TOURIST GUIDE visitljubljana.com Contents Welcome 4 Getting to Ljubljana 6 City map 10 Getting around 16 Tourist information 20 City tours 22 City walk: seeing the VIBRANT. VIVID. sights of Ljubljana 26 Ljubljana through history 34 Museums and galleries 38 LJUBLJANA Culture 42 EXPERIENCE THE BEST LJUBLJANA OFFERS Accommodation 46 WITH ONE CARD Eating out 48 • ADMISSION TO 20+ ATTRACTIONS Entertainment and nightlife 54 • LJUBLJANA CASTLE Shopping 58 • GUIDED CITY TOUR + BOAT RIDE • CITY BUSES Sports and recreation 60 Ljubljana for families 62 adults children (6-14 years) Excursions from Ljubljana 66 24 hours: 31.00 € 18.00 € Practical information 70 48 hours: 39.00 € 23.00 € 72 hours: 45.00 € 27.00 € Buy your card online and save 10% of the regular price! It is often said of Ljubljana, both by Ljubljana essentials its residents and those visiting it, that Welcome 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 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 — Slovenia and Ljubljana ranked number numerous business events and trade ten on the Global Peace Index 2016 of fairs, and all kinds of experts for being a the safest countries. 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 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 Getting to Ljubljana 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 By train Other airports within International rail connections to Ljubljana are reasonable distance to good. Rail is also a convenient means of transport within the country as distances are mainly short Ljubljana and travel costs low. The Ljubljana Railway Several airports within reasonable distance Station is located in the city centre. to Ljubljana are served by low-fare carriers. Ljubljana Railway Station Favourably priced scheduled transfers from these Trg Osvobodilne fronte 6 airports and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport can be T: 291 33 32 booked through the website at GoOpti.com. E: [email protected] The company GoOpti operates daily W: www.slo-zeleznice.si transfers between Ljubljana and the airports in Venice, Treviso, Trieste, Bergamo, Graz, Zagreb and several other cities at very reasonable prices By bus starting from as little as €10 per person. Transfers can be booked through the There are good bus connections to Ljubljana from company’s website. Passengers are informed most of Europe. Bus travel is one of the most about the exact departure time 24 hours before convenient forms of public transport for short trips the departure. to Ljubljana’s surrounding areas and other places in Slovenia. The Ljubljana Bus Station is located in Distances to the nearest airports the city centre, next to the Railway Station. • Klagenfurt: 85km • Graz: 187km • Trieste: 130km • Venice: 230km Ljubljana Bus Station • Zagreb: 140km • Treviso: 238km Trg Osvobodilne fronte 4 T: 1991, 234 46 00 E: [email protected] W: www.ap-ljubljana.si By plane The country’s main airport, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, is 26 kilometres away from Ljubljana (30 minutes by car). It serves flights to most of Europe’s major airports. Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport/ Letališče Jožeta Pučnika Zgornji Brnik 130a T: 04 206 19 81 E: [email protected] W: www.lju-airport.si 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 Tags that will help you navigate the map Numbers, appearing in the text next to attractions (for example: Plečnik House 48) indicate their position on the map. Tags next to the names of facilities (for example: Kinodvor Mestni kino F3) indicate their position on the map. 11 Ljubljana map 12 Ljubljana map 13 Ljubljana map 14 Ljubljana map 15 Ljubljana map Ljubljana Tourist City bus Bicike(LJ) self-service Getting around Card bicycle hire Apart from cycling, city bus travel is the best way to get around Ljubljana as the Using Ljubljana Tourist The Bicike(LJ) bicycle hire network consists of bus network covers practically the entire Card is the best way for 51 docking stations located within the greater city and its surrounding areas. To travel exploring the city. Apart Ljubljana city centre area. More than 510 bicycles on city buses, you need either the Urbana from free travel on city are available for hire from the docking stations. top-up city pass or the Urbana – Ljubljana buses, card benefits include As the Bicike(LJ) scheme is mainly intended for Tourist Card city pass. The Urbana top-up admission to Ljubljana short journeys, the first hour is free and after five city pass is available from the Ljubljana Castle, the city’s major minutes from returning a hired bicycle, a new one Bus Station, most newspaper kiosks, all galleries and museums and can be hired. tourist information centres and several several other sights, one The weekly use of the Bicike(LJ) bicycle hire other locations, but not on buses. It is free guided city tour, free scheme, targeted mainly at visitors to Ljubljana, priced at €2.00 and can be topped up bicycle hire, free internet is available upon registration on the Bicike(LJ) with any amount of money. The fare is access, and much more. website.The weekly registration fee is €1.00. €1.30.