New Year in Ljubljana
We spent New Year in Ljubljana, Slovenia and discovered one of the safest places to travel in Europe, and possibly one of the happiest. Even with the Christmas crowds and New Year celebrations, we felt calm, relaxed and unhurried.
As usual, our adventure began a few days before we took off. We do leave it to the last minute and on the 27th December we booked a five night stay in Slovenia. We flew to Ljubljana for New Year on the recommendation that it was similar to Prague but less crowded. Flights were booked first, then accommodation. We chose Easyjet flying from Gatwick on the 29th December, with a return on 3rd January 2026. This meant we would land on Monday evening, have four whole days to plan activities, and leave by Saturday afternoon. For our five night stay we booked into the InterContinental Ljubljana by IHG. We would have preferred a room in the Old Town but by this late time they were booked out, and the hotel was available and only a short walk away.
We took a shuttle bus from the airport directly to our hotel, which gave us time to check in for the evening and explore dinner options. Many of the market stalls in the Old Town were still serving food but we grabbed a bottle of local wine and some Burek take away and cosied in our suite for an early night. We already had escape rooms booked for Tuesday and knew we would end up booking more. Whenever we are away Andy will hunt down the nearest escape rooms and so far we have played over 80 rooms. It is a little obsessive but we love puzzles. Enigmarium Escape Rooms did not disappoint.
After three hours of escaping we explored the Old Town and planned the following day. The castle was first on our list, walking up and taking a ride in the funicular back down. It is a good job we did it that way because a seven-course wine tasting at the top meant walking back down could have been a challenge. Tickets for the castle are available at the gates outside and the views from the top of the hill are nothing short of amazing. Ljubljana is surrounded by mountains, with a flat landscape to their base. We has a 360 degree view from the various viewing points available. A selection of food and drink stalls were open in the castle courtyard along with a cafe and a restaurant - and of course the winery.
Following our tasting course, and as it was New Year's Eve, we headed back to the hotel to get food and change our coats. We then walked back into the Old Town for the rest of the evening. What I loved the most was the numerous music stages dotted around town - in the main square, beside the market and on the backstreet walkthrough. The sound set up was perfect - walking between stages the music didn't overlap, three loud outside bands playing yet no sound crossover. There were so many people singing along and joining in with the music. People simply having fun, family time, night's out, celebrating. It was humbling to hear, and be a part of so much community and inclusion. During our five-day visit we didn't hear any shouting, witness any antisocial behaviour, jostling and pushing - just welcoming people and everyone having fun.
Before the countdown to midnight and the firework display, we ambled around town drinking hot mulled wine and enjoying small portions of food from various stalls. A firm favourite was the hot chocolate from Gelateria Romantika (Stari trg) which was made with coconut milk and vegan chocolate. Andy added a dash of rum to his each time but mine was thick and creamy, and very addictive. After the first few days they saw us a regulars but when the shop is open late into the evening it is hard to resist revisiting.
Five minutes to the stroke of midnight we headed back to the market area of the Old Town, to stand below the castle in sub zero conditions, surrounded by people waiting to hear the clock strike. Everyone joined in the countdown and the sky lit up with fireworks as pretty as expected. It was a revelation to welcome in the new year in a crowd without feeling crowded and feeling totally included in the festive celebrations. After midnight had chimed many people continued to party, families with young children wrapped up against the cold, while others (including us) headed slowly home, via McDonalds as it was still open. No crush, no rush - just calm.
New Year's Day was a quiet affair - all the main shops are closed 1 - 2 January for holiday. Some of the stalls, bars, and restaurants in the Old Town still opened and we found a restaurant that was completely gluten-free. At Dežela Okusov we were served warm fresh bread, pasta, fried trout, and a variety of desserts. All 100% gluten-free. It was busy and booked but they managed to find us a table for two.
Before we left the UK, Andy had pre-booked a private lake tour for Friday using GetYourGuide. We had previously booked a tour in Madeira and were impressed enough to book again. Our Slovenian tour included visits to Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, and Lake Jasna. Veranika Ziarnova and her brother-in-law Vladimir were our guides for the day, picking us up from our hotel at 9am in a fully electric MG. We travelled in comfort to Lake Jasna for morning coffee, lunched at Lake Bohinj on stew and wine before sampling the famous Lake Bled cake in the late afternoon, together with a visit to the Bled castle. Veranika and Vladimir were perfect hosts with a wide knowledge of the areas we visited, regaling us with folklore and entertaining stories. We had an hour to visit the castle in Bled and there was no rush to the rest of our day - so much that we were an hour late getting back to the hotel because we were enjoying the tour.
Highlights for us in Slovenia, especially Ljubljana, were: -
- Gelateria Romantika - hot chocolate
- Ljubljana Castle - wine tasting
- Enigmarium - escape rooms
- Dežela Okusov - gluten-free dining
- GetYourGuide Tours - lake tours
- Lake Jasna - because it was frozen solid
Coming home to start the return to work, and back to a faster pace was a culture shock. Slovenia is a friendly country, where tourist are welcomed. If you are planning to book your next trip, a few days if you are passing through or a week in Ljubljana should make your list.