Ljubljana may have long been one of Europe’s forgotten cities but the vibrant
Slovenian capital is more than making up for lost time after the country joined the
EU in
2004 and
budget airline flights started up the same year, helping tourists discover what is one of the continent’s most
charming capitals.
In recent years, many a newspaper travel page has hailed Ljubljana as the
‘New Prague’ and at times Ljubljana does feel a bit like Prague, but also Amsterdam, Riga, Salzburg or Vienna, making it a sort of
greatest hits of
European architecture.
While seminal Slovene
architect
Joże Plečnik shaped the core of how the city looks and feels, Ljubljana has also been heavily influenced by other nations, with the
Hungarians,
Austrians and the
Italians all rumbling through this strategic hub over the centuries.
These eclectic influences permeate many aspects of city life including its
food and
drink, with enjoying an Italian-style ice cream as much part of the Ljubljana experience as savouring some hearty Hungarian goulash or quaffing a hoppy pilsner.
Despite the weight of its history, Ljubljana also has one of the
youngest populations of any European capital and it is awash with strutting young locals decked out in the
latest designer fashions.
The business future for Ljubljana looks bright partly due to its
strategic location, with easy access through a rapidly improving network of
motorways to Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia, as well as easy access to Slovenia’s own Adriatic port of
Koper, which give it an importance and potential above its modest size. It is also crucially the capital of an EU member state with direct access to the untapped economies of the
Balkan region, and gained kudos by becoming the first of the new EU members to hold the EU presidency in 2008.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Ljubljana Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Slovenia Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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