![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1127157864.jpg\")
\n\t\tA charming city to spend a weekend in (Pictures: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tA charming city to spend a weekend in (Pictures: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve eaten tapas in Madrid<\/a>, wandered the Colosseum in Rome<\/a>, and visited the salt mines in Krakow<\/a> \u2014 so where next?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re after a lesser-known European city break<\/a>, it\u2019s time to put Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia<\/a>, on your radar.<\/p>\n With its quaint streets and historical charm, it\u2019s been likened to Prague<\/a> \u2014 but without the stag dos and crowds of tourists (a staggering 8 million visitors headed to the Czech city last year).<\/p>\n Located in the heart of Slovenia, Ljubljana has been praised on TikTok for being \u2018one of the cleanest, prettiest, and safest cities ever\u2019, with many saying it\u2019s an \u2018underrated\u2019 gem. <\/p>\n And, during summer, Lonely Planet<\/a> says the city feels like \u2018a nightly street party\u2019 thanks to the laid-back revellers enjoying drinks in the cafes that line the river. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tempted to book those flights? Here\u2019s everything you need to know.<\/p>\n Where is Ljubljana?<\/p>\n \t\t Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. You might not have heard of it, let alone how to pronounce it (Loo-joob-leana).<\/p>\n In Central Europe, Slovenia shares borders with Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. Meanwhile, Prague is around 280 miles north of Ljubljana.<\/p>\n Known as one of Europe\u2019s greenest and most liveable capitals, visitors won\u2019t have to worry about fighting for restaurant tables or tripping over tourists here \u2014 Ljubljana saw just 1.2 million tourists last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, though, the city is the most visited in Slovenia, and international visits are on the rise, so it might not stay hidden for too long.\u00a0<\/p>\n Things to do and see in Ljubljana<\/p>\n Much like Prague, Ljubljana is brimming with beautiful buildings, cafes, and medieval charm. Both were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so their similarities are hard to ignore.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ljubljana has a river running through it, scattered with beautiful bridges, connecting the old city and the new city.<\/p>\n One of its most famous, The Butcher\u2019s Bridge, connects Ljubljana Central Market and Petkosvek Embankment, a lively street filled with bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n \t\t The city\u2019s Dragon Bridge, built in 1901 features a design referencing the myth that Ljubljana was founded by the Greek mythological hero, Jason, who fought and defeated a dragon there. You\u2019ll see dragon imagery scattered around Ljubljana, also known as the City of Dragons.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also Tromostovje, or The Triple Bridge, a group of three bridges which are completely pedestrianised, and run from the city\u2019s central square to the Old Town.\u00a0<\/p>\n With its cobbled and narrow streets, the Old Town is also a great place to sit down and enjoy some food, with plenty of restaurants scattered about.\u00a0<\/p>\n Foodies visiting between March and November won\u2019t want to miss out Open Kitchen, an outdoor street food market hosted every sunny Friday between 10am and 9pm in the Old Town. You\u2019ll find an array of options on offer, with Slovenian cuisine a mixture of Northern Italy (think seafood and pasta) and more traditional Balkan dishes featuring buckwheat and game.<\/p>\n \t\t Tripadvisor reviewers said \u2018the sheer amount of different types of cuisine that were available was unbelievable\u2019, and added that the pricing was \u2018fair\u2019 too.<\/p>\n For more food and drink reccom,endations, Metro<\/strong>\u2018s Audience Trends Editor, Ellie Hutchings<\/a>, visited the city recently and found some great bars.<\/p>\n \u2018The Neboti\u010dnik rooftop is a great spot for a drink with a view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018Or, if you want to try Slovenia\u2019s famous orange wine, make sure to check out Vinoteka Movia.\u2019<\/p>\n After filling up, Ljubljana\u2019s Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Galerija) is a great place to while away an afternoon. It\u2019s also located next to Tivoli Park, the largest, and arguably the most beautiful, in the capital.<\/p>\n \t\t If you\u2019re after something a little adventurous, though, you can trek to Ljubljana Castle from the Old Town, an 11th-century fortress which stands on a hilltop above the city. Here, you\u2019ll get a great view of the city below.\u00a0<\/p>\n How to get to Ljubljana<\/p>\n It\u2019s probably not the first destination you search for when considering a city break, but both EasyJet<\/a> and British Airways<\/a> offer flights to Ljubljana from London<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Return tickets in June can be found from \u00a3160 on Skyscanner, and the journey takes just over two hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s also conveniently located next to Lake Bled, a popular tourist spot that\u2019s been compared to the more famous Italian Lakes.<\/p>\n \t\t The picturesque lake is surrounded by mountain peaks, covered in snow, and many refer to it as the pearl of Slovenia.\u00a0<\/p>\n Visitors can admire the bright blue lake by taking a traditional wooden boat ride, or you can also stroll around it, which takes just under two hours to complete.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to take some pics of the lake, Bled Castle is a great spot. Located on a clifftop overlooking the lake, visitors can walk or take a bus to admire the Gothic castle.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tThe top things to do in Ljubljana\t\t\t<\/p>\n Here are some of the top things to do in Ljubljana, according to Tripadvisor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_253563788-eb18.jpg\")
\n\t\tLjubljana is the capital city of Slovenia (Picture: Datawrapper)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-182957987.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe historic city boasts an 11th-century castle (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1248474200.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt\u2019s a popular spot during spring and summer (Picture: Luka Dakskobler\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Cityscape](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2204370428.jpg\")
\n\t\tTake a stroll around Tivoli park (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2151125851.jpg\")
\n\t\tLjubljana is conveniently close to the picturesque Lake Bled (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n
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