Heading to Ljubljana? Here’s What to Do in 2026

The largest city and capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is one of the hidden gems of Europe.

In both the European Union and the Schengen zone, traveling to Slovenia from abroad is very streamlined.

While some travelers require visas and travel insurance, others can visit with just a passport in hand (until ETIAS launches, anyway, but that's a whole other topic).

Regardless of the who, what, where, when, why, or how you get there, you're going to be looking for something fun to do. That's where this list comes in handy.

Ljubljana Castle

Not only is Ljubljana Castle beautiful, but it also has a lot to do in just one annex. Like other European castles, there are museums, a beautiful cathedral, and a restaurant on-site, but there's even more than that.

There's the café, a nightclub, two restaurants, a wine bar, and regular events like concerts and festivals.

The castle itself was originally a medieval fortress (from around the 11th/12th centuries), but went through a major reconstructive era in the 1400s.

While the royals have lived here throughout time, today Ljubljana Castle is strictly a cultural center.

Ljubljana's Museum of Puppetry

This museum is inside of Ljubljana Castle, so you can kill two birds with one stone.

The fun thing about this puppet museum is that it does a good job telling a story, visually, of Slovenian puppetry over time. On top of that, they have regular puppet shows.

If you don't feel like sitting through a show, you can simply admire the different exhibits and puppet collections.

Tivoli City Park

Tivoli Park is the biggest park in Ljubljana, and it's filled with walking paths, landscaped areas, trees, picnic tables, and even a small pond. There's also a children's playground and public restrooms.

Tivoli is centrally located, so it's really easy to get to.

On the property, you'll also find Tivoli Castle. It's less of a castle and more of a mansion, but the architecture makes for a beautiful backdrop.

Pro Tip: When looking up information about Tivoli Park, make sure you type "park" and not "gardens". Tivoli Park is in Ljubljana, but Tivoli Gardens are in Copenhagen.

Trubarjeva Street

Some people refer to Trubarjeva as the coolest street in Ljubljana. First, it is one of the city's most historic streets, which makes it both historically meaningful and full of older architecture and monuments.

Second, today it is filled with cafes, restaurants, murals, and little shops, so it's very walkable and ends up being a favorite among both travelers and locals.

It's a narrow street that always seems to have at least a few people walking around, no matter the time of day.

The Ljubljana City Museum

Most cities have a museum celebrating their local history and heritage, and Ljubljana delivers. The Ljubljana City Museum is inside of the Auersperg Palace, and has several different permanent collections as well as temporary exhibits.

The Auersperg Palace was built on the site of old Roman ruins. The basement of the museum showcases a small section of a well-preserved Roman road.

Collections include World War II exhibits, the Roman era, and the Baroque era. Overall, it focuses on Ljubljana's history, from ancient times to the modern era.

Tickets are required, so make sure you check online ahead of time.

Ljubljana's riverfront

Bober Marine is a local favorite, especially when the weather is nice.

You'll find locals enjoying snacks and a drink, or watching the sunset here, or even just boats and birds passing by in the water.

Depending on their schedule, you may even be able to hop onto a river cruise or even rent a canoe.

You can find different touring companies and rental agencies online.

Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

One of the few pink churches you will see, Ljubljana's Franciscan Church is brightly colored with white columns and an ornate facade.

If you ever followed the "accidental Wes Andersen" trend, this one probably made the list at some point. If it didn't, it should have!

The church itself was built in the 1600s, just west of the river. Inside, there are beautiful frescoes.

Central Market and Open Kitchen

If you're a foodie or like to learn about local cuisine, you should really go check out the Central Market.

An open-air market fills the space between Pogačarnev trg and Vodnikov trg squares. Every Friday from mid-March until the middle of September, there is also a concept called "Open Kitchen", where chefs cook up incredible different dishes.

At the Central Market, you'll find pretty much anything you could need - fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, wine, beer, and Slovenian treats and delicacies.

Saint Nicholas' Cathedral

This is probably the most well-known cathedral in all of Ljubljana. With two towers and a green dome, the outside is pretty - but that's just the beginning compared to the interior.

Inside is ornately decorated with golden colored trim, paintings, and frescoes.

Originally, the church was Gothic, but it was replaced by a Baroque one in the 1700s. This isn't the first time it was replaced onsite. There is evidence that the foundation has been home to religious places all the way back to at least the 13th century, if not before.

Ljubljana's many bridges

The Ljubljanica River flows through the main part of the city of Ljubljana, which means that one thing was a major necessity for efficiency, transport, and growth: bridges.

Ljubljana has several beautiful bridges, and they're all a little bit different and of all shapes and sizes.

There's the Butchers' Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Grain Bridge, Rooster Bridge... one of the most famous ones is the Triple Bridge, which is three bridges in "one".