Relaxing & parks – All our local tips

Sometimes you can get a feeling that Ljubljana dies during the weekends, especially on late November Sundays. When it gets really depressing, you just have to bump into the Flea Market, where you can say to yourself: “oh this is the place where all the folks went!”

Ljubljana is well known for its antique shops, but the very best is held every Sunday on Cankarjevo nabrezje. You can by different things, from really expensive old furniture to retro sunglasses and badges from the Tito era or just an old postcard. Even if you don’t have a plan buying any of those things, you have to visit it. It is Ljubljana’s “social life” centre on Sundays and you are able to just sit in a café and watch people go by.

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Antique Flea Market | Art & culture, Relaxing, Shopping |
Gallusovo nabrezje | Center
Sun 08:00 – 14:00

Animals and people sometimes get too loud, and plants seem the only suitable company. Quietly blooming and growing, proudly showing amazing diversity of mother nature. The botanical garden Volčji Potok, the only one of its kind in Slovenia, is perfect to rest your ears and feed all the other senses. Sweet scent of magnolias, lively colours of tulips, smooth structure of maple bark are things that make this place worth to visit. At least they impress me.

Arboretum can compliment itself with more than 2500 different tree species and no-one-knows-how-many flowers. The park itself is gorgeous too, so don’t hesitate choosing this place to stretch your legs. It also offers a big playground area, where you can leave children, who are usually interested in trees only around Christmas time.

Like one wise man once said: „Don’t hurry too much! Stop sometimes and smell a flower.”

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Arboretum Volčji Potok | Relaxing, Shopping | Entrance adults € 5.50
Volčji Potok 3 | Surroundings | +38618312345
08:00 – 20:00 daily

Are you up for some fun? Gather your gang of friends and head to the biggest fun center in Ljubljana.

You can get action in a cellar with the Terminator laser games or simply enjoy the funky decorated bowling in the main area. On the upper floor you can take one of the 31 billiard tables, but remember it’s good to make a reservation before, because the place is always full!

If none of these works for you, you can simply escape the reality in the XpanD 3D cinema, even though in my opinion the cost of ticket doesn’t equal the enjoyment. But you never know, maybe you’ll be treated with one of their specials: turning the lights on in the middle of the movie or a broken projector… Like one of Slovene’s self-proclaimed stars said: “The show must go!” …I don’t know, what happened with the “ON”!

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Arena Vodafone Live | Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Restaurants (Italian food)
Smartinska 152 | Moste | +38615205626
Mon – Thu & Sun 10:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 01:00

At this time of the year, this is probably one of the best places to make snowmen,  greeting people on the city centre streets. This park is located just next to one of them.

So you won’t need to arrange for any extra transportation, your feet or city bus will bring you there. Just take gloves and some good will, and bring out the kid in you and play!

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Argentina park | Relaxing
Slovenska cesta | Center
Daily

Founded 200 years ago this peaceful place still attracts nature lovers and seekers of quietness. To flora lovers this calm garden offers more than 4500 different species and subspecies, one third of which are endemic to our country.

The garden has a lot of trees so it’s perfect to catch some summer shade. You can easily read on the bench or even have an afternoon nap there. You won’t be disturbed. I guess I needn’t mention that this can be a perfect place to bring a date when you still need to get to know each other, until she has to pee… (There isn’t any public toilet.)

For the typical visitor that doesn’t know much about botany a stroll in the Garden will uncover the mountain flora of Kras (That is plateau in the southwestern Slovenia which has really it’s unique conditions) flora, small pond surrounding of which is planted mainly with marsh and water species and there are even tropical plants in the glasshouse.

There’s no entrance fee and it is open every day. At the glasshouse there’s also a shop where you can buy flowers. For her or for yourself.

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Botanical garden | Relaxing | Free
Izanska cesta 15 | Rudnik | +38614271280
April – October 07:00 -19:00 daily | July & August 07:00 – 20:00 daily | November – March 07:00 – 17:00 daily

Cankar – king of Ljubljana street spots, is from the very beginning meeting place or better conjunction point of all street riders. Used every single day by (mainly) skateboarders and bmxers, place gained its popularity because of its diversity; it is providing different lines in and possibilities to find new ones in its urban landscape.

Well, it is also very convenient because of its central location, we can not deny that, but still, being able to not get boring is hard, especially if you are just a bunch of asphalt, ledges and stairs.

Another plus is that it touches Maximarket. In their basement they hide all kinds of good food, snacks and cold beer, that you need after a hot summer skate session.

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Cankar | Relaxing | Free
Presernova cesta 10 | Center
24 hours daily

Zale is an interesting place to visit from architecture point of view. It’s designed by one of the most worldwide reputable Slovene architect Joze Plecnik (who by the way also built a big part of Prague and Vienna). This is one of his many significant memorials you can find in Ljubljana and also a final resting place of many prominent figures from Slovenian history.

The creator himself wanted to name the place The All Saints Garden, however city notabilities decided to put forward the old slavic word “zale”, which in translation signifies “cemetary”. At the beginning of 21. centrury Zale was proclaimed as the cultural memorial of Slovenia on the national level.

For a virtual tour see here and here.

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Cemetery Zale | Art & culture, Relaxing
Na Zalah 1 | Bezigrad
24 hours daily

Strolling the cobbled stone streets in the old part of Ljubljana always leaves me with a great time.

Visiting pleasant little restaurants and chick designers’ shops. Every time you can discover something new, a door leading to a gallery hidden between old walls of middle-aged house or new collection of… soaps.

At the beginning of the main pedestrian street of this part of the town, the City hall and the Robb’s fountain in front will welcome you. Continue along the way and at the end turn left. The path will lead you all the way to the castle, where you can enjoy in a great view over the city. Definitely a pleasant choice to spend an afternoon.

For a virtual tour see here.

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Cobbled stone streets | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping, Restaurants (Mediterranean)
Mestni trg | Center
24 hours daily

One of those, a bit forgotten, places is hippodrome, a few kilometres from centre. It can be easily reached by all means of transports, among others it is also really easy to get there with public transport.

There is also a bar, but what I prefer is to sit on the stands of the hippodrome watching people training with horses. The view over the track is just the beginning, behind it there is a beautiful panoramic view over Kamnik – the Savinja Alps soon to be covered with snow.

This is also the place where really big events are being held, like the mass by Pope John Paul II in 1996. In August we were expecting Madonna to perform here, unfortunately the show was cancelled.

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Hippodrome Stožice | Relaxing | Free
Hippodrome Stožice | Bezigrad
During the day

Ljubljana can be unbearably hot during the summer. If the sun heats the concrete, the concrete heats back. Double portion if possible!

On a midday July in the city center, you will probably only see a bunch of Chinese tourists taking pictures…and some ice-cream sellers annoyed by sweat. And that’s it. Locals will be drifting out to to the promenade only after 20:00. During the day they are safely hidden behind cool thick walls of their apartments or…or they are in a place like Iški Vindgar.

This canyon, cooled by little river Iška that always stays below 18°C, is a perfect spot for a one day hangout, a walk in nature, picnic, and – if you are courageous enough – a swim.

There is also one climbing spot if you want to move in a vertical direction. If you prefer horizontal movement, I advise you to walk in the stream (so take shoes that can get wet) – it is much easier and faster than walking through the forest.

One more thing to finish off: the more up stream you will go, the less people will be around you…so if you want to be alone, for example with your girlfriend, be prepared for at least a 2 hours walk (you can be sure the best spots will be taken anyway

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Iški Vintgar | Relaxing | Free
Iški Vintgar | Surroundings
24 hours daily

At the moment I can still say that I had lived in Šiska district for more than half of my life but one of the best things for us when we were children – not that we wouldn’t do that as an adults, just the winters are rarely that cold as they used to be – was Koseski bajer which is a pond in Koseze neighbourhood.

This small artificial lake would freeze over and we’d ice-skate on it. What used to be a clay pit, in last years serves mainly fishermen, modellers who are playing here with their favourite toys and of course to  Slovenian characteristic, which is exercising, like jogging or cycling around it. There is a footpath that goes around it with several benches along the way.

Koseski bajer lies on the foothills of Roznik and Šisenski hrib which are hills between here and the centre. These places are included in a natural protected area.  The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship passes by the pond and that’s why this altogether is Mecca for nature lovers. The only thing that might bother such a person is a block neighborhood that was built a few years ago.

In the other part there is lovely bar called after Dolenjska  (Lower Carniolia – Slovene region) wine pride Cvicek that offers great view on the pond and pristine atmosphere of Ljubljana’s suburbs.

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Koseski bajer pond | Relaxing | Free
Koseska cesta | Siska
24 hours daily

You probably heard, or at least you will soon after arriving in Slovenia, some local proudly saying, that our little country is so small, you can get from the Alps to the Adriatic sea …and back in one hour if you drive a bad ass car and don’t give a damn about speed limits.

Anyway, we are all very proud of it and we like to hand over this cool fact to everyone who wants to listen us. This “parole” is also supported by the fact, that the closest ski centre rises up half an hour from Ljubljana (again, if you drive a bad ass car and you don’t give a damn about speed limits, only 15 minutes). Now tell me, which capital can beat this luxury?

Krvavec is very popular winter recreation point among inhabitants of Ljubljana. They offer 35 km of ski slopes, which is not so big, that you could entertain there for the whole week, but is totally cool for a day or weekend trip.

But just a warning: on a nice sunny day during the weekend, it can get pretty crowded with half of Ljubljana’s population collecting sun tan there…and skiing of course.

(every “ski” in the text can be replaced with “snowboard” if it makes you happier)

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Krvavec | Relaxing | Day ticket adults € 28.00
Ambrož pod Krvavcem 50 | Surroundings | +38642525911
08:00 – 17:00 daily (winter season)

In this library I can get lost for hours. Especially if I try to find a book by myself (it’s so messed up! ) But usually I gave up on this idea pretty quickly, ask for  help to one of those “speedy” librarians and make better use of my free time in some other corner of this lovely place.

Really, it’s so much more than just a place for renting books and studying. In the ground floor there is a cross road of happening. Here you can get all the information about how to get around, rent books (there’s also an international section, where you might find something in your language!) or even buy them.

They have a small antique book shop – convenient for Slovenes, but maybe also nice souvenir for foreign travelers. Sometimes I come just for an exhibition or some lecture that they organize. If not that, maybe more persuading for you will be a chess corner or a cellar, where you’ll find a place for entertainment. Movies, music Cd’s, books about these arts, computer corner and a lovely place to rest!

And with rest, I literally mean taking a nap. I did it, just the other day! With lovely sounds of bossa nova in the background…

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Library Oton Zupancic | Art & culture, Relaxing
Kersnikova 2 | Center | +38616001300
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 08:00 – 13:00 (1st Tue in month 10:00 – 20:00)

Located at the southern part of Roznik in the middle of the woods, Ljubljana zoo is perfect for a Sunday trip from the city center. You can walk there from Tivoli Park or use the city bus that drives from the main train station to the zoo, but only from May to October. There is also a lot of parking space around the zoo, if you are using a car.

The zoo is separated into 2 parts: the lowlands and the highlands. In the lowlands you have all of those typical zoo animals like giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, chimpanzees and the elephant. Our elephant is the cutest old thing. Her name is Ganges and she is an Indian elephant. She’s one of the biggest attractions of the zoo.

And then we have the highlands. If you don’t like walking through the hills and if you are not a big fan of lynx, ibex, chamois etc you can just skip the second part, and stay longer in the first part watching lions or leopards.

There’s a new great wooden playground in the zoo, so you better find your inner child and try it out!

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Ljubljana zoo | Relaxing | Adult € 6.00
Vecna pot 70 | Vic | +38612442188
Nov – Feb 09:00 – 16:00 | Mar & Oct 09:00 – 17:00 | Apr & Sep 09:00 – 18:00 | May – Aug 09:00 – 19:00

Like many historically important cities, also Ljubljana has its castle. Situated in a small hill in the middle of the city and surrounded with nice green forest it represents a good relaxing point.

Don’t be lazy and walk up there. It takes only 15 minutes. Of course you can also take a funicular or a small train, but this is sooo touristy…

Recently they just finished the renovation of the towe, eventhough I can tell you the view from the lower walls is telling enough. If you’re a history lover, you can maybe see the virtual museum…

In the atrium the castle hosts events and weddings sometimes, but that’s more in the summer. For sure it will serve you with a lovely ambiance, even if you go up there just for a warm drink.

For a virtual tour by day see here and by night see here.

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Ljubljana’s castle | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing | Tour prices € 3.30
Grajska planota 1 | Center | +38612329994
10:00 – 21:00 daily

As morbid as it can sounds this cemetery is actually a really nice place to visit. I bet that more than half of the natives haven’t even been here so you might find this as a challenge.

Built just before Second World War architect Plecnik had the idea to create a monumental shrine housing tombs of the most deserving Slovenians, also called a Slovenian pantheon, was given the name Navje, derived from Slavic mythology.  It consists of an open arcaded classical building rebuilt from an old pavilion and a surrounding memorial park.

Just behind the main train and bus station this calming and relaxing place invites you to go for a short stroll between the tombs. There is no problem to sit on the grass and read and when it gets dark it can be a perfect place to play hide and seek.

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Navje | Art & culture, Relaxing
Robboca Ulica | Bezigrad
Winter 09:00 – 17:00, Summer 08:00 – 20:00

The first time I was here was in spring, when all the flowers and trees were blooming. But even now in colder months it is nice to come here, simply because this place gives away this special vibe of peacefulness and purity of playing kids, who are brought to this park by their grandmas.

This small patch of green (ok,, white right now ) is located near more known Roman wall (probably you’ll find it in the most travel books). It is my oasis in the middle of city bustle, a place where I can think, dream or have a deep conversation with my friends.

For now it’s still fairly unspoiled and clean, so if you promise you’ll be nice and will respect its innocence, I think I can share it also with you

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Park by the Jamova street | Relaxing
Jamova Street | Vic
24 hours daily

Ljubljana’s main and largest park provides a nice green ‘time out’ from city concrete. Grassy areas slowly transforming into woods towards Roznik and Šisenski hill makes it more special and wilder than ordinary European parks.

You can actually get a bit lost wandering around, and if you are walking long enough trough the woods, you will eventually see glimpse of wild animal patterns, which, luckily, don’t mean you are lost in the Slovene jungle but that you just found Ljubljana ZOO.

The park itself offers quite a lot: on the main promenade (leading from Modern Gallery towards the Tivoli Castle) are constant photo exhibitions mostly orientated into nature kingdom. Left from promenade there is large children’s playground that sometimes with its cool objects tempts also the adult ones to swing or slide once or twice.

On the right edge there is Tivoli sports centre with a swimming pool, ice hockey and basketball court, tennis, bowling and in general everything that smells like sport. In between there is green, a lot of it, with some water here or there, to make the whole thing more fresh and perfect for an easy outdoor chill out!

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Park Tivoli | Relaxing | Free
Park Tivoli | Siska
24 hours daily

Gravel-paved footpath around the city Pot spominov in tovarištva is The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship sometimes also called as the Green Ring but signs on the path refer to it as POT (which means a path). Where used to be a barb wire fence which surrounded Ljubljana during World War II is now 33 km long path and crosses today’s urban area and outskirts of the city. What was built to prevent contacts between the city and its hinterland is now connecting Ljubljana.

To the people living in Ljubljana this is mainly recreational path on which you can jog, cycle or just have a pleasant walk. With a dog, if possible. In some of the more hidden parts of this Green Ring late at night some cars can be parked, searching for some privacy.

If you happen to be in Ljubljana on 9th May you can join the Recreational March along the path, which marks the anniversary of the liberation of Ljubljana after World War II.

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POT | Relaxing
Koseski bajer – pound | Siska
24 hours daily

Preseren square is the main square of Ljubljana and an excellent meeting point. Also for us, locals. When we get bored sitting under the statue of Preseren – our national poet, who wrote the toasting anthem – and waiting for friends, we may even notice how many sites you can actually see from this point.

The castle, the triple bridge, Plecnik’s flea market, the pinky Franciscan church, and Julia (Preseren’s muse) somewhere on a window…

Aside from vibrant movement of the people on the square, I also like it for its cultural happenings. It often hosts festivals, singers or street performers, painters or just weird installations and from time to time even sport events.

See a virtual tour here.

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Preseren Square | Art & culture, Relaxing
Preseren Square | Center
24 hours daily

A popular place for Sunday walks is also Roznik. It’s a small hill located practically in the city centre.

The highest peak of the area is called Sisenski hrib and is located less then 500m above the sea level. So piece of cake: take a walk through the woods, I bet the trees look just lovely now – covered in white and sleepy…

To refresh yourself, make a stop on the top of Cankarjev hrib, where you’ll find an old bar. One of the greatest Slovene writers from the end of 18th and the beginning of 19th century lived in that house for several years and for that reason they also put his statue on this square. Just few meters higher is a church.

For a virtual tour see here.

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Roznik | Relaxing
Surrounded by park Tivoli | Vic
24 hours daily

Smarna gora is a hill at the most northern part of Ljubljana. It’s a butte and looks like two humps of camel. You can reach it with city bus number 8 ( Gameljne ). The bus drives in 10-20 minute period.

There are many ways to reach the top of Smarna gora. There are paths that are a bit steep, but take only 20 minutes. There are also more gentle paths, which are most of the time full of climbers, especially on Sundays. But if you are not walking on the main paths, you can relax and enjoy the fresh air.

Smarna gora has two peaks. Smarna gora and Grmada. The first peak is the popular one and is full of guest. On this peak you will also find an inn called Ledinek. Here you can buy some typical Slovenian dishes, a cup of tea or a beer. It has a nice view on whole Ljubljana, especially when the weather is nice.

Grmada is a located a bit higher and only a bench on the top so it doesn’t have so many visitors. It’s better if you would just like to relax, read a book or study.

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Smarna gora | Relaxing, Restaurants (Slovenian) | Tea € 1.20
Smarna gora | Siska | +3861511655
07:00 till dusk

Pekel means hell in Slovene language and this canyon deservedly got its name. It is hard to reach and steep rocky walls together with wild water give it dingy look. But it is a great place if you want a few hour breaks in wild nature.

You can adapt length of our walk to how much you want to see. The main attraction of the spot are definitely waterfalls, five of them actually. The highest one (20 meters) is 1.5 hours walk away from the starting point.

Very attractive are the second and third waterfall with 16 and 18 meters height: appropriate for people that are not much of a climber. The idea here is that the further up you go, the more you have to climb on ladders and pitons, which can be quite a challenge if they are a bit slippery. I know flip flops and white socks are ultra obligatory fashion if you are a tourist (not!), but please swallow you dignity and don’t use this footwear when you will do this trip!

During the winter waterfalls freeze and they are used for ice climbing.

Canyon Pekel is located near Borovnica, on the edge of Ljubljana marsh, half an hour by  car from city centre. Who would have thought you can experience a bit of ‘mountaineering’ so close to the capital?

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Soteska Pekel | Relaxing | Free
Near Borovnica | Surroundings
Daily during daylight

The lazy Ljubljanica River strolls through the city, but before it enters it, the river’s path is divided. The artificial channel dug more than 200 years ago makes a shortcut, avoiding the city center where the natural stream flows. Where the river is divided there are some simple barges serving as bars. There are three bars, but we call this place altogether ‘Spica’, which means spike and if seen from above it actually looks like a land spike that points into the water.

I’ve known this place since forever and was always visiting it because this green oasis makes a perfect getaway from the urban hustle and bustle. The short ten minute walk from the center is really beautiful as well, no matter which side of the river you take.

The three bars are offering mainly simple drinks you can drink either on the wooden benches on the shore or on the boat. Special view and fresh breeze you experience on deck chairs on the top of one of the barges. This bar also serves one typical dish from the Balkans, called ‘cevapcici’ that are thumb shaped grilled minced meat served on a plate with flatbread (lepinja), chopped fresh onions, kaymak and ajvar, which is a relish made mainly with red peppers, eggplant, garlic and chili. They serve it during the day for only € 5.00

I would recommend this place to everyone who likes nature and doesn’t mind simplicity. Here you can get a good portion of sun and a pristine smile. At Spica you won’t meet any big shot name, just regular people enjoying the atmosphere and some ducks passing by even in winter.

It looks like this winter is the last that we have this place since the renovating and making it more posh place has already started. Run there!

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Spica | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Beer € 2.00
Privoz | Rudnik
11:00 – 21:00 daily

I am not very bird wise so I don’t know if magpies actually live here, or the valley got its name from a local with a wide imagination. It doesn’t matter, really. The thing is, this place is great for spending some time in nature. Wooden paths, huge meadows, small streams, even some cows and horses for the real countryside touch.

For some uphill torture you can head to Rašica hill (30 minutes up from Rašica village) where you will find a cabin and a view tower, but I believe the apple strudel will be by far the most interesting thing on the top. The area is also greatfor cross-country and downhill biking – just be careful for grannies and dogs.

The valley is located at the upper edge of Ljubljana; you can reach it with bus no. 6 in direction of Crnuce or with bikes (9km from city centre); it is just a hint away from city camping Ježica.

Remember the old saying: Walk the dog every day, even if you don’t have one. I have 3 and so a lot of reasons to go on a walk there every day.

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Sracja dolina | Relaxing | Free
Sracja dolina | Surroundings
24 hours daily

What used to be a Roman wall 2.4 meters wide and 6 to 8 meters high was renovated less than a century ago by the architect Joze Plecnik, who knew how important nature is. He designed a park inside the wall and built a stone pyramid over the gate using old roman stones from the neighborhood.

During the warm half of the year the wall is quite popular, mainly with high school students that come here to enjoy sun or maybe play guitar, rather than spend time in the classrooms, and students from the neighboring faculties.

Because of its stone structure free climbers are spending hours here, hanging on the wall, trying to learn grips. On the top of the wall you can relax, have a beer or just watch shirtless climbers training their muscles. One gets even a better view from the pyramid so don’t hesitate to climb it. Just be careful not to fall!

You can also try to play didgeridoo under the arcades of the gate, it has good acoustic. During July and August this place tends to be much calmer, because students are on their well deserved vacations.

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The roman pyramid | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
along the Mirje street | Vic
24 hours daily

Are you in Ljubljana on a lonely summer evening and Jost forgot to write what’s on this week? Don’t worry! Just buy a bottle of wine and take your friends to the “beach”!

Trnovski pristan is a popular destination among young generations and how could it not be. The stone stairs designed by Joze Plecnik offer the perfect seats and there is also a nice surrounding with Ljubljanica river. Just add your best friends, maybe a radio or a guitar and you will have a perfect night!

Just clean up after yourself because at daytime, Trnovski pristan is an important place for jogging and relaxation. In summertime there is also a library under treetops and you can sit on a chair, read a book and just enjoy the sunny weather.

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Trnovski pristan | Relaxing | Free
Trnovski pristan | Vic
24 hours daily