It’s not one of the largest capital cities in Europe, but Ljubljana is rapidly becoming one of the most accessible. This hidden gem is the perfect destination for a short break and it’s often referred to as a ‘mini Prague’. With its beautiful Baroque architecture, medieval old town and rich history it is easy to see why.
But while the comparison is a fair one, we think that Ljubljana deserves a lot more attention than it gets. So, here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to some of the best accessible things to do in Ljubljana.
Take in the view from Ljubljana Castle
Most castles weren’t originally designed to be accessible, but the team at Ljubljana Castle have done an excellent job of transforming this historic building. It is one of the most popular attractions in the country, and with good reason.
You can head up to the castle via a funicular railway. Once you’re there, you can then enjoy an accessible tour that takes in all of the main sights. The castle is over 900 years old and is home to a puppet museum and an exhibition of Slovenian history. As you’d expect the views across the city are spectacular. It is the perfect place to get a sense both the scale of the capital and how green it is.
Explore the Volčji Potok Arboretum
This beautiful park is not far out of the centre of Ljubljana and is well worth a visit. It is stunning in the spring, when the team there creates a spectacular display of daffodils and tulips.
But it’s a fascinating place to explore at any time of the year, with a plant collection featuring over 2,500 different species. The great news is that it is also straightforward to get around for those of us who use a mobility scooter. The paths are level throughout and the gardens are fully accessible.
Explore the winding streets and squares of the Old Town
Ljubljana draws favourable comparisons with the Czech capital, and when you’re in the Old Town you can see why. Cobbled streets, quiet squares and Baroque and Renaissance architecture make this area an essential part of your visit to the city.
One of the charms of Ljubljana is its scale. It really is tiny compared to Prague and you’ll find that most of it is relatively easy to get around on your scooter. While the cobbles can be tricky to negotiate, generally the pedestrianized areas have been well cared for.
There are plenty of cycle paths around the city centre too, which make life easier for mobility scooter users. In addition, if you want to try an alternative mode of transport, hail a Kavalir. This fleet of electric vehicles carry people around the centre for free.
Enjoy the local café culture
We found that Ljubljana is a city that does café culture superbly well. Lots of the cafés, bars and restaurants in the Old Town have tables outside. It means it is straightforward to park up your scooter and get served quickly.
If you love your coffee, then Ljubljana (and Slovenia in general) offers a fascinating coming together of Italian and Slavic coffee culture. It’s a winning combination. Try pairing your coffee with a slice of prekmurska gibanica (the city’s very own walnut cake) and you’ll truly be in heaven.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, then we suggest you check out Druga Violina, right in the heart of the Old Town. It’s fully accessible, serves great traditional Slovenian food and is run as a project to employ local people with disabilities. Highly recommended.
Did you know?
If you’re urgently in need of a cool, refreshing glug of raw milk while you’re exploring Ljubljana, fear not. There is a fresh milk dispenser (known as the mlekomat) in the main market in the centre of town.
Getting to Ljubljana
As Ljubljana isn’t a huge city, it only has the one airport which is around 30km from the city centre.
There are regular flights to Jože Pučnik Airport from several UK airports. You can fly direct from the London airports, as well as Manchester and Glasgow. Once at the airport you’ll find that it’s completely accessible and barrier-free to those of us who use a mobility scooter. There is also an excellent special assistance service. As usual, just let your airline know when you’re making the initial booking if you want to take advantage of this.
As we’ve mentioned, the airport is quite a distance from the city centre. But it is still straightforward to get to. There are plenty of accessible taxis from outside the terminal (it should cost around €35 to the centre), as well as regular public buses. These cost around €4 and they go on the hour, every hour.
Within the city itself, you’ll find that most of the public buses have ramps. If you need a larger taxi to get around, then the Taxi Metro service is also excellent. There is also more information about getting around on the city’s official site, here, and even a dedicated app too.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
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All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847