There are many things I could tell you about Ljubljana, a gorgeous European city whose name I still cannot pronounce or write correctly without the help of an Encyclopaedia.
Grand avenues, quirky new architecture, amazing food, funky colourful neighbourhoods and a castle with an unrivalled view to the snow-caped mountains are some of the many wonders you shall find here.
Come join me in this photo journey to Slovenia’s capital city and be on the watch out for the dragons that loom over this charming place. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
The quirkiness of Ljubljana
Street Art at Metelkova, Ljubljana
Understanding Slovakia Slovenia, a country like no other in Europe
“Slovenia? Sure, I love it! Bratislava is such a cool city” a friend of mine once said. “Eh…that’s actually Slovakia?” I said. “Wait, isn’t it the same country? Let me Google it” he replied, still perplexed about the similarity of the names. To make matter worse, Google Image search showed him that the flags even share the same colours (White, Blue, Red) with only an emblem to tell them apart.
Did you know that both embassies meet each month to exchange wrongly addressed mail? The number one reason for this confusion is that in the Slovak language, the name of their own country is Slovensko while in the Slovenian language, the name of their own country is Slovenija.
Can you imagine now the pain of a post delivery guy? Read more about the differences between Slovakia and Slovenia here.
Golf at Ljubljana and the Castle
Musicians at Ljubljana
So what does Slovenia has? Well, funny you asked (or shall I say funky you asked?) because Slovenia is probably the best place in Europe to enjoy a mixture of incredibly funky street art with natural mountainous landscapes, great coastal destinations, mysterious caves and medieval castles that look like something straight out of a Disney movie.
Each one of the four seasons will bring a different colour to Slovenia and with it, a new array of activities that you can enjoy, from skiing in the Julian Alps to sunbathing in the Adriatic coast. But no matter the season, a stop to Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana is a must.
I mean, you really don’t want to miss out visiting Europe’s funkiest capital, do you?
Lovelocks at Ljubljana
Ljubljana in the Winter
Metelkova, the place where the funkyness of Slovenia was born
Ljubljana has many different areas to explore, but none of them is as unique as Metelkova. What can I tell you about Metelkova? Well, Metelkova is funk personified. It is recognised as an autonomous social centre and the whole block used to be the barracks of a former military base.
Metelkova was squatted back in 1993 during the first years of Slovenian independence and ever since has been a beacon of hope for independent artists and social thinkers.Today, you can find many bars inside of Metelkova itself as well as the best displays of street art this side of Europe (plus a very unique Hostel that used to be a prison but more on that later).
If funk was a place, Metelkova would definitely be it. I still wonder why Bruno Mars didn’t film his latest music video here to be honest.
Raphael Alexander Zoren, The Man of Wonders
The Metelkova Neighboorhood of Ljubljana
Where to stay in Ljubljana
Have you ever imagined being locked up abroad and having to sleep in a jail cell? Well, in Ljubljana you can make your dreams come true by staying at the unique Celica Hostel, which is proud to be established in a building that used to be a Yugoslavian prison.
Each jail cell is uniquely decorated with artists from all over the world and the Hostel itself serves as a cultural centre with many free concerts and events taking place inside, plus, it’s located in the Metelkova area so the funk will always be just a few steps from you.
When I was invited to stay at the Celica Hostel, I literally couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be in the world’s cosiest prison ever. And yes, before you ask, I was always careful enough to never drop the soap in the shower!
Street Art in Metelkova, Ljubljana
The Man of Wonders Locked Up Abroad
Practical information about Ljubljana
Being the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is very well connected by bus and train to almost all European destinations with Venice, Vienna and Zagreb being the most popular ones. The city itself has many museums and cultural attractions and is best explored with a Ljubljana Card (20 euros for 24 hours) which includes free entrance to all of them.
The Card also allows you to use the cable car up to the Castle and to take a guided boat tour in the river of the city. During the summer months you can also enjoy a touristy train that runs in the Old Town so be sure to plan your visit accordingly.
Ljubljana as seen from the Castle
Epic Sunset at Ljubljana
From Ljubljana you can also take diverse day-trips to other destinations within the country itself such as Maribor, Piran and the unique Lake Bled.
Lake Bled is a very picturesque place surrounded by snow-caped mountains whose main feature is an island in the middle of it. You can either rent a boat to paddle there or hire a professional to do the job for you. A one way ticket from Ljubljana to Lake Bled (2 hours) will set you back about 6 Euros with buses that run every hour or so.
Have you ever explored the funk of Slovenia? Would you like to? Share your thoughts and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: This article was brought to you in collaboration withVisit Ljubljana. Next time you visit Ljubljana, be sure to stop by at the Tourist Information office to know all about the current cultural events that you can enjoy in this wonderful city.
The boats of Lake Bled
Lakes, mountains and magic at Bled
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