Culture & Traditions

Keeping things in Ljubljana because it’s the cultural centre of the nation, know that there are some neat things to see here, and you could easily fill a few days.

Metelkova City is a former military barracks, now an unusual and self-declared town within Ljubljana. Its eclectic and avante-garde character showcases a unique alternative youth culture with awesome street art, bizarre buildings, bars, and clubs. Everyone is welcome here and the creative ambience brings a relaxed atmosphere where no one cares what you look like or where you’re from – designers, hippies, and students all hang out here. While you’re here, check out the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Museum of Slovenia for further examples of the thriving arts and culture scenes in the city.

The gorgeous Art Nouveau Urbanc House is an extraordinary piece of the early 20th century flamboyance of architecture complete with floral motifs, and intricate details. Hauptman House and Mayer Palace are also expressions of the Art Nouveau movement, popular in the early 20th century.

Heading out of Ljubljana, visit the Skocjan Caves where massive underground chambers will leave you wondering about the meaning of life. The 12th century Ptuj Castle overlooking the town of Ptuj and the Drava River has been a museum since 1945 and tells of its regional history, including its defensive encounters with the Hungarians.

Slovenia has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Skocjan Caves, the Idrija Mercury mine, and the Ljubljana Marshes. With a population just over 2 million, there are many Roman Catholics, and Orthodox Christians, and there are also Eastern Orthodox, Protestants and Muslims present across the country. Slovene is the official language, but Hungarian and Italian are also common.