Slovenia, Ljubljana

It was our final morning in Trieste and we were to meet the GoOpti car for a shared ride to our next destination, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Slovenia is a surprisingly easy country to maneuver around and feel comfortable in. It is part of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency. It is also a Schengen area country, making for easy borderless movement between neighboring countries, except for Croatia which does not belong to the Schengen group.

Triple Bridge

Although we arrived early to our pickup point, our driver was already there with one passenger on board. There were no other pickups and in no time we arrived at our hotel, Hotel Cubo, right on the edge of Ljubljana’s old town.

A fast and easy check-in allowed us to drop off our bags and head to town, just a five minute walk away. We stopped by an outdoor café on Prešeren Square, by the famous Triple Bridge, for a cup of coffee and some people watching. It was Saturday and the town was bustling with activity.

Ljubljana is Slovenia's capital and biggest city. The large student population from its university gives the town a youthful exuberance. The pretty, café-lined Ljubljanica River divides the town, and a castle overlooks from above, making sure all is well. And all is well; the city is enticing with an infectious spirit. It quickly became one of our favorite European cities.

Greenery Abounds Along the River 

Architect, Jože Plečnik, is the town’s hero. He is responsible for literally redesigning this livable city from its unique buildings, to the market space and the aforementioned Triple Bridge.

Plečnik’s market runs along the river. It is where locals buy their food and tourists pick up trinkets. I always love to wander around local markets, checking out the produce, observing the interaction between vendors and their long-time customers, and enjoying a little taste of something new. We also observed people filling up their bottles from a milk dispenser, that’s something I had never seen before.

Ljubljana’s Cathedral

Culinary influences are many, reflecting the town’s location between Vienna and Venice. All the restaurants we visited had good food and service and the prices were reasonable for a capital city. Something we found particularly interesting was how common it was to hear the English language. Before we even spoke we were greeted in English, almost as if it was the native language. It certainly made for an easier and more comfortable visit.

Ljubljana’s cathedral is dedicated to St. Nicholas and has an unusual and intricately decorated entrance door, which was created for Pope John Paul II’s visit to the city in 1996. The interior is Italian Baroque, ornate with gold accents and it boasts a particularly pretty painted ceiling.

We hiked up to the castle, more like a modern replica these days than what would have originally been a Roman fortress centuries ago. The castle grounds and the panoramic views from atop the hill are more rewarding than the castle itself.

View from the Castle

The city has nice green spaces including the expansive Tivoli Park, which is a pleasant place to take a city break.

Along the way to the park sits the city's museum area which is home to the National Museum of Slovenia, and the Museum of Modern Art that houses 20th-century Slovene paintings and sculptures.

There are an abundance of things to see and do in this beautiful and unique city center, but the town itself is the main attraction. Strolling along the river bank, enjoying an outdoor café, people watching; that is what makes this place so very appealing. I could easily live here, it is a 'people's city' and a joy to visit.