Ljubljana

aaronm13

Heading here on Oct 19th for a week and just looking for some general info about the place from anyone who has been.Hope to travel around Slovenia too by taking in Lake Bled and the cave areas.Are these easy to get to with tours from Ljubljana or would we have to make our own way.

So what are the must do things here,good places to eat and nightlife.Is it expensive and what is the climate like around October.Cheers

Valmont

Some of my relations went and they loved it, they said it was very beautiful. I'm going in January so make sure to put up a thread when you're back!
Sorry I didn't have any info

lso

Was in Slovenia for a week in June last year.

Ljiublana is a lovely city - very compact centre. It's like a mini Prague without the hoards of tourists. Lots of restaurants and cafes along the river - nice atmosphere. There's good mix of Slovenians and tourists. Can't remember exactly how much dinner/drinks etc cost - it's not dirt cheap, but it is reasonable and good value.

We hired a car - we arranged it when we got there - called into the Hertz office. We were flying out of Trieste, instead of charging us the €100 to drop it off in another country, the guy in the office met us near the border and then drove us to the airport free of charge! Again can't remember exact cost for car hire, but it wasn't excessive.

We stayed near Lake Bohinj, which was lovely and good for hill walking (skiing during the winter). Bled is more built up, but is still very picturesque.

I think it should be quite easy to use public transport if you don't want to hire a car. We met some people who were getting around using the bus system and they had no problems.

Enjoy!

aaronm13

Thanks for that lso.I like the sound of the mini Prague without the hoards of tourists.Really cant wait to go and I'll gladly post my opinions of the city for you Valmont when I get back.If anyone has anything more to add about Ljiublana feel free.

ionapaul

I spent 8 days in Slovenia a few weeks ago with 3 mates, including 4 days/3 nights in Ljubljana. Great country, very beautiful, lots to see and do, friendly people. I am definitely going back! Ljubljana is really lovely, having a few drinks at night down beside the river, heavan. If there are a few of ye going, get an apartment in the old town, you'll be right in the heart of the action! Slovenia is a fairly wealthy country, so don't expect Polish or other Eastern European prices, but it is worth it.

aaronm13

ionapaul wrote:

I spent 8 days in Slovenia a few weeks ago with 3 mates, including 4 days/3 nights in Ljubljana. Great country, very beautiful, lots to see and do, friendly people. I am definitely going back! Ljubljana is really lovely, having a few drinks at night down beside the river, heavan. If there are a few of ye going, get an apartment in the old town, you'll be right in the heart of the action! Slovenia is a fairly wealthy country, so don't expect Polish or other Eastern European prices, but it is worth it.

This really sounds like my type of place the more I hear about it.Thanks for the info

Padraig Mor

Hey,

I was in Slovenia for a week recently as part of my honeymoon. Really really nice country - very friendly people (with great English), very clean, very orderly and comparatively affluent. Prices tend to be about 25 - 50% cheaper than here, depending on what you're buying (rough guide: pint E2.50, meal for 2 with drinks E40 - 60, fags E2.40).

Ljubljana is a lovely city. You'll find yourself spending most time in a small enough area bordered by Osvobodilne Fronte Square, Slovenska Street, Kongresni Square and the old town on the opposite side of the river. Presernov Square is the heart of this area and you'll pass through here several times. Public transport is by an effecient fleet of buses (300 ST cash fare - no change given - or tokens costing 190 ST IIRC available from the many kiosks that dot the city). We stayed at the Domina Grand Media Hotel on Dunajaska St, about 2 - 3 km from the centre. Excellent hotel for which we got a great rate on their website. Lovely restaurant too. The bus (routes 6 and 8) goes from directly outside the hotel straight into the centre so the distance isn't an issue.

Restaurants - quite a few on the 'right' bank of the river (I recommend Zlata Ribica, across the river from Presernov Sq and about 100m to the right). Also several on the side streets leading off Slovenska St (there's a delicious Mexican with great service called Joe Pena's on Cankarjeva St). There's another popular Mexican and the upmarket Gostilina As (and its mid range sister - As Lounge) on Knafljev prehod. This is a REALLY popular area at night and also has a rather boisterous English bar if that's your thing. It is a little tricky to find as both entrances to the street are little more than small arches off the two streets on either end - Slovenska and Wolfova St (it is only metres - on the right - from Presernov Sq on Wolfova). If you fancy a real blowout head to JB's near the rail/bus station. The food is absolutely exquisite but the restaurant is VERY formal - the waiters don't even leave the wine on your table! There is no written menu or wine list and no prices indicated anywhere. Cost us E110 for two (ouch!).

Bars - very few bars per se; drinking is mostly done in cafes and resaurants. Avoid Patrick's Irish Bar - dreadful.

We were also in Bled, which is a lovely spot. Not really much to do except wander around the lake so more than 1 - 2 days might be stretching it. Restaurants - Okarina has a very wide choice - everything from boar to tandoori - and great food. It's 'behind' the main hotel area on Ljubljanska St. On the other side of the lake, near the bathing area, Cafe Preseren does excellent food, with a lot of seafood. Getting there from Ljubljana is easy - very regular buses take about an hour or so.

Didn't go to any of the caves but the town of Postojna is on a direct rail route from Ljubljana (although the caves are a few km away from the station I understand). I believe that Skocjan Caves are quite difficult to get to without your own transport.

Hope this helps!

mcgarnicle

Was in Slovenia for week a bit over a year ago. Will eco the previous sentiments, beautiful country. Good nightlife even though a little surreal. The sight of a traditional Slovenian band hopping on stage half way through the night at a pretty trendy disco that had been playing dance music all night, and belting out a few folk songs will stay with me a few years, really cool experience. Oh and Paddy's bar was cool, even though there were about 30 of us and we pretty much made the place our own but the staff and other customers were really friendly.

TACITA

Hey,
I am looking at going to Slovenia next April but the flights are more expensive than I had hoped, just wondering what airline you went with and roughly the price? Thanks.