Boat tours are always the most popular activities when visiting waterfront or riverfront cities. If this is not your first time on this travel blog, you probably remember how much I enjoy going on short boat trips (like in Bergen or Berlin). Therefore, when I visited the picturesque capital of Slovenia, going on a Ljubljana boat tour sounded like a must. The Ljubljanica River seals the city’s identity, and enjoying the architecture from the water seemed a great option.
As you might expect, various operators offer a variety of guided boat tours along the river. However, since I have purchased a Ljubljana Card (you can buy it here), I can only tell you about the two tours I joined. Yes, the Ljubljana Card offers you two free rides with two different boats, and as you can see in the following lines, I enjoyed them both.
That said, in this article, you’ll read about my Ljubljana boat tours, see my photos and a 4K video, and read a short review. Moreover, I’ll share what to look for when choosing a boat trip at Ljubljanica River and each trip’s prices.
Let’s begin.
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Ljubljana Boat Tour: What to expect
I always enjoy short boat trips because they offer an immersive experience. Seeing a city from the water gives you a clear perspective, great views, and a real feel for its size. Moreover, although traveling is a sweet experience by itself, I never underestimate the fatigue it brings. That said, unwinding on board a small boat while still sightseeing is a great way to see and relax at the same time.
The Ljubljana boat trips I joined offered a similar itinerary. However, the tours had some differences, so here’s what you need to know.
Aboard the Ljubljanica Boat
The first boat tour I joined in Slovenia’s capital was the one offered by the Ljubljanica boat. Featuring the name of Ljubljana’s river, the Ljubljanica is a unique little vessel. It is handmade in Slovenia, and it’s exclusively made of wood. Despite its retro style, it’s a fairly new boat: it was constructed in 2010 and can carry up to 50 passengers.
The Ljubljanica boat offers river cruises that last shortly less than an hour. Apart from its wooden looks, what makes the Ljubljanica stand out from the competition is that it’s actually fully electric and has zero emissions. As you can imagine, the wooden boat is very popular among tourists, and the seats sell out fast, even during the off-season.
My impression was that the Ljubljanica boat was a solid vessel and spotlessly clean. You can buy drinks on board, and the sitting area is covered. However, since it was a sunny day when I hopped on the boat, I saw a few chairs on Ljubljanica’s bow. I picked one of them straight, and as you can see in the photos and the 4K video, I enjoyed endless views of the river.
Crossing bridges, learning the city’s background story, and enjoying the beautiful architecture made for a memorable experience. The tour costs 14 euros per person if you don’t purchase a City Card.
Aboard the Ljubljana Tourist boat
As I mentioned earlier, I joined a second boat tour in Ljubljana. It was the last day of my trip to Slovenia, and since I was feeling tired, I thought of enjoying another short cruise. This time, I used the Ljubljana Tourist boat, which is one of the most famous vessels on the city’s river.
Compared to Ljubljanica, the so-called Tourist Boat feels much more contemporary. Here, you shouldn’t expect a retro boat but a modern one. The boat is covered with windows, which can give you great panoramic views of the city. However, its interior feels smaller, and it can host up to 32 passengers. One thing that I should mention is that the Tourist Boat is heated, making it a great option for winter boat tours along the river.
I took the tour on a humid day, and I’m glad you can open the windows as much as you want. The captain is a fantastic guy, offering background information about the things you see out of the window. I found the onboard experience slightly better than the Ljubljanica, and this was mainly because of the captain. In addition, he stopped at a riverside bar for a few minutes so everyone willing to grab a beer or an Aperol Spritz had enough time to buy one.
The Ljubljana Tourist Boat offered a similar itinerary, and I believe that’s the actual route that every one-hour boat tour in Ljubljana offers. Holders of the Ljubljana Card embark for free, but if you don’t have one, the ticket costs 14 euros, too.
The Ljubljana boat tour itinerary
Both boat trips (and I believe most one-hour tours) travel the same distance down the river. From their departing points, the boats travel towards Spica, a spot where the river splits into two. That’s the spot where you can enjoy the horizon and see the city’s nature. At Livada, the boats turned around and drove back towards the old town. You will get to see the city’s iconic bridges like Cobblers’ Bridge, the Triple Bridge (the most fascinating one), the Main Market, and the Butcher’s Bridge.
Finally, it’s time for the highlight: the Dragon Bridge. There, the boat turns around and drives toward the point you embarked -and that’s where the tour finishes.
Ljubljana Boat Tour Review: Should you book one?
I will keep it short: yes, it absolutely deserves to go on a boat tour of the Ljubljanica River. The city’s undeniable beauty, paired with the water views, offers an unbeatable combination. Moreover, it’s a great opportunity for architecture lovers to admire its stunning buildings and urban planning. Don’t forget that Ljubljana encompasses the vision of Jože Plečnik, the visionary architect who transformed a sleepy little town into a capital. If you aren’t aware of his oeuvre, I wrote an article about the Jože Plečnik Museum; check it out.
Now, returning to the review, I must say that both tours exceeded my expectations. The retro wooden boat offered a nostalgic experience, while the Tourist Boat fascinated me with the wealth of information provided. Overall, tourism services in Slovenia are of high quality, and these two boat tours serve as proof.
The Ljubljanica River is busy with boats offering tours, and I believe they all offer similar services. However, since I always want to talk about things I experienced myself, I can highly recommend the two trips I mentioned in the article to my readers.
So, don’t think twice: join a Ljubljana boat tour and experience one of the lesser-known European capitals from the water.
My Ljubljana Boat Tour 4K Video
As promised in the introduction, here’s my 4K video from the Ljubljana River Cruise I joined. Watch it in full screen and see what to expect when joining a short river trip.
5 Tips for your Ljubljana boat tours
In the final section of this article, I’ll offer five tips for your Ljubljanica River Cruises. Consider them as quick travel tips and keep them in mind when choosing a river tour.
- Bring a jacket. Whether you visit in the winter or during the summer, an extra jacket is always a good idea because the river seems to have a light breeze.
- Don’t forget your sunglasses. Depending on the time you join the tour, you might have to face the sun. Since the boat tours travel back and forth, the chances are that part of your journey will be against the sun.
- Prebook your ticket. If you want to secure a seat, prebook unless you are very flexible. I visited Ljubljana off-season, and both tours were sold out.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Make sure to be early enough on the pier to secure the best seats on the boat. In addition, holders of the Ljubljana Card might be asked to get a free ticket before boarding.
- Go private. Most boat tours also offer private tours or romantic dinners with food and drinks included. They are different and usually more expensive. If that interests you, ask the providers to book one.
Ljubljana Boat Tour: Conclusion
If you love water as much as I do, going on a Ljubljana boat tour is one of the most charming experiences in Slovenia’s capital. Apart from being a laid-back activity, a boat trip will show you the city’s nature and its fascinating embankments. The city of Jože Plečnik is a destination often overlooked by international travelers, but it’s totally worth visiting.
The fact that the local tour operators are very professional adds an extra layer to the whole experience. A Ljubljana river tour will, therefore, reveal the city’s true beauty and how a compact capital can spoil you with its beauty. And don’t forget to point your camera toward Ljubljana Castle at least once: it will be visible from various spots throughout your cruise.
More about Ljubljana: Jože Plečnik Museum, The ultimate Ljubljana travel guide
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Last Updated on July 27, 2024 by George Pavlopoulos