TOURIST GUIDE

visitljubljana.com Contents

Welcome 4 Getting to 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 • 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 , a man. On the one hand, it ranks among 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 , 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 , 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, and 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 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 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, 1188km, Budapest E: [email protected] 572km, Vienna 375km, Frankfurt 800km, 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, 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. It covers an up to 90-minute journey You can choose from one-, Hire prices: first hour: free, second hour: €1.00, regardless of the number of buses needed two- or three-day cards, third hour: €2.00, each additional hour: €4.00 to be changed to reach the destination. priced at €31.00, €39.00 www.bicikelj.si For detailed timetables, visit the website and €45.00 (children www.lpp.si. 6-14 years €18.00, €23.00 Taxi and €27.00). The card is available from Ljubljana’s Bicycle hire In the centre of Ljubljana you can easily tourist information centres, find an unoccupied taxi. Bear in mind, During the warm months, cycling is one of hotels and the website however, that the fare will cost you less if the most pleasant ways of getting around www.visitljubljana.com. you order a taxi by phone. Buy your card online and Ljubljana. As part of the project Ljubljana get 10% off the regular Bike, run by Ljubljana Tourism, the city’s price. tourist board, bicycles can be hired in the Urban electric train city centre throughout the summer and during the early autumn months. Take a ride on a unique and environment- Hire price: €2.00 for an up to two-hour friendly train called Urban. The Urban electric hire period, €8.00 for hire periods of more train will take you on an attractive circular than two hours (bicycles must be returned tourist trail, which connects the main city before the closing time of the Slovenian attractions. Tourist Information Centre). Duration: 1 hour 15 mi Hire location: Slovenian Tourist Starting point: Town Hall/Stritarjeva ulica street Information Centre (STIC), Krekov trg 10, Schedule T: 306 45 75, Language: audio guide in Slovene, English, www.visitljubljana.com. German, Italian, Croatian, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese.

Kavalir Short distances within the car-free city centre area can easily be overcome if you hop on an environmentally-friendly electric vehicle called Kavalir (Gallant Helper). It goes slowly so while running errands, you can simply hail it and it will stop where it suits you. The vehicle can accommodate up to five people. Rides are free of charge. Daily from 8:00–20:00. The vehicles Kavalir 1 and Kavalir 2 run daily from 1 April to 31 October (T: 031 666 331 or 031 666 332) and the glazed and heated vehicle Kavalir 3 throughout the year (T: 031 666 299).

17 Getting around Left: Bikes in Ljubljana 30 Ljubljana has two tourist information centres, one of Tourist Website www.visitljubljana.com Tourist information them providing information information about the entire country. The website Apart from obtaining tourist centres www.visitljubljana.com information, you can get contains information on all that Ljubljana and its surrounding tourist brochures, purchase Ljubljana Tourist Information areas have to offer and tickets to various events, Centre (TIC) book accommodation, pay provides abundant practical for guided city tours, book Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 2 information to help visitors find excursions around Slovenia, T: 306 12 15 their way around the city and and buy souvenirs (those E: [email protected] feel comfortable. most authentic are branded as Open daily, 8:00-21:00 from “Souvenir of Ljubljana”), we 1 Jun to 30 Sep, 8:00-19:00 also recommend Makalonca from 1 Oct to 31 May. - a new line of creatively designed items. At the Slovenian Tourist Information Slovenian Tourist Information Centre (STIC) Centre you can also browse Krekov trg 10 the internet or hire a bicycle. T: 306 45 76 E: [email protected] Open 8:00-21:00 daily from 1 Jun to 30 Sep, 8:00- 19:00 weekdays, 9:00-17:00 Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 1 Oct to 31 May

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21 Tourist information Left: Slovenian Tourist Information Centre - STIC Ljubljana has a lot to offer Taste Ljubljana Food Tour regardless of the season or Regularly Join a guided city tour weather. It has a large number City tours scheduled city including tasting sessions of of sights, picturesque areas, traditional Ljubljana dishes and and delightful nooks and tours get to know the city’s culinary crannies as well as a wealth offer and its historical tradition. of stories and legends. Historical City Centre and The tour, is available on Join a city tour and let an Ljubljana Castle Wednesdays and Sutardays experienced guide show you at 12:00 from 1 May to 30 Ljubljana at its best. This two-hour tour, includes a walk past the city’s major sights September and on Saturdays at and a funicular ride to Ljubljana 12:00 from 1 October to 30 April. Castle. It is available at 10:00 daily from Exploring Ljubljana by 1 April to 30 September and at Bicycle 11:00. daily from 1 October This cycling tour takes you to 31 March. beyond the historical city centre and includes a picnic in Sights of Ljubljana and a the vast Tivoli Park. Boat Cruise The three hours tour is available To see Ljubljana from on Thursdays at 16:00 and on a completely different Sundays at 10:00 from 1 April to perspective, join the one-and- 1 September. a-half-hour guided walk of the old city centre followed by a Walking Tour of Plečnik’s half-hour tourist boat ride. The Ljubljana tour, is available Get to know the creative at 14:00 daily from 1 April to opus and life of the greatest 30 September. Slovenian architect, Jože Plečnik. On this walking tour you Ljubljana’s Attractions and Art will follow in the footsteps of This tour takes you on a walk the master, on a route which he around the historical city centre, himself walked countless times. Tour information and giving you an opportunity to see The tour on Wednesdays and booking: Ljubljana’s all of its major sights. It includes Saturdays at 12:00 is available tourist information a visit to the National Gallery from 1 May to 30 September and centres of Slovenia. The tour departs from 1 October to 30 April on T: 306 12 30 at 16:00 daily from 1 April to 30 Wednesdays at 12:00. E: alenka.stular@ September. visitljubljana.si or via the online booking form at Bicycle Tour through www.visitljubljana.com Moustache Tour Plečnik’s Ljubljana The three mighty moustachioed Get to know the creative men and a tour guide hold the opus and life of the greatest All regularly scheduled key to the secret of Ljubljana, Slovenian architect, Jože tours of Ljubljana are which will be shared with you Plečnik. On a guided cycling guided in Slovenian and in on this unusual Moustache tour you will visit his works English. Other language Tour. Cycle through the most outside the city centre. The options are available by beautiful streets of Ljubljana and tour is available from 1 April to appointment. Purchase feel the lifestyle of an Architect, 30 September on Tuesdays at your tour ticket from a Writer and a Painter. The tour 10:00. tourist information centre is available from 1 April to 31 or online. October Fridays at 15:00.

23 City tours Left: Regular city tour Ljubljana Wine Experience Tours available Special Treat yourself to a tasting of nine wines originating from by prior experience tours three wine-growing regions Tourist boat tour and thoroughly discover appointment the richness of Slovenian Taking a guided or non- viticulture. The tour and is Ljubljana City Walk guided boat tour, you can available from 1 May to 30 This guided walking tour view Ljubljana’s bridges and September on Tuesdays includes all the major sights the façades of many of the and Saturdays at 17:00 and of the old city centre. The tour city’s famous buildings from a from 1 October to 30 April on departure point and language completely different angle. Saturdays at 17:00. can be arranged on booking. Funicular railway to the Ljubljana Beer Experience Themed city tours Ljubljana Castle Tour Apart from regularly scheduled Funicular railway connects the This guided culinary tour general tours, there is a wide Old Town with the Ljubljana gives you an opportunity to range of specially themed Castle. Lower station is located taste various local beers while tours to choose from, including at Krek’s Square, the cabin suits learning about the rich history the walking tours of Baroque, its panoramic function. It only of brewing in Ljubljana. Art Nouveau and Plečnik’s takes a minute to get on top and You will also visit the Brewery Ljubljana, a tour tracing the visit the Ljubljana Castle. The Museum. The is available on footsteps of the greatest funicular rides every 10 minutes. Mondays and Fridays at 18:00 Slovenian poet France Prešeren, from 1 May to 30 September a tour of Ljubljana’s churches, and from 1 October to 30 April a tour themed on the stories on Fridays at 18:00. and legends about Ljubljana, a tour for senior visitors, a full- or Town Hall Tour half-day tour of Ljubljana and a literary-themed city tour. The one-hour tour departs Saturdays at 13:00 from the square in front of the Town Hall.

Žale Cemetery The Žale Cemetery, whose unusual funeral home complex was designed by the architect Jože Plečnik, is an important Make a present of an cultural heritage monument unforgettable experience and one of the best known to your loved ones, friends Information on tickets cemeteries in Europe. One- or business partners. and reservations: Tourist hour tour, departing every Visit a Tourist Information information centres first Saturday of the month Centre and purchase a gift T: 306 12 15, 306 45 75 (from March to September) at voucher for a regularly E: [email protected] 10:00 from the entrance to the scheduled city tour. W. www.visitljubljana.com Plečnik’s Žale.

24 City tours Right: Tourist boat tour part of the square is dominated by the Ljubljana Old Town Church of St. Florian 6 . City walk: seeing the The Levstikov trg square was designed The centre of the oldest, medieval part of by the architect Jože Plečnik. In front of the Ljubljana comprises three squares: Mestni Church of St. James 7 stands St. Mary’s trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg. sights of Ljubljana Column, erected in 1681 as a thanks offering for Mestni trg is dominated by the Town the Slovenian lands having been spared from Hall 1 , a 15th century building housing the Turkish occupation. Across the street from government of the City of Ljubljana and the church stands Gruber Palace 8, which holding countless memories of the city’s houses the National Archives of Slovenia. The past. In the square in front of the building palace was built by the Jesuit architect Gabriel stands the replica of Francesco Robba’s Gruber, best known for his designs for the famous Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers Gruber Channel, a drainage project diverting 2 (the original is kept at the National surplus water from the river Ljubljanica. Gallery). The building at no. 17 Mestni trg Cross the Šentjakob Bridge and take a is adorned with a bust of Gustav Mahler, walk along the Breg 9 embankment. Breg’s who conducted the Ljubljana Philharmonic most remarkable building is Zois Palace Society in the 1881-1882 season. Souvan 10 , once the home of Baron Žiga Zois, House, located at no. 24, is remarkable for its the central figure of the Enlightenment in typical Biedermeier façade decorated with Slovenia and a renowned patron of arts. At reliefs symbolically depicting agriculture, art the far end of the embankment, a view of and commerce. Architecturally interesting the Novi trg square will open up before you, is also the Drofenig House, an Art Nouveau dominated by the building of the Slovenian building whose prefabricated black marble Academy of Sciences and Arts 11 . façade is considered to be one of the The Novi trg area’s most prominent most successful examples of integration building is unquestionably the National of a modern style into the city’s historical and University Library 12 , built between architecture. 1935 and 1940 to designs by the architect At the point where Mestni trg blends Jože Plečnik. Apart from numerous into Stari trg, do not miss the Cobblers’ historical manuscripts and early prints, it Bridge 3 , conceived by the architect Jože keeps sample copies of all the publications Plečnik as a square above water. Its name published in Slovenia. refers to the cobblers’ workshops which used to occupy the bridge in the past. Stari trg is the earliest settled part Trg francoske revolucije of medieval Ljubljana. Almost all of its buildings date from the Baroque period. square and Particularly worth viewing is the three- Vegova ulica street storey Schweiger House 4 at no. 11a, which boasts one of Ljubljana’s most beautiful The trg francoske revolucije square is Late Baroque façades. On the south end of dominated by Križanke 13 , originally a mid- the square stands the Hercules Fountain 5 . 13th century monastery complex founded The Gornji trg square used to be the by the German Knights of the Cross. Since site of one of the town gates of medieval the alterations made to designs by Jože Ljubljana. Some of its buildings have Plečnik in the 1950s, it has been a summer preserved their medieval orientation with theatre, best known for hosting the events roof ridges facing the square. The central of the Ljubljana Festival.

27 City walk Left: Prešernov trg square On the lower end, the square is Robba. In front of the church, the Holy Trg republike square it was considered to be the highest building overlooked by Auerspeg Palace, once Trinity Column was erected in 1693 as a in the Balkans and the ninth highest in owned by the provincial governor general. thanks offering for the city having been Trg republike, Ljubljana’s largest square, Europe. On the top of it there is Ljubljana’s Today, the building houses the City Museum spared from the plague. was laid out by the architect Edo Ravnikar most panoramic café. of Ljubljana 3 (see the Museums and In the immediate vicinity you will find in the 1970s. On its west end stands the galleries chapter). In the centre of the the building which used to house the Monument to Revolution 22 , and on its square stands a monument 14 erected in German Theatre when Ljubljana was still Art Nouveau Ljubljana north end the the memory of the Napoleonic Empire’s a bilingual city. Today it is the home of 23 building with the Tomb of National (1809-1813). the Slovenian National Drama Theatre of Most of Ljubljana’s Art Nouveau buildings Heroes next to it. The square’s vast central Walking down the Vegova ulica 15 Ljubljana 21 , one of the country’s foremost were constructed in the first decade of area, where Slovenian independence was street, you will follow the course of a theatre companies. the 20th century in the area between the declared on 25 June 1991, is intended for medieval town wall (a tower of the period old city centre and the Ljubljana Railway mass gatherings. Other buildings around still stands at the end of the street) and a Station, around Miklošičev park 30 the square are the Cankarjev dom, 24 town wall of the Roman city of . Like and along the Miklošičeva ulica street. cultural and congress centre (Slovenias the Križanke summer theatre, Vegova ulica The Roman city of Emona Particularly striking is the colourful largest auditorium, with 2000 seats) and Cooperative Business Bank 31 building, was laid out by Jože Plečnik. In Ljubljana you can still see the Ljubljanska banka and TR3 office also called “Vurnik House” after the numerous remains of Emona, the buildings. architect who designed it. Kongresni trg square Roman predecessor of Ljubljana, whose foundation stone is believed The Kongresni trg square was named after to have been laid by the Roman Tivoli park Prešernov trg square the 1821 Congress of the Holy Alliance, Emperor Augustus in 14 AD. The Tivoli, Ljubljana’s largest park, extends into the political settlement of the Napoleonic best preserved part of Emona is its Prešernov trg is named after the greatest the very city centre. The park’s Jakopič Wars. The south end of the square is southern town wall 44 , including Slovenian poet, France Prešeren (1800- Promenade 25 , used as an open-air overlooked by the building of the University the city’s main southern gate and 1849), whose statue 32 graces the centre gallery, leads to Tivoli Mansion, the home of Ljubljana 16 , formerly the home and two postern gates reconstructed of the square, facing the relief of Julija of Ljubljana’s International Centre of office of provincial governor deputies. by the architect Jože Plečnik Primic, the poet’s great love, mounted on Graphic Arts 19 . A short walk away is Next to it stands the building of the between the two World Wars. Also a building across the square. Prešeren is Cekin Mansion, which houses the National Slovenian Philharmonic 17 , the successor preserved is Emona’s main northern particularly famous for his poem A Toast Museum of Contemporary History 7 . of Academia Philharmonicorum, one of town gate 53 . Ljubljana’s better (), adopted as Slovenia’s national The Tivoli Sports and Recreational Centre the world’s oldest musical institutions, known Roman remains also include anthem. He is also remembered for his is located on one side of the Jakopič founded in 1701. Its honorary members the Emonian, a gilded bronze endeavours to modernize the Slovenian Promenade and the Tivoli Glasshouse 26 included the violinist Niccolò Paganini and statue whose replica stands in the language. and a fish pond on the other. A 15-minute the composers Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Zvezda park, not far away from The most majestic building on walk from the Promenade brings you to the Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. Gustav the site where it was excavated. Prešernov trg is the Franciscan Church of 27 . Mahler was among its conductors. Roman remains are also on display the Annunciation 33 , a splendid example On your way from the park to the In the square’s park, known as Zvezda at the National Museum and the of early Baroque architecture with a city’s Art Nouveau area make sure not to 18 , stands the replica of the Emonian, a City Museum of Ljubljana. The monastery next to it. The square is also the miss the Museum of Modern Art 18 , the Roman statue discovered in 1836, during latter manages several open-air site of two fine examples of Art Nouveau National Gallery 17 , the National Museum the construction of the neoclassical Kazina historical locations, including architecture: Urbanc House 34 and of Slovenia 1 , under the same roof as the 19 building. the Archaeological Park 54 in Hauptman House 35 . Slovenian Museum of Natural History 8 , Kongresni trg’s Ursuline Monastery the Erjavčeva ulica street and the The 36 was built between and the building of the Slovenian National and Church of the Holy Trinity 20 are Emona House Archaeological Park 1929 and 1932, when two side bridges, Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ljubljana 28 . considered to be the most beautiful 45 in the Mirje area, where the intended for pedestrians, were added to the Continue past the 12-storey Nebotičnik 29 and extraordinary examples of Baroque remains of a roman house are on original stone bridge by Jože Plečnik, the building, constructed in 1933. Measuring 70 architecture in Ljubljana. The church’s display. creator of this unique architectural gem. metres high, at the time of its construction huge main altar was created by Francesco

28 City walk 29 City walk Vodnikov trg square Ljubljana Castle Emona. Visit the Roman Wall 44 and the Emona House Archaelogical Park 45 open- The central part of Vodnikov trg is the Ljubljana Castle 43 , the city’s most air archaeological museum, part of the City site of Ljubljana’s Central Market 37 , laid prominent landmark, is a popular tourist Museum of Ljubljana. out in the 1930’s by Jože Plečnik. Apart attraction and a picturesque event venue There is a special story behind the 18th from fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, putting a unique stamp on the city’s skyline. century Trnovo Church 46 , where France market stalls offer practically any kind of Ljubljana Castle and Furnicular is open daily: Prešeren, the greatest Slovenian poet, first food, including Slovenian specialities such • January to March, November: 10:00-20:00, saw his great love Julija Primic, to whom he as prosciutto and the potica cake. • April, May, October: 9:00-21:00, dedicated his most beautiful sonnets. In front At the point where Jože Plečnik made • June to September: 9:00-23:00, of the church stands the 47 , a a gap in the Central Market’s colonnade to • December: 10:00-22:00. work by the architect Jože Plečnik, with birch provide space for a bridge, the Butchers’ The castle’s Outlook Tower, which offers trees growing out of it. Next to the church is Bridge 38 has been built. the most beautiful views of Ljubljana and its Plečnik House 48 , where the famous One side of the Central Market is lined by a surrounding areas, and Virtual Castle are architect lived and worked. Now it is a Baroque church, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas open also for non-guided visits. Visitors are museum. 39 , whose interior owes its special charm to welcome daily: Great places to take a rest or a pleasant frescoes by Giulio Quaglio. The Cathedral’s • January to March, November: 10:00-18:00, riverside walk are the Krakovski nasip 49 unique main entrance door relief depicts the • April, May, October: 9:00-20:00, and Trnovski pristan 50 embankments. A history of Christianity on Slovenian lands, and • June to September: 9:00-21:00, walk alongside the river brings you to the its side entrance door relief portraits of the • December: 10:00-19:00. Ljubljana Botanic Garden. 20th century Bishops of Ljubljana. Next to the Guided tours of the entire castle, led by Cathedral, the Seminary Palace 40 building specialist staff, are available. A part of the Ljubljana Botanic Garden houses the unique Seminary Library, another castle houses a permanent exhibition gem of Baroque art. entitled Slovenian History, which shows the Founded in 1810, in the time of the On the other side of the market stands dynamic and Ljubljana. Napoleonic Empire’s Illyrian Provinces, the the Dragon Bridge 41 , Ljubljana’s first Art The castle is accessible by funicular railway, Ljubljana Botanic Garden 51 is the oldest Nouveau creation, built in 1901. tourist road train or on foot via several well- running cultural, scientific and educational Vodnikov trg square blends into the maintained walking paths. institution in Slovenian lands. It contains Krekov trg 42 , square famous for the over 4,500 plant species, subspecies and Ljubljana Puppet Theatre’s interesting roof The suburbs of Krakovo varieties, one third of them being endemic to turret with a clock. At every full hour Martin Slovenia and the rest originating from various Krpan, the most famous fictional character and Trnovo parts of Europe and other continents. in Slovenian literature, steps out of it along with his good old mare. Krakovo and Trnovo are considered to Next to the theatre building is the lower be Ljubljana’s oldest suburbs. They were built platform of the funicular railway connecting outside the city’s medieval town walls and have the city centre with Ljubljana Castle. retained their village character to the present day. In the past, the residents of Krakovo and Trnovo were mostly fishermen. Today, the Museum Quarter two suburbs are best known for their gardens Alternative culture centre- mesto and gardeners, the so called salad ladies of Both in Slovenia and internationally, Metelkova mesto 52 has made a name for Museum quarter on Metelkova street Trnovo (trnovske solatarice), who continue itself as an independent centre of arts and crafts, political and NGO activity, comprises The Museum of Contemporary a centuries-long tradition of selling their and cultural production in the fields of music, theatre, fine arts, comic book art, Art 25 , National Museum of Slovenia- products at the Central Market. The area also video, etc. It has developed into an important centre of alternative culture, where Metelkova 2 , and The Slovenian has a bustling café and cultural life. concerts, club nights, lectures and other events featuring performers from around Etnographic Museum 6 . If you take a walk around the area, do the world are held on a daily basis. not miss the remains of the Roman city of www.metelkovamesto.org

30 City walk 31 City walk Above: Metelkova mesto Walking tour of Plečnik’s Jože Plečnik Ljubljana Architect The tour offers a detailed There are few cities on which a single artist has insight into most of Ljubljana’s left such a strong personal imprint as that which centrally located sights the architect and urban planner Jože Plečnik Jože Plečnik designed by Jože Plečnik. (1872–1957) left on Ljubljana, his birthplace. Jože Plečnik is considered to be one of the world’s Information and booking most important pioneers of contemporary architecture. Ljubljana’s tourist information centres His oeuvre left a distinct mark on three central European T: 306 12 30 cities: Vienna, Prague and, in particular, Ljubljana. E: [email protected] Plečnik left home at the age of 16 to enrol at the School of Industry and Crafts in Graz and train as a furniture designer. In 1895 he enrolled at the department of architecture of the Vienna Art Academy, from which he graduated in 1898 as the best student of Professor Otto Wagner’s class. In 1911, he accepted the position of lecturer at the School of Arts and Crafts in Prague. He accepted an invitation from the President of the Czechoslovak Republic to take up the position of the chief architect in charge of the renovation of Prague Castle on Hradčany. In 1921 Plečnik returned to Ljubljana, where he was offered the post of professor at the . Almost all his works in Ljubljana were created in less than twenty years. He died on 7 January 1957 at his home in Trnovo and is buried in the family grave at the Žale Cemetery. Jože Plečnik left behind some of the most important works of the European architecture of the first half of the 20th century. In creating his architectural and design works he developed his own distinctive style characterized by a modernist reduction and an original synthesis of historical and modern elements. His major works in Ljubljana include the Triple Bridge, the Central Market Colonnade, the Ljubljanica River Sluice Gate, the National and University Library, the Tivoli park’s main promenade, the Cobblers’ Bridge, and the Žale Cemetery. Due to his unique design, embracing more than just architecture, the so called Plečnik’s Ljubljana rates among the 20th century’s most prominent total works of art.

33 City walk Left: Plečnik’s studio Ljubljana has succeeded Around 3900 BC, Ljubljana Marshes were settled by lake in preserving evidence dwellers, who lived in wooden dwellings built on stilts Ljubljana through history of all the periods of its driven into the marsh ground or lake bed. At Ljubljana rich history: the remains Marshes, archaeologists have discovered the remains of the of the Roman city of world’s oldest wheel, made between 3350 and 3100 BC. Emona; the city centre The wheel is kept at the City Museum of Ljubljana. with , Baroque and Art Nouveau façades, Early in history, the Ljubljana Gateway, a natural passage lopsided roofs, ornate between central Europe and the Mediterranean, saw entrance portals and migration flows of numerous tribes and peoples, including romantic bridges over the Illyrians and Celts. the Ljubljanica river; a park stretching into the In 14 AD, the Roman city of Emona was founded on the site very city centre; works by of the present Ljubljana. It was a strategic stronghold with Jože Plečnik, a pioneer of five to six thousand inhabitants, mainly merchants and modern architecture. craftsmen. It was destroyed by the Huns in 452 AD.

At the end of the 6th century, the Slovenians’ Slavic forefathers arrived in the area. A medieval city began to be built gradually.

The earliest written mention of the city’s name appears in a document dating from the period 1112–1125.

Ljubljana’s rapid growth began in the 13th century, when the city, called Laibach at the time, was granted city rights.

In 1270, Ljubljana was conquered by King Ottokar I of Bohemia. Eight years later it fell under the Hapsburg rule as part of the Province of .

After the earthquake of 1511, the city was rebuilt in the Renaissance style and surrounded by a new town wall.

Ljubljana was the centre of the Slovenian Reformation movement and culture. 1550 saw the publishing of the first two books ever written in Slovenian, Primož Trubar’s Catechismus and Abecedarium. In 1584 the Bible was translated into Slovenian by Jurij Dalmatin.

The end of the 17th century saw the foundation of the Academia operosorum Labacensis, a scholarly society modelled on Italian associations of the kind. Foreign artists and architects, such as the sculptor Francesco Robba, were invited to Ljubljana, which soon turned from a Renaissance into a Baroque city.

35 Ljubljana trough history Left: Janez Vajkard Valvasor’s Statue 1701 saw the establishment of the Academia Lake dwellers and philharmonicorum, one of the first institutions of the kind their legacy to be founded outside . Honorary members of its successor, the Philharmonic Society, included the violinist According to the World Heritage Committee’s Niccolò Paganini and the composers Josef Haydn, Ludwig decision, the sites of a van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. One of the Society’s number of prehistoric conductors was Gustav Mahler. pile-dwelling settlements in and around the Alps, During French occupation (1809-1813), Ljubljana was the including two sites at capital of the Illyrian Provinces. Slovenian became one Ljubljana Marshes, have of the official languages. In 1821, back under Austrian recently been listed as rule, Ljubljana hosted the Congress of the Holy Alliance, Unesco’s World Heritage. Ljubljana Marshes are participated by several European rulers. best known for the ancient culture of lake In 1849, the first train from Vienna arrived in Ljubljana. Eight dwellers, who lived in the years later, a railway connecting Ljubljana to Trieste was area 6,000 years ago as completed. farmers, stockbreeders and hunters. They lived in In 1895, the city suffered a devastating earthquake. wooden dwellings built on stilts driven into the Ljubljana was only indirectly affected by the First World lake bed. The remains War. In 1918, after the disintegration of the Austro- of Ljubljana Marshes’ oldest lake dwellings were Hungarian Empire, it became the administrative, political discovered in the vicinity and cultural centre of Slovenia as part of the Kingdom of of the village of Ig, 10 Serbs, Croats and Slovenians. kilometres from Ljubljana. The best known find, kept By the mid-1930s, Ljubljana had a population of over at the National Museum of 80,000. Between the two World Wars, its appearance was Slovenia, is a baked clay dramatically transformed by the architect Jože Plečnik, female idol dating from around 2000 BC. Remains which led to the term “Plečnik’s Ljubljana” being used in of pile dwellings were reference to this period in the city’s architectural history. also found in the centre of Ljubljana, on the Špica During the Second World War, Ljubljana was occupied first embankment. by the Italian and then the German army. For three years it was surrounded with a barb wire fence. After the war, it became the capital of Slovenia, one of the six republics constituting the socialist Yugoslavia.

In a plebiscite held on 23 December 1990, the people of Slovenia voted for an autonomous and independent state. Independence was declared on 25 June 1991 and Ljubljana was named the state’s capital.

In May 2004, Slovenia entered the European Union. In 2007 it adopted euro as its currency.

36 Ljubljana trough history Right: Ljubljana Castle Being the capital of Slovenia, 4 Plečnik House Ljubljana has a considerable Museums Karunova 4-6, D8 Museums and number of both national T: 241 25 06 museums and those presenting 1 National Museum of Slovenia W: www.mgml.si the history of the city. Its Narodni muzej Slovenije Get to know the life and work galleries leading art museums are Muzejska ulica 1, C4 of the famous architect Jože the National Gallery and the T: 241 44 00 Plečnik, who left an indelible Museum of Modern Art. Apart W: www.nms.si mark on the cityscape of from those, Ljubljana has a Slovenia’s leading museum of Ljubljana. At Plečnik House large number of galleries national history holds numerous you can see the architect’s exhibiting or selling art. finds from Slovenia, one of home exactly as it was in his the most outstanding being a lifetime and view a permanent 55,000-year-old Neanderthal exhibition showcasing his flute. Open Mon-Sun 10:00-18:00, work focusing particularly Thu 10:00-20:00. From 1 Jun - 30 on the architect’s creations Sep 8:00-22:00. Free admission in Ljubljana. Open Tue-Sun every first Sunday of the month. 10:00−18:00. Closed 1.1., 1. 11. Public holidays closed. and 25.12.

2 National Museum of 5 Museum of Architecture Slovenia – Metelkova and Design – Fužine Castle Narodni muzej Slovenije – Muzej za arhitekturo in Metelkova, Maistrova ulica 1, G3 oblikovanje – Grad Fužine T: 230 70 30 Pot na Fužine 2 W: www.nms.si T: 548 42 70 The Museum’s permanent W: www.mao.si exhibition presents the applied The Museum of Architecture art heritage of Slovenian and Design is Slovenia’s leading inhabited areas. It brings museum of architecture, urban together objects of applied planning, industrial and graphic art, industrial design items and design, and photography. Since unique handmade design items 1973, the museum has been created from the 14th century organizing the Ljubljana Biennial to the present day. Open of Industrial Design (BIO). Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. Public Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. holidays closed. Free admission Public holidays closed. Contemporary art every first Sunday of the month. connoisseurs from around 6 Slovene Ethnographic the world are probably 3 City Museum of Ljubljana Museum most familiar with the - MGLM Slovenski etnografski muzej work of the artists of the so Mestni muzej Ljubljana Metelkova ulica 2, G3 called Ljubljana School of Gosposka ulica 15, D6 T: 300 87 00, 300 87 45 Graphic Art and the artistic T: 241 25 00 W: www.etno-muzej.si group Irwin, whose avant- W: www.mgml.si The Museum’s permanent garde concept known At the City Museum of Ljubljana exhibition presents Slovenian as Neue Slowenische you can view a permanent and non-European cultural Kunst, formulated in the exhibition on the history of life heritage related to everyday 1980s, has resulted in one in Ljubljana entitled The Faces and ceremonial life. of the most interesting of Ljubljana, take a walk along Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. and at the same time a 1st century Roman road, and Free admission every first most provocative artistic meet the Water Man. Sunday of the month. oeuvres in the history of Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, contemporary art. Thu 10:00-21:00. Mon and public holidays closed.

39 Museums and galleries Left: National Gallery 7 National Museum of as part of Ljubljana Castle’s 12 Brewery Museum 16 a Technical Museum 18 Museum of Modern Art 22 ŠKUC Gallery Contemporary History permanent exhibition Slovenian Pivovarski muzej of Slovenia Moderna galerija Galerija ŠKUC, Stari trg 21, E6 Muzej novejše zgodovine History, represent a part of the Pivovarniška ulica 2, C1 Tehniški muzej Slovenije Tomšičeva 14, C5 T: 251 65 40 Slovenije, Celovška cesta 23, B2 huge treasure trove of history T: 041 303 050 Bistra 6 T: 241 68 00 W: www.galerija.skuc.si T: 300 96 10 on display in museums and W: www.union-experience.si SI-1353 Borovnica W: www.mg-lj.si Galerija ŠKUC, Ljubljana’s W: www.muzej-nz.si exhibitions across Slovenia. The Museum’s collection offers T: 750 66 70, 041 526 288 The Museum presents oldest gallery working on The Museum, dedicated to Both in terms of technology a comprehensive overview W: www.tms.si exhibitions of paintings, a non-institutional basis, presenting Slovenian history and content, it is in keeping of the history of Ljubljana’s The Museum, set in the ancient sculptures and prints by presents the latest trends from the beginning of the with modern trends in Pivovarna Union brewery, beer Bistra Castle, houses collections 20th century Slovenian and in contemporary fine art in 20th century, keeps collections exhibition design. production, and activities on agriculture, textile engineering, international artists. Slovenia and beyond. on the First and Second Open daily: related to brewing. transport, forestry, wood Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. Open Tue-Sun 12:00-20:00. World Wars, the period • Jan to Mar, Nov: 10:00-18:00, Open for public visits: processing, electrical engineering, Public holidays closed. Free 1. 1. closed. between the two wars, the • Apr, May, Oct: 9:00-20:00, Mon-Fri 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 hunting, fishing and printing. admission every first Sunday of Free admision. Socialist period, and the • Jun to Sep: 9:00-21:00, and 18:00, Sat 14:00, 16:00 and Open Tue-Fri 8:00-16:00 the month. establishment of Slovenia as • Dec: 10:00-19:00. 18:00. Sun and public holidays (10:00-18:00 in Jul and Aug), 23 Cankarjev dom Gallery an independent state. closed. Sat 9:00-17:00, Sun and public 19 International Centre Galerija Cankarjev dom Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. 10 Slovenian School Museum holidays. 10:00-18:00. of Graphic Arts Prešernova cesta 10, C5 Public holidays closed. Slovenski šolski muzej 13 Tobacco Museum Closed in winter. Mednarodni grafični likovni T: 241 71 00 Free admission every first Plečnikov trg 1, D5 Tobačni muzej center W: www.cd-cc.si Sunday of the month. T: 251 30 24 Tobačna ulica 5, B5 16 b Technical Museum of Pod Turnom 3, B3 Open Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, W: www.ssolski-muzej.si T: 241 25 00 Slovenia/Museum of T: 241 38 00 Sun 10:00-14:00. 8 Slovenian Museum The Museum keeps a large W: www.mgml.si Post and Telecommunication W: www.mglc-lj.si of Natural History collection of objects and The Museum presents tobacco Tehniški muzej Slovenije/Muzej Apart from holding a collection 24 Jakopič Gallery Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije materials on the history of product manufacturing pošte in telekomunikacije of prints from the 20th century Galerija Jakopič, Muzejska ulica 1, C4 the education system and processes, the use of tobacco Polhov Gradec 61 to the present day, the Centre Slovenska cesta 9, D6 hosts contemporary art T: 241 09 40 pedagogy in Slovenian lands. products, and the lifestyle of SI-1355 Polhov Gradec T: 241 25 00 exhibitions featuring artists W: www.pms-lj.si Particularly interesting is a tobacco workers of the past, T: 364 00 83 W: www.mgml.si from home and abroad. The Museum holds extensive demonstration entitled School with a focus on female cigar W:www.tms.si Galerija Jakopič, standing on Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. 25. the site of the central square zoological, botanical and Lessons of our Grannies and rollers. Open Tue-Fri, Sun and public 12. and 1. 1. closed. of the Roman city of Emona, geological collections Grandpas. Open Tue-Fri 11:00-17:00. holidays 10:00-17:00. presents large exhibitions of including practically all Open Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, every Free admission. 20 City Art Museum Ljubljana design, photography, architecture plant and animal species first Saturday of the Mestna galerija Ljubljana – and other visual arts and hosts and minerals of Slovenia. month 10:00-14:00. 14 Sports Museum MGML, Mestni trg 5, E5 performing art and multimedia Open Mon-Sun 10:00-18:00, Public holidays closed. Muzej športa Art museums Thu 10:00-20:00. Public Kopitarjeva ulica 4, F5 T: 241 17 70 projects. Reassessing the themes and galleries W: www.mgml.si of the past using a fresh approach holidays closed. Free admission 11 Railway Museum T: 431 83 40 The City Art Museum is engaged rooted in contemporary society, it every first Sunday of the month. Železniški muzej W: www.muzejsporta.si 17 National Gallery of Slovenia in setting up its own and hosting represents a bridge between the Parmova ulica 35, D1 The Museum is dedicated to the Narodna galerija travelling exhibitions of work by museum and gallery worlds. Open 9 Virtual Castle, Permanent T: 291 26 41, 291 26 43 history of sports in Slovenia. Prešernova cesta 24, C4 individual artists and art groups Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Exhibition Slovenian History W: www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/ Open Mon-Fri 9:00-14:00. T: 241 54 18 from Slovenia and abroad, Public holidays closed. Virtualni muzej sz-group/about-us/slovenian- Public holidays closed. Free W: www.ng-slo.si including retrospectives and Grajska planota 1, E5 railway-museum admission. The National Gallery holds two study exhibitions. Its scope of 25 Museum of Contemporary Art T: 306 42 93 The Museum houses a permanent collections: Art in interest extends beyond the Maistrova 3, G3 W: www.ljubljanskigrad.si permanent collection of 15 Slovenian Theatre Institute Slovenia, covering the period European cultural context. T: 241 68 00 The Virtual Museum, presenting historical rolling stock (steam Slovenski gledališki muzej from the 13th century to the Open Tue-Sun 11:00-19:00, Thu W: www.mg-lj.si the history of Ljubljana from locomotives, carriages, and Mestni trg 17, E5 first quarter of the 20th century, 11:00-21:00. 24. and 31. 12. 10:00- A selection of works from the antiquity to the present day, other railroad vehicles), an T: 241 58 00 and European Paintings. 15:00. 1. 1., 1. 11., 25. 12. closed. Arteast 2000+ Collection is Slovenia’s first museum to exhibition on the main railway The Museum runs temporary Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Free entry every first sunday of and the national collection of be based on virtual reality departments, and an art gallery. exhibitions on theatre arts. Thu 10:00 - 20:00. the month. Museum of Modern Art. technology. It is housed in Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. Open Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, Public holidays closed. Free Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. Ljubljana Castle’s Outlook Tower. Public holidays closed. Sat 10:00-17:00. Sun and public admission every first Sunday of 21 Tivoli Park Gallery Public holidays closed. Free The bits and pieces of history holidays closed. the month. Open-air gallery on Tivoli Park’s entry every first sunday of the which you can see, feel or hear Jakopič Promenade, B4 month. W: www.visitljubljana.com

40 Museums and galleries 41 Museums and galleries Ljubljana is a city of culture boasting, among other Festivals Culture things, one of the world’s oldest philharmonics and the Spring Summer oldest jazz fastival in Europe. Each year it hosts over Slovenian Music Days June in Ljubljana 10,000 cultural events, from (Slovenski glasbeni dnevi) (Junij v Ljubljani) prestigious musical, theatre March June and art events to those This festival presents a Each year in June, city life in pertaining to alternative and programme of classical music Ljubljana is enlivened by a avant-garde culture. Musical concerts featuring mainly works series of free events held in life in Ljubljana reflects the by contemporary Slovenian the city centre. The events city’s characteristic blend of composers performed by taking place in the morning are rich tradition and youthful renowned Slovenian orchestras mainly intended for children, vibrancy. There are several and soloists. afternoons are reserved for venues hosting opera and W: www.sigic.si light dance and music shows, ballet performances. The and evenings for top quality Slovenian National Opera and Druga godba dance, theatre and music Ballet Theatre of Ljubljana’s May performances. distinguished ensemble The Druga godba festival of performs an extensive ethnic, world and contemporary Ljubljana Festival repertoire of classical jazz music ranks among June, August and contemporary works. Europe’s best festivals of slightly The Ljubljana Festival, Ljubljana is also one of the alternative music difficult to fit established in 1953, represents more important centres of neatly into musical categories. the pinnacle of what the theatre in this part of Europe, W: www.drugagodba.si Slovenian capital has to offer particularly its progressive, in terms of culture and art. Its innovative and thought- Secondary School Graduates’ long tradition of presenting provoking strands. Even Parade (Maturantska parada) a programme of top artistic the language barriers are May events featuring internationally often broken down by the The annual Secondary School renowned performers interesting approaches used Graduates’ Parade, featuring a contributes significantly to by the city’s artists. quadrille dance performed by the cultural life of Ljubljana. secondary school graduates in W: www.ljubljanafestival.si the streets of Slovenian cities, has entered several editions of Ljubljana Jazz Festival the Guinness Book of Records July as a world record breaking Each year, the Ljubljana Jazz synchronous dance. Festival, Europe’s oldest festival of its kind, attracts the attention The Lighting Guerrilla festival of music lovers from home and May, June abroad by featuring the world’s The festival represents and raises the biggest names in jazz. How to pick the profile of contemporary art using W: www.ljubljanajazz.si light as its main form of expression right event – lighting installations, objects and Get a free copy of the projections in the city centre. (Parada ponosa) monthly brochure Events, June, July available in Slovenian and BIO – Biennial of Design Ljubljana’s annual Pride Parade English from the city’s May, October draws attention to homophobia, tourist information centres, BIO is a prestigious biennial discrimination against LGBT hotels and cultural centres, international exhibition of design community, and the inadequacy or download a copy from products, visual communications, of the legal regulation. www.visitljubljana.com. and design concepts. W: www.ljubljanapride.org W: www.bio.si 43 Culture Left: Ljubljana Festival Ana Desetnica Ex Ponto Winter Kino Šiška Centre for July September Concert venues Urban Culture Mestno gledališče Ljubljansko Showcasing contemporary This international festival Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and cultural Trg prekomorskih brigad 3 Čopova ulica 14, D4 trends in street theatre creativity, focuses on contemporary November, December T: 500 30 00 T: 251 08 52 the Ana Desetnica international theatre productions dealing Founded in 1984, the Ljubljana centres W: www.kinosiska.si W: www.mgl.si street theatre festival brings with socially relevant themes. It Gay and Lesbian film festival together street performers, is accompanied by exhibitions, is the oldest film festival of the Stožice Centre Stadium and Metelkova mesto alternative Šentjakob Theatre musicians, dancers and actors dance performances, kind in Europe. Arena culture centre Šentjakobsko gledališče from Slovenia and abroad. multimedia projects, film www.ljudmila.org/siqrd/fglf/ Center Stožice Masarykova cesta 24, G3 Krekov trg 2, F5 W: www.anamonro.org screenings, concerts, etc. Vojkova cesta 100 W: www.metelkovamesto.org T: 231 28 60 W: www.exponto.net December in Ljubljana T: 08 387 60 86, 051 654 540 W: www.sentjakobsko- Summer in Ljubljana Old Town December W: www.sport-ljubljana.si/ Španski borci cultural centre gledalisce.si center-stozice Zaloška cesta 61 (Poletje v stari Ljubljani) Autumn In December, the festively June, July, August decorated old centre of T: 620 87 90 SiTi Teater BTC theatre W: www.spanskiborci.si This summer festival adds to the City of Women Ljubljana hosts a varied Cankarjev dom Cultural and SiTiTeater BTC vibrancy of city life in Ljubljana (Mesto žensk) programme of events intended congress centre Šmartinska cesta 152 by presenting a programme October for people of all ages and Prešernova cesta 10, C5 T: 070 940 940 T: 241 71 00 of mainly free classical music This international festival of tastes. The festive atmosphere Theatre and W: www.sititeater.si W: www.cd-cc.si concerts. It traditionally concludes contemporary arts is dedicated culminates in the New Year’s with the Nights in Ljubljana Old to contemporary female artistic Eve celebrations held in the opera Glej Theatre Town, which symbolically mark city’s three main squares. Cvetličarna Gledališče Glej creativity, particularly the Slovene National Theatre the end of Ljubljana’s summer Kranjčeva ulica 20 Gregorčičeva ulica 3, D6 socially conscious part of it. Opera and Ballet event season. Animateka T: 040 689 559, 064 118 655 T: 421 92 40 W: www.cityofwomen.org SNG Opera in balet Ljubljana W: www.imagosloveniae.net December W: www.cvetlicarna.info W: www.glej.si Župančičeva ulica 1, C4 LIFFe – Ljubljana International The main, competition section Ljubljana Exibition and T: 241 59 00 International Biennial of Film Festival of the Animateka international Ljubljana Dance Theatre Convention Centre W: www.opera.si Graphic Arts (every odd year) November animated film festival includes Plesni Teater Ljubljana Gospodarsko razstavišče June - September The LIFFe festival offers an short animated films produced Prijateljeva ulica 2 Dunajska cesta 18 Slovene National Drama Over its more than 50-year history, insight into the very best in in eastern and central Europe. T: 430 83 44 1000 Ljubljana Theatre Ljubljana the Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic European and international film Other sections and retrospective W: www.ptl.si T: 300 26 00 SNG Drama Ljubljana Arts has grown to be the world’s production. screenings feature animated films W: www.gr-sejem.si/ Erjavčeva cesta 1, D5 biggest and one of the most from around the world. Old Power Station W: www.liffe.si T: 252 14 62 recognized events of its kind. W: www.animateka.si Stara elektrarna – Elektro Ljubljana Castle W: www.drama.si W: www.mglc-lj.si Ljubljana, Slomškova ulica 18, F3 Ljubljana Wine Route Grajska planota 1, E5 Shrovetide Carnival T: 231 44 92 November/June T: 306 42 93 Film under the Stars February W: www.bunker.si/slo/stara-elektrarna On St. Martin’s Day, when grape W: www.ljubljanskigrad.si Over three weeks in July, you must officially turns to wine, Ljubljana’s traditional Shrovetide can enjoy open-air screenings Carnival includes a large carnival those attending the event Slovenian Philharmonic Hall of some of the most acclaimed procession through the streets entitled Ljubljana Wine Route Slovenska filharmonija films of the last cinema season of Ljubljana and a programme of can taste many different young Kongresni trg 10, D5 in the picturesque setting of wines and culinary delights entertainment for children and T: 241 08 00 Ljubljana Castle’s courtyard. served from stalls set up in front adults. The procession consists W: www.filharmonija.si W: www.kinodvor.org/ of bars and restaurants in the of groups of traditional and filmpodzvezdami old city centre. themed carnival figures from Križanke summer theatre W: www.ljubljanskavinskapot.si. Slovenia and abroad. Trg francoske revolucije 1, D6 Young Lions T: 241 60 26 (Mladi levi) W: www.ljubljanafestival.si August Each year, this international Hala Tivoli sports hall dance and theatre festival brings Celovška cesta 25, B2 together performing groups and T: 431 50 60 solo artists remarkable for their W: www.sport-ljubljana.si unique creative approaches to theatre and dance. W: www.bunker.si 44 Culture 45 Culture Ljubljana’s tourism offer is diverse and so are its Hotels Campsites accommodation options. Accommodation Hotels of all price ranges are In Ljubljana, there is one Visitors can choose available in Ljubljana. Most campsite with a large outdoor from various types of of them are located in the swimming pool area. More accommodation of all very city centre, the rest are campsites are available categories. Since Ljubljana well connected by city bus or in the city’s surrounding is a “city made to the shuttle services. Those centrally areas. Overnight stays measure of man”, most located are typically small by motorhomes are only of its accommodation boutique hotels or hotels with a permitted at campsites. establishments are easily long tradition of hospitality. The accessible on foot, and the number of modern business rest by bus. hotels is on the increase. Information and booking Youth Make your accommodation accommodation search easy by using the website www.visitljubljana.com, whose Ljubljana has several database includes hotels, youth youth hostels and other hostels, pensions, privately- accommodation facilities owned apartments and specially designed to suit campsites in Ljubljana and its young people. During surrounding areas. Use the summer holidays, cheap website’s interactive map to accommodation is also easily find the accommodation available at secondary school of your choice. The website also and student hostels. offers fast and reliable online booking of hotel rooms in Ljubljana and across Slovenia Pensions using the Hotels Combined reservation service. Ljubljana’s pensions, many of them serving excellent If you require assistance in , are places booking, visit any of Ljubljana’s where guests can experience a tourist information centres. warm and homely atmosphere.

Rooms and apartments

Ljubljana has a growing number of privately-owned rooms and apartments which visitors can make their home for a few days.

47 Accommodation Ljubljana has a wide and varied choice of good Restaurants Eating out restaurants in all price ranges, from fast casual to fine Fine dining Restaurants dining, both in the city centre restaurants e trattorie and suburban areas. You can choose from traditional Restavracija Strelec Gostilna Kovač gostilna restaurants serving Grajska planota 1 Pot k Savi 9 Slovenian cuisine and T: 031 687 648 T: 5371 244 W: www.kaval-group.si/strelec.asp W: www.gostilnakovac.eu/home.php restaurants offering different Sat, Sun and public holidays closed. international cuisines. Restavracija Atelje A number of upmarket Nazorjeva ulica 2 Restavracija Harfa restaurants which would be T: 308 19 07 Koprska ulica 98 regarded as rather expensive www.facebook.com/ T: 423 24 11 for an à la carte meal RestavracijaAtelje W: http://harfa-restavracija.si offer daily lunch menus at Sun and public holidays closed. affordable prices. Restavracija Kult316 Restavracija JB Prušnikova 74 Miklošičeva cesta 17 T: 235 52 60 Ljubljana Ljubljana Quality W: http://www.kult316.si Quality Selection is T: 430 70 70 Selection W: jb-slo.com Sat, Sun and public holidays closed. a trademark Sun and public holidays closed. identifying Ljubljana’s Vander restaurants and small centrally Restavracija Slon 1552 Krojaška ulica 6-8 located shops meeting high Nazorjeva 5 T: 200 90 00 standards of quality in terms T: 470 11 81 W: www.vanderhotel.com/hrana_ of choice on offer, service, and W: www.hotelslon.com/sl-si/slon1552 in_pijaca/zajtrk facilities. The quality of the Sun and public holidays closed. city’s shops and restaurants Restavracija Pri levu Vošnjakova ulica 1 is assessed by anonymous Restavracija Maxim Trg Republike 1 T: 308 77 00 inspectors. Restaurant offers T: 051 285 335 W: www.union-hotels.eu/sl/ are assessed by a panel of W: www.maxi.si/si/restavracija- hotel-lev/gostinska-ponudba/ experts and the highest maxim restavracija-pri-levu/ rated establishments receive Sat, Sun and public holidays Ljubljana Quality Selection closed. Restavracija Most awards and commendations. Petkovškovo nabrežje 21 Restavracija CUBO T: 232 81 83 Taste Ljubljana Šmartinska cesta 55 W: www.restavracija-most.si Go for local flavours! T: 521 15 15 Gostilna na gradu The Taste Ljubljana W: www.cubo-ljubljana.com Sun and public holidays closed. Grajska planota 1 project features the T: 08 205 19 30 traditional dishes of Ljubljana W: www.nagradu.si offered by selected restaurants. Taste something The dishes are made from Gostilnica 5-6 kg locally sourced ingredients and typically Slovenian Gornji trg 23 prepared using contemporary The best known Slovenian T: 040 501 372 speciality is kranjska klobasa, cooking methods. W: www.facebook.com/pg/ a sausage first mentioned in gostilnica56kg written records in 1896. Try also prekmurska gibanica, Restavracija Separe a layered cake from the Koprska ulica 92 Prekmurje region, potica, T: 040 55 11 55 a yeast-dough cake with a W: www.separe.si variety of filling options, and Sun and public holidays closed. the kraški pršut prosciutto, typical of the coastal Slovenia and the Kras region. 49 Eating out Hiša kulinarike Manna TaBar Vegetarian cuisine Breakfast restaurants Vander Urbani Resort Eipprova ulica 1a Ribji trg 6 Krojaška ulica 6-8 Confectioneries T: 0599 22 308 T: 031 764 063 Ajdovo zrno Zmajček Flo T: 200 90 00 Trubarjeva cesta 7 Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 1 Vigo Ice Cream W: www.restavracija-manna.si W: www.tabar.si W: www.vanderhotel.com/ Stritarjeva ulica 4 T: 040 832 446 T: 051 392 592 Chiuso domenica e festivi. hrana_in_pijaca/ W: www.vigo-icecream.com Čompa W: www.facebook.com/pg/ W: www.facebook.com/ Trubarjeva ulica 40 Ošterija Pr’ Noni ajdovozrno/ ZmajcekFloo/ Slovenska hiša Sat, Sun and public holidays Slaščičarna Lolita T: 040 799 334 Cesta v Gorice 1 Cankarjevo nabrežje 13 Cankarjevo nabrežje 1 closed. Učilna okusov Sun and public holidays closed. T: 242 58 20 T: 08 389 98 11 T: 041 344 189 Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 1-7 W: www.prnoni.si W: www.facebook.com/ W: www.kaval-group.si/ Barbarella Arkade Bistro T: 041 386 178 Gujžina slovenskahisa/ LOLITA,,.htm Mestni trg 19 Le Petit Cafe & Restaurant Adamič- Lundrovo nabrežje 3 W. www.ucilnaokusov.si T: 620 88 40 T: 083 806 446 Trg francoske revolucije 4 Paninoteka Fetiche Patisserie W: www.barbarella-arkade.si Bazilika Shop & Cafe W: www.prekmurska-gostilna.si T: 251 25 75 Jurčičev trg 3 Cankarjevo nabrežje 25 Sun and public holidays closed. Miklošičeva cesta 22 W: www.lepetit.si T: 040 349 329 T: 040 700 370 T: 031 261 785 Gostilna Gorjanc W: www.facebook.com/pg/ W: www.fetichepatisserie.com Organic Garden W: www.bazilika.si/cafe Tržaška cesta 330 Maru Paninoteka.Restaurant T: 423 11 11 (Japanese restaurant) Ciril-Metodov trg 11 Sat, Sun and public holidays T: 08 205 40 50 closed. Kavarna Zvezda W: www.gorjanc.eu Vodnikova 155 Dvorni bar Wolfova ulica 14 W: www.facebook.com/pg/ T: 030 200 222 Dvorni trg 2 T: 421 90 90 organicgarden.eu/ Bazilika bistro Bistro Monstera W: www.maru.si T: 251 12 57 W: www.zvezdaljubljana.si Gospodska 9 Sun and public holidays closed. Prešernova 15 W: www.dvornibar.net T: 040 431 123 Loving Hut T: 041 883 488 Trg osvobodilne fronte 14 W: www.bazilika.si/bistro Kavarna Cacao W: www.monsterabistro.si Marley & Me Kavarna Petkovškovo nabrežje 3 T: 06 812 69 70 Sat, Sun and public holidays Sun and public holidays closed. Stari trg 9 Petkovškovo nabrežje 67 T: 430 17 71 W: www.facebook.com/pg/ closed. T: 041 885 601 T: 070 170 282 W: www.cacao.si Bistro Zvezda W: www.marleyandme.si lovinghutljubljanacenter W: www.facebook.com/pg/ Bazilika Križanke Kongresni trg 3 kavarnarog.si Čokoladni atelje Dobnik Zaživ Vegan Bistro Trg francoske revolucije 5 T: 421 90 91 Bar pr’Mrtinet Trg republike 1 and Rimska cesta 23 T: 051 666 065 W: www.zvezda.si (Central Slovenia) Kavarna Mango Cankarjevo nabrežje 19 T: 05 908 08 02 W: www.bazilika.si/krizanke Sun and public holidays closed. Luče 45, 1290 Grosuplje Mesarska cesta 10 T: 425 31 41 W: www.facebook.com/pg/ T: 041 414 200 T: 06 815 95 09 W: www.cokoladniatelje.si ZazivVeganBistro/ Čajna hiša Cha Gostilna AS W: www.prmrtinet.si W: www.facebook.com/pg/ Sun closed. Čopova ulica 5a Stari trg 3 KavarnaMango T: 425 88 22 Gostilna pri Kuklju Taman Organic T: 421 24 40 Nazorjeva 3 W: www.cha.si Kavarna Zvezda Slon W: www.gostilnaas.si (Central Slovenia) Flo Bistro Nazorjeva ulica 5 T: 031 884 844 Sun and public holidays closed. Trubarjeva cesta 31, 1315 Velike Gornji trg 25 T: 470 11 46 W: www.taman-organic.si Restavracija Julija Lašče T: 051 392 592 W: www.zvezdaljubljana.si Stari trg 9 T: 788 90 98 Sun and public holidays closed. Le petit cafe W: www.facebook.com/ T: 425 64 63 W: www.prikuklju.si Trg francoske revolucije 4 flobistro/ T: 251 25 75 Kavarna in slaščičarna Maxi W: www.julijarestaurant.com Mon, Tues closed. Trg republike 1 W: www.lepetit.si T: 051 285 342 Restavracija Špajza Gostilna Skaručna W: www.maxi.si/si/maxijeva- EK bistro Gornji trg 28 (Central Slovenia) kavarna-in-slascicarna/ Petkovškovo nabrežje 65 T: 425 30 94 Skaručna 20, 1217 Vodice Sun and public holidays closed. W: www.spajza-restaurant.si T: 832 30 80 T: 070 146 107 W: www.skarucna.si W: www.facebook.com/pg/ Sushimama Mon, Sun and public holidays ekljubljana (Japanese restaurant) closed. Wolfova ulica 12, T: 040 70 20 70 W: www.sushimama.si Sun and public holidays closed.

50 Eating out 51 Eating out Wine bars Beer pubs

Dvorni bar Kavarna in pivnica Paviljon Dvorni trg 2 Dunajska cesta 18 T: 251 12 57 T: 051 261 118 W: www.dvornibar.net W: www.kaval-group.si/ paviljon,,pivnica.htm eVino Bar Šmartinska cesta 53 Pivnica Union T: 040 384 664 Celovška cesta 22 W: www.evino.si/bar-vinoteka T: 471 73 35 Sun closed. W: www.pivnica-union.si Sun and public holidays closed. Vineria Del Ponte Stari trg 2 Pivoteka Za popen’t T: +386 (0)70 805 175 Stari trg 5 W: www.vineriadelponte.com T: 256 59 16 W: www.zapopent.si Vinoteka Dvor Sun and public holidays closed. Dvorni trg 2 T: 251 36 44 W: www.kozelj.si/vinoteka-dvor Sun and public holidays closed.

Vinoteka Movia Mestni trg 2 T: 051 304 590 W: www.movia.si/vinoteka- ljubljana Sat, Sun and public holidays closed.

Vinoteka Dekanter Gornji trg 10, T: 068 675 445 W: www.facebook.com/ dekanter.wineboutique. ljubljana/

Vinoteka Štorija Trubarjeva cesta 17 T: 040 690 096 W: www.facebook.com/vino. storija/ Sun and public holidays closed.

Tipping There are no fixed rules regarding tipping in Slovenia, but tips (approx. 10 percent of the bill) are always welcome in return for good service.

52 Eating out Entertainment in Ljubljana Klub Nebotičnik is not over when evening Clubs Štefanova 1, D4 Entertainment cultural events end, but goes Arena T: 040 668 800 on until the wee hours. There Šmartinska cesta 152 W: www.neboticnik.si is an array of nightlife options T: 810 71 36 Sun - Wed closed. and nightlife of different genres. Quite W: www.arena.si late at night you can enjoy Orto bar yourself at pubs and wine Cirkus Grablovičeva ulica 1 bars or – especially during Trg mladinskih delovnih T: 232 16 74 the summer season – have a brigad 7, B6 W: www.orto-bar.com relaxing drink at one of the T: 041 777 747 Open Thu - Sat numerous open-air cafés W: www.cirkusklub.si located on the banks of the Top Six Club Ljubljanica and elsewhere. Cvetličarna Tomšičeva ulica 2, D4 The city’s nightlife continues Kranjčeva ulica 20, T: 040 66 77 22 into the small hours at clubs T: 040 689 559 W: www.topsixclub.si and casinos. Late night W: www.cvetlicarna.info entertainment is available at rock and jazz clubs and Etno klub Zlati Zob Adult venues for electronic dance Zaloška cesta 54 music events. Weekends, of T: 040 563 100 entertainment course, are the liveliest. W: www.zlatizob.si Escape Sun. and public holidays colsed. Grablovičeva ulica 1

En Pub Hard Core Cafe Celovška cesta 150 Dolgi most 2 T: 514 11 27 T: 031 693 693 W: www.hardcore.cafe Goodlife – Castle Lounge Club Grajska planota 1, E5 T: 031 353 982 W: www.kaval-group.si

Jazz Paradise - Jazz Club Gajo Slovenska cesta 58, E3 T: 031 337 525 W: www.jazzclubgajo.com

Klub K4 Kersnikova 4, D3 W: www.klub-k4.si

Metelkova mesto alternative culture centre Masarykova cesta 24, G3 W: www.metelkovamesto.org

55 Entertainment and nightlife Casinos Cinemas Casino Lev Cankarjev Dom Electronic roulettes and Prešernova cesta 10, C5 gaming machines T: 241 72 99 Vošnjakova ulica 1, D3 W: www.cd-cc.si T: 430 42 23 W: www.casinolev.com Kinocenter Kolosej multiplex cinema Casino Rio Šmartinska cesta 152 Electronic roulettes and T: 810 71 01 gaming machines W: www.kolosej.si Šmartinska cesta 152 T: 810 71 66 Kinodvor city cinema W: www.casino-rio.si Kolodvorska ulica 13, F3 T: 239 22 17 Casino Rio Central W: www.kinodvor.org Miklošičeva cesta 9, E3 T: 43 07 400 Kino gledališče Bežigrad W: www.casino-rio.si Linhartova 11 T: 083 807 068 Casino Kongo W: www.kino-bezigrad.si Ljubljanska cesta 65, 1290 Grosuplje Komuna T: 781 0200 Cankarjeva 1, D4 W: www.kongo.si T: 810 71 74 W: www.kolosej.si

Slovenska Kinoteka Gay and lesbian cinematheque venues Miklošičeva cesta 28, E3 T: 434 25 20 Monokel W: www.kinoteka.si Metelkova mesto alternative culture centre XpanD digital 3D cinema Masarykova cesta 24, G3 Šmartinska cesta 152 W: www.klubmonokel.com T: 810 71 01 W: www.kolosej.si Tiffany Metelkova mesto alternative culture centre Masarykova cesta 24, G3 W: www.kulturnicenterq.org/ tiffany/klub/

Q Cultural Centre Metelkova mesto alternative culture centre Masarykova cesta 24, G3 W: www.kulturnicenterq.org/en

56 Entertainment and nightlife Central Ljubljana is like a Central Market super-relaxed shopping Department Vodnikov trg, Pogačarjev trg centre. Here you will find Shopping T: 300 12 00 stores anything from shops offering W: www.lpt.si/trznice well known internationally- Galerija Emporium Sun and public holidays closed. branded products to those Prešernov trg 5B, E4 selling creations by local T: 041 377 500 Art Market designers, often strikingly W: www.galerijaemporium.si original. There are many Čevljarski most (Cobblers’ antique shops, selling Bridge), Breg embankment Maximarket galleries and artist studios, Open Sat 9:00-16:00 Trg republike 1, D5 testifying to the city’s vibrant From May to October T: 476 68 12 creative scene. A place not to W: www.artmarket.si W: www.maxi.si be missed is the picturesque Central Market, designed by Flea Market Nama the architect Jože Plečnik. Tomšičeva ulica 2, D4 Breg embankment Large shopping centres T: 425 83 00 Open Sun 8:00-14:00. are located outside the W: www.nama.si city centre. Ljubljana offers plenty of everything for every Ljubljana Old Town Shopping centres pocket. Ciril-Metodov trg, Mestni trg, Novi trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg BTC City squares Ljubljana Old Town’s Šmartinska cesta 152 five squares blend into each T: 585 22 22 other to form one long shopping W: www.btc-city.com street full of outlets offering Sun and public holidays closed. the finest from Slovenia, from unique handmade crystalware City Park and lace to culinary creations Šmartinska cesta 152g and unique clothing. T: 587 30 50 W: www.citypark.si Ljubljana city centre Supernova Ljubljana’s main shopping Jurčkova cesta 223 streets are Slovenska cesta, T: 08 200 80 00 Miklošičeva cesta, Čopova ulica, W: www.supernova.si Nazorjeva ulica, Tavčarjeva ulica and Trubarjeva cesta.

TIC Ljubljana Shop Take a little something of Ljubljana home with you. Visit the TIC Ljubljana Shop opening hours Shop, which offers a wide and varied choice of Most city centre shops souvenirs and small pieces are open from 9:00-19:00 of art. The most authentic on weekdays and from souvenirs are branded as 8:00-13:00 on Saturdays, “Ljubljana Souvenir”. whereas suburban Stritarjeva ulica street, shopping centres also T: 306 12 15, stay open on Saturday W: www.visitljubljana.com afternoons and Sundays Open daily 10:00-19:00. until 15:00.

59 Shopping Having large areas of Vodno mesto Atlantis Fanči kozmetika & savna greenery, Ljubljana offers Recreation centres Šmartinska cesta 152 Golouhova ulica 28 plenty of opportunities for T: 585 21 00 T: 428 70 10 Sports and Stožice Centre W: www.atlantis-vodnomesto.si W: www.fanci.si sports and recreation. Sports Vojkova cesta 100 Open daily 9:00-23.00. activities and events of all T: 08 387 60 86, 051 653 563 Sense Wellness Club kinds, including national and W: www.sport-ljubljana.si/ Dunajska cesta 154 recreation center-stozice international competitions, Water sports T: 588 26 00 are an important part of W: www.sense-club.com Bit Center Hotel Kajak kanu klub life in Ljubljana. Plenty of Litijska cesta 57 Marinovševa cesta 8a Sunny Studio opportunities for sports and T: 548 00 55 T: 513 65 30 Regentova cesta 37 recreation are also available at W: www.bit-center.net W: www.kajakklubtacen.si T: 513 44 44 other destinations in Slovenia, W: www.sunny.si Rekreacijski center Tivoli all of which are relatively Skok Sport Celovška cesta 25, B2 easily accessible from the Marinovševa cesta 8 Vodno mesto Atlantis T: 430 66 68, 031 259 244 T: 512 44 02, 040 217 000 Šmartinska cesta 152 capital. There are numerous W: www.sport-ljubljana.si W: www.skok-sport.si T: 585 21 00 hiking trails and cycle routes W: www.atlantis-vodnomesto.si for those enjoying outdoor Športni park Ljubljana Veslaški klub Ljubljanica pursuits. Winter sports lovers Milčinskega ulica 2 Velika čolnarska ulica 20 Thai center T: 432 50 50, 031 716 335 can easily reach mountain ski T: 283 87 12 Šišenska cesta 131 W: www.sport-ljubljana.si resorts, and those seeking W: www.vesl-klub-ljubljanica.si T: 514 15 60 W: www.thai.si summer relaxation the coast. Športni park Kodeljevo SUP Bananaway Gortanova ulica 21 Podmilščakova 46 T: 059 942 416, 031 622 492 T: 040 238 756 Mass W: www.sport-ljubljana.si W: www.bananaway.si participation Golf courses Bike parks sporting events Golf Arboretum BMX Park Ljubljana Ljubljana March, T: 831 80 80, 051 395 777 Stopniška 1 Threesomes Run W: www.golfarboretum.si T: 031 807 335 May W: www.kd-rajd.si The two events are held along Diners Golf & Country Club different stretches of the Path T: 051 623 883 Bike Park Path of Remembrance and W: golf-ljubljana.si (mountain bikes) Comradeship. of Remembrance Podutiška 238 W: www.pohod.si and Comradeship Golf igrišče Trnovo T: 031 807 335 T: 051 366 690 W. www.kd-rajd.si Franja (The Green Ring) W: www.golftrnovo.com June Public golf course. KoloPark This cycling event consists of The Path of Remembrance (pump track) a marathon (156km), a short and Comradeship is a well- Golf Center Celovška 43 marathon (97km), and a family maintained gravel-paved Stanežiče, Lj-Šentvid T: 432 31 09 marathon (25km). T: 08 384 12 76 recreational footpath W: www.franja.org W: www.sport-ljubljana.si/golf around Ljubljana running _center along the course of the Ski resorts October barbed wire fence erected RTC Krvavec The Ljubljana Marathon by the Italian occupying Water parks Grad 76, Cerklje na Gorenjskem consists of a classical marathon forces during the Second T: 04 252 59 11 (42km), a (21km) Laguna Spa & Fun W: www.rtc-krvavec.si and several recreational runs of World War to weaken the Dunajska cesta 270 varying lengths. All the races resistance movement. The T: 589 01 41 are held within the wider city 33-kilometre long circular W: www.laguna.si centre area. Open 9:00-20:00 daily from Jun Wellness centres path leads both through W: www.ljubljanskimaraton.si to Sep. urban areas and their Breza savna klub surrounding meadows Lepodvorska ulica 13 and forests. T: 231 97 13, 041 675 075 W: www.savnabreza.com

61 Sports and recreation Left: Path of Remembrance and Comradeship Ljubljana is a children-friendly Ljubljana Botanic Garden city, which is particularly Experiences Botanični vrt v Ljubljani Ljubljana obvious during summer, Ljubljana Zoo Ižanska cesta 15, G9 when the Ljubljanica river Živalski vrt Ljubljana T: 427 12 80 embankments host creative Večna pot 70 W: www.botanicni-vrt.si for families workshops for children, T: 244 21 88 Learning about plants can be libraries operate in the shade W: www.zoo.si great fun. A proof of that is the of trees, and children’s puppet The Ljubljana Zoo runs an animal Ljubljana Botanic Garden, where and theatre shows are held in experience tour offering an plants have been cultivated for the city’s streets and squares. opportunity to be in very close 200 years. Guided tours available. Ljubljana’s numerous green contact with animals. During Open daily, 7:00-19:00 from areas, stretching right into the tour, specially designed for 1 Apr to 31 Oct, 7:00-20:00 from the city centre, are ideal families with children, visitors 1 Jul to 31 Aug, 7:00-17:00 from places for family leisure learn about animals, get to feed 1 Nov to 31 Mar. and recreation. Since the them and lots more. expansion of pedestrian Open daily, 9:00-19:00 from Library under Trees zones, Ljubljana is an even May to Aug, 9:00-18:00 in Apr Knjižnica pod krošnjami safer city. and Sep, 9:00-17:00 in Mar and Various outdoor locations Oct. 9:00-16:30, in Jan, Feb, (summer months only) Nov and Dec. Books can be even more fun if we read them outdoors. Perfect House of Experiments locations to get lost in a book Hiša eksperimentov are Ljubljana’s “libraries under Trubarjeva cesta 39, F4 trees”, set up in peaceful natural T: 300 68 88 surroundings. W: www.h-e.si House of Experiments is Sezam’s Children’s Flea Market Slovenia’s first hands-on science Sezamov otroški bolšji sejem centre, intended for both children Zaloška 55 and adults. It aims at popularizing (Tržnica market) science and proving that learning T: 041 918 153 can also be fun. W: www.zdruzenje-sezam.si Open weekends 11:00-19:00. This flea market, where children’s Interactive lectures referred to equipment, clothing and toys as “Experiences” begin at 17:00. are sold or exchanged, is accompanied by a programme Boat rides of music and creative workshops Exciting tourist boat rides for children. Admission is €1.00. under the bridges crossing the Open 9:30-13:00 every third Ljubljanica river. Sunday of the month except summer months. Tivoli B2-5, C2-4 Tivoli, Ljubljana’s largest park, Vodno mesto Atlantis is an ideal place for family fun water park activities and walks in natural Šmartinska cesta 152 surroundings. The park has a T: 585 21 00 fish pond with a cake shop and a W: www.atlantis-vodnomesto.si large children’s playground next Open daily 9:00-21:00, Fri, Sat to it. Not far away is a glasshouse and public holidays 9:00-22:00. housing a display of tropical plants. A whole section is dedicated to carnivorous plants, a big attraction for children.

63 Ljubljana for families Left: Children’s event Laguna Spa & Fun water park Dunajska cesta 270 Annual children’s Children’s Baby changing T: 589 01 40 events theatres and breast- W: www.laguna.si Open 9:00-20:00 daily from Grandpa Frost Procession Kinodvor. Kinobalon. feeding facilities Jun to Sep. W: www.visitljubljana.com Kolodvorska 13 Triple Bridge Toilet A few days before New Year’s T: 239 22 13 (baby changing facilities) Lumpi park Eve, children are visited by W:www.kinodvor.org Celovška cesta 25 Tromostovje, E5 Grandpa Frost (the Slovenian T: 080 7330 counterpart of Santa Clause), Ljubljana Puppet Theatre W: www.lumpipark.si Plečnik Underpass Toilet who arrives from the North in a Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana (baby changing facilities) Mon - Fri 16:00 - 21:00, carriage escorted by horsemen Krekov trg 2, F5 Plečnikov podhod, D5 Sat, Sun and public holidays on white Lipizzaner horses, T: 300 09 70 10:00 - 21:00. snowmen, bears, rabbits, and all W: www.lgl.si Kresija Toilet kinds of fairy-tale characters. (baby changing facilities) Minicity Ljubljana Puppet Theatre – Pogačarjev trg 2, E5 BTC City, Šmartinska cesta 130 Mini Summer Kulturnica T: 041 377 366 W: www.mini-teater.si Lutkovno gledališče Ljubljana – Sezam association of parents W: www.http://minicity.si Mini Summer is an international Kulturnica and children Minicity is a thematic puppet festival held from July Židovska steza 1, D5 (baby changing and entertainment programme, to August. T: 300 09 74 breastfeeding facilities) which implements the play- W: www.lgl.si Novi trg 1, D6 based approach and is intended for children from 2 to 12 years Ljubljana Mini Theatre Nama department store of age. Under the guidance Children’s (baby changing and Mini teater Ljubljana of experienced facilitators, breastfeeding facilities) playground Križevniška ulica 1, D6 children learn about different Tomšičeva cesta 1, children’s T: 425 60 60 professions and acquire useful department (5th floor),D4 locations W: www.mini-teater.si skills for everyday life through educational play. Tivoli Park B4 Maximarket department Mladinsko Theatre Open: Mon - Sat 10:00 – 20:00, store Slovensko mladinsko gledališče Sun 10:00 – 18:00 North Park/Severni park F1 (baby changing facilities) Vilharjeva ulica 11, F1 Trg republike 1, children’s T: 300 49 00 Castle hill (Osoje Playground/ department, D5 W: www.mladinsko.com Igrišče Osoje) E6 Čajna hiša Cha tea house (baby changing facilities) Špica embankment Stari trg 3, E6 (Prule playground/Igrišče Prule) F8 Čolnarna (baby changing facilities) The area next to the Slovene Tivoli park, B4 Ethnographic Museum G3 Centralna lekarna pharmacy Ljubljana Zoo (baby changing facilities) Prešernov trg 5, E4 Slovenian Reformation Park/ Park slovenske reformacije D3 Lekarna Barsos-H pharmacy (baby changing and Družinski center Mala ulica breastfeeding facilities) Prečna 7, E4 Gregorčičeva ulica 9a, C6 T: 306 27 00 W: www.malaulica.si Butchers Bridge Toilet (baby changing facilities) Butchers Bridge, E4

64 Ljubljana for families Right: Grandpa Frost Procession 65 Slovenia is a diverse country. 1 Ljubljana Marshes 7 Bled (54km) Hardly anywhere else in Ljubljana Marshes (Ljubljansko The resort town of Bled is best Excursions from the world can you find so barje), a nature park extending known for a lake with a little many natural and cultural south of the city, is well known island in the middle, where attractions on such a small for its extraordinary mixture of visitors are taken in a traditional Ljubljana area of land. Ljubljana, due unusual natural and man-made “pletna” boat, a castle standing to its central position, is a sights such as the Iški Vintgar on top of a cliff overlooking the perfect for exploring the gorge, the Podpeško jezero lake, and delicious cream cakes. country’s beauties. Distances lake, Jože Plečnik’s Church of are short and within an hour St. Michael, and the Technical 8 River Valley (69km) you can reach the coast, Museum of Slovenia. The valley of the Krka river is high mountains or Slovenia’s remarkable for its scenic beauty famous underground caves. 2 Šmarna gora (9km) and picturesque castles and Just pick a direction and go. The 669-metre high Šmarna monasteries. Its most delightful gora is the most popular spot attractions are the little for hikers from Ljubljana. To medieval town of Kostanjevica reach the foot of the hill, take na Krki, Otočec Castle, the city bus service 8 to Gameljne. Pleterje Carthusian Monastery, the Terme Čatež thermal spa 3 Kamnik (20km) resort, and . One of the oldest Slovenian towns, situated at the foot of 9 Novo Mesto (69km) the Kamnik Alps. Well known Novo Mesto, the centre of the for its numerous historical Dolenjska region, was founded in and cultural monuments, a 1365 in the midst of a hilly wine- small castle and a Romanesque growing landscape embraced chapel built on a rocky hill. by the river Krka. The town’s historical and cultural attractions 4 Škofja Loka (21km) in the town are complemented Being one of Slovenia’s by two nearby spas: Dolenjske oldest towns, Škofja Loka Toplice and Šmarješke Toplice. has numerous historical monuments, including a castle. 10 (70km) The idyllic Logar Valley, with its 5 Krvavec (30km) numerous natural sights and Krvavec, rising up to 1,971 unique landscape features is a metres above sea level, is a protected area of natural beauty, large ski resort offering 26 well known for its waterfalls, kilometres of ski runs and an abysses, overhanging walls, and Eskimo village in winter, and springs. Excursions to major countless hiking opportunities places of interest in in the summer. 11 Bohinj (75km) Slovenia can be booked Bohinj, famous for its lake and at Ljubljana’s tourist 6 (53km) the nearby Savica Waterfall, is information centres and Postojna is renowned across a good base for treks into the from the website the world for its 27-kilometre Julian Alps. The area is well www.visitljubljana.com. long system of underground known for traditional cheese Get a free copy of the caves, home to an endemic making, so make sure to taste leaflet Excursions from salamander species, and the the famous Bohinj cheese. Ljubljana and pick an nearby Castle. The excursion of your choice. cave tour includes a ride on a small cave train.

67 Excursions from Ljubljana Left: Bled 12 Celje (76km) 15 Kranjska Gora (84km) where the women’s Alpine Skiing Once home to the Counts of Kranjska Gora, located on the World Cup competition for Celje, one of the most powerful edge of the National Park, the Golden Fox Trophy is held medieval families, the country’s is a popular resort for sports annually. , nicknamed third largest city boasts many enthusiasts. Do not miss the “City of Wine”, is famous for the cultural and historical treasures. annual World Cup ski jumping world’s oldest vine, planted over Not far from Celje are the and ski flying competitions in four hundred years ago. Šempeter Roman Necropolis Planica and the Vitranc Cup and several renowned health alpine skiing competition. 18 Soča River Valley: Bovec, resorts: Dobrna, Topolšica, Laško, Kobarid, Tolmin (130km) Rogaška Slatina, and Olimia. 16 Slovenian Istria: Koper, The Soča earned it’s nickname Piran, Portorož, Izola (120km) “Emerald River” for its lush 13 Lipica Stud Farm (80km) Slovenian Istria has a green colour. Its white water The Lipica Stud Farm, world 47-kilometre long coastline. rapids offer one of the best renowned for its classical riding Its leading resort town is adrenaline-fuelled water sports school, was the first stud farm Portorož and its major cultural experiences in this part of ever to breed Lipizzaner horses. and historical attractions Europe. Make sure not to miss Open all year round. the medieval towns of Piran, the world renowned World Koper and Izola. A particular War I Museum in Kobarid. 14 Škocjan Caves (80km) attraction are the area’s salinas, Being a unique natural and a small one in Strunjan and 19 Ptuj (130km) cultural heritage site, the Škocjan a large one in Sečovlje. Also Being Slovenia’s oldest town, Caves have been included in the interesting is the hinterland. Ptuj is famous for its rich cultural UNESCO World Natural Heritage heritage, best exemplified by List since 1986. Together with the 17 Maribor (122km) , which houses the subterranean stream of the river Maribor, Slovenia’s second Regional Museum of Ptuj and , they form one of Europe’s biggest city, lies along the banks the Ptuj Wine Cellar, and hosts longest subterranean wetlands of of the river , at the foot Slovenia’s largest carnival, karstic origin. of the Pohorje mountain range, known as Kurentovanje.

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68 Excursions from Ljubljana Right: Banks Hertz Rent a Car Trdinova ulica 9, E3, and Emergency dentist: Ljubljana Most banks are centrally Practical Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport Community Health Centre located and open weekdays T: 434 01 47 Zdravstveni dom Ljubljana (except public holidays) from W: www.hertz.si Center 9:00-13:00 and from 15:00- Metelkova ulica 9, G3 information 17:00. SIXT rent a car & leasing T: 472 37 18 Exchange office at Railway Trg Osvobodilne fronte 6, F2, station Primus group Miklošičeva cesta 14, E4 Trg OF 6, F2 Internet access and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik T: 432 10 14 Airport WiFree Ljubljana Open daily 8:00-20:00 T: 234 46 50 The WiFree Ljubljana wireless W: www.sixt.si network allows visitors to Car hire Ljubljana city centre to use free wireless internet for up to 60 Agio Rent a Car Dry cleaners minutes a day. Celovška cesta 228 Labod The holders of the Ljubljana T: 031 727 777 Pražakova ulica 12, E3 Tourist Card can enjoy 24-hour W: www.agio.si T: 232 10 62 free access to the WiFree Poljanski nasip 8, F5 Ljubljana network. Avantcar T: 282 10 11 Wireless access to the websites Dunajska cesta 140, Trdinova W: www.cistilnica-labod.si owned by the City Municipality ul. 9 and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik of Ljubljana, including the Airport Chemo Express Visit Ljubljana tourist website, T: 589 08 50, 080 21 14 Litostrojska ulica 40, F3 through the WiFree Ljubljana W: www.avantcar.si T: 231 07 82 network is free for everyone for W: www.chemoexpress.com an unlimited period of time. Atet Most of Ljubljana is covered by Devova ulica 6a and Emergency a wireless network. Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport T: 513 70 17 Police: 113 Info center ŠKUC W: www.atet.si First aid: 112 Galerija ŠKUC Fire brigade: 112 Stari trg 21, E6 Avis Rent a Car T: 421 31 42 GH Union Business, Miklošičeva Accident and emergency: W: www.skuc.org 3, E4, and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Ljubljana University Medical

Airport Centre – Emergency Slovenian Tourist Information T: 04 251 92 80 Department Centre (STIC) W: www.avis.si Klinični center Ljubljana – Urgenca, Zaloška cesta 2 Krekov trg 10, F5 T: 306 45 75 Budget car rental T: 522 50 50, 522 33 85 W: www.visitljubljana.com Miklošičeva cesta 3, E3, and W: www.kclj.si Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport Internet-accessible T: 04 201 43 00 Emergency GP: Ljubljana workstations are also W: www.budget.si Community Health Centre Zdravstveni dom Ljubljana available in public libraries. Bohoričeva ulica 4 (Ljubljana Europcar Slovenia University Medical Centre’s City Hotel, Dalmatinova 15, E4, emergency unit) and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik T: 522 84 08 Airport W: www.zd-lj.si T: 031 382 058 W: www.europcar.si

71 Partical information Left: Dragon Bridge Lost property Public toilet locations Tax-free shopping through Ticket sale Language Global Refund Ljubljana City Centre Police Dragon Bridge/Zmajski most F4 Ljubljana Tourist Information Dual Station Open 7:00-15:00 Mon-Sat. A large number of shops in Centre (TIC) Slovenian is said to be a romantic language as it allows two people Policijska postaja Ljubljana Public holidays closed. Ljubljana are labelled “Tax Stritarjeva ulica, E5 in love to use the dual in referring to themselves alone. There are Center Free”, which means that T: 306 12 15 not many languages in which the dual is still used in addition to the Trdinova ulica 10, E3 Triple Bridge/Tromostovje E5 foreign citizens (other than W: www.visitljubljana.com singular and plural. T: 475 06 00 Open 7:00-24:00. the citizens of the European W: www.policija.si Union) may claim the refund of Slovenian Tourist Information Caron the Value Added Tax charged Centre (STIC) The caron placed over the letters c, s and z may look like an Ljubljana Railway Station Pogačarjev trg 2, E5 on purchases of goods worth Krekov trg 10, F5 embellishment, but it is not there for aesthetic reasons. Č, š and Železniška postaja Ljubljana A toilet for mobility-impaired more than €50.00 carried out T: 306 45 75 ž are letters in their own right associated with sounds which are Trg Osvobodilne fronte 6, F2 people, open 24/7. To enter, use on a single day in a single shop. W: www.visitljubljana.com actually much easier to pronounce than it may appear: č as in T: 291 21 00 the European disabled toilet Refund can be claimed if goods cherry, š as in shoe, and ž as in measure. W: www.slo-zeleznice.si key or ring the bell. are exported from the country Cankarjev dom cultural within three months from the and congress centre’s Basic expressions Pharmacies Kongresni trg Square D5 purchase. Box Office Yes. – Da. Open 7:00-23:00 Maxi underpass, C5 No. – Ne. When paying for your Central Pharmacy/Centralna T: 241 73 00 Please. – Prosim. purchases, ask the shop staff lekarna Butchers’ Bridge/Mesarski W: www.cd-cc.si Thank you. – Hvala. for a Tax Refund Cheque. When Prešernov trg 5, E4, most E4 Excuse me. – Oprostite. leaving the country, or at the T: 230 61 00 Open 7:00-23:00. Festival Ljubljana Good morning. – Dobro jutro. (on arriving early in the morning) final point of departure when W: www.lekarnaljubljana.si (Križanke Summer Theatre’s Good afternoon. – Dober dan. (on arriving late in the morning or in leaving the European Union, Open Mon-Sat except public Plečnik underpass/Plečnikov Box Office) the afternoon) show your purchases, receipt holidays. podhod D5 Trg francoske revolucije 1, D6 Good evening. – Dober večer. and passport to Customs and Open 7:00-23:00 T: 241 60 26, 241 60 28 Goodbye. – Nasvidenje. have your Tax Refund Cheque Pharmacy Miklošičeva, W: www.ljubljanafestival.si Good night. – Lahko noč. (on departing late at night) Miklošičeva ulica 24, E3 stamped. T: 230 61 00 For more information, Eventim (online ticket sale) One – ena Open Mon- Sat, except public visit the website at www.eventim.si Two – dve holidays www.globalblue.com. Three – tri Moje karte (online ticket sale) Four – štiri Duty pharmacy www.mojekarte.si Five – pet Njegojševa 6K, G3 Six – šest T: 230 61 00 Seven – sedem Open 24/7. Eight – osem Pocket Course of Nine – devet Public holidays and special Slovenian Language Ten – deset days The University of I am … – Jaz sem … — 1 and 2 January: New Year Ljubljana’s Centre for Do you speak English? – Ali govorite angleško? — 8 February: Prešeren Day – Slovene as a Second/ I don’t understand. – Ne razumem. Slovenian Cultural Holiday Foreign Language runs a Where is / are…? – Kje je / so…? — Easter Sunday “survival” language course How do I get to..? – Kako pridem do…? — Easter Monday offering an opportunity to Train station – železniška postaja — 27 April: Day of Uprising get to know the basics of Bus station – avtobusna postaja against Occupation the Slovenian language and Left – levo — 1 and 2 May: Labour Day learn useful expressions Right – desno — 25 June: Statehood Day which can make the life Straight on – naravnost — 15 August: Assumption Day of a foreigner in Slovenia How much is it? – Koliko stane? — 31 October: Reformation Day a lot easier. The course Water – voda — 1 November: All Saints’ Day is run on Wednesdays Wine – vino — 25 December: Christmas from June to September Beer – pivo — 26 December: Independence at the Slovenian Tourist The bill, please. – Račun, prosim. and Unity Day Information Centre.

72 Partical information 73 Partical information TIC Ljubljana Shop

Take a little something of Ljubljana home with you.

Published by: Ljubljana Tourism, www.visitljubljana.com For those wishing to take a little something of Ljubljana home with them, the TIC Ljubljana Design concept: John Morgan studio Shop offers a wide choice of high quality souvenirs of Ljubljana. The souvenir collections Design and prepress: Prajs d.o.o. available are inspired by symbols and typical features of Ljubljana and its history and art. Translation: Patricija Fajon Photographs: Bobo, B. Cvetkovič, S. Jeršič, T. Jeseničnik, P. Sinden, J. Skok, D. Wedam, Zaklop, They are made from quality materials and are carefully designed, some of them by renowned Ljubljana Festival photo archive, Ljubljana Tourism photo archive, Postojna Cave photo archive, names in Slovenian design. photo archive Printed by: Partner Graf d.o.o. Open: daly from 10:00 to 19:00 Impression: 10.000, August 2019 Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre - TIC Cover photo: Triple Bridge Stritarjeva ulica, 1000 Ljubljana

The information in this brochure is subject to change. Information: TIC Committed to caring for the environment, we print on recycled paper. + 386 (0)1 306 12 15 • E: [email protected] Share our commitment by sharing this publication with your friends. W: www.visitljubljana.com

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