Three years after our first visit, Tyler and I felt like we couldn’t wait another day to return to Slovenia. Before staying in Bled for five days we flew into Ljubljana and spent two days there. I had been eager to explore Slovenia during a different season and experience Ljubljana in a new light. Our previous trip to Slovenia was all about our wedding in Bled; I viewed Ljubljana as the transit city, so I went with no expectations. Needless to say, it blew me away and became one of my favorite cities.
We visited in late October and were lucky to have mild fall weather. Each morning a blanket of fog covered the city, creating a moody atmosphere, but by noon the sun would peak out and the skies cleared. There was never a need for anything more than a thick sweater, which was great because we spent almost all of our time outside. Ljubljana is an extremely pedestrian-friendly city and small enough that most sights are within walking distance of one another. Because of this, I would recommend getting around by foot whenever possible; otherwise, you would miss so many beautiful streets, buildings and bridges.
SWEATER: FREE PEOPLE // LEGGINGS: COMMANDO // BOOTS: STUART WEITZMAN // BAG: LONGCHAMP
One of the first things visitors to Ljubljana will notice is the beautiful array of architecture. Some of the city’s most striking Baroque buildings date back to the 17th century, including the famous Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. In many ways, the city as it is today was shaped by the 1895 earthquake. Amid the efforts to rebuild the damaged parts of Ljubljana came a new-found interest in transforming the city’s appearance. While many of the early Baroque buildings remained, during the twenty years after the earthquake, hundreds of Art Nouveau buildings were constructed or renovated in this style. By the 1920’s more contemporary styles gained popularity in Ljubljana with one of the most influential architects being Jože Plečnik. Plečnik, a Slovene architect, also had important works in Vienna and Prague, but returned to his home country and helped with the overall urban planning of Ljubljana. Not only did he design new buildings, but he also shaped the flow of traffic in the city by constructing the walkways along the river and creating essential bridges. His work in the city is considered so significant that many people call it “Plečnik’s Ljubljana”.
Being a small city, you don’t need a lot of time to cover the “must-see” attractions; however, even after our second visit, I felt that I would have enjoyed more time in Ljubljana. Two great ways to see the city include climbing the castle’s viewing tower and taking a boat ride on the Ljubljanica River. We did both of these things during our last trip, so this time we focused on taking in the parks, squares and architecture. We also visited Narodna Galerija, which houses Slovenia’s national art collection. During our visit, the gallery was featuring an exhibition on Ivana Kobilca, one of Slovenia’s most famous artists. While the entire gallery was beautiful, reading about the life of Ivana Kobilca and viewing her works was definitely the highlight for us.
Slovenia is such a beautiful country year-round, and while I enjoyed visiting during the summer, I think I prefer it even more in the fall. Ljubljana is no exception; the colorful foliage present throughout the city and crisp fall air made it feel even more charming than I remembered it. If Ljubljana is on your travel list, October may just be the perfect time to visit. I’ll share my suggestions for what to see and where to eat below.
Centromerkur Building / Cobbler Bridge / Cooperative Bank / Dragon Bridge / Fountain of the Three Rivers / Franciscan Church of the Annunciation / Hauptman House / Kongresni Trg / Ljubljana Castle / Narodna Galerija / Nebotičnik Skyscraper / Prešernov trg / St. Nicholas Cathedral / Tivoli Park / Triple Bridge / Union Hotel
Where to eat…
For dessert I recommend trying Cacao. The atmosphere of the outdoor seating is wonderful, as it’s situated right along the river. Even on a chilly October evening we found it enjoyable to sit bundled up enjoying our dessert over candlelight.
Monstera Bistro is a small and modern restaurant located near the University. We went for lunch and it ended up being one of the best meals we had on the entire trip. There aren’t a lot of tables, so I recommend making reservations ahead of time.
Although I never had a chance to eat at Slovenska Hiša, it was on our list, and after walking by I can say they definitely have ambiance going for them! Situated along the river and lined with lanterns, these tables offer a cozy atmosphere for outdoor dining. Additionally, they are open from early in the morning until after midnight making it a convenient option.
Strelec Restaurant is located inside Ljubljana’s castle making it an alluring option; the food is supposedly amazing as well! We had really hoped to make reservations for either lunch or dinner, but by the time we arrived in Slovenia they were already fully booked for the next two days. I didn’t think it would be a problem in late October, but this is actually an issue we ran into many times in Slovenia. Because of this, for nice restaurants and popular venues I recommend booking well before you arrive year-round.
TOZD is a small coffee shop located along the river. We stopped for our morning caffeine fix, and while those cute pink cups are what caught my eye, the coffee was really good. We didn’t get food, but they list vegetarian and vegan options on their menu, which can be hard to come by in Slovenia.
I can’t recommend Verace enough. It’s a Neapolitan style pizzeria with prices that everyone can appreciate. Verace’s pizza has been my favorite outside of Italy!
For ice cream head to Vigo in the heart of Old Town. Housed in a historic building, this shop has more than one floor of indoor seating, so it’s an option even when it’s cold outside.