Travelling to Ljubljana

How to Get to Ljubljana

​ Located at something of a midway point between the adriatic and the alps, Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and, with a population of 283,000, is its largest city. The area has been inhabited since 2000BC, therefore it's no surprise to find it has a rich history. It has the honour of having been sacked by Attila the Hun in 452 and its famous castle on the hill (which can be reached by funicular railway) was first mentioned in the 12th Century. Until the end of the First World War it was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and during World War II was part of the area occupied by the Nazis. Until 1991 it was one of the westernmost points behind the Iron Curtain, as part of Yugoslavia. ​ The busiest season for tourists is in spring, however it is in summer, when the setting down by the river - with its ornate bridges and old town surroundings - really comes into its own. You won't need to worry about complicated-sounding currencies during your visit, as Slovenia is part of the Eurozone. Slovenian is the official language, but many younger people speak good English, as the study of a foreign language is compulsory until the end of secondary school. ​

Flying into Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport

​ This is in actual fact the only airport in Slovenia that has traffic all year round. In 2013 it handled 1,3 million passengers. It's no surprise then, that it's the main hub of Adria Airways, the Slovenian national airline. Other carriers which also depart from the airport include Easyjet, Finnair, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, Air France and Swiss International Airlines. Subsequently, flights are available to, among other destinations, Brussels, Istanbul, London and Paris. Charter flights to a whole host of Mediterranean destinations such as Malta, Rhodes, Mallorca, Santorini, Tel Aviv, are available, as well as to both Tenerife and Reykjavik (for those people who prefer the North Atlantic to the Med). ​ A selection of other airports that are not situated far away from the Airport of Ljubljana include Zagreb, Venice or Wien, and from each of them there are shuttle buses that go to the Slovenian capital. ​ Getting from Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport to City Centre ​ From 5am to 8pm there are hourly buses to the city centre of Ljubljana as well as other destinations within Slovenia. These are run by Alpetour and to get to the capital they charge €4,10. ​ In front of the terminal is a taxi rank, but it is also possible to book them by sending an email or by giving them a call. More infos here: http://airporttaxi.si/En/ ​ By car the journey should be relatively straightforward - there's an exit off the motorway A2, and it takes around 20 minutes to get there. Parking in the city costs around €2,50/hour. ​

Trains to Železniška postaja Ljubljana (Ljubljana railway station)

​ The main station in Ljubljana is a bit of a transport hub, it not only connects the 6 stations of the city itself, but in addition it's the connection point of two of the Pan-European Rail Corridors namely V (connecting the Northern Adriatic with Central and Eastern Europe) and X (connecting Central Europe to the Balkans). Subsequently it's possible to reach the main cities in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ​ Getting from Železniška postaja Ljubljana to City Centre ​ The main station in Ljubljana is pretty much in the city centre already. It's really just a five minute walk to the main square in the old town. ​ Should you still require a taxi there's a taxi rank directly in front of the train station. The starting rate is usually between €0,80 and €1,50, and per kilometre the rate is €0,70 and €1,70. The waiting rate is €15-20. ​ Though you won't need to drive into the town centre, it's possible to hire a car at the station so you can explore the surrounding countryside. ​

Buses to Avtobusna Postaja Ljubljana d.d. (Ljubljana bus station)

​ The bus station is right next to the train station so the same directions to the city centre apply. To get to other parts of the city, there are local city buses, which are very popular among the inhabitants of Ljubljana. ​

Driving to Ljubljana

​ As well as with the trains, Ljubljana is the intersection of the Pan-European Corridors V and X for the motorways. The A1-E70 connects Venice, Trieste and Croatia, the A1-E74 Vienna, Graz and other cities in Austria, the A2-E70 leads to Zagreb and Hungary whilst the A2-E61 provides a path to Salzburg and eventually Northern Europe. ​ Although it is possible to drive right into the city centre, is not recommended because of the difficulty to find free parking spaces and the likelihood of encountering traffic jams. ​ In general the road network is very efficient and Slovenia is a relatively small country, so by and large it's a good idea to use a car to get to other cities, but not inside the city itself. ​

How to Get Around in Ljubljana

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Public Transport in Ljubljana

​ The bus network is very efficient and is the most popular way to get around in Ljubljana. ​ * Public Transport Provider: Ljubljanski potniški promet * Cost of a Ticket: Before boarding the bus, you have to buy a card called Urbana (€2) that you can find in any Tourism Information Centre. You have to load it with credit from €1 to €50, and then use it in the bus. The cost per journey is €1,20. A monthly pass costs €42,50 whilst an annual ticket will set you back €420. * Discounted Ticket Types: School- €20 per month/Pensioners- €20 per month/Unemployed- €17 per month * Availability of Public Transport at Night: Buses in the city only travel between the hours of 5am and 10.30pm. ​

Cycling in Ljubljana

​ Cycling is pretty common and as a rule of thumb people in the city are pretty cycle aware. You can reach much of Ljubljana via bike lane. ​ * Official Municipal Bike Provider: Bicikelj * Rental Costs: €2 for 2 hours ​

Walking Around in Ljubljana

​ Undoubtedly the best way to see Ljubljana and its blend of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, is on foot. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised and the surrounding roads are generally fairly small-scale. Indeed, walking through the Tivoli Park or along the Ljubljanica river is a good way to get to know the city and see the main sights.