Ljubljana Walks: One Hour to a Full Day
Ljubljana Walks: One Hour to a Full Day
Ljubljana is one of the few capitals where a map is nearly optional, because the centre has been car-free since 2007. The only real decision is how much time you have. These walks are arranged from one hour up to a full day.
One hour: the bridges loop
Start at Prešeren Square and cross the Triple Bridge to Mestni trg, then wander Stari trg and Gornji trg beneath the castle cliff. Loop back via the Dragon Bridge and the market colonnade, then return on Butcher’s Bridge. The route is flat and free. Robba Fountain stands outside Town Hall along the way.
Two to three hours: the Plečnik trail
Walk the market colonnade, cross Cobblers’ Bridge and finish at the National and University Library. Continue south along the willow-lined Trnovo embankment to Krakovo, where gardens survive in the middle of the city. The trail is part of Jože Plečnik’s UNESCO-listed work. A guided walking tour adds the stories, and the Ljubljana Card includes a guided city tour. See the Visit Ljubljana card page for details.
Half a day: park, hill and Metelkova
Start in Tivoli Park and stroll the Jakopič Promenade, then climb Rožnik hill through beech woods to the Church of the Visitation. A hilltop inn serves hot tea. Walk down and end at Metelkova, the alternative-culture quarter in former Austro-Hungarian barracks, with street art and metal sculptures. It is best by day or in the early evening, and the Ljubljana city site lists events.
For a steeper half day, Šmarna Gora is 669 m high and sits on the northern edge of the city. Wear proper shoes, and tell someone your plan.
Full day: the green ring
The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, known as the POT, is a 32.5 km gravel path that circles Ljubljana. It follows the line of the barbed-wire fence that occupation forces built around the city from 1942 to 1945. Today it is marked by 102 octagonal stone markers and more than 7,000 planted trees. Every May, the Walk Along the Wire marks the liberation of the city on 9 May 1945.
Walking the whole ring takes a full day. Many people cycle sections of it, since the surface is flat. BicikeLJ registration is €1 for seven days and the first hour is free. Browse guided bike tours for a supported ride.
The sightseeing page describes each landmark on these routes.
Which walk for which weather
On a clear day, take Rožnik hill or the green ring. When rain is forecast, stay on the Plečnik trail, because the market, library and bridges cluster tightly and the National Gallery is nearby for a break. In hot July weather, walk the embankments in the early morning.
Practical tips
Cobbles are hard on thin soles, so wear grippy shoes. LPP buses cost €1.50 per ride and bring you back from the edge of the city. Keep an eye on bags near the central bridges and the bus station, where pickpockets work. The free Kavalir electric cars carry elderly or less mobile walkers inside the pedestrian zone from 06:00 to 22:00.
Rest stops
Café terraces line the embankments, and the market colonnade has stalls for a quick bite. A pint of Slovenian craft beer costs about €3.50 to €5.50, and a glass of regional wine €3 to €5.50. Both are easy to find near the river.
The verdict
If you have one morning, do the Plečnik trail, because it joins the best sights without a single hill. Save the green ring for a clear day with a bike, and start before 10:00 so the afternoon stays free.