DISCLAIMER: The author was provided with some discounted and/or complimentary passes and meals so that she could try the attractions/restaurants and review them for your information. All opinions are her own. Most images courtesy of Lisa Grabelle unless otherwise noted.
In just 48 hours, you can unveil the enchanting beauty of Slovenia, an often-overlooked European gem that beckons before it captures everyone’s attention! In just one weekend, you can immerse yourself in the romantic charm of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, and the breathtaking allure of the nearby Lake Bled region.
Slovenia is a land of emerald-green forests, crystal-clear lakes, historic castles, and delectable regional cuisine. Wander along the pedestrian-only streets as the deep green Ljubljanica River flows gracefully through the city center, inviting you to relish this magical destination filled with timeless architecture.
Known as Europe’s greenest capital, Ljubljana serves as a gateway to adventure, where swimming, hiking, kayaking, and exploring this Alpine paradise await, all just an hour from the city. Once you feel the captivating pull of this capital region, you’ll yearn to uncover the tranquil beauty of Slovenia’s countryside. We can’t wait to head back to Slovenia to explore lesser-visited treasures.
Join us on our itinerary as we delve into the charm of Ljubljana and Lake Bled, and discover why Slovenia is the only country with “love” in its name!
HOW TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY
The Ljubljana Card from VisitLjubljana.com is the key to saving money on attractions, public transportation, sightseeing cruises, and more!
DAY ONE: WELCOME TO LJUBLJANA
MORNING
Kickstart your day at the vibrant Central Market, where the sights and scents of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and flowers awaken your senses. Discover unique vending machines dispensing unpasteurized milk and farm-fresh eggs, a real curiosity for American tourists like us. For breakfast, select one of the intimate cafés lining the market by the river.
If you only have one day to soak in the magic of Ljubljana, dive into this magnificent city’s rich history and culture with a two-hour Guided Tour using your Ljubljana Card. Allow an expert guide to ignite your imagination as they bring to life remarkable figures like the innovative Master Builder Jože Plečnik, the renowned pioneer of 20th-century modern architecture.
Experience his imprint around the city, from his famous Triple Bridge to the majesty of Kongresni Trg Square. This tour is an excellent springboard to uncover the sights you’ll want to visit during your stay or when you return to the city another time.
AFTERNOON
For lunch, we ventured just outside the historic center of town to treat ourselves to lunch at Georgie Bistro — a culinary dynamo that comes highly recommended by Michelin and Gault & Millau. Thanks to their extremely attentive staff, Georgie invites you to dine in a modern, aesthetically pleasing setting with a warm and friendly vibe.
We were thrilled to join Georgie for restaurant week and devour their well-crafted three-course menu. Each dish was a mini-masterpiece!
We started with the roasted beetroot accompanied by peanuts, vegan XO sauce, and labneh — I honestly could have licked the plate clean! Next up was the perfectly-prepared Adriatic fish drizzled with flavorful beurre blanc, ‘nduja, leeks, and pickle. And for the grand finale: tarte tatin with vanilla and white chocolate — pure bliss!
We also enjoyed spoonfuls of their scrumptious pumpkin mousse and grape sorbet. It was wonderful to dine amidst locals chatting over glasses of wine, really adding to this restaurant’s relaxed ambiance. It’s no wonder Georgie Bistro is rated number one on TripAdvisor.
Georgie offers great pairings with organic wines and craft beers. What an incredible dining experience!
Next up, head to the pearl of this city, the Ljubljana Castle. You can choose to take a super-fast 230-foot-long glass funicular ride to the entrance or get your heart pumping with a beautiful uphill walk. TIP: Remember, both the castle entrance and funicular are included on your Ljubljana Card.
Once you arrive at the castle compound, you’ll discover a treasure trove of exhibitions, attractions, and museums waiting for you to explore. Step into the Slovenian History Exhibition, where you can journey through the country’s fascinating history — from Roman times and the Middle Ages all the way to the era of socialist Yugoslavia and Slovenia’s eventual independence.
Make time for a quick visit to the interactive Museum of Puppetry featuring a collection of political and whimsical marionettes and glove puppets. Be sure to climb the Watchtower for commanding panoramic views of the Old Town. We also enjoyed the fresco-adorned Chapel of St. George.
To wrap up your afternoon, you have three entertaining options:
- Relax on a serene cruise in the wooden boat ‘Ljubljanica’ (included with the Ljubljana Card).
- Indulge in some retail therapy by popping into the many cute boutiques around the heart of town.
- Or, if you’re like us, squeeze in a few more sights included on the Ljubljana Card. We visited the regal Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, known for its elaborate frescoes, and then headed to the National Gallery, Slovenia’s top historical art museum, where we admired pieces ranging from the High Middle Ages to the 20th century. After that, we strolled over to check out the colorful Ljubljana Museum of Modern Art. We capped off our day by meandering through the green gardens of Tivoli Park.
EVENING
If you want to dive into Slovenia’s distinctive culinary scene, we highly recommend the LjubljanaYum Food Tour. Our charismatic guide Alenka led us on an exciting journey alongside fellow food enthusiasts. Throughout our 3.5 hours on the well-designed route, we tasted the very best of this lively city’s foodie traditions, spanning traditional to modern gastronomy trends.
Our group started our culinary adventure at a chic wine and tapas bar, where we loved getting to know one another while nibbling on some fantastic bites. We munched on delicate wild mushroom dumplings with parmesan cream and celery along with trout caviar, and savored Zelen wine and refreshing elderflower juice.
Next up, we made our way to a lively street food joint right in the middle of town. There, we gathered outside to share štruklji, flavorful rolled dumplings packed with cottage cheese and tarragon, and slurped up a hearty bowl of jota, a traditional stew. We raised our glasses of Cviček wine. And toasted to good food and great company!
We then entered a buzzing neighborhood brewery which rewarded us with a lick-your-lips Carniolan sausage sandwich topped with horseradish mayo, sauerkraut, and crispy pork cracklings (the highlight of this dish!), accompanied by an icy cold lager. Then, we sampled cold cuts and pâté from krškopolje pig and pheasant, complemented by delicious rosé wine from the Šuklje Winery.
Luckily, we saved just enough room for dessert at a cozy café. We devoured every morsel of the flavorful Prekmurska Gibanica layered cake, while sipping warm Sweet Honey Mead. Along the way, we delighted in swapping stories and laughs with our new friends from around the world, and we left with a newfound love of Slovenian cuisine.
After dinner with our full bellies, we thought it would be fun to celebrate our vacation with cocktails at the Nebotičnik Cafe. Perched at the top of the Nebotičnik (aka the Skyscraper), this iconic spot, once the tallest building in the Balkans, boasts stunning panoramic views. It was a divine way to end the day!
DAY TWO: COMMUNE WITH NATURE
After a fabulous day exploring the city, we decided to take a day trip to see for ourselves why people from around the globe flock to the Lake Bled region of Slovenia. And wow, did it ever live up to the hype!
We woke up so excited to explore the verdant and pristine countryside of Slovenia. With just one precious day to experience as much as we could, we wanted to keep things easy and stress-free.
So, we booked a tour with Roundabout Tours, the top-rated company recommended by Rick Steves. After getting picked up in the early morning in a small van, we settled in with our fellow travelers as our guide shared stories about this area’s traditions, history, culture, and geology.
At our first stop, Skofja Loka, we briefly walked around one of the best-preserved and quaint Slovenian towns. We appreciated stealing a glimpse into life outside the city’s center.
Next up, we reached the star of the show: the dreamy and romantic Lake Bled! Our guide arranged for Plenta boat captains to ferry us across the lake to the picturesque Bled Island, home to the Church of the Assumption of Mary (aka Our Lady of the Lake).
We climbed 99 steps and bought tickets to visit the church complex, which included the bell tower, the church, and a small museum. One of our favorite moments was ringing the church bell by tugging on a long rope — legend has it that if you ring it three times, then your wish will come true!
There’s even a superstition that if a groom carries his bride up all 99 steps, they will have good luck. It’s no wonder many couples get married at this breathtaking site.
Next, our guide dropped us off in central Lake Bled with free time to explore. We grabbed a tasty pizza and salad at Pizzeria Rustika, and took a leisurely stroll around the lake.
We capped off our visit by resting in overstuffed chairs at The Grand Hotel Toplice, while digging into each layer of the world-famous Bled Cream Cake (Kremšnita). Each bite of fluffy custard and cream is heavenly.
Our adventure continued with a brief stop at tranquil Lake Bohinj, a fairytale-like town with an expansive blue-green lake and unvarnished charm.
We boarded the bus again to travel into the lush Julian Alps, where we arrived at the breathtaking glacial Vintgar Gorge, a captivating 5,000+ foot long passage and 800+ feet-deep canyon. We donned protective helmets and sauntered on a rustic boardwalk that hugged the gorge, with rushing blue water on one side and steep rocks on the other. The powerful water flowing through the valley was simply mesmerizing!
Our last stop was Bled Castle, which affords the most spectacular views of Bled Island and the surrounding alpine scenery. While the castle does not offer much to do beyond a simple museum, many of our fellow tour participants enjoyed sampling Slovenian wine in the castle’s medieval wine cellar.
By the end of our day trip with Roundabout Travel, we were amazed by how much we had seen and how many bucket list items we had checked off!
DINNER TIME
After an exciting day of soaking in stunning scenery, we headed to dinner right in the city center, and let me tell you, we hit the jackpot! We dined at Jadro Wine and Gastrobar, a seafood-focused restaurant with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
We loved that the chef and the owners share a passion for sourcing the best ingredients to make each dish shine. The decor was inviting, with two distinct rooms. The aesthetic front room features a gorgeous bar and a striking Italian sculpture, while the back room has a cozy bistro feel with a red brick vaulted ceiling.
Seafood lovers should not miss the truly spectacular hot seafood platter, overflowing with perfectly grilled scallops, tiger prawns, mussels, squid, cuttlefish, and octopus with mango sauce. Seriously, it’s a feast for the senses!
We ventured out of our comfort zone to try the boldly flavored smoked meat carpaccio with fig sauce, and boy, are we glad we did! The tender Grilled octopus with mashed potatoes and Adriatic-style vegetables delighted our taste buds.
I also indulged in one of their specialties, fresh salmon steak with a well-balanced orange sauce. We even caught another table cheering for a salted fish dish that was flambéed/ What a show! And if you’re looking for the perfect side dish, the truffle polenta is a wonderful addition to any meal.
Not a fan of seafood? No problem! Jadro offers plenty of mouthwatering meat and vegetarian options as well, and the steaks that passed by looked absolutely scrumptious. Jadro excels in pairing Slovenian wine with each course to enhance every flavor. Be sure to save room for dessert. Their creative chocolate fondant cake with truffle ice cream is to die for!
After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll along the sparkling river, admiring the dramatic Slovenian architecture and beautiful bridges illuminated against the night sky. Sit down at one of the many quaint cafés that buzz all day long, but particularly come alive in the evening. Whether you sip on a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, it’s a romantic way to wrap up your 48 hours in Ljubljana!
WHERE TO STAY IN LJUBLJANA
If you’re looking for a great place to stay, this city has plenty of well-rated hotels at prices that won’t break the bank! If you prefer a larger chain hotel, stay at the Best Western Slon, which offers spacious rooms, a central location, a friendly staff, and an expansive buffet breakfast. For a more bespoke feel, consider the Urban Boutique Hotel, where we plan to stay on our next visit. Their breakfast buffet looked scrumptious!
In just 48 hours in Ljubljana, you can soak in the scenic beauty, admire the architectural wonders, visit some grand castles, and savor mouthwatering cuisine. Don’t wait too long to book your trip to Ljubljana — this delicious secret is sure to get out!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This guest post was written by Lisa Grabelle. Lisa, a freelance travel writer, has been traveling all her life…44 countries and loving it! Originally from the sunny skies of Miami, Lisa, a former big firm lawyer, lives near Philadelphia. Travel is her passion. As soon as one vacation ends, Lisa busily plans her next adventure for her non-stop family of adventurers. Lisa’s motto is “don’t just visit the destination…live it!” You can follow Lisa on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.
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