scubish.com: Travel information for Ljubljana

Ljubljana , also known as Laibach, its German name, and English name until 1945, is the capital of Slovenia.

Understand

Slovenia is, arguably, the cutest of the formerly communist countries, and Ljubljana ("lyoob-lyAH-nah") is a great little city full of charm. It's pretty easy to have a good time here. It's full of galleries and museums and young artists. The population of the city is around 330,000.
Orientation
The Ljubljanica river flows through the center of town, past Baroque buildings and under the ramparts of the ancient castle on the hill. The new city and modern-day commercial core lies to the west of the river, while the east side has Ljubljana's old city and the castle. Connecting the two are a number of bridges, the most famous of which is the Tromostovje (triple) bridge.

Get in

By plane
Ljubljana's pint-sized Brnik Airport (Aerodrom Ljubljana) , located 27 km north of the city, is the country's main international gateway and the hub of Slovenian national carrier Adria Airways . The airport is serviced by most neighboring countries and low-cost carriers easyJet and Wizzair. The airport has the bare necessities (bank, ATM, cafe) but little else; a two-stage renovation is under way, with new wings opening in July 2007 and 2010.

There are regular public buses (€4.10, 50 min) and minibuses (€5.00, 30 min) to the bus/train station at Trg OF. Alternatively, a metered taxi to the center will cost about €30-40.

By train
Ljubljana is the hub of Slovenia's rail system. There are direct international connections to Budapest (approx. 8-9 hours, 2 services daily), Munich (6 hours, 3 direct services and 2 connections via Salzburg or Villach), Venice (approx. 4 hours, 2 services daily), Vienna (6 hours, 1 direct service and 5 connections daily, special offer for 29 euros), Zurich (10-12 hours, 1 direct night train and 3 connections), Rijeka (2 1/2 hours, 2 direct trains daily), Zagreb (2 hours, 7 services daily), Belgrade (9 hours, 4 services daily) and up to Thessaloniki (23 hours). For Trieste, take a train to Villa Opicina and then the tram (Line 2) to Trieste. Local trains run throughout the country — no point in Slovenia is more than 3 hours away. The train station is at Trg Osvobodilne Frente (OF) at the northern edge of downtown, at walking distance to most hotels.

By bus
Ljubljana bus station (avtobusna postaja) is right next to the train station and has services throughout the country and to neighbors as well. The station has several useful schedule search engines (also in English) for working out connections around the country.
Get around

Ljubljana has a good bus network, but it is small enough that you will be able to walk everywhere in the centre. You can pick up a free city map in one of the Tourist Information Offices either in the train station or in the city centre (Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 2).

The train and bus station are within easy walking distance of the centre of town - which is roughly speaking the "Three bridges" area. From the station take any of the roads heading into town and this will lead you to this area.

Taxis are very cheap, and between two or three people it can be a convenient way to get back to the hotel if you're not in the centre. Taxi Laguna (tel. 080 11 17) and Taxi Metro (tel. 080 11 90) are considered the cheapest. These are free numbers, so can use a phone booth to make a call. Notice that not all taxis charge the same fare.

See

Old Ljubljana - monuments, historic buildings, churches. Purposeful wandering can through the town below the castle will lead you to interesting squares, lanes and buildings. Look out for the dragon motif throughout the city.

Zmajski Most (Dragon Bridge) - Guarded by four dragons, which have become a symbol of the city. Be careful around this area, as it is on a major thoroughfare and near misses (and worse) between inattentive tourists and traffic are common.

Stari trg - This street has local designer shops, trendy cafes etc. If you are up for an alternative, interesting buy then the so-called 'old Ljubljana' is your cup of tea. It is situated on the east side of the river (cross Tromostovje bridge, go straight ahed for 30 metres to the City hall then turn right into the narrow street surrounded by medieval houses). The street is called Mestni trg, and later it changes to Gornji trg.

Triple Bridge, Ljubljana's trademark central bridges designed by Jože Plečnik.

Ljubljana Castle - You can catch the "tourist train" from the triple bridge to the castle, walk up the (steep) hill on the side of the castle, or take the Funicular Railway (€2, the lower station is at the top of the main open market) to the top. Entrance to the Courtyard, Chapel and Gift shop is free, but there is a charge for access to the tower (with it's fine views over the old city to the Sava River and Julian Alps) which includes a 3D Movie of the history of Ljubljana from pre-historic settlement through to Roman Empire through to modern times.

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

National Museum of Contemporary History. Celovška cesta 23, tel. 01 300 96 10, fax 01 433 82 44, . 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 WWI trench, with sound effects. In another room, a portrait of Stalin lies smashed on the ground. The last exhibit shows the events aroung the Declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia and the Ten Day War with the Yugoslav Federal Army. The exhibits covering WW1, WW2 and Communist Slovenia are translated to English and German, but strangely the Slovenian Independence Exhibit is not. You walk through the pleasent Tivoli park to get here.

Republic Square - Where crowds gathered as Slovenia announced its secession from the Yugoslav Federation. Given its importance to Slovene history, its current use as a carpark is surprising. On the square is the International Business Centre, across the road is the Slovene Parliament (with its decorative, nude statues of Slovenes at work and leisure).

Tivoli Gallery - International centre of Graphic Art. Pod turnom 3, tel. 01 241 38 00, . Specialised in art shows, often in collaboration with international institutions. Open Tu-Sa 10.00 - 18.00, Su 12.00 - 18.00, Mo closed.

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

Water City of Atlantis is water park offering 14 pools, thermal baths, slides and saunas. Special section is dedicated for children. It is located within the BTC City Shopping District. Prices: from €6 to €14.(Website: www.atlantis-vodnomesto.si)

Laguna Fun & Spa offers open-air pools during the day and themed parties at night. It is located within the Ljubljana Resort. Prices from €6 to €12. Website: www.laguna.si. Laguna is only open from june to september.

Vodafone Live! Arena is a great place to spend an evening. Main features include bowling, pool, laser games and a state-of-the-art 3D XpanD cinema theatre (the latter from €4.59 to €7.93). (BTC City Shopping District)

Kolosej (The Colosseum) is Ljubljana's main multiplex. Unlike in the rest of Europe, all movies are presented in orginal audio language (mostly English) while equipped with Slovenian subtitles. This does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children. Prices: from €3.94 to €4.59. Special discounts on Tuesdays. (BTC City Shopping District) www.kolosej.si

Ljubljana Zoo is one of the most beautiful Zoos of Europe - Tickets from €5.00 to €6.00.

Buy

The large majority of shops have moved from the centre to the BTC City Shopping District, located on the north edge of Ljubljana. However, several department stores such as Maximarket and Nama still persist in the city centre. Additionally, the Čopova street and the Old town probably have the densest collection of small shops in the centre.

Eat

Budget

Hot-Horse, Trubarjeva 31 (other outlets in Tivoli Park and BTC). A fast food joint with a difference: all the meat used is horse meat! The star of the menu is the horse burger, which is gigantic and costs €3. Unfortunately the Trubarjeva section has been replaced with a "crap in the bread" called "Red 'n hot horse". Don't be fooled for it really doesn't have ANYTHING to do with quality.

Falafel, Trubarjeva 40, 041/752 977. This middle eastern dish, together with other meat and vegetables dishs is served in the small fast-food resataurent next to the Dragnos bridge. The cost for a menu is around 3 euro, including 2 dishes, tea and a sweet.

Nobel Burek, Miklosiceva ?? (You can't miss it - green and yellow sign, a lot of people standing in line). The place where young people go to get food late in the evening or at night. Different kinds of bureks available. Considered to be the best burek in town.

Mid-range

Gostilna Sokol. Ciril Metodov trg 18, tel. 01 439 68 55 . This restaurant deals up authentic Slovenian cuisine, complete with all waiters and waitresses dressed up in traditional costume. The food is hearty and served in generous gut-busting portions and very good value for money. The fish cooked in a paper bag with vegetables is highly recommended. There is plenty of meat, fish and vegetable dishes to choose from. The only downside was the house red, which is very sharp and quite cold, but this is a minor quibble.

Julija. Stari trg 9. Right next to Luka’s, serving similar fare of Italian pasta and risotto dishes. Not quite a nice as Luka’s but still a good filling meal, and at a reasonable price. Pasta or risotto dishes are under SIT 1,500 (€6.26)

Jurman, Zaloška 151, tel. 051 358 358. Open daily from 11.00 to 23.00. Affordable prices and very diverse choices. They have themed rooms, such as castle room and fishing room. Children can play in a designated indoor and outdoor playgrounds. The staff is friendly and the service is fast; it usually never takes longer than 10 minutes for 2 or 3 people. You are advised to make a reservation in advance.

Luka Gourmet Lunch Cafe. Stari trg 11. One of a line of cafes on Stari Trg with outside seating. Serves up tasty, mainly pasta dishes with reasonable prices and friendly service. Most lunch dishes are about €6.

Gostilna Pod Rožnikom (formerly known as Gostilna Čad) specialises in grilled dishes from southeastern Europe. They are located near Ljubljana Zoo.

Splurge

Špajza. Gornji Trg 28, tel. 01 425 30 94. Closed Sun. This restaurant is much larger than you first expect when you initially enter. You walk through several candlelit rooms before you reach the outside terrace. The waiters are initially quite attentive, serving you a nice little aperitif to get you started. The food is a mixture of Slovenian and European, and the menu is kept to a handful of choices for each course. Because of the service, surroundings and food this felt like an expensive restaurant, although by Western standards, it was quite reasonable. An average main dish is €10-15.

Manna, Eipprova Ulica 1A, tel 01 283 52 94 . South from the main tourist area, this restaurant serves excellent traditional dishes for about €20-40 for a full dinner. It boasts "Slow food", but in effect the service is both helpful and fast. The restaurant has friendly and artistic athmosphere.

Krpan specializing mainly in seafood with excellent wine choices. Located close to the main hospital (Klinični center).

As, considered by many as Ljubljana's fanciest and most expensive, focusing on seafood and extensive wine choice, located near the Triple Bridge.

Chez Eric, specializing in French cuisine, located next to the townhouse.

Cubo , modern International fare, good price/performance ratio, has some of the best Slovenian wines by the glass.

JB, modern International fare, closed on weekends, located close to the bus/train stations.

Drink

Most of Ljubljana’s bars tend to cluster on the streets running parallel to the river, radiating from Prešernov trg, which is the main square in Ljubljana. The more interesting bars tend to be on the backstreets, rather than directly facing the river. Part of the joy of this city is stumbling across these places, but these are few to start you off.

Čajna Hisa. (The Tea House) Stari trg 3. This is a quirky little coffee and tea room, offering many variations on those warm beverages as well as basic breakfasts and lunches. The background music is impeccably cool, and the atmosphere is ideal for some elegant loafing. Linked to the café is a teashop selling drinking paraphernalia and loads of different fruity flavoured teas by the 100g.

Patrick's Irish Bar. Precna 6. The ubiqutous Irish Pub with Guinness and Local Beers on tap, with a typical menu of Hearty Meals available. Also typical is the welcoming atmosphere that seems common to all Irish Pubs. Big Screen TVs show sporting events, (mainly football) but bar staff are happy to change a television to show other sports (Rugby Union, Rugby League, Cricket, AFL, NFL etc.) on request. Watch out for ex-pat and tour groups at popular sporting events from their 'home' country.

Vinoteka Movia. Mestni trg 2. Anyone with any interest in wine should visit here. The cosy, candlelit wine bar comes with knowledgeable barmen who can recommend a wine based on your tastes. The wine glasses are huge, so it’s hard to tell if they were being stingy or if it has simply spread out. Be careful about asking for ‘samples’, as they will charge you full price for the privilege. The prices can vary from modest to a remortgage.

Okrepcevalnica Makalonca. Hribarjevo nabrežje. The unenticing entrance leads down some steps into a small underground bar that sits level with the river. You can sit inside on stone steps (cushions provided) looking out at the water, or sit outside right by the river. It feels like your own little discovery.

BI-KO-FE. A lively little bar that plays excellent jazz music (CD, not live). There is outside seating, but inside is where it seems to be happening. It looks like the place the youngish locals hangout to drink the night away.

K4 is a nice clubbing spot at 4, Kersnikova Trg. National and international DJs play electronic music. Opens Tu-Sun, 10 pm - 2.30/4 am.

Vinoteka Wine cellars of Slovenia. Dunajska 18. The odlest and biggest wine shop and restaurant in Slovenia is avaliable to anybody that want's to taste a larger variety of Slovenian wines. Located on the Fair ground of Gospodarsko razstavisce in Ljubljana, it houses over 300 slovenian wines from around 150 wine producers. The restaurant serves modern and traditional Slovenian cuisine. There are possibilites of wine tastings, by glass or a guided culinary tour of Slovenian food and wines. They also have great foreign wines, but only a smaller number of them. They also have on some nights live piano music in the background. The prices of wines vary due to the large selection of wines.

Sleep

Budget
Ljubljana offers two all-year hostels (Celica and Bit Hotel) and several student's homes, that function as hostels in the summer.

Celica (The Cell), Metelkova ulica 8 (400m from bus/railway station), . A redecorated military prison within the former Yugoslav army base of Metelkova, which turned first into a squatter settlement and is now Ljubljana's burgeoning cultural center. Two years ago, the cells of the former prison were assigned to several Slovenian artists, who designed every one of them individually. The Celica hostel was declared to be the best hostel of 2006 in the World by Lonely Planet, which means they've jacked up prices and it's often full. A bed in a cell (2-3 beds) or normal room (3-5) costs 20&euro, give or take a few euros depending on how many you're sharing with, including breakfast. Coin laundry, free internet PCs, pleasant cafe-restaurant. Credit cards accepted.

Ljubljana Resort (formerly known as Autocamp Ježica), Dunajska 270, (3 km north of the centre, take bus 6 or 8 for 190 (€0.79) -300 SIT (€1.25)), +386 (0)1 568 3913 (fax +386 (0)1 568 3912, email ac.jezica@gp-ljubljana.si). Pleasant location near river Sava. You can pitch a tent or hire a bungalow. Swimming pool, sauna, fitness centre, badminton, volleyball, bowling, children's playground, restaurant, snack bar. Double bungalow is SIT 15,000 (€62.59) per night including breakfast.

Park Hotel, Tabor 9. +386 (0)1 300-2500 (fax: +386 (0)1 433-0546, ) . This 2-star hotel in fact also a HI hostel and its accommodation is split between hotel and "hostel" rooms. The latter are cheaper but have only an outside bath and no TV. Staff may request to keep your passport at check in, so it might be useful to have a copy to hand in. Single €56.

Mid range

Short-term apartments Rent vacation rental apartments in the center of the old city of Ljubljana,or in quiet suburbs. a great home base from which to tour the rest of the country, including Lake Bled. $787/week and up.

Splurge

Contact

Internet

Free internet access is available at:

Closed in summer

Stay safe

Ljubljana is a remarkably safe city during day and night, provided you are not desperately looking for trouble.

Get out

Postojna Caves - 20 km of underground galleries, chambers and corridors. Guided tour on special cave train takes one and half hour. The temperature in caves is always 8 C. Start of guided tours is at 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 from October to April and on every hour on the hour between 9.00 and 18.00 from May to September.

Bled

Kamnik — button-cute little town 45 min away, with a perfectly preserved medieval town center

Julian Alps

Crossing the border. Ljubljana has very good links with Croatia, there are regular trains running to Zagreb and Rijeka. Journey time is about 2.5 hours.

By thumb
Hitchhiking out of Ljubljana is relatively easy, in all directions.

North towards Maribor, Austria

From the main street, West of the Train station (Dunajska Cesta) take buses 6, 8 or 10 in direction of North. Get off in the station "Smelt", 15 minutes later, when you see the "World Trade Center" building. Ahead of you, you will see the Autostrada. On the first turn to the right, go into the highway entry and stand on the side with your sign.

South towards Koper, Rijeka, Italy

From the city center (Dunajska cesta, Kongresni trg) take bus number 6 in direction south, till the last station (Dolgi most). Get out, and on your left side you will side the entry lane into the autostrada. There will also be an entry to a parking of a small house, stand on the side there with your sign (you will see where everybody else stands...).

(IPA: ʎub'ʎʌna) is the capital and largest city in Slovenia. The city of Ljubljana is the cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative center of Slovenia. It is situated in central Slovenia, between the Alps and the Mediterranean. The city is divided into several quarters, formerly municipalities, the main ones being Šiška (), Bežigrad (), Vič, Moste (), and Center, which also correspond to the main electoral constituencies of the city.

Its transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading economic position. Ljubljana is the seat of the central government, administrative bodies and all government ministries. It is also the seat of Parliament and the Office of the President of Slovenia.

Name

Linguists disagree as to where the name Ljubljana comes from, and although the name could have evolved from the Latin term for a flooding river, alluviana, some believe the source of the present-day name is Laburus, an old Slavic mythology deity and supposed patron of the original settlement. Other linguists reconstruct an earlier *Lablana, rejecting both a Latin or Slavic source, but without settling on an etymology.

Laibach (), the German name for the city, derives from Laibach (and also possibly Laubach), meaning "a lukewarm brook" in German; lai ("tepid") + bach ("brook"). Its Italian name Lubiana () is a hybrid rendering of the Latin and German versions. These names are important for historical reasons.

The use of the German name was forbidden in Slovenia after 1918 and became especially controversial during the Second World War. Nowadays most Germans use the term Ljubljana. On the other hand, Laibach is still widely used especially in Austria, as well as by the German embassy in Ljubljana.

Geography and demographics

Ljubljana is located at 46.03°N, 14.30°E on the outfall of the river Ljubljanica into the Sava. It lies at an altitude of 298 metres AMSL. The temperature varies between 0°C in December and 21.9°C in July. Annual rainfall is 1350 millimetres (53.2 inches).

In 2002, the city had a population of 265,881.

History

The area had been populated since prehistory. The earliest known settlements, in the Bronze Age, consisted of wooden houses erected on stakes (palafites).

The Roman settlement Emona (full name: Colonia Iulia Aemona) was erected in 15 AD by the XV Legio Apollinaris; in 452, Aemona was sacked and devastated by the Huns, led by Attila.

The first records mentioning Ljubljana date to 1144 (referred to by its German name Laibach) and 1146 (by its Latin name, Luwigana).
The settlement received town rights in 1220, and in 1335 came under Austrian Habsburg rule, lasting until 1918. During this time Ljubljana was the capital of the duchy of Carniola. Ljubljana also became the seat of a diocese in 1461 and developed into a Slovenian cultural centre during the late Middle Ages. Ljubljana experienced an earthquake in 1511.

The Habsburg rule was shortly interrupted by the Napoleonic wars, and between 1809 and 1813 Ljubljana was the capital of the French Illyrian provinces. In 1821 the city hosted the Congress of Laibach. In 1849 Ljubljana witnessed the first train arriving from Vienna and in 1857 Ljubljana was connected to Trieste. Once again an earthquake damaged large parts of the city in 1895 and the following reconstruction gave Ljubljana its new contemporary image.

With the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Ljubljana became the provincial seat of the Drava Banovina within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In April 1941 it was occupied by Italy and on February 23 1942 Italians completely encircled it with 32 km of barbed wire. In 1943 the Italian occupation changed to German. For the achievements during this time Josip Broz Tito awarded Ljubljana in 1955 with the title "Hero City" (not to be confused with the Soviet title of the same name).

After World War II it became the capital of the Yugoslav socialist republic of Slovenia. Ljubljana remained the capital city when Slovenia gained independence in 1991 after a ten day war against the Yugoslav National Army.

Timeline:

http://www.ljubljanafestival.si/en/ljubljana_castle/history/

Architecture

Ljubljana has a strong Austrian/Alpine feeling to it and the architecture underlines this impression. Ljubljana was devastated by earthquakes several times. After an earthquake in 1511, Ljubljana was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, and after an earthquake in 1895 severely damaged the city, the city was rebuilt in Neo-Classicist and Secession (Austrian Art Nouveau) styles. The city's Baroque architecture was mainly influenced by Italian Baroque architecture (for instance, the cathedral was designed by Andrea Pozzo in 1701, St. Ursula's church displays Palladian features, Francesco Robba designed a fountain). One of the main features of the city, the castle, which dates back to prehistory, is undergoing renovation. Large areas of the city built in the early 20th century feature the work of native architect Jože Plečnik, including several bridges.

Art and Music

The National Gallery (Narodna galerija) and the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna galerija) are both situated in Ljubljana, showing the greatest Slovenian artists. There is also a large counterculture centre on Metelkova Street, housed in a former Yugoslav military complex, comparable, roughly, to Berlin's Tacheles. Metelkova hosts films and lectures, as well as concerts of mainly alternative music.

There are a number of music festivals with mainly classical music and jazz such as the Ljubljana Summer Festival (Ljubljanski poletni festival) and Druga Godba, a world music festival. In the 1980s Ljubljana was the center of the Neue Slowenische Kunst movement, which included the musical group Laibach, and with which the theorist Slavoj Žižek was also associated.

Public transportation

Public transportation in Ljubljana is composed of city buses, operated by the city-owned company Ljubljanski potniški promet (LPP). There have been many discussions about implementing a light rail system on the streets again (the last tram in Ljubljana stopped operating in 1958) as the city is facing a huge amount of traffic during rush hour. There are also many taxis in Ljubljana, and in December 2006, a new funicular to the Ljubljana Castle was introduced.

The suburban area of Ljubljana is covered by an extensive network of suburban buses and trains.

Education

In 1693 the Scholar Society (Academia operosorum Labacensis) was established in Ljubljana. This fell into decline in 1801 but was a forerunner to the present Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts which opened in 1938. The city's only university, the University of Ljubljana, was established in 1919. The city is also home to one of the oldest philharmonics of Europe, the Philharmonic Society (Academia Philharmonicorum), established in 1701.

Famous Natives

Maks Bajc (1919-1983), Actor

Paula Gruden (1923-), Poet

Ivana Kobilca (1861-1926), Painter

Aleksander Kogoj (1965-), Director

Slavoj Žižek (1949-), Sociologist and Philosopher

Sister cities

- Athens, Greece, since 2000

- Belgrade, Serbia, since 2003

- Bratislava, Slovakia, since 1967

- Brussels, Belgium, since 2004

- Chemnitz, Germany, since 1966

- Chengdu, People's Republic of China, since 1981

- Cleveland, Ohio, United States

- Leverkusen, Germany, since 1979

- Moscow, Russia, since 2000

- Parma, Italy, since 1964

- Pesaro, Italy, since 1964

- Ploče, Croatia, since 1982

- Rijeka, Croatia, since 1979

- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 2002

- Sousse, Tunisia, since 1969

- Tbilisi, Georgia, since 1977

- Vienna, Austria, since 1999

- Wiesbaden, Germany, since 1977

- Zagreb, Croatia, since 2001

- Pueblo, Colorado, United States, since 1991

Trivia

In 1888/89, Gustav Mahler was the director of the Ljubljana Philharmonic Society Orchestra.

Ljubljana hosted the 2001 Bush-Putin Summit where the first-ever meeting of US President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place.

Ljubljana hosted the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad from 6-18 July 2006.

It also hosted the 2006 World Saxophone Congress from 5-9 July 2006.

It also hosted the IAESTE SID (Seminar of IAESTE Development) from 21-24 April 2005.

Ljubljana is the hometown of world-renowned Lacanian psychoanalyst and critical theorist Slavoj Žižek, who occasionally teaches at the University of Ljubljana.

Ljubljana is also home to the world's largest digital clock.

See also

University of Ljubljana

Ljubljana Castle

Prešeren Square

Tromostovje

Nama

External links

General

The Website of the City of Ljubljana (official)

Travel

on Wikitravel