Ljubljana is a beautiful charming city and a perfect base for day trips to many towns and cities not only in Slovenia. Ljubljana is a railway junction. There are trains to most important Slovenian cities and to Croatia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy (it may change in the future), so you can organize many day trips from Ljubljana by train.
I have prepared a list of the best day trips from Ljubljana by train. This list does not exhaust the topic, and I encourage you to search for interesting places and plan your trips independently, as Slovenia is a beautiful country, just like Croatia and Italy.
Day trips from Ljubljana by train – useful websites
Slovenian Railways – official website
Train travel in Slovenia – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in Austria – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in Croatia – a comprehensive guide
Day trips from Ljubljana by train
Koper – the largest city on the Slovenian coast. Old Town is relatively small but charming. It lies within walking distance from the railway station. Most important landmark is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tourists can climb the 54 m height Bell Tower attached to the cathedral and admire beautiful the panorama of the Koper and region. Next to cathedral is situated the Praetorian Palace. The architecture of the Old Town looks more Italian than Slovenian.
The railway ends in Koper. It is worth to take a bus to nearby towns of Izola and Piran. Journey time to Izola is about 15 minutes and to Piran 50 minutes. Buses stop also in Portorož, but in my opinion this city is not interesting for tourists.
Izola – popular seaside destination in Slovenia. A small but charming city with colorful houses at marina, promenade and tree-lined streets. The Old Town features with narrow, winding streets, charming squares, and Venetian-style buildings. The Parish Church of St. Maurus from 14th century is located on the highest point of the Old Town.
Piran – one of the most beautiful towns in Europe located at the end of the picturesque peninsula. A lovely town with red rooftops, narrow winding streets, beautiful houses in Venetian-style. A perfect place for walking around the Old Town. Most important buildings are situated at Tartinijev trg – the main square named after the famous violinist Giuseppe Tartini. The nicest building in the town is in my opinion Our Lady of Health Church from the 13th at the end of peninsula.
Buses from Koper to Izola and Piran are operated by Arriva. Timetable is available HERE.
Postojna – a small town world-famous for beautiful caves carved by the Pivka River. The tourist route was created in the old riverbed – only 5 km from 24 km of the cave system is open to the public. On part of the route, visitors are transported by an underground train. Ten kilometers from Postojna station is the beautiful Predjama Castle, perched on a cliff. Postojna is located on the Ljubljana – Koper railway line.
Bled – a town with the famous Lake Bled, featured in brochures promoting Slovenia worldwide. There are many hiking trails and walking paths around the lake. In summer, it is crowded, but outside the peak season and weekends, it is peaceful and quiet. A few kilometers from the train station, there is a castle. To get from the train station to the town of Bled, you have to walk a few kilometers, as the town is located on the opposite side of the lake from the train station. Bled station is situated on the Jesenic – Nova Gorica railway line.
Nova Gorica is an average city with many casinos but you can walk to the historic city center of Italian city of Gorizia, situated 10 minutes by foot from Nova Gorica railway station. The railway line from Jesenice to Nova Gorica is one of the most beautiful railway lines in Europe.
Celje – a small town with a beautiful town hall and a castle located on a high hill. The castle is situated far from the city center, but it’s worth the effort because from the hill, you can enjoy a view of the Celje and region. Celje lies on the Ljubljana – Maribor route.
Maribor – the second-largest city in Slovenia. Personally I don’t recommend it but many people claim that the city is worth visit and nice. The main attractions of the city are Lent district – the oldest part of Maribor, located along the Drava River, main square, Maribor Cathedral dating back to the 12th century and Regional Museum.
If you have enough time you can also visit Ptuj. Journey time between Ptuj and Maribor is about 40 minutes by train.
Ptuj – one of the oldest Slovenian towns and one of the most beautiful. It is picturesquely situated on the Drava River, with a intimate, tranquil center, a palace overlooking the city, and several historic religious landmarks. It resembles small Czech and Hungarian towns. There are regional trains from Maribor to Ptuj, international train from Budapest to Ljubljana stops here.
Škofja Loka – the oldest Slovenian town, easily accessible from Ljubljana by regional trains. Worth visiting for its picturesque, small, historic center. However, the train station is situated more than 2 kilometers from the center. The town lies on the Ljubljana – Jesenice route.
Kranj – a picturesque town located about thirty kilometers from Ljubljana, surrounded by ski resorts The historic part is nice, but I didn’t like this city because of the atmosphere, the people, the thugs, and the ugly neighborhoods. Nearby is the ski jumping hill in Planica.Kranj – a picturesque town located about thirty kilometers from Ljubljana, surrounded by ski resorts The historic part is nice, but I didn’t like this city because of the atmosphere, the people, the thugs, and the ugly neighborhoods. Nearby is the ski jumping hill in Planica.
Novo Mesto – a small but charming town. The railway station Novo Mesto is located about 3 kilometers from the city center. Tourists should disembark at the Novo Mesto Center train stop, from where it takes about 7 minutes to walk to the historic center. At the mentioned station, there is a railway tunnel and a viaduct. The center is small. The city often appears in tourist brochures due to its location on a hill above the Krka River, which makes it look beautiful in sunny weather in photos. The most important monument is the Grm Palace with a small park. It’s a typical place for a leisurely walk. It is a good place for a short train trip from Ljubljana.
Radovljica – a small town, a good destination for a two-hour break in the journey. Renovated center, city museum, and Beekeeping Museum. The town lies on the Ljubljana – Jesenice route.
Kamnik – a picturesque town located about 23 kilometers north of the Ljubljana. It is a gateway to the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Kamnik has small but well-preserved Old Town featuring narrow streets, charming squares, and historic buildings. The 16th-century Zaprice Castle houses the Kamnik Museum, showcasing the town’s history, culture, and ethnographic heritage. You can also visit located just outside the Kamnik Arboretum Volčji Potok – one of the largest botanical garden in Slovenia. The railway line from Ljubljana to Kamnik is scenic.
Trieste (Italy) – an interesting city located right at the border with Slovenia. The capital of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, very popular among tourists from all over the world. The heart of the city is the Piazza Unità d’Italia – a beautiful main square facing the sea, surrounded by impressive buildings, including the Town Hall and the Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino. Most photographed place is probably the Canal Grande. You can view the panorama of the whole city from Castello di San Giusto located on a hill near the centre of the city. If you like a modern art you can visit Museo Revoltella located in the beautiful palace from 1858, famous for its stunning interiors. Don’t miss also the Trieste Cathedral.
Zagreb (Croatia) – the capital of the Croatia and perfect destination for day train trips from Ljubljana. The downtown of the Zagreb is divided into Lower Town and Upper Town. You can wandering many hours and admire magnificient architecture from 18th and 19th century and enjoy an atmospere of the city. The Upper and Lower Town are connected with funicular – one of the shortest in the world. Most important landmarks are neo-Gothic cathedral, St. Mark’s Church and Mirogoj cemetery. A popular is also the Grič Tunnel from World War 2 and the Museum of Broken Relationships.
Pula (Croatia, usually only in season) – definitely worth visit city in Istria, although train connections are poor. In summer sometimes there are direct trains to Pula or train with one change. It depends on agreements between Croatian and Slovenian Railways. Pula is very easy city to explore – all main attractions are located in the center. Most famous monument in Pula is the Roman Arena – one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. There are three ancient gates and the little Roman theatre. Zerostrasse – the complex of undeground corridors is visited every year by numerous tourists. You can take a bus to a beautiful town of Rovinj.
Rijeka (Croatia) – third-largest city in Croatia located on Kvarner Bay in the northern Adriatic Sea. It is not beautiful as for example Rovinj and other seaside towns, but it is worth to stroll around the Old Town – especially the main pedestrian street is worth see. Visit Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral housed in the former Governor’s Palace and St. Vitus Cathedral. Trsat castle Trsat lies at the exact spot of an ancient Illyrian and Roman fortress and offers stunning views of Rijeka and Kvarner Bay.
Klagenfurt (Austria) – a nice and definitely worth-visit city, nestled on the shores of the stunning Lake Wörthersee and surrounded by the scenic Alps. The Old Town features well-preserved Renaissance and Baroque architecture. It is located within walking distance from the train station. The central Neuer Platz square is dominated by the iconic Lindwurm Fountain, featuring a dragon, which is the symbol of the city. Nearby, the Landhaus, a beautiful Renaissance building, houses the Carinthian Parliament and features a stunning arcaded courtyard and historical frescoes. On the outskirts of the city you must visit the Minimundus, a miniature park that showcases meticulously crafted models of famous buildings and landmarks from around the world.
Villach (Austria) – an average city with a small but nice city centre. The central square, Hauptplatz, is dominated by the impressive St. Jakob’s Church, with its towering spire offering panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountains. The city is also home to several museums and cultural institutions, including the Museum of the City of Villach, which provides insights into the region’s history, art, and culture. Villach Hbf train station is situated close to the center.
