The tongue twisting capital of Slovenia is the figurative and (almost) literal centre of the country, with nearly three times more inhabitants than any other Slovene city and an even larger share of its commercial, administrative, cultural and educational activity.
It's been less than a decade since Ljubljana notably celebrated the 2000th anniversary of the founding of the Roman settlement of Emona, whose ruins lie underneath the present day city. However, according to the local legend the origins of Ljubljana go back even further, namely, to the turn of the first millennium BC, when Jason and Argonauts stopped for a time. Regardless of the legend’s historical accuracy, it continues to live on through the dragons adorning its bridges, flags and more.
Nowadays, Ljubljana combines a quaint and well-kept mediaeval old town at its centre with more modern districts radiating out in all directions. While some 300,000 residents officially call the city home, it is said that its size swells to well over half a million on any given weekday, with large numbers of workers and students making daily migrations. Thanks in part to this massive influx, Ljubljana has a vibrancy and youthful air that would be the envy of much larger cities, with countless cultural events taking place on a daily basis. And at the same time it manages to be one of the safest and cleanest cities of its size anywhere in Europe, even being named the European Green Capital back in 2016.
Add all this to the fact that the city is only a 20-minute drive from ski resorts in the Alps, 45 minutes from Mediterranean beaches and more or less surrounded by idyllic countryside, and it’s easy to see why Ljubljana has garnered such high praise in recent years. So without any further ado, we'd like to welcome you to our fair city, thank you for using our guide and wish you the most pleasant of stays!
In addition to this convenient, eco-friendly digital version, can also be found around town in analogue form, which to be honest is our preferred medium for consuming travel information and conclusive evidence that we're officially old. Nevertheless, we hope you find the information useful and thoroughly enjoy your stay in Ljubljana and Slovenia. For all the latest updates, make sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and we're always happy to hear any feedback you might have at ljubljana@inyourpocket.com.
A free PDF of our latest guide to Ljubljana can be found here, and with over 400 distribution points in the city (and surrounding area) you’re never far from a print copy.
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