Capital of the tiny country of Slovenia, Ljubljana is one of Europe's best kept travel secrets, but tourism here is on the rise. The city suffered a devastating earthquake in 1895, but today is an architectural gem split by the lovely Ljubljanica River.
The most interesting feature of the city is Castle Hill, featuring a 9th century castle. Other significant historical sights include: the Cathedral of St Nicholas, the Bishop's Palace, and the Seminary. The old town, on the right bank of the river, is the only part of Ljubljana untouched by the earthquake; here you'll find the most historical attractions, including the Town Hall, the Robba Fountain and well preserved medieval houses.
The bustling market area runs alongside the Cathedral and Seminary and boasts a brightly coloured assortment of dairy, bakery, meat and fish stalls. Nearby, the art nouveau Dragon Bridge takes its name from the quaint green monsters on each of its four corners; while the Triple Bridge has become the recent icon of the city.
Ljubljana has an impressive assortment of restaurants and bars ranging from mellow cafés to busy student hang-outs. Most of these are positioned on the riverside and offer excellent people-watching. Sprinkled all over the city are numerous music venues, offering everything from classical, jazz and alternative to live music. There are also over 30 art museums and galleries, plenty of cinemas, five large department stores and lots of shops and boutiques.
There is much to see in the surrounding areas, and your first stop should be the nearby city of Trieste. Additionally, the stunning Adriatic coast of Istria is not far, with the Dalmatia coast more to the south. Slovenia also boasts the unbeatable Alpine scenery of the Julian Alps, with a popular resort area, Lake Bled, just an hour north of Ljubljana.
Visitors can arrive in Slovenia via one of the border crossings with Italy, Austria, Hungary or Croatia; Slovenia's highways are good and clearly signposted. Rail connections are excellent, with lines from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Macedonia. By sea, vessels arrive at the international border crossings in Koper, Piran and in Izola (seasonal). Slovenia's national carrier Adria Airways offers regular scheduled flights from most major European cities to Brnik Airport.
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