Ljubljana Castle Ticket: Entry Plus Optional Funicular Ride

Ljubljana Castle watches over the Old Town from its hill above the Ljubljanica, and most first visits include at least one trip up. This ticket covers entry, and you can add the funicular to skip the climb on foot.

Overview

This ticket covers the paid interior attractions at Ljubljana Castle: the viewing tower, the Slovenian History Exhibition, the Museum of Puppetry and the Virtual Castle. One reviewer was surprised to find the ticket is for the exhibitions only, since the castle itself is free entry, so it is worth knowing before you book.

There are two ways up Castle Hill. You can walk, or you can add a return ticket for the glass-enclosed funicular from the Old Town. The listing calls the climb fairly steep, and one reviewer recommended the funicular on a hot day. Beyond the exhibits, an optional Time Machine tour leads you through 6 historical periods with costumed guides, each stationed with a figure from that era. An optional multilingual audio guide covers the castle's history if you prefer to explore alone.

The visit suits independent travellers who want to move at their own pace, and families too: one reviewer said the kids enjoyed the towers. Children under 7 receive a free ticket collected at the box office. The listed duration is 1 hour, though the self-guided format means you set your own schedule.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Choose your meeting pointThe activity has 2 meeting points, and which one applies depends on the option selected. Check which meeting point applies to your booking before setting out.
2. Ride the funicularOptional extra. The glass-enclosed funicular carries you up Castle Hill from the Old Town, avoiding the fairly steep climb on foot.
3. Explore the castle groundsWalk around the grounds freely at your own pace. The courtyard holds restaurants and a Slovenian wine bar.
4. Climb the watchtowerThe viewing tower is included with the ticket and offers panoramic views over the city.
5. Visit the chapel and exhibitionsSee the Chapel of St George, dating from 1489, with its frescoes and the coats of arms of the Dukes of Carniola, then continue through the Slovenian History Exhibition, the Museum of Puppetry and the Virtual Castle.
6. Optional Time Machine tourIf selected, costumed guides lead you to 6 time stations, each with a figure from that period, with a multilingual audio guide included.
7. Return at leisureFinish when you choose. The funicular option includes a return ride down to the Old Town.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up repeatedly in the listing and in traveller reviews, and they shape how the visit goes.

• Getting up the hill. Decide before you book whether you want the funicular. The listing describes the walk up as fairly steep, and one reviewer walked to the castle and back without it. On a hot day, another reviewer specifically recommended the funicular.
• Pace and duration. The listed duration is 1 hour, but the visit is self-guided so you set the pace. Reviews mention exhibitions, talks and the period costume actors, so plan your time around what you want to see.
• Meeting point clarity. The meeting point depends on the option you select, and the review summary notes that some travellers would like clearer on-site signage and route guidance, including meeting points. One reviewer said it was never made clear that the meeting point is up at the castle, and that you have to take the funicular as soon as you arrive. Check which meeting point applies to your option before setting out.
• What the ticket covers. One reviewer was surprised to find the ticket is for the exhibitions only, since the castle itself is free entry. That reviewer also noted that elevator rides are not included and need add-on tickets, so check what your option covers before you go.
• Children. One reviewer said the kids enjoyed the towers and the visit overall. Children under 7 are entitled to a free ticket, which should be picked up at the box office.
• Food and drink. One reviewer praised the courtyard restaurants and a Slovenian wine bar as surprisingly high quality, and said the castle felt like a lively part of the city rather than just a tourist attraction. If your option leaves time to spare, a meal or a glass of wine on the hill is a way to round off the visit.

Common issues. Some reviewers mention that clearer on-site signage and route guidance, including meeting points, would help, and one found it was never made clear that the meeting point is up at the castle. One reviewer noted that elevator rides are not included and need add-on tickets. The climb up Castle Hill is fairly steep if you choose to walk rather than take the funicular. One reviewer expected the ticket to cover general access and was surprised to find the castle itself is free entry, with the ticket covering the exhibitions only.

Frequently Asked Questions