Rudnik Ljubljana – All our local tips

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

Another Ljubljanica River faced place worth mentioning is Livada, not far from the centre.  Its speciality is Slovenian meat dishes and of Ljubljana’s speciality: fried frog legs.

Even though waiters are not the best and sometimes they look quite fed up with their job, it is a charming place. Definitely the most romantic thing to do is to come here by boat, which goes every hour from Dvorni trg square.

Livada is a neighbourhood with small houses and a lot of canoe and kayak clubs. This really quiet part of the city is already geographically opening towards the south, towards Ljubljansko Barje marshes.

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Livada | Restaurants (Slovenian) | Daily lunch € 6.90
Hladnikova cesta 15 | Rudnik | +38612803870
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 22:30, Sun 10:00 – 18:00

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