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Ljubljana's old city centre

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Shopping in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a good city for shopping despite some frustrating opening hours. It offers everything from modern shopping malls through to charming old-world boutiques located on cobbled historic streets.

Key areas: 

Slovenska, which dissects the city centre, with its big name shops, is a popular shopping boulevard in Ljubljana. However, a far more pleasant experience is on offer in the Old Town squares of Stari trg, Mestni trg and Gornji trg, where medieval and baroque buildings house eclectic boutique shops selling everything from jewellery, perfume, shoes and clothes to traditional crafts and designer gear made in studios behind the stores.

Markets: 

The Central Market (open Monday to Saturday) in the Old Town is the place where both locals and tourists flock to shop. On sale are myriad fresh fruit and vegetables as well as farmer produce from the countryside. Also on sale are traditional handicrafts, which make for great souvenirs. On Sundays, Ljubljana Montmartre is the star attraction bringing a phalanx of stalls to the banks of the Ljubljanica, which are awash with bric-a-brac, unique souvenirs and jewellery.

Shopping centres: 

The Nama department store, Tomšiceva 1, is a city centre institution that seems to stock almost everything you can think of. It has in recent years had serious competition from the massive new modern BTC Mall, Smartinska 152.

Opening hours: 

Some shops close on Saturday afternoons and do not open again until Monday morning, which can play havoc with retail-addict city breakers. Shop hours are usually Monday to Friday 0900-1700 (or as late as 1900) and Saturday 0900-1300, although many shops do now also open on Saturdays and Sundays following a recent change in the law.

Tax information: 

As Slovenia is now in the EU, visitors from member countries to do not qualify for any tax-free shopping allowances. Visitors from non-EU countries should look for the ‘Tax Free’ shopping labels in shop windows. Make sure to fill in the paperwork in the shop and then make a claim on departure from Slovenia.

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