Season guide · Ljubljana · Slovenia
Ljubljana in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Žiga, Public domain
Quick answer
Cold and often foggy, with the festive December market and lights; January and February are the quietest and lowest-priced months. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 28 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -3°C (27°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 28
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C (39°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 9 | 9 h | 1/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 8 | 10.3 h | 1/5 |
| December | 4°C (39°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 11 | 8.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 5°C (41°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 28 of the year's roughly 130 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Kurentovanje carnival in Ptuj, with shaggy kurent costumes (usually February, before Lent)
- December: Festive December — Christmas market and lights along the Ljubljanica (usually late November to early January)
Good choices for winter
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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
Slovenia's oldest museum holds the Divje Babe bone flute, often described as a Neanderthal instrument, and the decorated Iron Age bronze Vače situla, alongside Roman finds from Emona, the city's ancient predecessor.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
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
Museum · Tabor and Metelkova
Slovene Ethnographic Museum
Housed in a former barracks building at the Metelkova museum quarter, the ethnographic museum covers everyday life in Slovenia, from painted beehive panels and kurent carnival costumes to farm tools and folk dress.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Old Town
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
Day trips in winter
- Škocjan Caves (About 1 hour 30 minutes by train and walk) — A UNESCO-listed cave system where the Reka river roars through an underground canyon crossed by a narrow bridge high above the water.
- Piran (About 2 hours 30 minutes by bus) — Slovenia's Venetian-era port town sits on a narrow peninsula, with Tartini Square, a hilltop church with a bell tower and town walls looking over the Adriatic.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Ljubljana?
It is a trade-off: Cold and often foggy, with the festive December market and lights; January and February are the quietest and lowest-priced months. The best months overall are May–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Ljubljana in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 28 rainy days over the season.