Ljubljana

Slovenia's capital is a walkable riverside city known for Plečnik buildings and a hilltop castle, and a base for day trips to Lake Bled and the coast.

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Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, a small country in central Europe that borders Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary. Go for the walkable old town on the Ljubljanica River, where the car-free center is lined with cafes and market stalls. Architect Jože Plečnik reshaped much of the city in the early 20th century, and his work shows on the Triple Bridge, the Central Market and the riverbanks. The castle on the hill above the old town is reached on foot or by funicular.

Two days is enough for the old town, the castle and an evening by the river. Lake Bled, Postojna Cave and the Adriatic coast are all reachable as day trips, so you can sleep in Ljubljana or move to a lakeside town. Spring and early autumn suit walking and day trips best. Summer is busier and has more outdoor events.

Ljubljana in five

Ride the funicular, then pick your castle ticketThe castle site lists adults at 19 EUR with the funicular (17.10 EUR online) and 15 EUR without it. It is open daily: 9:00 to 20:00 from May to September, 9:00 to 18:00 otherwise.Ljubljana in 2 days
Buy the Ljubljana Card only after adding up sightsThe official card is 41 EUR for 24 hours, 49 EUR for 48 and 54 EUR for 72, with city buses included. The castle alone is 19 EUR, so the card pays only if you add more paid stops.Is the card worth it?
Take the airport bus to the central stationThe airport is about 26 km from the center, a 20-minute drive. A regular bus runs to the central bus and railway station, with tickets on board or from the machine at the airport stop.
Pay for city buses with Urbana, not a bank cardA single fare is 1.50 EUR and covers 90 minutes with transfers. Paying by Visa or Mastercard instead of an Urbana card loses the free transfers. The Urbana card itself costs 2 EUR.
Check passport dates and EES before you flyBritish passports need an issue date under 10 years old and 3 months of validity after you leave Schengen. Non-EU visitors may register fingerprints and a photo at their first Schengen border.EES explained

Things to do in Ljubljana

See all attractions in Ljubljana

Bridge · LjubljanaDragon BridgeVisit at sunrise, sunset or twilight for a quieter look and softer light.

Church · LjubljanaRoman Catholic Cathedral of St. NicholasGo early for a quieter visit and time to look closely at the interior.

white and brown concrete houses near green trees during daytime

Castle · LjubljanaLjubljana CastleTake the funicular for an easier ascent, or allow about 15 to 20 minutes for the uphill walk.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to LjubljanaPut the places you like in Ljubljana on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Ljubljana Jože Pučnik (LJU), about 26 km; bus to the central station
Getting there: Rail, bus and road hub; Bled is 50 km away, Koper about 100 km
Getting around: On foot; much of the center is closed to cars; LPP city buses
Best base: Old Town or Center; the station area for early departures
Time needed: 2 days; 3 to 4 with Bled and a cave

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Cold, foggy
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Cool
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring showers
MayRain17 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Green, warm
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Long days
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Hot, busy
AugustClear11 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Hot, busy
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, easy
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°Wet, short days
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Festive lights

Average daily high and low in Ljubljana, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Ljubljana Summer Festival · Jul Ljubljana Summer Festival · Aug Ljubljana Summer Festival · Sep Ljubljana Summer Festival

Right now in Ljubljana

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 81%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 5%

Ljubljana

09:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°6°5%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 5%.
Tue10°5°13%Tuesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 13%.
Wed10°5°18%Wednesday: Fog. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 18%.
Thu10°2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri10°0°2%Friday: Fog. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat8°-2°9%Saturday: Fog. High 8°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 9%.
Sun8°1°13%Sunday: Rain. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 13%.

Updated 07:07 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Ljubljana

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jun–SepLjubljana Summer FestivalLjubljana

Day trips by train

Day trips from Ljubljana, the full guide

Before you go to Ljubljana

Hotels in the Old Town or centerCar-free streets, sights on footCheck availability

Castle and city sight ticketsFunicular and castle entry onlineFind entry tickets

eSIM for SloveniaTicket QR codes and the bus appRead the guide

Insurance for SloveniaCover for Alps day trips from the cityRead the guide

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Rules for Ljubljana, checked

Castle open daily: 9:00 to 20:00 May to Sep, 9:00 to 18:00 otherwise. Funicular to 22:00 May to Sep, 19:00 otherwise. Last ticket 1 hour before closing.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Castle ticket with funicular: adults 19 EUR (17.10 online); children 7 to 18, students, pensioners 13.50 EUR. Without the funicular: adults 15 EUR.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Ljubljana Card, adults: 24 hours 41 EUR, 48 hours 49 EUR, 72 hours 54 EUR. Includes city buses, the castle and a river cruise.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

All Ljubljana guides

ItineraryLjubljana in 2 days: castle, Plečnik, river and a card checkChecked Oct 3, 2026

How toDay trips from Ljubljana: Bled, Postojna, the coast or ZagrebChecked Oct 3, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Ljubljana: Old Town, center, station or TrnovoChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Ljubljana

Lake Bled

Island, castle and gorge, 50 km north

Read the guide Maribor

Oldest vine and wine country, a night or two east by train or bus

Read the guide All of Slovenia

Lakes, Alps, caves, coast and entry rules

Read the guide Zagreb

Croatia's capital next door: give it a night, not a rushed day

Read the guide

Ljubljana FAQ

How many days do you need in Ljubljana?

Two days cover the Old Town, the castle, the river and Plečnik's work. A third day helps if you add museums or Ljubljana Card sites; Bled, Postojna and the coast each need a separate day.

Is the Ljubljana Card worth it?

Only if you plan several paid stops in one or two days. It costs 41 EUR for 24 hours and includes city buses, the castle and a river cruise, so a castle-only visit at 19 EUR is cheaper without it.

How do you get from Ljubljana airport to the city center?

Take the regular bus to the central bus and railway station; tickets are sold on board or at the airport stop machine. Shuttles and taxis also run, and the drive takes about 20 minutes.

Do you need a car in Ljubljana?

No. Much of the center is closed to cars, and a bus fare is 1.50 EUR for 90 minutes. Rent a car only for the Alps, and buy the e-vignette before using motorways, including the Ljubljana ring road.

Is Ljubljana a good base for day trips?

Yes for Bled (50 km), Postojna (under an hour by car) and Koper (about an hour by road). If your plan is mostly mountains, sleep at Bled or Bohinj and give Ljubljana one night.