"It's like living in a fairytale until you realize there isn't much to do," we were told by an older couple we met in Copenhagen. On the train, we mentioned to a German man that we were stopping in Ljubljana because we heard that it was nice. He paused and said, "Maybe." These experiences did not inspire confidence about our upcoming time in Ljubljana, but then we arrived. And we were greeted with the most charming city in the most charming country, and it became a highlight on our European Adventure. Ljulbjana's Old TownLjubljana's Old Town is filled with picture perfect buildings and cobblestone streets. A number of bridges span the Ljubljanica River flowing through town. Along the river banks, cafe tables line the sidewalks and locals sit outside, sipping wine. The Old Town is small but fun to wander through, stopping in cafes, exploring shops, and walking along the river. We spent a couple of warm summer afternoons sitting outside at cafes, sampling Slovenian wine. A particular favorite was TOZD. The symbol of the city is a dragon. Local legend says that the founder of Ljubljana killed a dragon. There are dragons all over the city, including a Dragon Bridge, dragon statues, and dragon souvenirs. I though this was a fun quirk, something different than you encounter in other European capitals. Another thing I noticed in Ljubljana was the number of garbage cans. On the street, I saw receptacles lined up for various types of waste. I learned the Ljubljana was given the "European Green Capital Award" in 2016. The honor is awarded based on 12 environmental factors, including transport, green urban areas, waste production and management, nature and biodiversity, air, water consumption, and energy performance, among others. So, it makes sense that I saw evidence of Ljubljana's efficient waste management while walking the city streets. Ljubljana CastleWhat fairytale would be complete without its very own castle? Ljubljana Castle is perched on top of a hill in the middle of Old Town. It's a majestic stone structure, originally a medieval fortress. There is a funicular that ferries visitors up Castle Hill for a price, but we chose to walk up the hill, which ended up being a nice way to look out over the city. At the top, we did not end up paying the entrance fee, since we were able to look out from the castle walls, walk through the courtyard, and enter a small chapel without a ticket. Looking down over the red roofs of Ljubljana was quite a sight! Ljubljanajam Food TourOne of the activities that we chose to pay for on our European Adventure was a food tour in Ljubljana with a company called Ljubljanajam. I HIGHLY recommend a food tour with Iva, who owns this company. She was very knowledgeable, was very accommodating to food allergies, and put together a lovely food tour that highlighted some traditional dishes from Slovenia. We went for the Ljubljana Essentials Tour, but tours focused on craft beer, Slovenian wine, and desserts are also offered! On our food tour, we stopped by the farmer's market and sampled bear sausage. We tried soup, pumpkin oil, a fish plate, a chicken dish, Slovenian liquor and wine, gelato, and coffee. For a longer summary of our Food Walk, read my full review here. Hanging with localsWe stayed in an Airbnb just across the river from Old Town Ljubljana, right across from the Rog Factory, an abandoned bicycle factory that is occupied by squatters and operates a variety of community spaces. We stayed there during protests in June 2016 against the demolition of the building, and we could hear protesters from our room throughout our stay. Our Airbnb was fantastic! We had lovely hosts who chatted with us, made us feel welcome, gave us a demo record (they were all dancers, artists, musicians), and even arranged for us to come to a small, local yoga class when we couldn't find a yoga class to attend on our own. Our apartment was located on Trubarjeva Cesta, just across the Dragon Bridge from Old Town. Trubarjeva Cesta was lined with shops and restaurants, most of the buildings colorfully adorned with graffiti. Shoes hung from a few of the telephone wires overhead. This street contrasted with the clean and tidy streets of Old Town. I liked the contrast and the visual interest of the graffiti along this street. ModernaIn our never-ending search for coffee, we ended up at Moderna, a minimalist coffee shop located inside the Museum of Modern Art. As we entered the building, we heard some other-worldly sounds, coming from a modern art exhibit, I presume. But Moderna was a lovely treat, with delicious, hand-poured coffee. Curiously, it was served in wine glasses. We spent a few hours relaxing in Moderna, drinking coffee and taking advantage of their wi-fi. If you are a modern art fan, I'm sure the museum would be a fun stop either before or after the coffee shop. We spent two days in Ljubljana, which was enough to explore the central part of the city. The architecture was charming, and the people we met were friendly. There are not a ton of big "attractions" in the city, but we were happy enough wandering through the streets of Old Town and taking advantage of the cafes. The relaxed pace and small feel is a nice break from some of the bigger, busier cities in Europe. The wine is delicious. And there are dragons.
Ljubljana is also a great jumping off point for heading into the Julian Alps. We took a bus to stunning Lake Bled, which took about an hour, but more about Lake Bled is coming in another blog post!
1 Comment
7/13/2019 12:12:55 am
Slovenia is the most famous destination for spending time and winters is the peak time to visit this place because of the arrangements you can get it and also you can get the cheap accommodations facilities with the discounts moreover you can book the travel guide so as to enjoy the beauty of the city seamlessly.
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AuthorMy name is Alyssa Good and I have a passion for travel, adventure, culture, and new experiences! I focus on budget friendly travel, trip planning resources, and seeking out new experiences. Archives
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