We are so lucky that we now live so close to some amazing places, and that it is now very easy to hop across the border if we fancy doing something in Italy or Slovenia. So, when we saw that Kraftwerk were playing in Ljubljana, having missed the chance to see them when they played in Manchester, we booked tickets and headed off for a long weekend. And we couldn’t have timed it better, because winter had really arrived in Ljubljana.
Heavy snow was falling as we drove to the Slovenian capital, but like Croatia, Slovenia seems to be super efficient when it comes to be being prepared for a cold snap. Roads were gritted and ploughed, so no problems here – and as was evident from the piles of snow by the roadside, workers had already been out clearing the paths. Unlike in England, this wasn’t done in a haphazard-depends-where-you-live kind of way. No, there is clearly a system in place to keep this beautiful city functioning, even when blizzards have taken a grip.
It’s also a city that’s geared up for outdoor living – even in sub zero temperatures. All of the cafe bars and restaurants that line the river banks, are open, and outside seating is still being utilised. Even in deepest winter. How? Plenty of heaters (above and below tables) and throws and faux sheepskin covers for chairs and stools. People don’t seem surprised by winter and dress accordingly. I have found my Hygge Heaven 🙂
Ljubljana : Hygge Heaven
Upcycled ski lift chair – now a cosy drinks booth for two 🙂
We stayed in the lovely Vander Urbani Resort, right on the banks of the river – it’s a beautiful, stylish hotel (with a rooftop infinity pool) which is a lot more expensive in the summer, but very affordable in out-of-season months. We’ve stayed here before, and would highly recommend it if you decided to do a trip yourself. We generally always book via Booking.com and tend to get even better deals. A very generous breakfast is also included, as well as a complimentary drink when you arrive.
Hotel Vander Urban Resort, Ljubljana
The Kraftwerk gig took place in Tivoli Hall, a modern venue which also hosts sporting events, located in the beautiful Tivoli Park, just on the outskirts of the city. It really was a delight to walk to the venue, through falling snow in the park and to then revisit it during the daytime and really appreciate how gorgeous this space is…
Serbian Orthodox Church
A snowy Tivoli Park. Ljubljana
Tivoli Park, Ljubljana
Tivoli Park, Ljubljana
Last time we visited the castle, which sits high above the old town, it was the middle of summer and very hot. Visiting in the winter is a very different experience – especially when snow is on the ground. It was so very cold, so plenty of coffees and hot chocolates were the order of the day 🙂
Love Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle in the snow…
Great sentiment 🙂 Independent coffee shop, Ljubljana
Ljubljana, in whatever the weather, is just the prettiest of cities – and because it’s so small, it’s so easy to get around the historical centre, which is packed full of independent shops, cosy bars and restaurants, a fabulous food market and some of the most beautiful buildings and monuments and statues. It’s a very stylish capital – and a real plus is that it’s also a very multi-cultural capital.
Snowy pine cones
A very unusual hot chocolate – amaretto and truffle oil at ÄŒokoladni Atelje, Ljubljana
It’s also the kind of city you don’t really want to leave, so we decided to go for an additional night. Our house is currently being renovated and so a bit of time away is a luxury at the moment 😉 We decided to try somewhere we hadn’t stayed before, for our extra night and found Antiq Palace Hotel and booked it via booking.com – less than £70 for a very impressive experience. The website describes it as…
…a luxury hotel, located in an impressive 16th century palatial city residence in the very heart of the centre of Ljubljana, boasting one of the most prestigious addresses in the city. 18 spacious suites and boutique rooms are individually designed with an inviting décor and style that is accompanied by the latest amenities…
We will definitely be making a return here, as we were really taken by this hotel. The staff were wonderful, and the renovation of this 16th C building was just beautiful. It is also perfectly located, just a 2 minute walk away from the river, but because it is a street back, it is very quiet We were also very lucky to have a room which had a view of the castle…
Original frescoed ceiling : Antiq Palace Hotel, Ljubljana
A room with a view – Ljubljana Castle
On the way back from Ljubljana, we decided to visit Predjamski Castle, built within a cave mouth, around the 12th century and located in the village of Predjama, approximately 11 kilometres from the town of Postojna. I’m sure that in the summer, when everything is blooming, the castle looks stunning. However, we were lucky enough to travel to it on a very crisp, sunny winter’s day when the snow was thick on the ground and the temperature actually dropped to minus double figures ❄️❄️
Predjamski Castle
A lovely weekend away, just over an hour and a half from the house 🙂
This is not a sponsored post. In fact, none of our posts are. We don’t get paid to mention hotels & we get no kick-backs. We pay our own way, so if we recommend, it’s because we really like what we’ve found and just want to share it. Because we’re nice like that 😉
