Image by Tjasa Janovljak

One of those, a bit forgotten, places is hippodrome, a few kilometers from the centre. It can be easily reached by all means of transportation, 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 – Savinja Alps still not 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 2009 we were expecting Madonna to perform here, but unfortunately the show was canceled.

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taučar

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 for me the apple strudel is what makes it worth to climb on the top. The area is also great for cross-country and downhill biking – just be careful for grannies and dogs. In Rašica village (an hour walk from Črnuče city part through the woods) a local restaurant offers good traditional Slovenian food, which is otherwise quite hard to find in city center, so if you are on culinary trip you should make an effort to come here.

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

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

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

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

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

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 parks.

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

The park itself offers quite a lot: on the main promenade (leading from Modern Gallery – check the MGLC article – towards the Tivoli Castle) are constant photo exhibitions mostly orientated into nature kingdom and art. 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 is Tivoli sports center with a swimming pool, ice hockey and basketball court, tennis, bowling and many other things that smell like sweat. 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! If you got cravings for cafe or ice cream, Čolnarna bar next to the biggest pond in a park is a nice place to stop.

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

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 colors of tulips, smooth structure of maple bark are things that make this place worth to visit.

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

Metelkova is home of Ljubljana’s alternative scene, home of artists, musicians and similar crowd. Created with transforming and rebuilding ex army barracks whose walls now serve as canvas for street artists and its outdoor space as contemporary forma viva, surprise every time with new installations and creations. Here architecture has its own rules.

People gather here mostly because of numerous music events, but also just to drink a beer and hang out with friends. There is always something going on, especially before and after summer break, when the weather is nice and people crave for an outdoor happening.

The place itself is a conglomerate of different clubs (Gala Hala, Channel Zero, Klub Gromka…), galleries (Alkatraz, Mizzart), hostel (Celica) and bars (Jalla Jalla…).

In Jalla Jalla you can get the cheapest beer in the city (hurray!) and if it is your first time in Slovenia you just have to try delicious honey schnapps called Medica, or a red liquor shot called Medvedova kri (bears blood).

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Metelkova | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Beer in Jalla Jalla € 1.50
Metelkova street | Moste
See website for program

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Lea Ružič

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 in one hour. Yes that is right – only 60 short minutes, and the landscape around you will be completely changed.

We are all very proud of it and we like to hand over this cool fact to everyone who wants to listen. This “parole” is also supported by the fact, that the closest ski center rises up half an hour from Ljubljana city center. 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 much and you could hardly entertain yourself there for the whole week, but is great for a day or weekend trip.

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

(note1: every “ski” in the text can be replaced with “snowboard” if it makes you happier:)

(note2: every weekend during winter season there is a ski bus departing from the central bus station)

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Tim Pipp

Where do we meet? On Prešerc, of course!

Yes, this central square is THE meeting place. Once upon the time, “in front of Nama” was quite popular as well, but lately it is so hectic up there that we rather just sit under Mr. Prešeren, and wait for our friends. France Preršeren, who is frozen in a statue at this main Ljubljana square, is Slovenian greatest poet and also the author of our national anthem. He was in love with a girl named Julia, and if you follow his view, you can spot her on a window frame of one of the houses towards Zvezda sweetshop.

Anyway, Prešern square is a perfect starting point for the tour-de-Ljubljana. Four main pedestrian areas are attached to it, it connects to the central station with Miklosiceva street, it lies by the famous 3 bridges, just across the river is central market and it has a great view over the castle (and can be the starting point to head up there by foot).

Throughout the year it is main location for many music and other events…and still it is small enough that you find whoever you are looking for.

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Prešernov trg | Bars, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks | Free
Prešernov trg 1 | Center
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

Knjigarna Konzorcij contains a few billion letters that create millions of words which are used in thousands of books. It is the biggest and best stocked bookstore in Ljubljana and it basically covers every possible subject.

I usually keep left where the cook book section is, which I can never resist peeking into. My favorite, the architectural and design department is located here as well. I love to sit on an old chair with good book and dive into different contents. It is my favorite city hobby when it is rainy and foggy and cold and absolutely horrible to stay outside more than you have to.

Anyway, if you are in search for something particular, here is the best chance to find it. If you just like to mingle among the books, this is the best place to do so.

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Knjigarna Konzorcij | Relaxing, Shopping | Book € 30.00
Slovenska cesta 29 | Center | +386612410650
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 19:30, Sat 09:00 – 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana

Image by Eva Taucar

“Pekel” means hell in Slovenian and Pekel Gorge deservedly got its name. It is hard to reach and steep rocky walls and wild water give it dingy look. But it is a great place if you want to have a break in the wild nature.

You can adapt the length of your walk to how much you want to see. The main attraction of the spot are definitely the 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 who are not really climbers. 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 your dignity and don’t use this footwear if you do this trip!

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

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Ljubljana