What to do with just one day in Ljubljana
Ljubljana (pronounced loo-blee-ahn-ya) was everything I hoped for and more: quaint cobblestone streets, 47 bridges, a mixture of baroque and art nouveau architecture, a riverfront lined with weeping willows and pastel-colored buildings.
I only spent one day in the Slovenian capital city, but I feel like I managed to pack SO much in! It’s a fairly compact and very walkable city, which makes it easy to see a lot without much time. That said, I do wish I had a bit more flexibility in my schedule so that I could actually enjoy the city: there were several riverfront cafes that would have been lovely to relax at with a beer and a book, and I wouldn’t have minded popping into some of the super chic cafes for a fancy coffee. Alas! Just another reason to go back. 
Go on a boat tour
In cities with rivers, I’m always a big fan of boat tours (Paris and New York are two of my favorites). They can be especially good when you have limited time in a city: in an hour or so, you get to see a lot of the skyline from a different perspective. In Ljubljana, I opted for a river cruise on a beautifully-made all-wooden boat and it was such a delightful way to experience the city (and also rest my feet for an hour–I did a ton of walking the rest of the day!). 
See the view from the castle…
The Ljubljana Castle is a medieval fortress that overlooks the city: although you can pay to go inside the castle and learn more about its history, I opted just to enjoy the view of Ljubljana from the grounds. I can’t imagine how beautiful sunsets are from this perch! 
…either by hiking up
I’m almost always going to choose the walking option: in my mind, it’s free AND it’s a workout! The path up to the castle from the city is pretty easy to find and well-paved–although make no mistake, it is definitely steep at times!
…or taking the funicular
If you’re not up for an uphill climb, you’re in luck: there’s a funicular railway that will take you directly from the city up to the castle! It takes one minute to go up or down and costs 4 Euros for a round-trip ticket, and the glass-walled room surely provides some incredible views heading up and down.
Cross all (or many) of the bridges
There are 47 bridges across 40 meters of the Ljubljanica River in the heart of the city, which makes it super easy to constantly cross over from one side to the other. There are all different styles of architecture, from super old to very new–and the view from the bridges offer some of the finest perspectives on the city.
…especially the Dragon Bridge
The most famous bridge in Ljubljana is probably the Dragon Bridge! Fun fact I learned on my boat tour: ages ago, the city flooded and the human fish that usually lives in Slovenian caves flooded through Ljubljana. Human fish look a little bit like dragons, and somehow, the connection stuck! Human fish are now considered one of the national fish of Slovenia, and a dragon is on the coat of arms of Ljubljana. 
…and Butchers’ Bridge
I’m generally pretty against this trend–it seems wasteful and bad for the environment, and can be super damaging to older bridges (like the original one in Paris). That said, the site of all of those lovers’ hopes and dreams is an interesting juxtaposition to the strange, creepy statues in the middle of Butchers’ Bridge–and the fact that it was originally built (before this updated version debuted in 2010) as a place for butchers to toss carcasses into the river below.
…and the Triple Bridge
Here’s an instance of when it was actually cheaper to build three bridges instead of one! The central stonge bridge has stood in place since 1942, but instead of tearing it down to widen the bridge for car and foot traffic in the 1930s, the architect opted to build two side bridges. It’s now one of the central links between the main squares of the city.
See the new church doors…
When you first see these giant bronze doors on Ljubljana Cathedral, you might imagine they’re hundreds of years old: I certainly did on first glance! But these stunning doors were actually added when Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1996: if you look closely, you can see him looking out over the scenes below that depict 1250 years of Christianity in Slovenia. 
…and the oldest church
The vast majority of the buildings in Ljubljana are in the Art Nouveau style: a giant earthquake in 1895 destroyed all but 40 buildings in the city, and when it was rebuilt, it was done in the style of the times. This beautiful pink church survived, and is one of the only remainders of the Baroque style in Ljubljana today.
Walk down all of the cobblestone streets
The main reason I was so excited to visit Ljubljana: all of those magical, pastel-colored cobblestone streets! It didn’t disappoint at all, it really does feel like you’re in a fairytale.
…especially this one
Perhaps the most photogenic of all is Križevniška ulica: plentiful flower boxes, brightly-colored buildings, a church spire at the end of the quiet street. Highly recommend taking a stroll down this one. 
Marvel over the architecture
The Vurnik house was one of my favorite examples of Art Nouveau architecture: it’s painted in the colors of the Slovenian national flag! Designed by a Slovenian architect and painted by his wife, it’s one of the finest examples of Slovenian national style architecture around. 
Catch a glimpse of the mayor outside Town Hall
This little square outside of the Town Hall was one of my favorites in all of Ljubljana: isn’t it picturesque?!
Have a riverfront drink
Confession: I did not sit down and enjoy a beer in this shady riverfront cafe, but I sure wish I had. The whole river is lined with restaurants, markets and food carts, and it seems like the ideal place to relax with a book or beverage in hand.
Indulge your inner bibliophile
My favorite part of the National and University Library is that the windows are inspired by open books. HOW IS THIS NOT A THING AT EVERY LIBRARY?!
Have a meal at Monstera
First things first: it is DELICIOUS. Truly, truly delicious. I’m still salivating over that roasted eggplant dish and the color of that chilled green bean soup. But what makes eating at Monstera even better is their commitment to sustainability. The menu changes every couple of days depending on what’s in season and what’s available locally–but they take it a step further by making intentional choices that reduce their impact on the environment, like having guests keep the same cutlery and glasses throughout the same meal (instead of taking them away, washing them, and providing new ones for each course). And no bottled water! You can either have still or sparkling tap water. One of the best dining experiences I had while in Slovenia: highly recommend! 
Take a close look at the historical monuments
Before Slovenia declared its independence in 1990, it was a part of communist Yugoslavia. When you look closely at some historical monuments, you’ll see some of that lasting influence–often in strange juxtaposition. My favorite is the hammer and sickle symbols painted on an arch going around a religious statue.
Stay at the Grand Hotel Union
I only wish that I had more time to stay in Ljubljana! I landed late at night, and then rented a car to drive up to Lake Bled the next afternoon–so only had one night at the lovely Grand Hotel Union. It’s where the Queen of the United Kingdom stays when she visits Slovenia! Another perk: a serious breakfast buffet. Make sure to stop by to fill up before heading out for a day on the town!
What would you do with one day in Ljubljana?
