Where to stay in Ljubljana
Ljubljana is small enough that almost any central base works, and the real choice is between the pedestrian old town and the calmer streets around it. For a first visit, stay in the old town or in Center, where the river, the market and the castle path are all within a short walk. Choose Tivoli or Krakovo for quiet nights, and the station area or Metelkova for a lower price. Bežigrad, to the north, is for people who want a local street and a bus ride in.
The short answer
- First trip
- The old town, or Center if you want a calmer street.
- Couples
- The old town for the river at night, or Krakovo for a quieter feel.
- Families
- Center or Tivoli: flat streets and the park nearby.
- Tight budget
- The station area or Metelkova, a short walk from the old town.
- Food and evenings
- The old town, and ask for a room away from the river terraces.
How we judge an area of Ljubljana: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Ljubljana's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Prešeren Square | Ljubljana Castle | Main railway station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old town (Stari Ljubljana) | Everything on foot | Lively on the river until late | 5 min | 5 min | 15 min | Walk; bus at the edge | €€€ |
| Center (Prešeren Square to Slovenska) | Calm and convenience | Quiet on side streets | 5 min | 10 min | 10 min | Buses on Slovenska cesta | €€ |
| Tivoli and Rožnik | Park, quiet nights | Very quiet | 20 min | 25 min | 20 min | Buses; walk to Center | €€ |
| Station area | Trains, lower price | Quiet; busier near the stations | 15 min | 15 min | 5 min | Bus and rail stations | € |
| Metelkova and Tabor | Value, nightlife | Loud at weekends | 15 min | 15 min | 10 min | Walk; bus nearby | € |
| Krakovo and Trnovo | Local life, quiet | Very quiet | 15 min | 10 min | 25 min | Walk; buses to the center | €€ |
| Bežigrad | Value, local life | Quiet | 25 min | 30 min | 15 min | City buses | € |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. The castle is up a hill, so the climb is slower than the figure suggests. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
The old town, for the river and the castle path
Car-free lanes on both banks of the Ljubljanica, the market, the Triple Bridge and the castle hill on your doorstep, and terraces that stay busy late.
The old town is the compact medieval core under the castle, split by the river. Stari trg, Mestni trg and the market square are on foot from any door, the path up to the castle starts here, and the Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square are a short stroll away. Cars are kept out, so the lanes are calm by day.
It is the most atmospheric place to sleep and the most expensive of the center. Riverside terraces are full from spring to autumn and voices carry until late, especially on Friday and Saturday. Ask for a room on an upper floor or on a lane away from the water, and carry luggage over cobbles from the nearest drop-off.
Good for
- A first stay of two to three nights
- Everything on foot, from the market to the castle
- Evening walks along the river
Think twice if
- You want quiet at weekends
- You want the best price
- Cobbles with a heavy suitcase are hard for you
Staying in Old town (Stari Ljubljana): nearby sights, food and getting around
Center, for a calmer base next to the old town
The grid of shopping streets, museums and cafes west of the river, flat, quiet at night, and five to ten minutes from the old town.
Center covers the streets around Slovenska cesta, Trg republike and the National Gallery, between the river and the park. Prešeren Square is five to ten minutes away, the old town about ten, and the main bus and train stations roughly fifteen. Streets are flat and wide, with cafes, bakeries, shops and several museums close together.
It has the widest choice of hotels and apartments at mid-range prices. Slovenska cesta carries buses and some traffic noise by day, but side streets are calm after dark. There is less atmosphere than in the old town, and the pleasure is in a quiet room and an easy walk to everything.
Good for
- A first trip with an easy walk to everything
- Families and light sleepers
- Museums, shops and the park close by
Think twice if
- You want medieval lanes at the door
- You want river terraces on your street
- Your room faces Slovenska cesta
Staying in Center (Prešeren Square to Slovenska): nearby sights, food and getting around
Tivoli, for the park and quiet streets
Leafy streets beside Tivoli Park and the Rožnik woods, ten to fifteen minutes' walk from the old town, calm at night.
Tivoli is the district around the city's big park, with villas, embassies and a few small hotels. The park's avenues lead to Rožnik hill and its walking paths, and Cankarjev dom, the cultural center, is on the edge. Prešeren Square is about fifteen minutes on foot.
It is the greenest and quietest part of the center, with a good number of guesthouses and apartments. There are fewer restaurants and bars than in Center, so you walk or ride in for dinner. Some of the quiet streets are poorly lit at night, so choose a route you have walked in daylight.
Good for
- A calm base near a park
- Families who want green space
- Walking and running on Rožnik
Think twice if
- You want bars on your street
- You want to be in the middle of the evening scene
- You arrive late and dislike dark side streets
Staying in Tivoli and Rožnik: nearby sights, food and getting around
The station area, for trains and a lower price
Hotels and hostels around the joined railway and bus stations, ten minutes' walk from the old town, plain and cheaper.
The railway and bus stations sit side by side north of the center, and a short road leads to Prešeren Square and the old town in about ten to fifteen minutes on foot. Trains to Postojna, Bled and Zagreb and buses to Bled, the coast and the airport leave from here.
The area is practical rather than pretty, with a good number of hostels and budget hotels and prices below those of the old town. The streets around the stations are busier late in the evening, so choose a hotel on a main street and read recent reviews for the surroundings.
Good for
- An early bus or train
- A lower price on foot from the old town
- A late arrival from the airport bus
Think twice if
- You want old streets at the door
- You prefer cafes and bars outside
- You dislike busy streets at night
Staying in Station area: nearby sights, food and getting around
Metelkova, for value and an arts-quarter night out
The former barracks turned arts quarter and the neighborhood around it, east of the stations, cheaper and louder on weekend nights.
Metelkova is a former army barracks now covered in murals and home to small venues, bars and galleries, with hostels and guesthouses around it. The old town is about fifteen to twenty minutes on foot, and Tabor Park is next door.
It is the best-value part of the center, and the character is alternative and informal. Music from the venues and the people on the street can carry into the night, particularly at weekends. Streets are quieter on weekdays, and a hotel set back from the quarter is calm.
Good for
- Hostels and lower prices
- Alternative music, murals and bars
- A short walk to the stations
Think twice if
- You want quiet on weekend nights
- You prefer polished streets
- You want to be in the old town
Staying in Metelkova and Tabor: nearby sights, food and getting around
Krakovo and Trnovo, for a local feel by the river
Quiet residential streets south of the center, with Plečnik's Trnovo bridge and church, small restaurants, and a fifteen-minute walk to the old town.
Krakovo and Trnovo lie along the river south of the old town, with low houses, small gardens and cafes. Plečnik's Trnovo bridge and the church of St Francis are the best-known sights. The old town is about fifteen minutes on foot, and the walk along the river is pleasant.
It is a place where people live, with apartments rather than hotels and quiet nights. There are a few small gostilne and cafes but fewer shops and sights. It is good for a longer stay and for couples who want a calm base.
Good for
- Quiet nights and a calm base
- Small restaurants and a walk along the river
- A longer stay in an apartment
Think twice if
- You want a hotel with a lobby
- You want sights at the door
- You prefer streets with bars
Staying in Krakovo and Trnovo: nearby sights, food and getting around
Bežigrad, for lower prices and a ride in
A residential district north of the stations around Plečnik's stadium, twenty-five minutes' walk from the old town.
Bežigrad lies north of the railway, with wide residential streets, apartment blocks and the Plečnik stadium. Buses reach the center in about ten minutes, or you can walk in about 25.
It is where people live rather than visit, with a few hotels and apartments and prices below the center. There are fewer sights and fewer restaurants open late, and you will use the bus for most evenings out.
Good for
- Lower prices with a bus into town
- A quiet local street
- Longer stays and apartments
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the sights
- You want restaurants and bars outside
- You prefer polished streets
Where not to stay in Ljubljana, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Ljubljana. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A river-facing room in the old town, if you want sleep
The terraces stay full into the night, particularly at weekends. Ask for a back or high room, or stay in Center.
- A room on Slovenska cesta, because it looked central
Buses run early and late along the avenue. Choose a side street and check the room's side in reviews.
- The streets right beside the stations, for a long stay
They are handy for trains and plain after dark. Stay a few streets in toward Center or in the old town.
- A hotel out near the airport
The price looks good, but the airport is about fifty minutes from the center. The center is small: stay in it.
- An old town apartment with a heavy suitcase
Cobbles do not suit wheels, and cars are kept out. Check how you reach the door, or stay in Center.
- A December stay booked late
The festive lights fill rooms and raise prices. Book early, and mid-week nights are calmer and cheaper.
Which neighborhood suits you
A tight budget
A late arrival or early train
The station area, next to the platforms.
Before you book a room in Ljubljana
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Ljubljana makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxLjubljana's tourist board lists a tourist tax of 3.13 euros per person per night, which is 2.50 euros of tax and 0.63 euros for promotion. Ages 7 to 18 and youth hostel guests pay half, about 1.57 euros. The page's date was 2019, so check the final price at booking. It is often left out of online prices and paid at the hotel.
- From Ljubljana Jože Pučnik AirportThe airport is at Brnik, about 26 kilometers north of the city. A public bus runs to the central bus station in about 50 minutes and costs about 4 euros, according to the sources we found. A shuttle bus to the center costs about 12 euros, and a taxi takes about 30 minutes and costs more. Check the bus timetable, as the service is not frequent late in the evening.
- BusesLjubljana has no trams. City buses cover the whole area, and the center is flat and easy to walk or cycle. Bike rental is common.
- MoneySlovenia uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted, but small cafes and market stalls prefer cash.
- Hills, steps and cobblesThe castle is on a hill, and old town lanes are cobbled. Some older buildings have narrow lifts or none. Check the floor and the lift before you book.
- Safety at nightLjubljana is generally calm and safe. Keep a bag zipped in busy places such as the market and the river bridges, and walk the main streets after dark.
- DecemberThe festive lights and market bring crowds and higher prices from late November to early January. Book early, and expect noise in the old town.
Where to stay in Ljubljana: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Ljubljana for a first visit?
The old town, or Center. Both put you within a short walk of the market, the Triple Bridge and the castle path. The old town is the more atmospheric and louder at night, and Center is calmer.
Is it better to stay in the old town or Center?
The old town for the river and the lanes, and Center for quiet nights and a wider choice of rooms. They are only ten minutes apart on foot.
Is the old town a good place to stay?
Yes, if you accept the noise from the riverside terraces at weekends. Ask for an upper or back room and read recent reviews for noise.
Which area is best for families?
Center, with flat streets and the park nearby, or Tivoli if the park and the woods are the plan.
Where should I stay if I'm on a budget?
The station area, Metelkova or Bežigrad. Rooms are cheaper than in the center, and a short walk or a bus gets you in.
Can you walk everywhere in Ljubljana?
In the center, yes. The old town, Center, the stations and the castle path are all within twenty minutes of each other. Bežigrad and Krakovo are a longer walk or a bus ride.
Is Ljubljana safe to stay in?
Yes, it is generally a safe, calm city. Keep a bag zipped in busy places and use the main streets after dark.
How much is the tourist tax in Ljubljana?
The tourist board lists 3.13 euros per person per night, with a half rate for ages 7 to 18. The page was dated 2019, so check the final price when you book.
