Hotels near Old Town (Stari trg and Mestni trg)

Ljubljana's Old Town runs along the eastern bank of the Ljubljanica river below the castle - a string of three connected squares (Mestni trg, Stari trg, Gornji trg) plus the parallel Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment. The cobbled streets, baroque facades, and 18th-century town houses survived Ljubljana's 1895 earthquake and were sensitively rebuilt afterwards under city architect Maks Fabiani.

Highlights along the route include the Town Hall (1718, on Mestni trg), the Robba Fountain (1751, modelled on Bernini's Roman fountains), and St James's Church on Levstikov trg. The narrow streets behind the river are lined with small bars, design shops, and cafes. The whole district is pedestrian-only. Allow 90 minutes for a slow walk.

Pro Tip: The hidden Ribji trg (Fish Square) is one block off the main route and contains some of the oldest buildings in Ljubljana - the 16th-century houses on the eastern side are reputedly the city's oldest standing residential buildings.