Ljubljana-Hiking-Šmarna Gora

A view of  Šmarna Gora from the castle

Slovenians are inherently active people, and it’s no wonder why, with such diversity of outdoor attractions within such a small country. From the Alps to the Adriatic Sea in less than 3 hours, there is no shortage of outdoor day trips that one could do while visiting this country.

If you are looking for an adventurous and physically demanding hike while staying in Ljubljana you don’t even have to leave the city, because every Ljubljanians favorite weekend trip is within the city limits. Seen off in the distance from the top of the Ljubljana castle, Šmarna Gora is a towering example of Slovenian activity.

Originally believed to be one of the places that the Virgin Mary sat and rested, it’s had a chapel sit atop it since at least the 14^th century. It acted as a view point to keep watch for the swarming Turks that were viciously making their way into Europe. Because of the difficult terrain of the mountain, the hill top fortification was never taken by the Turks.

At the top you can sit at the old fortification, which is also a church, and drink some beer or tea while enjoying a breathtaking panorama of Ljubljana and the surrounding mountains. Make sure to ring the bell when you reach the top for good luck!

All you need to get there is bus number 8. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the trail head, but beware because the bus has an odd schedule on the weekend. You can catch the bus a number of places in the center. Start early and make it a day trip. Don’t miss one of the essential things that makes energetic and active Ljubljana what it is.