Getting around · Ljubljana · Slovenia
Getting around Ljubljana
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
The centre is small and largely car-free, so walking covers almost everything between the castle, the market, Prešeren Square and Tivoli Park. City buses run by LPP connect outer districts, and the BicikeLJ bike-share and electric Kavalir shuttles fill the gaps. No for the city.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- LJU, ZAG, TRS
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Urbana card
Ways to get around
Walking
Prešeren Square, the Old Town, the Central Market and Congress Square are all within about ten minutes of each other, and Tivoli Park is a 15-minute walk from the Triple Bridge.
Bus
LPP city buses cover the whole city and run to the zoo, Šiška and the suburbs. Fares are paid with the rechargeable Urbana card or the official app, not with cash on board.
One fare allows transfers between buses within 90 minutes.
Cycling
BicikeLJ is the city's bike-share scheme with stations across the centre, and cycle lanes link the river, Tivoli and the outer districts.
Cable car
A funicular climbs from Krekov trg near the Central Market to Ljubljana Castle in about a minute; the fare is usually bundled with castle tickets.
Taxi
Taxis can be called by phone or app and wait at ranks near the station; small electric Kavalir vehicles also give free short rides within the pedestrian zone for those who need them.
Tickets and passes
Urbana card
The rechargeable smart card used on city buses and the castle funicular; buy and top it up at kiosks, tourist information centres and machines.
Ljubljana Card
The city tourist card bundles entry to many museums and the castle with city buses and a boat trip for 24, 48 or 72 hours.
From the airport
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport at Brnik is about 26 km north of the centre. Public buses run to the main bus station in about 45–50 minutes, and shared shuttle vans and taxis take around 25–30 minutes. Some travellers fly into Zagreb, Trieste or Venice and continue by shuttle or train.
Do you need a car?
No for the city. A car is useful only for touring the Julian Alps, the Soča valley or the Karst; Bled, Bohinj, Postojna and Piran are all reachable by bus or train.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Bled | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Bus from Ljubljana bus station to Bled |
| Lake Bohinj | About 2 hours by bus | Bus via Bled to Ribčev Laz and Ukanc |
| Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle | About 1 hour by bus or train | Bus or train to Postojna, then shuttle in summer |
| Škocjan Caves | About 1 hour 30 minutes by train and walk | Train to Divača, then a short shuttle or walk |
| Piran | About 2 hours 30 minutes by bus | Bus from Ljubljana bus station |
| Velika Planina | About 1 hour by bus and cable car | Bus towards Kamnik, then cable car and chairlift |
| Škofja Loka | About 25 minutes by train | Train from Ljubljana station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Ljubljana?
No for the city. A car is useful only for touring the Julian Alps, the Soča valley or the Karst; Bled, Bohinj, Postojna and Piran are all reachable by bus or train.
+How do you get from the airport to Ljubljana?
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport at Brnik is about 26 km north of the centre. Public buses run to the main bus station in about 45–50 minutes, and shared shuttle vans and taxis take around 25–30 minutes. Some travellers fly into Zagreb, Trieste or Venice and continue by shuttle or train.
+What is the best way to get around Ljubljana?
Walking: Prešeren Square, the Old Town, the Central Market and Congress Square are all within about ten minutes of each other, and Tivoli Park is a 15-minute walk from the Triple Bridge.