Metelkova

Ljubljana, Slovenia

A former army barracks turned autonomous arts-and-nightlife colony, covered in murals and alive after dark. The city's alternative soul.

Places in Metelkova

Metelkova bars The mural-covered autonomous zone comes alive at night with bars and clubs across the political and musical spectrum. Raw, cheap and unforgettable.
Metelkova & the museums quarter The alternative Metelkova zone sits beside the national ethnographic and contemporary-art museums — a striking cultural contrast in one block.

Best time to visit: May, June and September for warm riverside evenings and open markets. Summer is lively; December's lights along the river are magical.
Getting around: The centre is pedestrianised and tiny — walk, or borrow a city bike. Electric buggies (Kavalir) ferry the less mobile for free. Lake Bled and the Karst are easy day trips by bus or train.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: Slovene. English is widely spoken.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: Slovenian fine dining winning global recognition; a booming natural and orange-wine culture from the Vipava and Brda regions; farm-to-table as default; and a young craft-beer and specialty-coffee scene along the river.

Old Town (Stari trg) — The pastel baroque core beneath the castle, a car-free tangle of squares, terraces and craft shops along the river. The romantic heart of the city.
Center & Prešeren Square — The lively hub around the pink Franciscan church and Plečnik's Triple Bridge, where the market and main streets meet. The city's crossroads.
Trnovo & Krakovo — Leafy, residential quarters just south of the centre, with market gardens, artists' houses and quiet cafés. Ljubljana at its most village-like.
Tivoli — The great landscaped park on the centre's edge, with tree-lined promenades, galleries and paths up into the hills. The city's green lung.