bike ride, step by step
The tour starts from Preseren Square, Ljubljana’s central square. Use the map at the bottom of this article to find your way around.
1. Take the busiest pedestrian street (Copova). Once at the top of the street, cross the main avenue (slovenska cesta) towards Zara and continue straight on towards Tivoli Park, which you can already see in the distance.
2. After passing the Museum of Modern Art and Narodna Galerija, take the passage under the two bridges. Just after passing under the second bridge, climb to your left to join the cycle path that starts at the top of the small hill.
3. Coffee break: If you like, you can take a short diversions here to the terrace of the Čolnarna bar, which overlooks a pond and the botanical park. A very pleasant place where I like to go (but a service that often leaves something to be desired due to a lack of waiters). Once you’ve finished your coffee, head back to the cycle path you were on.
4. after 350 metres, at the end of the cycle path, take the bridge over the road. At the end, a blue signpost indicates Koseze (Pot) on the right. This is the small lake you are about to reach (at point 9).
5. Now follow the cycle path and 200 metres after the blue sign indicating Koseze, cross the road at the level of this magnificent communist statue (small in size) in order to drive on the right side of the road (Cesta 27 aprila). If you got lost in the signs, it’s there.
6. Diversions Lunch break: When you pass the American ambassador’s residence, which you can spot by its flags, you can make a diversion by following the sign for Gostilna Cad, which points you in the direction of this centuries-old restaurant where you can discover Serbian cuisine. A typical place where I highly recommend taking a break. Once you’ve finished your meal, return to where you left off on the cycle path.
7. At the bus stop, just after the small hill over which the cycle path runs, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and take the path down. At the entrance to this path, a round red and white sign reads ” Odovoljeno za stanovalce in Kolesarje“. This is the place.
8. 50 metres further on, at the bottom of the path, turn right and follow the cycle path, which will take you first through a gravel car park and then through a beautiful forest.
9. Follow the cycle path for about two kilometres. It’s great because it passes through the forest and takes you to a pond(koseški bajer) with a splendid view of the Polhograjski dolomiti nature park.
10. Important information: Once you’ve reached the pond, go to the other side of the pond, opposite to where you arrived by bike, where you’ll find the POT (It’s 50 metres from the pond – not right on the edge of the pond).
11. Coffee break: At the end of the pond you’ll find the Gostilnica Pr’ Cvetu (Marjekova pot 23) with its pleasant terrace. I highly recommend taking a break here. On the menu are drinks, coffees and apfelstrudels (Austrian apple cakes), as well as a warm, sweet tarragon speciality (pehtranov zavitek) ideal if you’re feeling peckish (photo below). Once you’ve finished your coffee, take the POT gravel path, which is very close to this café/restaurant.
13. You have now reached the POT. A white gravel path commemorating the encirclement of Ljubljana during the Second World War. You can cycle along it for several kilometres thanks to the many POT signs (they are green and white). This gravel path is now very easy to follow.
14. At one point, when you come close to a major thoroughfare (Trzaska cesta), a sign is missing. Remember that you need to turn left at the bottom of the descent to pass under the railway line. You will find the POT and its green signs on the other side of Trzaska cesta avenue. The path is just after the large pedestrian crossing.
15. After several kilometres on the POT, leave it! You should leave it when you reach the main avenue Barjanska cesta. Do not take the bridge over the river, but turn left.
16. Follow the Barjanska cesta avenue and 8 minutes later you will be back in the centre of Ljubljana
17. Go and enjoy an ice cream on the terrace at Cacao or Vigo to reward yourself for your efforts.
A comment left by Sandra, a reader
“Superb walk! Thank you so much for the idea and the very precise directions. Plan on a 2.5 hour walk, taking your time at the pond and taking a few photos. The POT is very pleasant. I hired the bike for 10€ from the tourist office and it was perfect! Thanks again for everything!
Map of this bike ride in Ljubljana
Click on the map to enlarge. The numbers on the map correspond to the step-by-step instructions.
Where can I hire bikes in Ljubljana?
I advise you to hire bikes from the Slovenian Tourist Office. It’s right next to Ljubljana’s market square. Bikes are also generally available from the Ljubljana tourist office opposite the central square of the three bridges. In fine weather, many bicycles are available. They’ll do just fine for this flat ride. Cost of hiring a bike in Ljubljana: €10 for four hours.
Tip : Avoid doing this ride on the self-service bikes, bicikelj, which are heavy and don’t “move”. It won’t be as pleasant.
Where to eat on the route?
There are two very nice places to have lunch on the route. An old Serbian restaurant with a shady terrace will tempt you (Cad, which is at the beginning of the course and which I mentioned at the start of the article) or if you want to have lunch at the end of the course in a more modern place, go to Harfa’s before 4pm. This secret restaurant serves delicious lunches for 15€. You’ll miss it by bike. The address is Koprska ulica 98, 1000 Ljubljana. It’s in an office area, which at first glance doesn’t make you want to enter or go there, but trust me, once inside the restaurant you’ll be pleased with the service, your plates and your choice. You can go in wearing sports clothes.