Walking Ljubljana: Three Routes on Foot

Compact and largely closed to cars, Ljubljana is one of Europe’s easiest capitals to explore on foot. Three routes show different sides of it, from architecture to parkland to a long memorial trail.

Plečnik trail

Begin at the Central Market colonnade along the river, a two-storey arcade designed by Jože Plečnik. Cross Cobblers’ Bridge and continue to the National and University Library, where a black limestone and red brick facade hides a monumental staircase leading to the reading room. The route is short, free and part of the UNESCO listing of 2021. For his own home, Plečnik House in Trnovo offers guided visits only, from Tuesday to Sunday, and it is closed on Mondays. Details are at the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana .

Tivoli Park and Rožnik Hill

Tivoli is the city’s largest park. The Jakopič Promenade runs beneath chestnut trees and holds open-air photography exhibitions, and the neoclassical Tivoli Mansion stands nearby. For a longer walk, continue up Rožnik Hill beneath beech trees to the Church of the Visitation and a hilltop inn that serves hot tea. Morning runners and walkers share these paths, which makes them a pleasant place to start the day.

Path of Remembrance and Comradeship

The POT is a 32.5 km gravel path that circles the city. It follows the line of the barbed-wire fence that occupation troops built around Ljubljana from February 1942 until May 1945. A total of 102 stone markers and thousands of planted trees line the route. The path is walked or cycled in sections rather than all at once, and BicikeLJ bikes help with the longer stretches. Each May the “Walk Along the Wire” marks the city’s liberation on 9 May 1945. The City of Ljubljana publishes route information on its official site .

Metelkova by day

Metelkova Mesto is an alternative-culture quarter in former barracks, with murals and sculpture. Visit in daylight or early evening.

Practical tips

• Pickpockets work crowded squares and transport hubs, so keep bags closed.
• A BicikeLJ registration costs €1 for a week, and the first hour of each ride is free.
• For a break, LPP buses cost €1.50 a ride.

If you prefer a local guide, walking tours on GetYourGuide is a place to compare, and see Visit Ljubljana for events.

Tip

Do the Plečnik trail in the morning and Tivoli after lunch, then save any POT section for a clear day. The sightseeing page covers the landmarks between.

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