Ljubljana travel guide

Ljubljana may be compact, but it boasts myriad architectural styles, a picturesque Old Town and a youthful population who give its bountiful bars and restaurants a big city buzz.

In recent years, many a newspaper travel page has hailed Ljubljana as the ‘New Prague' and at times Ljubljana does feel a bit like Prague, but also Amsterdam, Riga, Salzburg or Vienna, making it a sort of greatest hits of European architecture.

While seminal Slovene architect Jože Plečnik shaped the core of how the city looks, Ljubljana has also been heavily influenced by the Hungarians, Austrians and the Italians. These eclectic influences permeate many aspects of city life including its food and drink, with enjoying an Italian-style ice cream as much part of the Ljubljana experience as savouring hearty Hungarian goulash.

Despite the weight of its history, Ljubljana also has one of the youngest populations of any European capital and it is awash with strutting young locals decked out in the latest designer fashions.