Landing in Ljubljana – A Warm Welcome, Laundry, and Street Food Vibes
After spending the morning soaked (but happy!) at Vintgar Gorge, we pointed the car toward Ljubljana, Slovenia’s charming little capital. And I say “little” with total affection; Ljubljana may be small, but it packs some serious personality.
A Little Ljubljana 101
Ljubljana (pronounced lyoo-blee-yana, if you’re practicing) is a city with a deep, layered past. It was originally a Roman settlement called Emona, later ruled by the Habsburgs, and eventually blossomed into the artsy, eco-conscious city it is today. With dragons as its unofficial mascots, cobblestone streets, riverside cafés, and a castle perched up on the hill, it feels like something out of a fairytale, but with a modern twist and a big student population to keep the vibe young and lively.
Before we left the gorge, we messaged our Airbnb host to see if we could check in early, because while our ponchos did a decent job, we were still pretty soggy and just a little chilled. She said yes (bless her) so we made our way to our new home base for the next three nights.
After a string of hotel stays, we were actually weirdly excited to do laundry. Funny the things you start to look forward to when you’re living out of a suitcase. The apartment was clean, cozy, and just a few minutes’ walk to the city center. It also came with secured parking, which in any city feels like striking gold.
But first, burek…
Now, one of the absolute joys of this spot? It was literally around the corner from Burek Olimpija, a Ljubljana institution.
IYKNYK – Burek Olimpija is a legendary 24/7 burek stall that’s been feeding locals and late-night wanderers since the 1970s. Located near the bus and train station, it’s famous for massive, flaky, cheese-stuffed pastries that are basically comfort food heaven. Open all hours, always busy, and always worth it.
In Slovenia, burek is not a snack,it’s a way of life. You’ll find versions with meat, cheese, apple, even pizza-style fillings. And at €3.50 a pop, it’s kind of rude not to try them all. But I digress…
We dropped our bags, threw a load of laundry on, and headed out into the city to get our bearings, and maybe a little sunshine if it decided to grace us. While Burek wasn’t in the cards for us right away, we do come back to it….
Ljubljana, You Charmer
Within minutes, we’d wandered into Prešeren Square, the heart of Ljubljana’s pedestrian zone. It’s colourful, full of life, and so, so easy to fall in love with. The Triple Bridge spans the emerald Ljubljanica River, and just beyond that sits Robba Fountain, a beautiful baroque sculpture nestled in Mestni trg, right under the gaze of the old Town Hall clocktower. Looming above it all is Ljubljana Castle, keeping watch from the hilltop like a medieval big brother.
The waterfront along the river was buzzing; patio tables were filling up with people sipping drinks, and chasing the first warm rays of spring. It’s the kind of place where you just want to grab a drink and linger.
To the left, we found the Ljubljana Central Market, which dates back to the 1930s and was designed by Slovenia’s most famous architect, Jože Plečnik. Normally it’s the go-to spot for fresh produce, meat, cheese, and flowers, but today? It had transformed into a full-on Asian Street Food Festival.
Noodles, Dumplings, and 80s Bangers
Lucky us. The market was pulsing with energy, music bumping, people laughing, beer and wine flowing, and the smells… oh man, the smells. Stalls were dishing out everything from noodle boxes to dumplings, rice bowls, fusion skewers, and Egyptian street wraps.
Kids zipped between tables, teens lounged in clumps, vape clouds floating above their shawarma-filled conversations. Somewhere, someone had dug deep into an old 80s playlist, and it weirdly worked. Everyone seemed to be exactly where they wanted to be.
Ron and I split up to follow our cravings; he went for a classic chicken noodle box, and I found a heavenly Egyptian Tauk Chicken Shawarma. Warm, spicy, saucy perfection. We regrouped, stuffed and happy, and wandered through the crowd for a bit before ducking into (yes, don’t judge), an Irish pub, because sometimes a pint of Guinness just hits the spot.
A drink later, we made our way back to the apartment, full, slightly sun-kissed, and completely charmed by Ljubljana. Between the riverside walks, the laid-back energy, and the smell of burek in the air, I already knew this was going to be one of our favourite stops.
