April 19, 2025 – Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana on Foot: Statues, Bridges, Burek and Burgers

We woke up early, ready to properly meet Ljubljana—Slovenia’s pint-sized capital with a soul bigger than its skyline.

A Little Ljubljana Backstory

Ljubljana has worn a lot of hats over the centuries. It began as the Roman outpost Emona more than 2,000 years ago, and since then, it’s been shaped by Slavic tribes, medieval nobility, Italian artists, and the mighty Habsburg Monarchy. It’s now a university city full of charm and culture, known for its dragon legends, green initiatives, and easygoing vibe that instantly makes you feel at home.

We made our way back toward Prešeren Square, the beating heart of the city, where we took a moment to appreciate the statue of France Prešeren, Slovenia’s most beloved poet. He stands tall in front of the pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, baroque and bold with its eye-catching rose-colored façade.

Crossing the iconic Triple Bridge (yes, it’s three bridges side by side—thank you, architect Jože Plečnik), we wandered over to Robba Fountain, also known as the Fountain of the Three Carniolan Rivers.

Robba Fountain, created in the mid-1700s by sculptor Francesco Robba, was inspired by Roman fountains and celebrates three rivers—the Sava, Krka, and Ljubljanica. Though the original now sits in the National Gallery, the replica in Mestni Square still makes for a stunning centerpiece near Town Hall.

Back across the bridge we went, this time heading to the quirky Butcher’s Bridge, known for its modern design, glass panels, and very artsy statues (you’ll see what I mean).

While the bridge only opened in 2010, it sits on the site where a bridge was originally planned by Plečnik back in the 1930s. Today it’s known for being Ljubljana’s “love lock” bridge and home to some wild, darkly humorous sculptures.

From there we wandered up to the Dragon Bridge, guarded by its fierce winged protectors.

The Dragon Bridge, built in 1901, was one of the first bridges in Europe made from reinforced concrete—and one of the first anywhere to be lit with electric lights. It was built during the Austro-Hungarian era as a tribute to Emperor Franz Joseph I, and its dragons have since become the city’s unofficial mascots.

By now, we were well into our morning stroll, so we looped back toward the Triple Bridge and kept going, letting the streets guide us. Crossing the Cobblers’ Bridge, we stopped for a few quick photos—the Ljubljana Castle up on the hill makes the perfect frame.

We eventually reached Congress Square and wandered up to the Spomenik Revolucije, a striking monument.

The Spomenik Revolucije (Monument to the Revolution) honors the resistance and fallen soldiers of World War II. It was unveiled in 1975 and designed by renowned sculptor Drago Tršar. It’s a powerful piece, all angles and emotion, capturing a significant chapter in Slovenian history.

Refueling the Ljubljana Way

Our stomachs finally called the shots, and we found ourselves back near our apartment—aka near Burek Olimpija. Early as it was, our options were limited, so we both grabbed pizza bureks, warm and flaky and stuffed to the brim.

PSA: They are massive. We definitely could have shared one and still been full. Learn from us.

After that carb-fueled pause, it was time to tackle Ljubljana Castle.

Up to the Castle

There are a few ways to get up to the castle: you can hike it (several paths, some steeper than others), you can take the funicular, or you can hop aboard the tourist train that leaves from Town Hall Square.

Castle Funicular Info: Runs daily from 10 AM to 9 PM (times vary slightly by season). A round-trip ticket costs €6 for adults, €4.50 for students and seniors, and €3 for kids.
Tourist Train Info: Runs hourly from 10 AM to 5 PM (April to October), tickets are €10 for adults, and include several city stops, not just the castle.

If you’re thinking of driving up—technically possible, but parking is extremely limited, so consider it a last resort.

🔥 Savvy Scoop : You don’t have to pay to explore the castle grounds! Tickets are only needed if you want to visit the Slovenian History Exhibition, Puppet Museum, 4D Castle Film, or climb the Viewing Tower (which has 99 steps, just FYI). Everything else—the ramparts, courtyard, chapel, and even the old prison cells—is free to wander.

The castle has been heavily restored, which is both a plus and a minus—it looks great and is super visitor-friendly, but some of the old-world grit has been polished out. We got the basic ticket, which gave us access to the tower (those views!), and we shared one audio guide between us. It was more than enough.

Burgers by the River

Castle box checked, we headed back into town in search of a late lunch. The sun had broken through the clouds and the riverside was buzzing again. We found ourselves at Pop’s Place, a local burger joint with serious character.

I went for the Silverton—cheese, BBQ sauce, crispy onions, and bacon—and Ron got the Bacon Cheese Burger. We split some sweet potato fries and a Caesar salad, and washed it all down with cold IPAs. The vibe was on point: good music, lively crowd, and just enough sunshine to make shorts feel acceptable.

We lingered a little longer over our beers, not quite ready to let the day go. Between the dragons, bridges, and burgers, Ljubljana had already made its way into our hearts—and we still had more days to go.

🧭 Exploring Ljubljana with Viator – If you’re the kind of traveler who feels more at ease with a plan in place, Viator is a great place to start. They offer a wide range of tours that take the guesswork out of exploring a new city — from guided walks to full-day excursions and everything in between. It’s a great option if you’d rather leave the organizing to someone else and just focus on enjoying the experience. We’ve used them often and love how easy they make it to discover the highlights without the stress.