Sitting at the top of the Balkan Peninsula, Zagreb and Ljubljana are two gateway cities to the rest of Europe. Though they are in rather close proximity to each other, they are quite different cities and offer vastly different experiences. Here is the ultimate guide to whether you should visit Zagreb or Ljubljana.
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Zagreb or Ljubljana Overview
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and largest city in Croatia with over 800,000 people living there. Zagreb was originally two separate villages, Gradec and Kaptol, until the 1800s when the growth of the two villages merged the two together. The city has a long history of fighting for its independence because it sits in between Turkey and German, who were trying to expand their empire throughout the ages. Zagreb is the main transportation and industrial hub of Croatia. Today, the city is known for its beautiful public squares and cathedrals.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city in Slovenia with nearly 300,000 residents, making it one of the smallest European capitals. It was part of the Habsburg empire for centuries and during most of the 1900s, it was part of Yugoslavia. Slovenia didn’t become independent until 1991 and that’s when Ljubljana became a capital city. The city has a beautiful setting with hills surrounding the city and the Ljubljana Castle sits on top of a hill overlooking the city. Over the centuries, the city has been hit by earthquakes which changed the architecture every time it was damaged. Ljubljana is also a university city with over 50,000 students which only adds to its lively atmosphere.
Things to See
Zagreb
Cathedral of Zagreb is a Roman Catholic cathedral that is also the tallest building in Croatia.
Ban Jelačić Square is the main square in the heart of Zagreb.
Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb officially open in 1895 and was the first theatre in the city.
Mimara Museum is a large museum featuring art from some of Europe’s most famous artists.
The Zagreb Art Pavilion is a 19th-century building in King Tomislav Square which is one of the most famous squares in the city.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana Castle is an old fortress that is was constructed in the 11th century. It sits on a hill overlooking the city.
Prešeren Square is the main square in the city and has some of the most famous buildings in the city lining its sides.
Tivoli Park is the grandest and largest park in the city. It was designed in 1813.
Congress Square is a grand square in the middle of Slovenia’s congressional buildings.
University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia.
Food
Zagreb
Though Zagreb is not known for having an incredible culinary scene, it could surprise you with impressive local markets and delectable Croatian dishes. One of the best aspects of Zagreb is its affordability, meaning the getting a good meal here won’t break the bank. Zagorski štrukli is a traditional pastry dish in the Zagreb area. It was added to the list of Croatia’s intangible cultural heritage. Zagrebački odrezak is a mixture of the wiener schnitzel and cordon bleu and is named after Zagreb. The restaurant scene here is on the rise and is well on its way to becoming a destination for foodies.
Ljubljana
Štruklji is a traditional Slovene dish that is in a roll form. It can have many types of fillings depending on the occasion. Odprta Kuhna is an open-air market that has dozens of eateries cooking fresh dishes for you to roam around and explore some authentic Slovene cuisines. Southwestern Slovenia is also known for producing a lot of wine which means you need to try some of the Istrian wine when you visit Ljubljana. Some of the popular wine regions in Slovenia are Podravje, Posavje, and Primorska.
Getting Around
Trams and buses are the main ways to get around Zagreb using public transportation. The trams are typically used to move from place to place within the city center and the bus system is used to move around the outskirts of the city. Single-use tickets for public transportation are among the cheapest in Europe are only 0.52 Euros. You may want to invest in a Zagreb Card for just under 18 Euros. The card gives you unlimited access to public transport, admission to the four main museums, access to Zagreb 360 (viewpoint over the city, and discounts throughout the city.
The center of Ljubljana is extremely walkable especially because it is not a very large city. The main way to get around Ljubljana is by using the bus system. A single fare for the buses costs 1.30 Euros. The city uses a system of pre-filled credit cards to swipe whenever you hop on the bus which is extremely convenient. It might be in your best interest to buy the Ljubljana card which gives you unlimited use of the bus system as well as many other perks. The bike-sharing system is also quite popular here.
Nightlife
Zagreb
Zagreb has the highest amount of bars and clubs in the country, even more than the coastal cities known for partying. There are quite a few bars to explore in the center of Zagreb. One of the most popular things to do for a good night on the city is to join one of the pub crawls. There are few different pub crawl tours that go around the city so just Google “Zagreb pub crawl” and that should lead you down the right path. If you don’t want to do the pub crawls, the best clubs in the city are The Gallery and Katran.
Ljubljana
Although not to the caliber of some of the bigger European cities, Ljubljana has pretty good nightlife for being a smaller city. Metelkova is part of the city known for being an alternative and artistic center. It is one of the best places in the city to party. You can find bars scattered around the city. If you want to go clubbing, some of the best nightclubs in the city are Klub TOP SIX, Klub K4, and Cirkus Klub.
Day Trips
Zagreb
Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the Balkans. It is known for its waterfalls, beautiful water, and lush greenery.
Krapina is a small town in the hilly Zagorje region of Croatia. The area is known for finding Neanderthal fossils.
Trakošćan Castle is located near Krapina. It is a beautiful castle on a hill, built in the 13th century.
Zagreb is only an hour and a half from Ljubljana which means you may be able to explore both cities.
Ljubljana
Bled is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Slovenia.
Lake Bohinj is a beautiful lake surrounded by the Slovenian Alps.
Jezersko is a scenic town in the Slovenian Alps.
Ljubljana is less than 3 hours from Venice, Italy which would make for a fantastic trip.
Overall
Zagreb and Ljubljana are two incredible cities at the top of the Balkan Peninsula. They are just over two hours away from each other and are vastly different cities. Zagreb is a much larger city and you can feel that it’s much bigger than Ljubljana. If you want a smaller city that is easily walkable, Ljubljana is the right choice for you. Debating between Zagreb or Ljubljana can be a tough choice to make so hopefully this guide helped you make your decision.