Zagreb Day 1-A Day Trip to Ljubljana

Bus ride from Zagreb to Ljubljana

I woke up before sunrise, excited for my day trip from Zagreb to Ljubljana. It was just past 5 a.m. when I went online to purchase my FlixBus ticket. Everything was set. I took Tram #6 from the Old Town Square to the international bus terminal, eager to start my adventure.

I arrived right on time for the 7:15 a.m. bus. The driver asked to see my passport or ID. I handed him my driver's license, thinking that would be enough. He looked at it and firmly asked for a passport. That’s when I realized I’d made a mistake.

I had debated bringing my passport that morning while packing. But since I was already traveling within Europe, I figured it wouldn’t be necessary. I did bring a photocopy—just in case—but unfortunately, that wasn’t good enough. The driver refused to let me board. Defeated, I returned to my hotel. I checked the FlixBus schedule again and saw two options: a 7:55 a.m. departure (which I wouldn’t make in time), or a 12:15 p.m. bus. After a moment of reflection, I decided not to give up on the trip. I booked the 12:15 p.m. ticket.

With several hours to kill, I wandered the neighborhood. I stopped by a nearby market and bought some fresh blueberries, then made an visit to the Museum of Broken Relationships.

After a short rest at the hotel, I headed back to the bus station for the second time, this time with my passport.

I boarded the 12:15 p.m. bus without issue. Ironically, the driver didn’t even ask to see my passport! But just before we crossed the border into Slovenia, a border official boarded the bus. She carried a handheld device and photographed every passenger’s passport. One man was asked to get off—he may not have had his with him. In that moment, I was incredibly relieved I had gone back for mine.

Travel tip: always carry your passport when crossing borders in Europe, even within the Schengen Area. You never know when it will be checked.

We arrived in Ljubljana around 2:50 p.m., where my friend Metka was waiting for me.

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Ljubljana City Walk

Ljubljana is a charming and walkable city. We strolled from the bus station to Prešeren Square in about 15 minutes. From there, we visited the Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, and walked along the Ljubljanica River. We took the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle for a beautiful view of the city,  and later wandered through the Old Town. We visited City Hall and even had the chance to meet the mayor!

Around 5:30 p.m., Metka and I had dinner in a cozy restaurant in the Old Town. After dinner, she walked me back to the bus station. My return bus soon arrived, and we said our goodbyes.

On the way back, I chatted with a couple of young passengers—college-aged travelers from Belgrade. I complimented their excellent English, and they laughed, telling me they had learned it from watching kids’ cartoons. 

What began as a stressful morning turned into a memorable day filled with lessons, laughter, and meaningful connections. 

Statue of France Preseren

Preseren Square

Statue of Julija Primic

Me with Meteka in Front of Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

Inside the Pink Church

Triple Bridge

At the head of Dragon Bridge

At the Ljubljand Castle

View of Ljubljana from Ljubljana Castle

Dragons everywhere

Ljubljana Old Town

Ljubljana City Hall

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*The statues on Prešeren Square

 Prešeren Square (Prešernov trg) is the heart of Ljubljana and one of its most beloved public spaces. It's named after France Prešeren, Slovenia’s greatest poet. At the center of the square stands a large and striking statue of France Prešeren, created by sculptor Ivan Zajec and architect Max Fabiani. It shows France Prešeren was in a long coat, holding a book of poetry in his left hand. Above him, on a stone pedestal, is a nude female figure holding a laurel branch. She represents the poetic muse, often interpreted as Prešeren’s inspiration—particularly his unrequited love for a woman named Julija Primic. If you look across the square, you’ll see a building with a stone relief bust of a woman—that’s Julija Primic, the woman Prešeren loved. Their tragic, unfulfilled relationship inspired many of his most famous poems, including his epic Sonetni venec (A Wreath of Sonnets). If you stand in the right spot, you can line up Prešeren's gaze perfectly so that it looks like he’s forever looking at Julija’s image, across the square. It’s a subtle and poetic tribute to the story of lost love that defined much of his work.

**Ljubljana’s relationship with dragons:

Ljubljana’s relationship with dragons is deeply rooted in its mythology, symbolism, and identity—it’s not just decoration; the dragon is the official symbol of the city. According to local legend, the roots of Ljubljana’s connection to dragons go all the way back to Greek mythology. It is said that: Jason, the famous hero who stole the Golden Fleece, and his band of Argonauts were sailing back to Greece when they traveled up the Danube, then the Sava, and finally the Ljubljanica River. Near the area of present-day Ljubljana, they encountered a massive dragon in a swamp. Jason fought and slayed the dragon, making him (in myth) the first true inhabitant and hero of the area.  This dragon became a lasting symbol of strength, courage, and resilience.