The city of dragons is not only Slovenia's political and cultural center, but also scores as a paddling paradise. The countless waterways in the city area allow relaxed paddling trips for all ages.

General information

• Ljubljana Card
• Ljubljana tourist information
• Ljubljana Wikipedia
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Navigation rules

The busy boat traffic has priority. Keep enough distance or paddle by the shore. You will hardly find bathers here.

Dangers and risks

The low-current water in and around the center of Ljubljana is calm but there is a lot of boat traffic on it. Especially during the warm season countless tourist boats run every minute and stir up water. It is best to keep to the right and keep a sufficient distance when approaching boats.

If two boats cross it can get quite narrow in the canals. If necessary you interrupt your journey and let the boats pass.

The entrance via Park Špica, in the middle of town, is a bit steep and the stones in the water under the steps can be slippery.

There is no going further between the St. Peter Bridge and the Fabiani Bridge. The sluice gate was built in the 1940s and leads to a water drop of about 2 m. Because of the canal walls, you can't carry the board to the other side here either.

Directions

Whether by bus, by car or other means of transport - Ljubljana is always easily accessible. Further information can be found here.

The best way to get to the start of this tour is by car. If you are traveling without a car, you can of course take public transport, although depending on your starting point you may have to take longer walks.

Parking

You can park for free along Ižanska cesta Street by the Botanical Garden. From there you just walk over the footbridge and within a few minutes you are by the water in Park Špica.

Swimming

Slovenia is known for its thermal baths and many of them are located in the outskirts of the city. Due to the almost non-existent current you could swim in the river Ljubljanica, but the boat traffic is too heavy and represents a corresponding danger. There are enough great alternatives in and around Ljubljana.

Atlantis Water City
Šmartinska cesta 152, 1533 Ljubljana 
Phone +386 (0)1 585 21 00

Laguna Lido
Dunajska cesta 270, 1000 Ljubljana 
Phone +386 (0)1 585 21 00

Tour

From the Park Špica, turn right and head towards the city center in a wide arc to the sluice gate Zapornica na Ljubljanici after the St. Peter's Bridge. Turn around in front of the water drop and paddle back to the park.

Length

4.8 km

Time

50 - 70 minutes

Start and landing

Along the waterfront of Špica Park.

SUP rental

Bananaway
Podmilščakova 46, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)40 238 756

SUP Klub
Livada 31, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)41725553

Ljubljanica SUP & kayak
Trnovski pristan 40, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)41 351 698

Sightseeing through Slovenia's capital

This unique tour has been on my To-SUP-list for almost two years and the long wait has definitely paid off. The small country of Slovenia is not only delightful in terms of its landscape. The people, the culture and the gastronomy also leave a lasting impression. All of these characteristics even multiply in the capital Ljubljana and ensure an unforgettable stay.

Here people paddle on the river Ljubljanica, which branches off at Park Špica coming from the south and thus flows around the city center. The "river with seven names" runs about 20 km of its 85 km through underground karst caves and flows into the Sava north 

In principle, there are a lot of great opportunities to get to the water in and around the city center. The entrance at Park Špica is easily accessible by car, especially since there is a park zone along the Botanical Garden, which is outside the center and, with a bit of luck, has enough open space. Directly in the center it is usually very difficult to get a good parking space near the river. A decent alternative would be to get in at the Ljubljana Kayak and Rowing Club on the opposite side. 

You can either inflate your SUP board directly by the parking strip or you walk with your bags and gear across the pedestrian walkway directly to the park and get ready to paddle there. The entry via the stone steps is a little tricky and should be approached with caution, but after that nothing stands in the way of the city paddling feeling. Here at the fork of the Ljubljanica there is enough space to avoid the tourist boats if necessary and to warm up on board. It's best to stay on the edge of the canal, because the just 32 m wide canal becomes even narrower in the center and is only 20 m wide in many places. Everything has to get through here without collision – boats and paddlers of all kinds.

You could stop right under the first bridge (Prule Bridge) and sit down comfortably on the underpassing promenade. The little Bar Klub Recnih Kapitanov looks inviting and could be easily approached by SUP. First of all, however, I continue along the lively stepped promenades with their weeping willows and countless seating options. As a paddler you are a well-exposed photo motif here, be it from the shore or from one of the tourist boats.

The banks are slowly getting higher and higher and I notice that I am getting closer to the old town centre. The beautiful old architecture above me has been flawlessly preserved and the few modern elements, such as glass walkways, fit perfectly into the cityscape. There seems to be a small market to the right above me, while the first bars appear on the left. The city is not only fun on the water, but also two floors higher, along the quays where bars, restaurants and hip shops alternate providing urban life.

The highlights of this small round trip are certainly the three adjacent bridges between Prešeren Square and Stritarjeva Street. The pink-red Franciscan Church on Prešeren Square can be seen from about 300 m away and, curiously enough, fits in wonderfully with the varied cityscape. 

Things can get really tight under the three bridges in particular, so I feel my way carefully and past the stone bridge piers. Then it's a little quieter again in the direction of the Dragon BridgeThe dragon is the symbol of the city and sits enthroned at both ends of the bridge. It can also be seen on the city coat of arms and over time the monster has become more and more the protector of the city, which according to legend was founded by the legendary hero Jason.

Above me I see the elongated buildings of the city market. From down here they cover the baroque St. Nicholas Cathedral which can be found right behind the market. By the way, this market is a must for every visitor. Handicrafts, fruit and vegetables and slovenian specialties can be bought here all year round except on Sundays. 

First, however, I paddle the last 600 m to the sluice gate between St. Peter's Bridge and the Fabiani Bridge. The guided SUP tour by Bananaway also leads up to here, where I turn around because you can't really avoid the waterfall due to the vertical concrete sole attachment. To do this you would have to land at St. Peter's Bridge and carry the board under the Fabiani Bridge (approx. 350 m). From there you could paddle for kilometers on end back to the starting point, but unfortunately there is still a weir in the way that, according to the satellite image, cannot be avoided (dense bushes). The water level doesn't seem to be optimal everywhere either.

Since the way back leads against the hardly noticeable current, I decide to increase the paddling frequency and treat myself to a little workout on the water. This goes well until I get close to the market and the triple bridge again. Here the boat traffic picks up and I try to ride the waves behind the boats a little - just to entertain the onlookers on deck. The sun is now setting and the terraces above me are filling up with guests. 

It's interesting to watch the hustle and bustle on the water in the middle of the city, surrounded by centuries-old canals and buildings. How different that is from what's going on on lakes or at the sea. This city and its surroundings definitely make you want more - for example a refreshing Union Pivo from the local Union Brewery. It is best to enjoy this with a direct view of the Ljubljanica while planning the next SUP tours in the region.

The post Ljubljana city tour first appeared on SUP Atlas - Paddle More.

General Information Ljubljana

• Ljubljana Card
• Ljubljana Wikipedia
• Ljubljana tourist information
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Paddleboarding

The city is crossed by the leisurely flowing Ljubljanica, which in turn has a number of branches. This means you can paddle leisurely through the city, although there are more tourist boats in the center. To the north, also the Sava flows past Ljubljana, which - depending on the section - enables leisurely paddle tours, small reservoirs and easy whitewater paddling.

Swimming

Slovenia is known for its thermal baths and many of them are located in the outskirts of the city. In the Ljubljanica, which cuts through the city, you could swim because of the almost non-existent current, but the boat traffic is too strong and represents a corresponding danger. There are enough alternatives in and around Ljubljana.

Atlantis Water City
Šmartinska cesta 152, 1533 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)1 585 2100

Laguna Lido
Dunajska cesta 270, 1000 Ljubljana 
Phone +386 (0)1 589 01 37

Worth seeing

The castle Ljubljanski grad which can be reached within a few minutes either on foot or via funicular. The Ljubljana Castle was probably built in the 11th century and today offers a successful synthesis of historic buildings with modern elements. Museums, exhibitions and restaurants can also be found here. Great photo opportunities from the city center as well.

With over 5 km², Tivoli Park is the largest and certainly the most beautiful park in the city. It was created in 1813 from two earlier parks surrounding the Podturn and Cekinov grad castles.

Anyone looking for culinary delights should definitely visit the central marketplace with its market arcades. All year round from Monday to Saturday you can buy handicrafts, fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese and the best Slovenian specialties.

The famous three bridges, the symbol of the city, are right next to the market. They all lead across the Ljubljanica and together with the Prešernov Trg Square and the market square they form the core of the historic old town.

Extra Tips

Every first Sunday of the month and on special occasions many museums and galleries offer free entry.

The cultural city celebrates its annual highlight with June in Ljubljana. But there are enough festivals and open air events for all tastes in every season.

The Ljubljana Festival has taken place since 1953 and it is now an international event devoted to music, folklore and art for several weeks.

The Botanical Garden has existed since 1810, includes over 4500 plant species and also has a tropical greenhouse. Both can be visited all year round.

A boat trip on the Ljubljanica is the ideal preparation for a later SUP tour. The tour takes about 45 minutes and offers a good overview of the city center - in combination with a guided walk throug the city it takes about twice as long. Private trips with catering are also possible on request.

If you don't want to paddle through the old town alone, you can join a guided SUP tour and have a lot of fun with like-minded people.

Everyone should have tasted the Union beer at least once as it is one of the most popular beers in the country. The Pivovarna Union Brewery and the Brewery Museum are located in Ljubljana and can also be visited - including a beer tasting, of course.

Overnight Stay

InterContinental Ljubljana
Slovenska cesta 59, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)59 128000

Gallery River
Breg 22, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)40 462 099

Dragons Dream Hostel
Dunajska cesta 105, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)7 292 73 00

Guest House pri Vodniku
Vodnikova cesta 65a, 1000 Ljubljana

Gastronomy

Kodila Gourmet
Adamic-Lundrovo nabrezje 5, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)599 27192

Dinner In The Dark
Slovenska cesta 34, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)31 608 030

Pop's Place
Cankarjevo nabrezhje 3, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)590 42856

Spica Cafe
Gruberjevo nabrezje, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)51 600 319

Loo-Blah-Nah Brewery and Taproom
Cesta 24. junija 25, 1231 Ljubljana
Phone +386 (0)69 679 059

Captain’s Cabin
Ključavničarska ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone +386 41 680 597

The post Ljubljana first appeared on SUP Atlas - Paddle More.