Ljubljana is one of Europe’s smallest capitals, and you notice it straight away. The Old Town lines the green Ljubljanica river beneath the castle hill, many of the bridges and squares were designed by the architect Jože Plečnik, and the whole city centre is car-free, so you can walk almost everywhere. If you’re wondering where to stay in Ljubljana, you’ve come to the right place.
Precisely because the city is so small, the question of where to stay mostly comes down to atmosphere, price and whether you have a car. Here are my six picks for the best areas, with three hotels in each area across different price ranges.
Contents
Where to Stay in Ljubljana: The Best Areas
- Old Town - best area for first-time visitors
- Prešeren Square and the Centre - best area for city life and shopping
- Krakovo and Trnovo - best area for a local feel and peace and quiet
- Around the Railway Station and Metelkova - best area for train travellers and day trips
- Tivoli and Rožna dolina - best area for families and nature
- Bežigrad - best area for drivers and small budgets
Ljubljana’s centre is so compact that the first three areas are all within a ten-minute walk of each other. The railway station is just north of the centre, Tivoli Park lies to the west, and Bežigrad is further north on the other side of the railway line. Jože Pučnik Airport is at Brnik, around 26 km north of the city. The prices below come from a search for a weekend in June for two people, so expect them to rise in July and August.
1. Old Town - best area for first-time visitors 🏰
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the centre. From Mestni trg it’s a two-minute walk to Tromostovje and Prešeren Square, and around five minutes to the market and the funicular up to the castle.
- 🚶 Transport: You walk everywhere. The whole Old Town is in the car-free zone, and the small Kavalir electric vehicles run free of charge around the pedestrian streets for anyone who finds it hard to walk far.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or shuttle from Ljubljana Airport, and 45 minutes to an hour by bus to the bus station, then the last stretch on foot.
- 💰 Price level: €€€ to €€€€. The three places below cost around €184 to €259 (around £155 to £215) per night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe, in the evening too. Watch out for cyclists in the pedestrian streets and keep an eye on your bag when it gets crowded by the bridges.
The Old Town is the medieval town on the east bank of the Ljubljanica, squeezed between the river and the castle hill. It’s made up of three long squares running into one another, Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg, with baroque façades and small design shops and cafés on the ground floors. On Mestni trg you’ll find the town hall and the Robba Fountain, which depicts the three rivers of Carniola, and a couple of minutes to the north are the cathedral and the city market with Plečnik’s long colonnade facing the river.
From here you’re also closest to the castle. You can walk up the paths from the Old Town or take the funicular from Krekov trg, and according to Ljubljana Castle a return funicular ticket costs €6 (around £5) online. If you want the city’s history from the outset, you can take a guided walking tour with the funicular up to the castle for around €21 (around £18).
See hotels in the Old Town here.
I’d stay here if it’s your first trip to Ljubljana and you want to step out of the door and be right in the middle of everything. On Fridays in the summer season, the Odprta kuhna food market fills the square by the market with stalls from restaurants all over the country, and in the evening half the city strolls along the river. In the morning, before the day-trippers arrive, you’ll have the lanes almost to yourself.
The downsides are the price, the stairs and the car. The Old Town is the most expensive area in the city, many of the buildings are old with no lift, and you can’t drive to the door. Your car has to stay in a multi-storey car park on the edge of the centre, and on Fridays and Saturdays there can be noise from the bars along the river until late, so ask for a room facing the courtyard if you’re a light sleeper.
Hotels in the Old Town
Vander Urbani Resort - design hotel with a rooftop infinity pool
Vander Urbani Resort is on Krojaška ulica between Mestni trg and the river, and is an official four-star design hotel with a restaurant, a bar and a seasonal rooftop infinity pool. It scores 8.0 from over 1,500 reviews, and it was the most expensive of my three suggestions in the Old Town when I searched. The hotel is in the pedestrian zone, so your car has to stay in a multi-storey car park around five minutes’ walk away, and one guest felt the showers and washbasins were a little worn.
One guest writes: “The rooftop pool was much appreciated.”
See photos and book Vander Urbani Resort here.
Central Riverside Apartments Meščanka - apartments a few steps from Mestni trg
Meščanka is on Ključavničarska ulica, a small street between Mestni trg and the Ljubljanica, and has air-conditioned apartments in the heart of the Old Town. It scores 9.3 from over 350 reviews. There’s no lift, so every apartment is up a flight of stairs, breakfast has to be booked along with your stay, and the nearest secure car park is two minutes’ walk away.
From one review: “Everything. So beautiful and comfortable and a fantastic location too.”
See photos and book Meščanka here.
Stella Sky - apartments on Reber with a pool and views
Stella Sky is on Reber, the steep little street leading from Stari trg up towards the castle hill, and has apartments with air conditioning, a terrace and, according to Booking.com, a seasonal heated pool with a view. It scores 8.8 from over 700 reviews, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions in the Old Town when I searched. You’re in the pedestrian zone with no parking at the door, and one guest didn’t think the bathroom was clean enough and noticed marks on the walls and doors.
One guest highlights: “The location was fantastic. Very clean, nicely furnished. Lovely pool area.”
See photos and book Stella Sky here.
2. Prešeren Square and the Centre - best area for nightlife and shopping 🌉
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the heart of the city. Prešeren Square is where everyone meets, and Tromostovje takes you straight across the river to the Old Town.
- 🚶 Transport: You can walk everywhere. City buses run along Slovenska cesta, and according to Visit Ljubljana a ticket costs €1.50 (around £1.25) and is valid for 90 minutes when you pay with the Urbana card.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or shuttle from the airport, and 45 minutes to an hour by bus, which stops at the bus station a 15-minute walk north of the square.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost around €151 to €251 (around £125 to £210) a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. The square is packed with people until late in the evening, so keep an eye on your pockets in the crowds.
Prešeren Square is the centre of Ljubljana. This is where you’ll find the pink Franciscan Church and the statue of the national poet France Prešeren, and from the square Tromostovje, the Triple Bridge, leads across the river to the Old Town. Plečnik built the two footbridges on either side of the old bridge, and they’re among his works in the city that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with Congress Square and the National Library, among others.
West of the river lies the newer part of the centre, with the shopping street Čopova, Congress Square with Zvezda Park and the main road Slovenska cesta. Along the Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment, people sit in cafés right down by the water, and at the top of the 1930s Nebotičnik skyscraper there’s a café with views across the rooftops. If you’d like to taste your way through Slovenian cuisine, you can join a food tour with tastings for around €90 (around £75).
See hotels around Prešeren Square here.
I’d stay here if you want restaurants, bars and shops right on your doorstep while still being in the Old Town in two minutes. The area has more proper hotels than the Old Town, which makes it easier to find a room with a lift, a 24-hour reception and breakfast. It’s also the most practical base if you want to shop in the streets around Čopova.
The downsides are noise and parking. Around Prešeren Square and along the embankment things stay lively until late, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, so ask for a room facing the courtyard. The centre itself is closed to cars, and according to Visit Ljubljana the easiest option is to leave your car at one of the city’s P+R car parks on the outskirts, where the parking ticket also includes two bus journeys, and the whole thing is valid for 24 hours.
Hotels around Prešeren Square
Hotel Cubo - design hotel with breakfast on Slovenska cesta
Hotel Cubo is on Slovenska cesta, a couple of minutes’ walk from Congress Square, and is an official four-star design hotel with a restaurant, a bar and breakfast included. It scores 9.4 from over 1,200 reviews, the highest of the hotels in this guide. Parking costs €20 (around £17) a night, and one guest felt that at that price there ought to be a bottle of water in the room or free parking.
One guest writes: “Excellent location, good and helpful staff, and the breakfast was simply fantastic.”
See photos and book Hotel Cubo here.
Best Western Premier Hotel Slon - large classic hotel close to Prešeren Square
Hotel Slon is on Slovenska cesta, a few minutes’ walk from Prešeren Square, and is an official four-star hotel with a bar and café. It scores 8.3 from over 7,800 reviews. Breakfast costs €11 (around £9) per person if it isn’t included in the rate, valet parking costs €18 (around £15) a night, and one guest found the room a little small and the TV old.
From a review: “The breakfast is fantastic, the hotel is very clean, and the staff are extremely friendly and professional.”
See photos and book Hotel Slon here.
Barbo Palace Apartments and Rooms - apartments and rooms with kitchenettes close to the river
Barbo Palace is on Gosposka ulica between Congress Square and the river, and has apartments and rooms with kitchenettes, air conditioning and a lift. It scores 9.2 from over 1,300 reviews, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions in the centre when I searched. There’s no breakfast and no parking, so your car will have to go in a public car park, for example at Tivoli for around €13 (around £11) a day, and one guest missed having an oven in the kitchen.
One guest highlights: “The apartment was clean and had everything you need for a short stay. The staff were friendly and helpful.”
See photos and book Barbo Palace here.
3. Krakovo and Trnovo - best area for local atmosphere and peace and quiet 🌿
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re just south of the centre. From Trnovo Bridge it’s about a 15-minute walk along the river to Prešeren Square, and from Krakovo it’s a little shorter.
- 🚶 Getting around: You walk into the centre along the river or via Plečnik’s green promenade, and several of the apartments have their own parking, as you’re staying outside the car-free zone.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: About half an hour by taxi or shuttle from the airport. If you arrive by bus, it’s around a 25-minute walk or a short ride on the city bus from the bus station.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost around 141 to 209 euros (around £120 to £175) per night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe and quiet. It’s a residential area, and in the evening the only buzz is at the bars along the Gradaščica and the river.
Krakovo and Trnovo are Ljubljana’s oldest suburbs, lying south of the centre by the remains of the Roman city wall of Emona. Krakovo is all low houses and vegetable gardens, where market gardeners have grown produce for the market for generations, and in Trnovo you cross the little Gradaščica river on Plečnik’s Trnovo Bridge, which has birch trees growing on the bridge itself and the Church of St John the Baptist at the far end. Just north of Krakovo is Križanke, the old monastery complex that Plečnik turned into an open-air venue, where concerts and theatre are held in summer.
This is also where Plečnik himself lived. His house on Karunova ulica behind the church can only be seen on a guided tour with a maximum of seven people, and according to Plečnik House a ticket costs 12 euros (around £10). The house is closed on Mondays, and tickets can be bought online, which I recommend because the groups are so small.
See accommodation in Krakovo and Trnovo here.
I’d stay here if you’ve been to Ljubljana before, are travelling as a couple or want peace and quiet in the evening while still being able to walk into the Old Town. In summer the locals sit in the bars along the Gradaščica and on the Trnovski pristan quay by the river, and you eat in small neighbourhood restaurants rather than on the tourist streets by Tromostovje. Many of the places are apartments with kitchens, and some have parking, which is rare this close to the centre.
The downside is that it’s almost entirely apartments and small guesthouses, so you rarely get a reception, breakfast or daily cleaning. It’s about a 15-minute walk to Prešeren Square, and if you have heavy luggage, it’s quite a way from the bus and train stations at the other end of the city.
Hotels in Krakovo and Trnovo
Krakovska apartments - modern apartments in the heart of Krakovo
Krakovska apartments is on Krakovska ulica in the middle of the neighbourhood and has modern apartments with a fully equipped kitchen and a terrace. It scores 9.7 from over 250 reviews, the highest in the whole guide, and it was the most expensive of my three picks in Krakovo and Trnovo. There’s no private parking, but a public car park nearby costs 1.70 euros (around £1.40) an hour, and one guest missed a handrail on the stairs.
One guest writes: “Fantastic place to stay, modern and clean, lovely well-equipped kitchen.”
See photos and book Krakovska apartments here.
Central Apartments with Parking - apartments with free parking by the Roman wall
Central Apartments with Parking is on Mirje by the remains of the Roman wall and has apartments with a kitchenette and free parking on the ground floor. It scores 9.4 from over 900 reviews, and it’s a 10 to 12-minute walk to Prešeren Square. One guest complained about a creaky bed and no conditioner.
From one review: “The parking on the ground floor and the location. The apartment was clean and well equipped.”
See photos and book Central Apartments with Parking here.
Cozy Nest - apartment in Trnovo with free parking nearby
Cozy Nest is on Gradaška ulica in Trnovo, close to the Gradaščica, and is an apartment with a fully equipped kitchen and a terrace. It scores 8.3 from over 130 reviews, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in the area when I searched. There’s free parking about 100 metres from the apartment, but not on site, and one guest felt that one night was very expensive.
One guest says: “Everything was very beautiful. The owner was very, very helpful.”
See photos and book Cozy Nest here.
4. Around the Railway Station and Metelkova - best area for train travellers and day trips 🚆
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying on the northern edge of the centre. From the railway station, it’s a 10 to 15-minute walk to Prešeren Square.
- 🚆 Transport: Trains and long-distance coaches leave from the railway station and the bus station, which sit side by side, and this is also where the airport bus departs from.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 45 minutes to an hour on the airport bus, which stops right by the station, and 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or shuttle.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly 156 to 406 euros (around £130 to £340) per night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Safe during the day. As around most railway stations, the atmosphere is less pleasant late in the evening, and Metelkova can be a bit rough at night, so stick to the busier courtyards.
The area between the railway station and the centre is Ljubljana’s transport hub. The railway station and the bus station sit side by side, and according to Visit Ljubljana, there are trains to places such as Vienna, Zagreb and Trieste, plus long-distance coaches to cities like Venice and Munich. Just east of the station lies Metelkova.
Metelkova was once a set of Austro-Hungarian barracks from the late 19th century. In 1993, around 200 volunteers occupied the northern part to save the buildings from demolition, and today it’s the city’s alternative cultural centre, with concerts, clubs and courtyards full of graffiti and sculptures. Right next door is Museum Square, home to the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Slovene Ethnographic Museum. If you’d like to see the city from the saddle, you can join a guided bike tour of Ljubljana for around 34 euros (about £30).
See hotels near the railway station here.
I’d stay here if you’re arriving and leaving by train or bus, or want to use Ljubljana as a base for day trips. The bus to Bled takes about an hour and a quarter, and to Postojna, where the cave is, the train or bus takes about an hour. If you’d rather have everything arranged for you, you can book a day trip to Bled, Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle for around 115 euros (about £95). If you’d like to spend the night by the lakes or on the coast, have a read of my guide to where to stay in Slovenia.
Piran on the coast makes for a long day trip that’s easiest by car. You can compare prices on car hire at Booking.com and pick up the car at the airport or in town, and remember that the motorways and the Ljubljana ring road require an e-vignette from DARS. From Ljubljana, you can drive to Bled in under an hour and to Piran in just over an hour and a half.
If you’re travelling onwards by train or bus, I have guides to where to stay in Vienna, Trieste and Venice, and in my guide to where to stay in Croatia, Zagreb has its own section. The downside of the area is that it’s more practical than charming, and if you stay close to Metelkova, you may hear music from the clubs well into the night at weekends.
Hotels around the railway station and Metelkova
InterContinental Ljubljana - five-star hotel with a pool and rooftop restaurant
The InterContinental is on Slovenska cesta between the centre and the railway station, about 750 metres from the station, and is an official five-star hotel with an indoor pool, spa, gym and rooftop restaurant. It scores 9.0 from over 1,800 reviews, and it’s the most expensive hotel in this guide. Breakfast is only included in some rates, valet parking costs 33 euros (about £30) a night, and one guest felt the parking was a little pricey.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely view, spacious rooms, clean and a fantastic location.”
See photos and book InterContinental Ljubljana here.
City Hotel Ljubljana - popular hotel with a breakfast buffet and terrace
City Hotel is on Dalmatinova ulica, about 850 metres from the railway station and a five-minute walk from Prešeren Square. It’s an official four-star hotel with a restaurant, bar, gym and a summer terrace with views of the castle, and the breakfast buffet is included. It scores 9.0 from almost 11,000 reviews, parking costs 18 euros (about £15) a night and must be reserved, and one guest found the spaces in the garage rather narrow.
From a review: “Everything! The staff, the rooms, the cleaning, the maintenance, the location and the breakfast.”
See photos and book City Hotel Ljubljana here.
Guesthouse Stari Tišler - guesthouse with a traditional restaurant near the station
Stari Tišler is on Kolodvorska ulica, about 500 metres from the railway station, and is an official three-star guesthouse with breakfast included and a traditional restaurant where guests get a 15 per cent discount. It scores 8.3 from over 1,000 reviews, and it was the cheapest of my three picks near the railway station when I searched. There’s no private parking, so you’ll need to park on the street for 0.80 euros (about 70p) an hour.
One guest says: “Everything was fantastic. The location, the breakfast (it was amazing), the room and, most importantly, the staff.”
See photos and book Stari Tišler here.
5. Tivoli and Rožna dolina - best area for families and nature 🌳
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying west of the centre. From the eastern entrance to Tivoli Park it’s about a ten-minute walk to Prešeren Square, while Rožna dolina is around two kilometres out.
- 🚌 Transport: City buses run along the main roads into the centre, and as you’re outside the car-free zone, most places have free parking.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: About half an hour by taxi or shuttle from the airport. If you take the airport bus, you change to a city bus at the bus station.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost around €129 to €250 (roughly £110 to £210) per night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. The park is dark in the evening, so stick to the lit paths if you’re walking back after dinner.
Tivoli is Ljubljana’s big city park, stretching from the edge of the centre up the wooded hill of Rožnik. From the centre you enter along the wide promenade Jakopičevo sprehajališče, which often has open-air photo exhibitions, and at the end stands Tivoli Castle, home to the International Centre of Graphic Arts. Behind the park, trails lead up through the woods to the top of Rožnik, where you’ll find a church and an old inn.
On the other side of the hill lies Rožna dolina, a quiet residential area of villas with gardens and student housing, and on the southern side of Rožnik you’ll find Ljubljana Zoo, which has over 500 animals and is open every day all year round. It’s the green alternative to the centre, and if you like a morning run, the trails in Tivoli and on Rožnik are among the best things about the city.
See accommodation near Tivoli and in Rožna dolina here.
I’d stay here if you’re a family, arriving by car or want nature right on your doorstep. Almost all the places have free parking, which is a big plus in a city with a car-free centre, and you can get onto the ring road towards Bled and the coast quickly. If you stay at the eastern end of the park, you can still walk to Prešeren Square in a quarter of an hour.
The downside is the distance from Rožna dolina. From here it’s two kilometres into the centre, and restaurants are few and far between in the evening, so you’ll often end up taking the bus or a taxi back. If you choose somewhere in the western part, check how far it is to the nearest bus stop. On the other hand, you wake up to birdsong instead of traffic, and that’s hard to find in a capital city.
Hotels near Tivoli and in Rožna dolina
Hotel Čad - four-star hotel by Rožnik with free parking
Hotel Čad is on Cesta na Rožnik at the foot of the hill, not far from the zoo, and is an official four-star hotel with a restaurant, garden, terrace and free parking. It scores 9.2 from over 1,400 reviews, and it was the most expensive of my three suggestions in the area. It’s about two kilometres into the centre, and one guest writes that the hotel is a little out of the way, so you’ll need a car.
One guest writes: “Very pleasant stay, the staff are very helpful.”
See photos and book Hotel Čad here.
Beer & Wine House - modern apartments with free parking near Tivoli
Beer & Wine House is on Vošnjakova ulica near the eastern end of Tivoli Park, less than a kilometre from the centre, and has modern apartments with a lift, air conditioning and free private parking. It scores 9.3 from just under 100 reviews, so there are fewer reviews to go on than at the larger places. One guest notes that the sign is hard to spot from the road.
From a review: “Modern, clean and a little bit different.”
See photos and book Beer & Wine House here.
Aroma apartments - spacious apartments with free parking
Aroma apartments is on Tržaška cesta south of Rožna dolina, about a 16-minute walk from the centre, and has apartments with air conditioning, a terrace and free private parking. It scores 8.2 from over 550 reviews, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions in the area when I searched. The spaces can fill up, though, and one guest had to park elsewhere one evening.
One guest says: “Pleasantly surprised by the size of the apartment. Comfortable bed.”
See photos and book Aroma apartments here.
6. Bežigrad - best area for drivers and small budgets 🚗
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying north of the railway. From the southern part of Bežigrad it’s under a 20-minute walk to the Old Town, while from the northern part it’s half an hour on foot.
- 🚌 Transport: City buses run along the main road, Dunajska cesta, into the centre in around 15 to 20 minutes, and most places to stay have free parking.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 20 to 25 minutes by car or taxi from the airport, which lies north of the city, so you avoid driving through the centre.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€. The three places below cost around 69 to 187 euros (around £60 to £155) per night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. It’s an ordinary residential and office area, but the side streets are quiet and dark in the evening.
Bežigrad is the district north of the railway where many of the city’s residents live. Instead of sights, you’ll find blocks of flats, offices, schools and leafy courtyards, and the main road, Dunajska cesta, leads north from the centre. In the middle of the district is Plečnik’s old stadium, and further north is the Stožice sports park with the city’s large football stadium and arena, where the big concerts and matches are held. Next to it is one of the covered P+R car parks.
This isn’t an area you choose for the atmosphere. On the other hand, this is where you’ll find the big chain hotels and apartments with free parking at a fraction of Old Town prices, and in the morning you take the bus along Dunajska cesta into the centre with the locals. There are also supermarkets and bakeries within walking distance, so it’s easy to do your shopping if you’re staying in an apartment.
I’d stay here if you’re arriving by car, travelling on a tight budget or just need a bed on the way between Austria and Croatia. You drive straight onto the ring road without going anywhere near the car-free centre, and in the evening you take the bus or a taxi back from the Old Town. It’s also a practical choice if you’re going to a concert or match at Stožice.
The downside is that you’re staying away from everything. There are few restaurants and no atmosphere in the evening, and from the northern part it’s a half-hour walk to the Old Town. Choose somewhere close to Dunajska cesta so the bus stops near your door, and expect to spend a bit of time travelling each day.
Hotels in Bežigrad
Holiday Inn Express Ljubljana - chain hotel with free parking and breakfast
Holiday Inn Express is on Podmilščakova ulica in the northern part of Bežigrad and is an officially three-star hotel with breakfast included, a bar, a garden and free parking. It scores 8.8 from over 5,400 reviews, and it was the most expensive of my three suggestions in Bežigrad. The bus into the Old Town takes 15 to 20 minutes, and one guest had problems with their key card that weren’t resolved during a short stay.
One guest writes: “Fantastic breakfast, spacious and clean room, lovely bathroom, good and secure parking and very helpful staff.”
See photos and book Holiday Inn Express here.
Vila Majda - apartments with parking close to the centre
Vila Majda is on Smoletova ulica in the southern part of Bežigrad, under a 20-minute walk from the Old Town, and has spacious air-conditioned apartments with free private parking. It scores 8.1 from just under 700 reviews, and one guest found their parking space taken and had to park on the street.
From a review: “Very spacious apartment and excellent location with a parking space.”
See photos and book Vila Majda here.
Dragons Dream Hostel - hostel with private double rooms by the bus
Dragons Dream Hostel is on Dunajska cesta in the northern part of Bežigrad and is a hostel where you can also get a private double room. It scores 7.9 from over 3,300 reviews, and it was by far the cheapest place in the guide when I searched. Parking is free as long as there’s space, but one guest didn’t think the bathrooms were clean and felt there were too few for the number of guests.
One guest highlights: “The location is good, right by the stop for the bus into the centre and the main bus station.”
See photos and book Dragons Dream Hostel here.
Where not to stay in Ljubljana?
Watch out for apartments listed as Ljubljana on booking sites that are actually in suburbs and neighbouring towns such as Domžale, Medvode or Škofljica. They look close on the map, but you’ll need a car or a regional bus every day, and you’ll lose your evenings in the city. The same goes for the hotels by the airport at Brnik, which is around 26 km from the centre and only makes sense before an early flight. Also avoid the cheap hotels out by the ring road and the shopping centres, where you’ll have traffic noise and nothing to go out to in the evening. And if you want an early night, don’t stay right next to Metelkova or with windows facing the bars on the embankments, where things stay lively until late at weekends.
If it’s your first trip to Ljubljana, I’d stay in the Old Town or around Prešeren Square, where you have the bridges, the castle and the restaurants right on your doorstep. If you want peace and a local feel, Krakovo and Trnovo are my favourite choice, and if you’re arriving by train or planning day trips, stay by the railway station. If you’re travelling with children or by car, Tivoli and Rožna dolina are the green choice, and if your budget is tight, you’ll get the most for your money in Bežigrad.
Give Ljubljana two or three nights so you get a day in the city, a trip up to the castle and a day trip to Bled or Postojna Cave. The city is small enough that you can see a lot in a short time, but it’s at its best when you take it at a relaxed pace with a coffee by the river.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
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• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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