MUSEUMS

Slovene Ethnographic Museum (SEM)

The Slovene Ethnographic Museum (SEM), a museum ‘about people, for people’, prides itself as being the link between the past and the present, between our own and other cultures, between nature and civilisation. A central museum of ethnology, a museum of dialogue, open, active and hospitable with dedicated public services, the museum is located in an urban cultural centre and former military barracks in the Metelkova area, which have undergone complete restoration, and in the future will form the centre of Ljubljana’s arts scene. Through two permanent exhibitions, diverse annual temporary exhibitions and other events, SEM presents and reports on the traditional culture of Slovenia and other cultures of the world in creative and imaginative ways. Find the entrance in the large square on the north side of the building.

National Museum of Contemporary History

If you needed a reason to visit Tivoli Park, it’s here. This fascinating museum inside a wonderful 18th-century mansion presents the history of Slovenia from the period around the start of the First World War until the Slovenian Presidency of the EU in 2008. Using a combination of well presented exhibits including old photographs, clothing and household items the museum charts the often wobbly path of the nation through and between the two world wars and the difficult and truly fascinating post-war communist years. The building alone is worth seeing, being a marvellous combination of original Baroque and the interesting modernist work of the Slovenian architect Jurij Kobe who extension to the museum dates from 1991.

Museum of Modern Art

This half of the state-owned Moderna Galerija focuses predominantly on showcasing a diverse and equally inspiring collection of Slovene and international art dating more or less from the ‘modern’ period of the 20th century. Not just focusing on painting, the collection holds works spanning many genres including photography, sculpture and graphic art.

Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova

This half of the state-owned Moderna Galerija follows on from the work on show at its sister Museum of Modern Art and concentrates on work from all genres produced both in Slovenia and abroad from the 1960s onwards. Among the many things on display, we recommend the permanent collection devoted to Eastern Europe’s post-war avant-garde movement.

City Museum of Ljubljana

The City Museum of Ljubljana is located in a true architectural monument. The permanent exhibition brings a chronological overview of the Ljubljana basin area and gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the town’s history. It draws attention to the city’s important geostrategic position and to the extraordinary events in the history of the area. Two of the more notable pieces on show are a wooden wheel with a wooden axle and a wooden spear point, aged around 40,000 years old. The wheel was discovered in the Ljubljana Marshes in 2002. Radiocarbon dating shows it to be approximately 5,150 years old, making it the world’s oldest. The exhibition offers an overview of Ljubljana’s history in a creative and fun way with the use of interactive features, short films, guided tours and workshops. Check out their fabulous website for details and upcoming exhibitions.

National Museum of Slovenia

Found lurking inside another of the city’s fine, late 19th-century neo-Renaissance buildings complete with gorgeous painted ceilings and elaborate sculptures on the stairs, founded way back in 1821 this is the oldest museum in country. Permanent archaeological displays proudly show off Slovenia’s unique past, including a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal flute, the world’s oldest musical instrument, and the famous Vače Situla. The museum’s collection now spreads to another location in Ljubljana’s museum quarter in Metelkova

PARKS

Volčji Potok Arboretum

The Volčji Potok Arboretum is the most visited botanical park in Slovenia. It covers an 85-hectare site and features 3,500 plants from all over the world. Streams and lakes, offering habitats to water plants and animals, bring a special dynamic to the park. The Arboretum also features specially marked paths leading through beneficial energy points. In the old part of the park you can take a break in the summer café and there is also a large playground for children.

Tivoli Park

Tivoli Park is Ljubljana’s largest and most beautiful park, stretching right into the city centre. It was designed in 1813 by the French engineer Jean Blanchard and created by joining together the parks which had surrounded Podturn and Cekin Mansions. The park, covering an area of approximately five square kilometres, is crossed by three grand horse chestnut tree-lined walks and landscaped with ornamental flower beds, interesting trees and numerous statues and fountains. The park area blends into the slopes of the Rožnik hill, to which it is connected by several walking paths and a trim trail with several exercise stations along its length.

Ljubljana Botanical Garden

Established in 1810, the Ljubljana Botanical Garden is Slovenia’s oldest cultural, scientific and educational institution operating uninterruptedly since its foundation. The Garden contains more than 4,500 different species and subspecies. The Garden, collaborating with more than 270 botanical gardens worldwide, is involved in scientific research and educational activities. It plays an important role in the growing and protection of Slovenia’s endemic, endangered, vulnerable and rare species.

Park Špica

An only ten minutes’ walk from the historical city centre of Ljubljana brings you to a renovated Ljubljanica river embankment landscaped as a park. The park’s name, Špica, translates as ‘pointed tip’ and refers to the embankment’s pointed shape. In the past, Špica was a town beach. Due to its pleasant green surroundings and a large area paved with wood, it still attracts numerous residents and visitors wanting to bask in the sun on fine weather days.

MARKETS

The Central Market:

This picturesque public market occupies the entire breadth of the Ljubljanica river embankment from the Dragon Bridge to Triple Bridge. Designed by ace architect Joze Plecnik between 1940 and 1944, the central complex consists largely of elegant Renaissance-influenced arcades that follow the sweep of the river.Inside, in between and underneath these impressive arcades the market stalls are rife with wonders: fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, breads, herbs, spices and foods of all kinds; local arts and crafts, blankets, baskets, souvenirs, plants – basically, you name it, it’s here. Many of the products are natural and produced on the outskirts of town. This is definitely the place to stock up on Slovenian delicacies like Karst prosciutto, traditional ‘potica’ cake, horse pate, homemade breads, oils, sauerkraut, and cheeses to name more than a few. The best time to go to reap the full bounty of the Central Market is probably Saturday morning.

The Antique & Flea Market:

This flea market runs along the river embankment between Triple Bridge and the Cobblers’ Bridge on the Old Town side and is the ideal destination for a Sunday morning stroll. If you can get up before 14:00, that is. Each Sunday, the riverbank is lined with antiques, art, furniture, bric-a-brac, a glad gathering of curiosities and the oddballs that sell them. In some sense, it’s almost like an open-air museum filled with former Yugoslav Republic memorabilia: coins, banknotes, uniforms, pins, medals and other military detritus. Not your thing? Grab a seat at one of the riverside cafes and peep the people instead. Sundays 8:00 to 14:00.