Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Ljubljana

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

Slovenia : Ljubljana - April 2008

Country Code: Dial 6 for Slovenia

Now that the chill of winter has lifted, the pavement cafés along the Ljubljanica river are bursting into life as the city’s youthful inhabitants rouse from hibernation. The flowers are blooming, romance is in the air and, as Robin McKelvie discovers, the Slovenian capital is buzzing

Getting around

Brnik Airport

Bus: The bus journey from the city centre to Brnik Airport usually takes 35 minutes, but can last up to an hour when the roads are busy. A one-way ticket costs €10.
Taxi: A single journey from the airport to the city centre for up to four passengers costs €30 and takes about 20 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is the STIC at Krekov Square (tel. , ljubljana.si).

THE CENTRE

The centre of Ljubljana is an easy-to-navigate gem, and full of ornate art nouveau architecture.

Sleep soundly – The newly refurbished City Hotel has free internet access, and serves generous breakfasts. Some rooms have castle view, too. Sleep in rooms that were once prison cells, now redesigned by artists, at Hostel Celica.

Culture vultures – The Cankarjev Dom (10 Presernova cesta) is a cultural Mecca, and there’s always something going on here. Check out the Austrian Tonkunstler Orchestra on 3-4 April.

Must eat – JB (17 Miklosiceva cesta, tel. ) is arguably the city’s finest restaurant with top-notch Adriatic seafood and fine Slovenian wines. Ajdovo Zrno (7 Trubarjeva cesta, tel. ) is the place to head for vegetarian home cooking and healthy salads.

Must drink – Cellar retreat Gostilna As lounge bar (5a Copova ulica) is a favourite with Ljubljana’s beautiful people.

Dance the night away – The city’s two most popular clubs are Bachus (3 Kongresni Trg) and Global (2 Tomsiceva) – both have eclectic music policies and put on plenty of different nights.

OLD TOWN

The Old Town area is easily the most atmospheric part of the city, with its cobbled streets, medieval buildings and winding lanes.

Sleep soundly – The Antiq Hotel is a lovely boutique establishment with bags of character that’s right at the heart of the action.

Culture vultures – Ljubljana Cathedral (1 Dolnicarjeva ulica) is the city’s most dramatic ecclesiastical building and is built on an impressive scale. Check out the ornate doors depicting local bishops down the ages.

Shop til you drop – Central Market is an EU-defying local institution with all sorts of homemade culinary treats and some esoteric souvenirs.

RIVERSIDE

The willow-strewn banks of the Ljubljanica river are where the locals kick back in pavement cafés and watch the world go by.

Sleep soundly – Down by the water’s edge, River House (31 Gallusovo nabrezje, tel. ) is currently the most fashionable restaurant. Settle in here for good fusion food. A new arrival, and slightly more expensive, is Stara Macka (8 Krojaska ulica, tel. ), which does great steaks.

Must drink – Pr’ Skelet (5 Kljucavnicarska ulica) is a ghoulish skeleton-laden haunt with a generous happy hour. Chill out right by the water at raffish bohemian hideaway Makalonca (19 Hribarjevo nabrezje).

Shop til you drop – Kodre Zlatarstvo (27 Cankarjevo nabrezje) specialises in bespoke jewellery by local designers. Skrina (8 Breg) sells classy souvenirs from around the country and good quality handicrafts.

TRNOVO

Trnovo is off the beaten track both physically and metaphorically. It’s a district that’s popular with both local students and fans of seminal Slovene architect Joze Plecnik.

Culture vultures – This is serious Joze Plecnik territory so check out his old house which is now the Plecnik Museum (4 Karunova) and the canal he designed to rid the city of its problems with chronic flooding.

Must eat – Breskvar (28 Cesta na Loko, tel. ) serves up top-end Slovenian dishes – go for the daily specials. Manna (2 Eipprova, tel. ) does similar food, but with a slightly more traditional slant.

Must drink – Sax Pub (7 Eipprova) is an unpretentious boozer that stages live music – the punters here tend to be as colourful as the graffiti façade.

Compiled by Robin McKelvie