Ljubljana Old Town

Despite the fact that Ljubljana is Slovenia’s largest and capital city, Old Town is very walkable, as car traffic is restricted in the city center. Join a walking tour of Ljubljana to ensure you see all the popular sights such as St. Nicholas Cathedral, Central Market, and Dragon Bridge while also learning about the city’s history and architecture.

To get a bird’s-eye view of Ljubljana, ride the funicular from the town center to the top of Castle Hill where you can explore Ljubljana Castle and climb its watchtower for sweeping panoramas of the city. Most city walking tours include a funicular ride to the castle.

• Old Town is a must-see for all first-time visitors to Ljubljana.

• Wear good walking shoes; Old Town streets are cobblestone and can be uneven.

• If traveling with children, the interactive Museum of Puppetry at the Ljubljana Castle is worth a visit.

• Old Town is accessible for wheelchair users and strollers, especially due to it being vehicle-free, though the streets can be bumpy and rutted in some areas.

There are several ways to reach Old Town from Ljubljana. Buses run hourly from the Ljubljana Airport; the journey takes about an hour. Private shuttles, taxis, and car rentals are options as well. Old Town is a pedestrian-only area, so finding parking nearby can be difficult.

Ljubljana’s Old Town can be visited year-round. Summer, with street festivals galore and reliable weather, is the most popular season. To avoid the crowds, visit in May or September, when the weather is still pleasantly warm and prices are generally lower. For a few weeks in late March through early April, the blooming cherry blossoms make Ljubljana particularly lovely.

With designated cycling lanes and many car-free streets, Ljubljana is an incredibly bike-friendly city. Take a guided cycling tour of Ljubljana and bike alongside the Ljubljanica River embankment, tour Old Town’s hidden narrow streets, and cycle past historic sites and architectural wonders scattered throughout the city.