Tourist Guide Regular Sightseeing Tours
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Tourist guide www.visitljubljana.com Regular Sightseeing Tours Photo D. Wedam Regular Sightseeing Tours Daily from in front of the Town Hall at 10:00, 14:00 and 17:00 (from 1st April to 30 September). Daily from in front of the Town Hall at 11:00, (from 1 October to 31 March). Town Hall Tour Saturdays at 13:00. Information: LJUBLJANA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE– TIC Stritarjeva Street, Tel. 306 12 15, Fax 306 12 04 SLOVENIAN TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE – STIC, Krekov trg 10, Tel. 306 45 76, Fax 306 45 80 Contents Welcome 4 Getting to Ljubljana 6 City map 10 Getting around 16 Tourist information 20 City tours 22 City walk: seeing the sights of Ljubljana 26 Ljubljana through history 34 Culture 42 Museums and galleries 38 Accommodation 46 Eating out 48 Entertainment and nightlife 54 Shopping 58 Sports and recreation 60 Ljubljana for families 62 Excursions from Ljubljana 66 Practical information 70 Welcome It is often said of Ljubljana, both by Ljubljana essentials its residents and those visiting it, that it is a city made to the measure of — Capital of the Republic of Slovenia, a man. On the one hand, it ranks among European Union member state since 2004 mid-sized European cities and offers — Area: 275 sq km (170.8 sq mi) all the comforts of big capitals, while — Population: 280,000 on the other, it has preserved a small- — Official language: Slovenian; people in town friendliness and a uniqueness of Slovenia are generally well versed in its own. During winter, it is its dreamy English, those living near the Austrian and central European character that Italian borders also in German and Italian prevails, and during summer, its relaxed — Climate: continental, with January Mediterranean feel. The city’s character temperatures averaging –1.5 and July is marked by two widely differing and temperatures 21.7 degrees Celsius yet complementary features: Ljubljana — Height above sea level: 298m (623ft) is famed for its historical heritage and — Symbol: Ljubljana Dragon tradition while being a relatively young — Currency: euro (since 2007) city with a modern lifestyle. Scientists — Time zone: GMT + 1 hour and academics find it attractive for the — Population density: 1,014 people per sq km international reputation of its university, — GPS coordinates: 14.5057 (E), 46.0518 (N) world renowned artists for its vibrant and — Student population: approx. 60,000 creative spirit, businessmen for hosting — Safety: Ljubljana tops the list of the numerous business events and trade world’s most honest cities (Reader’s fairs, and all kinds of experts for being a Digest, 2008). delightful convention city. Country code: +386, area code: (0)1 Legend about the origin There the Argonauts disassembled their ship to be able to carry it to of Ljubljana the Adriatic Sea, put it together Ljubljana is said to be founded by the again, and return to Greece. On their Greek mythological hero Jason, who way to the sea, they made a stop at had stolen the golden fleece from Ljubljana Marshes, the dwelling place King Aetes and fled from him, along of a monster, which Jason fought and with his fellow Argonauts on the ship killed. The monster, now referred to Argo, across the Black Sea and up the as the Ljubljana Dragon, found its rivers Danube, Sava and Ljubljanica place atop the castle tower depicted all the way to the source of the latter. on the Ljubljana coat of arms. 5 Welcome Getting to Ljubljana Ljubljana lies between Vienna and Venice, at a weight of 3,500 kilograms, and annual, six-month crossroads of important transport routes from and weekly vignettes for two-wheeled motor northern Europe to the Adriatic Sea and from vehicles. Vignettes can be purchased at all petrol western to eastern Europe and further on to stations, most newspaper kiosks, and some toll the Balkans and the Near East. Its geographical booths and shopping centres in Slovenia. They are location overlaps with that of the so called also available at some of the neighbouring countries’ Ljubljana Gateway, a natural passage between petrol stations located close to the border. For more central Europe and the Mediterranean. information, visit the website at www.dars.si. Traffic Information Centre for Public Roads: By car or T: 518 85 18 motorcycle E: [email protected] W: www.promet.si Ljubljana lies at the crossroads of Slovenia’s most Roadside assistance: Automobile Association important road routes. Motorway access from any of Slovenia/AMZS of the neighbouring countries is easy. Dunajska cesta 128a Amsterdam 1236km, Venice 249km, Belgrade T: 530 53 00 539km, Berlin 995km, Brussels 1188km, Budapest E: [email protected] 572km, Vienna 375km, Frankfurt 800km, Graz W: www.amzs.si 202km, London 1498km, Madrid 2041km, Milan 495km, Moscow 2293km, Munich 408km, Paris Parking 1250km, Prague 649km, Rome 753km, Salzburg 290km, Split 428km, Stockholm 2082km, Trieste Ljubljana city centre has several charging car 110km, Zagreb 134km, Zürich 710km. parks and parking garages. Short-term parking is allowed in the streets within the short-term parking zone upon purchasing a parking Road toll vignette ticket. Free motorcycle parking is available in A road toll vignette is required for driving on designated motorcycle parking bays, most of Slovenian motorways and trunk roads. Annual, them located at the edge of pedestrian areas. monthly and weekly vignettes are available for Fines are imposed for illegal parking. There are four-wheeled vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle several electric car charging stations. Maribor, Bled, Graz, Vienna AU T , Salzburg AUT Budapest H Ljubljana Postojna, Koper, Triest, Venice ITA Novo mesto, Zagreb CRO 7 Getting to Ljubljana Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport/ By train Letališče Jožeta Pučnika Zgornji Brnik 130a International rail connections to Ljubljana are T: 04 206 19 81 good. Rail is also a convenient means of transport E: [email protected] within the country as distances are mainly short W: www.lju-airport.si and travel costs low. The Ljubljana Railway Station is located in the city centre. Ljubljana Railway Station Trg Osvobodilne fronte 6 T: 291 33 32 Other airports within E: [email protected] reasonable distance to W: www.slo-zeleznice.si Ljubljana By bus Several airports within reasonable distance to Ljubljana are served by low-fare carriers. There are good bus connections to Ljubljana from Favourably priced scheduled transfers from these most of Europe. Bus travel is one of the most airports and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport can be convenient forms of public transport for short trips booked through the website at GoOpti.com. to Ljubljana’s surrounding areas and other places The company GoOpti operates daily in Slovenia. The Ljubljana Bus Station is located in transfers between Ljubljana and the airports in the city centre, next to the Railway Station. Venice, Treviso, Trieste, Bergamo, Graz, Zagreb and several other cities at very reasonable prices Ljubljana Bus Station starting from as little as €10 per person. Trg Osvobodilne fronte 4 Transfers can be booked through the T: 1991 company’s website. Passengers are informed E: [email protected] about the exact departure time 24 hours before W: www.ap-ljubljana.si the departure. Distances to the nearest airports By plane • Klagenfurt: 85km • Graz: 187km • Trieste: 130km • Venice: 230km The country’s main airport, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik • Zagreb: 140km • Treviso: 238km Airport, is 26 kilometres away from Ljubljana (30 minutes by car). It serves flights to most of Europe’s major airports. Transport connections between the airport and the city There is daily bus service between the airport and the Ljubljana Bus Station. The fare is €4.10. The ride takes 50 minutes. For a detailed timetable, visit www.ap-ljubljana.si. The airport is also connected by shuttle bus (from €9.00 to €19.00; details on the airport’s website under Getting Here/Bus) and taxi (from €30.00 to €45.00). 8 Getting to Ljubljana Ljubljana map 11 Ljubljana map 12 Ljubljana map 13 Ljubljana map 14 Ljubljana map 15 Ljubljana map Urbana – Ljubljana Tourist Card Using Urbana – Ljubljana Tourist Card is the best way for exploring the city. Apart from free travel on city buses, card benefits include admission to Ljubljana Castle, the city’s major Getting around galleries and museums and several other sights, one free guided city tour, free bicycle hire, free internet access, and much more. You can choose from one-, two- or three-day cards, priced at €23.00, €30.00 and €35.00 (children 6-14 years €14.00, €18.00 and €21.00). The card is available from Ljubljana’s tourist information centres and hotels and the website at www.visitljubljana.com. Buy your card online and save 10% off the regular price. City bus Bicike(LJ) self-service Apart from cycling, city bus travel is the bicycle hire best way to get around Ljubljana as the The Bicike(LJ) bicycle hire network consists of bus network covers practically the entire 36 docking stations located within the greater city and its surrounding areas. To travel Ljubljana city centre area. More than 300 on city buses, you need either the Urbana bicycles are available for hire from the docking top-up city pass or the Urbana – Ljubljana stations. As the Bicike(LJ) scheme is mainly Tourist Card city pass. The Urbana top-up intended for short journeys, the first hour is city pass is available from the Ljubljana Bus free and after five minutes from returning a Station, most newspaper kiosks, all tourist hired bicycle, a new one can be hired. information centres and several other Weekly use: locations, but not on buses. It is priced The weekly use of the Bicike(LJ) bicycle at €2.00 and can be topped up with any hire scheme, targeted mainly at visitors to amount of money.