Where to stay · Ljubljana · Slovenia
Where to stay in Ljubljana
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cezar Suceveanu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old Town. Cobbled Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg squeezed between the castle hill and the river. Best alternatives — families: Center; budget: Tabor and Metelkova; nightlife: Tabor and Metelkova.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old Town
- Families
- Center
- Budget
- Tabor and Metelkova
- Nightlife
- Tabor and Metelkova
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old Town | Cobbled Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg squeezed between the castle hill and the river |
| Families | Center | Prešeren Square, Čopova street and Congress Square on the left bank |
| Couples | Old Town | Cobbled Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg squeezed between the castle hill and the river |
| Budget | Tabor and Metelkova | Former army barracks turned arts quarter, museums and hostels east of the station |
| Nightlife | Tabor and Metelkova | Former army barracks turned arts quarter, museums and hostels east of the station |
| Solo travellers | Tabor and Metelkova | Former army barracks turned arts quarter, museums and hostels east of the station |
| Shopping | Center | Prešeren Square, Čopova street and Congress Square on the left bank |
| Quiet stays | Trnovo and Krakovo | Plečnik's house, vegetable gardens and a quiet village feel south of the centre |
Ljubljana neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and culture
Old Town
The Old Town runs in a curve along the right bank of the Ljubljanica below Castle Hill, through the three medieval squares of Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg. Baroque townhouses hold small hotels, apartments, wine bars and design shops, and the castle footpaths and funicular start here. It is the most atmospheric base, with the Triple Bridge and the cathedral a few minutes away.
- Good
- Everything central is walkable; Pedestrianised, cobbled streets; Riverside restaurants on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Few large hotels and limited parking; Cobbles are hard work with suitcases
- Nearby
- Ljubljana Castle, Town Hall, Robba Fountain, Ljubljana Cathedral
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Center
Across the Triple Bridge, the Center district holds Prešeren Square, the Franciscan Church, the shopping street Čopova and the tree-lined Congress Square with Star Park. Most of the larger city hotels are here or along Slovenska cesta, a short walk from the National Gallery, Nebotičnik and Tivoli Park.
- Good
- Widest choice of hotels; Five minutes from the Old Town; Easy walk to Tivoli Park
- Watch out
- Busier with day-trippers in summer; Some rooms face noisy bus routes on Slovenska cesta
- Nearby
- Prešeren Square, Congress Square, Nebotičnik, Tivoli Park
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
Trnovo and Krakovo
Krakovo is the old fishermen's and gardeners' quarter, where allotments still grow vegetables a few minutes from Congress Square. Neighbouring Trnovo has the Trnovo Bridge with its birch trees, the Church of St John the Baptist and Plečnik's own house. Cafés line the Gradaščica stream, and the Roman walls of Emona run along Mirje.
- Good
- Calm and residential; Ten minutes' walk to the old town; Good apartments for longer stays
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Plečnik House, Trnovo Bridge, Roman walls at Mirje, Križanke
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Tabor and Metelkova
Around Metelkova the old Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav barracks now hold the graffiti-covered Metelkova autonomous cultural centre, the Slovene Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Hostel Celica, a former military prison, is here, and Trubarjeva street's small bars and ethnic restaurants lead back to the river.
- Good
- Lower prices for hostels and rooms; Alternative clubs and street art; Ten minutes' walk to the Dragon Bridge
- Watch out
- Noisy on club nights; Less polished streets
- Nearby
- Metelkova, Slovene Ethnographic Museum, Trubarjeva street, Dragon Bridge
$$ · Best for budget, first-timers and solo travellers
Railway and bus station area
The main railway station and the bus station sit side by side on Trg Osvobodilne fronte, with airport buses, coaches to Bled, Bohinj and Piran and trains to Zagreb and Vienna. Hotels along Miklošičeva and Dalmatinova streets are a straight walk down to Prešeren Square, which suits travellers planning several day trips.
- Good
- Direct access to buses and trains; Short walk to the centre; Good-value business hotels
- Watch out
- Less charming streets; Traffic around the station
- Nearby
- Bus station, Miklošičeva street, Metelkova, Prešeren Square
$ · Best for budget, quiet stays and nightlife
Šiška
Šiška lies on the far side of Tivoli Park, an easy walk or short bus ride from the centre. It is a mostly residential area with supermarkets, local pubs and Kino Šiška, one of the city's main venues for live music. Apartments here are generally cheaper than in the centre, and the park paths up Rožnik and Šišenski hrib start close by.
- Good
- Cheaper apartments; Direct path through Tivoli to the centre; Local feel
- Watch out
- Few sights in the area itself; A 20-minute walk from the Old Town
- Nearby
- Tivoli Park, Kino Šiška, Rožnik hill
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | $$$ | Ljubljana Castle, Town Hall, Robba Fountain, Ljubljana Cathedral |
| Center | $$$ | Prešeren Square, Congress Square, Nebotičnik, Tivoli Park |
| Trnovo and Krakovo | $$ | Plečnik House, Trnovo Bridge, Roman walls at Mirje, Križanke |
| Tabor and Metelkova | $ | Metelkova, Slovene Ethnographic Museum, Trubarjeva street, Dragon Bridge |
| Railway and bus station area | $$ | Bus station, Miklošičeva street, Metelkova, Prešeren Square |
| Šiška | $ | Tivoli Park, Kino Šiška, Rožnik hill |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Ljubljana for first-time visitors?
Old Town. The Old Town runs in a curve along the right bank of the Ljubljanica below Castle Hill, through the three medieval squares of Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg.
+Where should families stay in Ljubljana?
Center: Widest choice of hotels.
+Which area of Ljubljana is best for a budget stay?
Tabor and Metelkova ($): Former army barracks turned arts quarter, museums and hostels east of the station.