If Ljubljana is considered one of Europe’s most underrated cities for a weekend break, Slovenia’s capital is even additional below the radar in case you’re travelling as a household. However with loads of family-friendly sights in and round its compact pedestrianised previous city, few locations beat Ljubljana with youngsters.
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All over the place appears extremely welcoming to households and even small legs will address the distances – wandering the cobbled streets with their brightly painted buildings, earlier than criss-crossing the river on ornamental bridges, all within the shadow of the fort is much more enjoyable than most metropolis breaks.
So what are the highest issues to do in Ljubljana with kids? Listed here are 15 of the very best concepts of what to do in Ljubljana for youths – together with loads to maintain their mother and father completely satisfied!
1. Take the funicular to the Fortress
Towering over the town, Ljubljanski Grad – to present the fort its correct title – is ideal for indulging some knights and dragons fantasies whereas the historical past exhibition has some nice interactive video games for youths to play on the best way spherical.
Better of all is the journey up: the funicular whisks you up the hillside with a terrific view over the roofs or there’s a mini practice from the Previous City.
You possibly can skip the queues by shopping for a ticket upfront, because it’s one of the crucial well-liked locations to see in Ljubljana.
2. Hunt Roman stays
Return in time 2,000 years and also you’d discover the Roman metropolis of Emona the place Ljubljana now stands – and you’ll nonetheless monitor down loads of stays of the previous settlement.
Cease in on the Metropolis Museum first to study extra – the shows additionally that includes more moderen historical past, together with retro adverts and Yugoslav automobiles – and decide up a map displaying the principle websites dotted round Ljubljana, with mosaics, previous baths and historic partitions that includes a pyramid.
3. Spot dragons
The image of the town, you possibly can’t go to Ljubljana and not using a small dragon hunt. There’s a dragon on the flag flying above the fort for starters, and a dramatic inexperienced statue on the well-known dragon bridge.
Enterprise to the opposite aspect of the river close to the Cobbler’s Bridge and there are extra to find as nicely in case you fancy a mini dragon hunt in Ljubljana for kids who love myths and legends.
4. The Home of Experiments
This interactive Science Centre is barely open on weekends (or for teams throughout the week) however it’s a terrific choice to get palms on with heaps to entertain youngsters in Ljubljana, from gigantic bubbles to small performances illustrating scientific rules.
If sightseeing loses its enchantment to your youngsters after some time, this could undoubtedly be on any record of enjoyable issues to do in Ljubljana.
5. Tivoli Park
With 5km of park stretching out to discover, the playground is a bonus for littler ones who’ve had sufficient historic streets for sooner or later – good in case you’re searching for free issues to do in Ljubljana as nicely.
Head west from the principle park and also you’ll additionally discover the small Ljubljana Zoo, one of many prime sights in Ljubljana for households. There’s a bus which runs from the town centre to the zoo (no 18), and extra actions and workshops happening on weekends.
6. Hit the outlets
Browing the outlets won’t prime your record of Ljubljana issues to do however tucked away among the many ordinary worldwide chains, there are some nice quirky little boutiques within the Previous City.
Take a look at tiny To Je To on the riverside promoting some attractive picket toys too.
7. All aboard for a ship journey
The Ljubljanica river winds proper via the guts of the town and there are varied cruises, each guided and non-guided, to discover the water.
You possibly can mix a brief boat cruise with a strolling tour or in the summertime, or hop on the picket cruise boat, additionally known as Ljubljanica for an hour-long cruise round Ljubljana. Youngsters below three go free.
8. Pure historical past museum
Hooked up to the Nationwide Museum, the largest draw on the Pure Historical past Museum is a mammoth skeleton though short-term exhibitions have lined the whole lot from gentle to evolution.
Free for preschoolers, it’s solely 4 Euros for adults if you wish to make a fast go to – there’s a mixed ticket for the Nationwide Museum, though in case you simply need to pop in and see the mum, the 50-cent discount ticket is not out there.
Excellent in case you’re visiting outdoors summer season and searching for indoor actions in Ljubljana.
9. Discover the mannequin of Ljubljana
Head over the triple bridge to Preseren Sq. and also you’ll see a bronze scale mannequin of the town – place to trace your footsteps or plan your route, and (particularly for adults) to benefit from the pastel Artwork Nouveau structure within the sq. and streets close by.
10. Puppet theatre
With performances specializing in music and mime, it doesn’t actually matter in case you don’t converse Slovenian – these pretty puppet exhibits are good for journeys to Ljubljana with toddlers and preschoolers specifically, with totally different choices marked for two+, 3+ and 4+. Tickets value from round 5 Euros.
11. Head to the market
With out of doors tables and a few nice avenue meals, the Central Market is an efficient place for a relaxed lunch in Ljubljana: youngsters will get pleasure from wandering each the out of doors and indoor stalls to see what’s on the market, in addition to making it a simple strategy to seize one thing to eat that fits everybody’s tastes.
There’s usually a pageant or additional market occurring within the sq. as nicely – Friday’s Open Kitchen, which runs from March to October, has an enormous vary of meals to strive.
12. Ljubljana Botanic Backyard
Considered one of Europe’s oldest botanical gardens, these date again over 200 years. And whereas youngsters won’t be as within the scientific analysis, strolling the shady paths and alongside the ponds is the right methods to flee a number of the warmth of the summer season – or if it’s chilly, head to the Tropical Home.
13. Take a tour
Ljubljana has some nice excursions to introduce you to the town together with family-friendly excursions in Ljubljana or ones which might be tailored in case you’re travelling with youngsters – I cherished our private Ljubljana meals tour and taking a motorbike tour is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Ljubljana if you wish to discover a bit means past the centre.
Take a look at my evaluation of Ljubljana’s bike tour and meals strolling excursions.
There’s additionally a Ljubljana communist tour which is ideal older youngsters to to get an perception into life right here only some many years in the past: it’s run by the identical individuals because the Ljubljana free strolling tour, though this explicit one has a cost – right here’s what I assumed.
14. Get pleasure from café tradition
The banks of the river are lined with cafes, particularly across the Previous City, and stopping for a drink is considered one of my prime issues to do in Ljubljana. Even in October they have been full of households having fun with some late autumn sunshine (with some useful heaters and rugs for when it will get chilly.
In summer season, it’s an effective way to individuals watch, see the boats cruise by and relaxation any small weary legs. Some have implausible muffins, and youngsters appear welcome in all places.
15. Minicity Ljubljana
Aimed toward kids aged three to 12, Minicity Ljubljana actually is a mini metropolis, with the whole lot from a police station to hospital, TV studio and bakery the place youngsters can play at actual life.
It’s a bit means out of the centre, round half-hour by public transport (or 10-15 by taxi), however it’s a terrific choice to spend just a few hours in case you’re searching for indoor actions in Ljubljana.
There’s additionally a restaurant and cake store in case your youngsters can’t be tempted away from let’s faux again to actual life!
You can too get a reduction metropolis go, known as the Ljubljana card together with a small Ljubljana map that includes bus routes – right here’s why I selected to not plus extra tips about visiting Ljubljana, Slovenia.
**First created in November 2015, final up to date 2020**
LJUBLJANA WITH KIDS: PIN FOR LATER
All photographs copyright MummyTravels
