Free things to do · Ljubljana · Slovenia
11 free things to do in Ljubljana
Ljubljana without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas Ledl, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Ljubljana without paying an entry fee: Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square, Dragon Bridge, Central Market and Butchers' Bridge and the Ljubljanica embankments are all free. Eat your main meal at lunch, when weekday set menus cost far less than dinner.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 8
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
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Landmark · Center
1.Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square
Look for Julija's bust on the building at Wolfova 4, diagonally across the square from the statue.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Landmark · Center
2.Dragon Bridge
Combine it with the Central Market and Butchers' Bridge for a short loop along both banks.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Architecture
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Market · Old Town
3.Central Market
Come in the morning for the farmers' stalls, and on a Friday from spring to autumn stay for lunch at Odprta kuhna.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Architecture
Waterfront · Old Town
4.Butchers' Bridge and the Ljubljanica embankments
Late afternoon is the best time to pick a terrace on the shady side and watch the river traffic.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Food
Religious site · Old Town
5.Ljubljana Cathedral (St Nicholas)
Look closely at the two bronze doors before going in; they are the cathedral's most striking modern feature.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Street · Old Town
6.Mestni trg, Stari trg and the Town Hall
See the original Robba Fountain afterwards in the glass hall of the National Gallery.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Architecture
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Park · Tivoli
7.Tivoli Park and Rožnik hill
Follow the forest trail up Rožnik for a quiet hour, then come down past the zoo on the far side.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Neighbourhood · Tabor and Metelkova
8.Metelkova
Visit by day to see the art properly, then return after 11pm on a Friday or Saturday if you want the club scene.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
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Neighbourhood · Trnovo and Krakovo
9.Trnovo Bridge and Krakovo
Walk from Congress Square via Vegova street and the Roman walls; the whole loop takes about an hour.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
Architecture · Trnovo and Krakovo
10.Križanke
Even without a ticket, step into the courtyards to see Plečnik's decorated walls and lanterns.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Couples
- Free
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Nature · Tacen
11.Šmarna Gora
Try the inn's ričet, a barley and bean stew, which is the traditional reward for the climb.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Free
- Nature
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Center | Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square and Dragon Bridge | 30 minutes + 20 minutes |
| Old Town | Central Market, Butchers' Bridge and the Ljubljanica embankments, Ljubljana Cathedral (St Nicholas) and Mestni trg, Stari trg and the Town Hall | 1–2 hours + 1 hour + 30 minutes + 1 hour |
| Tivoli | Tivoli Park and Rožnik hill | 2–3 hours |
| Tabor and Metelkova | Metelkova | 1 hour |
| Trnovo and Krakovo | Trnovo Bridge and Krakovo and Križanke | 1 hour + 30 minutes |
| Tacen | Šmarna Gora | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
Castle · Castle Hill
Ljubljana Castle
Walk up through the woods on the Študentovska path and take the funicular down, then continue straight to the Central Market.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
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Gallery · Center
National Gallery of Slovenia
Start in the Impressionist rooms; they are the heart of the collection and rarely crowded.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Center
National Museum of Slovenia
Go straight to the archaeology rooms for the flute and the situla, then decide whether to see the rest.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Viewpoint · Center
Nebotičnik
Go at sunset for the light on the castle, and take the lift to the top floor from the entrance on Štefanova street.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Architecture
- After dark
Museum · Trnovo and Krakovo
Plečnik House
Pair it with a walk over the Trnovo Bridge and along the Gradaščica stream to Krakovo.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Experience · Old Town
Ljubljanica river boat trip
Evening departures in summer pass the lit-up bridges and café terraces.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
Zoo · Rožnik
Ljubljana Zoo
Walk there over Rožnik from Tivoli with children who like a forest path, and take the bus back.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Museum · Tabor and Metelkova
Slovene Ethnographic Museum
Look for the painted beehive front panels, a uniquely Slovenian folk art.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
More ways to save
- Eat your main meal at lunch, when weekday set menus cost far less than dinner.
- The Ljubljana Card pays off if you combine the castle, a boat trip and several museums in one or two days.
- Buses to Bled and Postojna cost much less than organised tours; book only if you want a guide.
- Picnic supplies from the Central Market make an easy lunch in Tivoli Park.
- Hotel prices fall sharply from November to March, apart from the Christmas weeks.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ljubljana expensive to visit?
Ljubljana is moderately priced for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Ljubljana?
Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square: Look for Julija's bust on the building at Wolfova 4, diagonally across the square from the statue.