Janja Horvat1. Free Ljubljana Tour
Free tours are known all over the world and Ljubljana is not the exception. The tour starts in front of Franciscan Church (the pink one) on Prešeren square in the city centre every day at 11AM. During the tour you will explore the city’s main attractions and learn more about its history.
2. Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana castle | shanidov
Ljubljana Castle is top tourist attraction in Ljubljana, so you should definitely go up there too. There are various ways to go up there, and the only free one is walking. It is not a long walk and it is not very steep. Another way, more fun one, is with funicular (one way ticket is 2,20€/ students 1,50€) or take a taxi, which will most likely cost you more. From the castle is a beautiful view over the city, but if you are looking for spectacular panoramic view you will have to pay some extra to go on the Viewing Tower (ticket 7,50€/students 5,20€ includes also admission to the Virtual Castle, exhibitions, Penitentiary, Museum of Puppetry).
3. Tivoli Park
Taking a walk in the park is always a great idea and when traveling you will probably be looking for some relax time from all the sightseeing and souvenir shopping. Tivoli Park is a must-see park in Ljubljana. It is probably the only park in Europe that ends with natural forest. It is pretty big for such a small city and it offers so much. You can relax on the grass, ride a bike through it, enjoy in the café by the lake or head on to the Rožnik hill. Another castle in Ljubljana is located in Tivoli park and it is now International Centre of Graphic Arts.
Tivoli Park | Zack Lee
Path leading to the Tivoli castle is aslo an exhibition place, where you can admire professional photos.
4. Rožnik hill
Rožnik hill starts where Tivoli Park ends and together with Šiška hill they form ‘Tivoli-Rožnik hill-Šiška hill Landscape Park’. On the top of the hill is a chapel and a huge space where we have the biggest bonfire for the Labour Day and student party during Majske igre or The Games in May in English.
Rožnik | bjakeb
5. Museums and galleries
Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova | Janja Horvat
For all the history or art lovers most museums and galleries in Ljubljana have free admission each first Sunday of the month. You can visit National Museum of Slovenia to know more about our history or enjoy in modern art at the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova. Interested in something else? No problem, museums in Ljubljana covered topics such as nature, architecture, science and military. All museums and galleries are closed on Mondays.
6. Old city centre
Ljubljana has beautiful old city centre and you truly have to visit it. Walking in the narrow street, visiting small boutiques, crossing Ljubljana’s famous Triple Bridge (Tromostovje in Slovene) is the best way to spend a few hours. Sitting by the Ljubljanica river or maybe spend few euros to go on a boat and see the centre from different perspective.
Tromostovje | Ivana Vasilj
During December the city centre is just spectacular with all the Christmas lights and the smell of mulled wine or warm honey liquor.
7. Šmarna gora
Ljubljana from Afar | Luka Crnic
Don’t be too surprised if Ljubljana will feel empty on weekends because most people leave the centre and go on Rožnik Hill, Tivoli Park or Šmarna Gora. Šmarna gora is one of the peaks that looks like humps of a camel. It is the more popular than Grmada, which is higher and on the top you can really relax in quiet and nice view. To reach the top you can choose among few paths – quicker and steeper or longer and easier. On the summit of Šmarna gora you can enjoy in nice restaurant with traditional Slovenian food, great view or in historical church.
8. Metelkova City
Metelkova City is the place of Ljubljana’s most amazing street art. It is located near main train station few minutes from Prešeren square the main square of Ljubljana. Metelkova City is cultural centre of alternative, social, political and cultural activities. It is a meeting point for youth, alternative party place during weekends and it hosts literature evenings, movie nights, debates, etc.
Metelkova Ljubljana | Giandomenico Ricci
9. Outdoor festivals and other events
During summer and winter there are many concerts, shows, events that are free. On New Year’s Eve there are concerts on every square in city centre, fireworks over the castle and mulled wine on every corner. Concerts are free to enjoy, but for mulled wine, you will have to pay some. Every summer there is a huge Ljubljana Festival hosting various cultural events, some of them are even free.
Main Square. | Artem Marchenko
10. Other free stuff
In the city centre you can use Kavalir – electrical vehicles for free. There are 4 of them operating in different time/routes. During summer Kavalir 3 has a regular route and between April and November Kavalir 1 and 2 are driving in the centre of Ljubljana.
Ljubljana’s biggest shopping centre is BTC City, which you can reach with bus no. 27. It takes about 30 min to get there and once you are there you can use City Bus for free. City Bus has 8 stops and you can use every day during week between 12AM and 8.30 PM. It also drives during weekends.
In a lot of shops, cafes, restaurants you can find free magazine City Magazine, which is only in Slovene, but with Google translate it won’t be so difficult to find out some of the upcoming events in our capital and some of the other cities.