Comparison · Ljubljana vs Venice · Slovenia / Italy
Ljubljana vs Venice
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Milligan Sumo, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Ljubljana for Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, lower day-to-day costs and free sights; choose Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Ljubljana is generally less expensive, and the two are about 183 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 183 km
- Less expensive
- Ljubljana
- Best time for Ljubljana
- May–June and September
- Best time for Venice
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Ljubljana | Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Slovenia | Italy |
| Known for | Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle and Jože Plečnik architecture | Grand Canal, Gondolas and St Mark's Basilica |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$250 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 27°C (81°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 4°C (39°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Lido di Venezia |
| Airports | LJU, ZAG, TRS | VCE, TSF |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Ljubljana for…
Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Slovenia's small capital wraps around a castle hill and the green Ljubljanica river, with a pedestrianised centre where the Triple Bridge, Prešeren Square, the Central Market and the cathedral are all within a ten-minute walk. Much of the townscape was…
Choose Venice for…
Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands in a lagoon at the top of the Adriatic, laced with canals and linked by some 400 bridges. There are no cars: you walk through narrow calli and campi or ride the vaporetto water buses along the Grand Canal…
Top sights compared
| # | Ljubljana | Venice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ljubljana Castle | St Mark's Basilica |
| 2 | Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square | Doge's Palace |
| 3 | Central Market | St Mark's Square |
| 4 | Dragon Bridge | St Mark's Campanile |
| 5 | Butchers' Bridge and the Ljubljanica embankments | Rialto Bridge and Market |
Food compared
| Ljubljana | Venice |
|---|---|
| Carniolan sausage | Cicchetti |
| Štruklji | Sarde in saor |
| Potica | Baccalà mantecato |
| Prekmurska gibanica | Squid-ink pasta |
Which is cheaper?
Ljubljana is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$250 per person there, against $200–$350 in Venice (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Ljubljana on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Ljubljana and Venice are about 183 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Ljubljana and 3 in Venice.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ljubljana or Venice cheaper?
Ljubljana is usually less expensive: about $150–$250 a day mid-range against $200–$350 (estimates).
+Is Ljubljana or Venice better for a first trip?
Pick Ljubljana for Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, lower day-to-day costs and free sights, or Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches.
+How far is Ljubljana from Venice?
About 183 km in a straight line.