PROFESSIONAL HOSPITALITY GUIDE
Welcome to Ljubljana!
We’re thrilled to have you here. This guide is your friendly companion throughout the festival – we gathered helpful info, local tips, and a few invitations you won’t want to miss.
We’re so happy you’re here. Let’s make magic together.
With love,
The Jazz Festival Ljubljana Team
INDEX
- Getting from the Airport to Ljubljana
- Accommodation – Hotel Lev
- Festival Venues
- Festival Programme & Special Events
- Chill-out, Snacks & After Jazz
- Food & Recommended Places
- Out and About
1. GETTING AROUND
Taxi
Taxi Metro: +386 1 511 23 14
Laguna Taxi: +386 31 492 299
Shuttle Services (GoOpti / Nomago)
Advance booking required
goopti.com | nomago.si
The Ljubljana bus and train stations are currently under contrustion, but they still remain the main hub for travel across Slovenia – from there, you can reach your destination. It’s a good idea to carry some cash, as not all services accept cards.
📍 Trg Osvobodilne fronte 4 & 7
Kavalir – Free Electric Shuttle
+386 31 666 331 (for short trips in the pedestrian zone of the Old town)
2. ACCOMMODATION – HOTEL LEV
Your accommodation is located right at the edge of the city centre – everything is within easy reach. It’s a 10-minute walk to Cankarjev dom and other venues.
Hotel Lev
📍 Vošnjakova 1
P: +386 1 433 21 55
w: www.eurostarshotels.co.uk
Check-in: from 15:00 | Check-out: by 11:00
3. FESTIVAL VENUES
Cankarjev dom
📍Prešernova 10, Ljubljana
- Linhart Hall
- Alma Karlin Hall
- CD Club
- Park Sveta Evrope (outdoor stage)
Križanke Summer Theatre
📍 Trg francoske revolucije 1
Opening concert Meshell Ndegeocello and Cécile McLorin Salvant on July 2nd
Jazz Club Kazina
📍 Slovenska cesta 21
After Jazz sessions: Tue–Thu from 11:30 PM until late
4. FESTIVAL PROGRAMME & SPECIAL EVENTS
Check the full festival line-up:
🔗 ljubljanajazz.si/en/line-up
QR KODA SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
The playlist for the 66th edition of the festival, put together by our program co-curator Borja Močnik – Borka. Give it a spin!
Exhibitions
Free admission for performing artists of the 66. Jazz Festival Ljubljana
- Pino Ninfa – Jazz Portraits
📍 Small Gallery, Cankarjev dom - Nick Brandt – The Day May Break
📍 Large Gallery, Cankarjev dom
Special Festival Moments
Thursday at 5PM – Book presentation: Brötzmann In My Focus by Žiga Koritnik
📍 Alma Karlin Hall, Cankarjev dom
Žiga Koritnik enjoys recognition as the author of numerous portraits of musicians, also distinguished for his expertise in concert, theatre and dance photography, a career he has been pursuing for almost four decades. Jazz and improvised music practices carry a special focus for him – he is also known as the photographer we have seen “snapping” almost every noteworthy jazz concert. His latest project, the photography book Brötzmann, In My Focus, is dedicated to Peter Brötzmann, the German musician, artist and father of European free jazz who passed away in 2023.
Friday at 11PM – DJ Night with Dj Sunnysun
📍 CD Club
Sunnysun will be on the decks as the final Friday night gig, playing the perfect thematic (and dance) hip-hop set featuring strong jazz influences and samples, jazz (as well as funk!) originals, nujazz, broken beat, house, etc. With a special dedication to the legendary Roy Ayers!
Saturday at 4:30PM – Artist Talk: Asher Gamedze & Nduduzo Makhathini – Jazz in Dialogue: South African Jazz between Resistance and Transcendence
📍 Alma Karlin Hall
Saturday Festival Finale at 11PM – The Collective Echo
📍 CD Club
To all musicians still in Ljubljana on Saturday night – we warmly invite you to take part in the final event of this year’s festival: The Collective Echoes, a closing jam session led by Jure Pukl. This gathering is both a celebration and a gesture of gratitude, bringing together the voices, instruments and energies of the artists who shaped this edition of the festival. Everyone is welcome to join – step on stage, bring your sound, and share in one last musical moment with your fellow performers. Let’s end the festival together, in sound and in spirit!
5. CHILL-OUT, SNACKS & JAZZ AFTER JAZZ
Chill Out Zone & Jazz in Books Reading Corner
During the festival, a reading corner will come to life in the park in front of Cankarjev dom – a space for rest, quiet, and reflection. You will be able to browse a curated selection of books about jazz and related musical worlds, offering insights into dimensions that sound alone cannot capture.
Festival Meeting Point (CD, 6th floor foyer)
Thursday–Saturday | 6–8 PM
- Free snacks
- Coffee & a glass of wine
- Take a breather between soundchecks and sets, meet fellow artists, or find a quiet corner for an interview with a journalist.
Jazz After Jazz – Jazz Club Kazina
Tue–Thu | from 11:30 PM
- Late-night sessions, spontaneous jams, musical hangout
6. FOOD & RECOMMENDED PLACES
Our hand-picked selection of places we love – for post-soundcheck hunger, pre-gig inspiration or late-night unwinding.
Use your complimentary Festival Restaurant Coupons at the following three restaurants:
Figovec
A traditional Slovene restaurant with a long history, Figovec serves classic local dishes with a contemporary twist.
IG https://www.instagram.com/figovc/
Da Bu Da
Dabuda blends Asian fusion cuisine with a modern, urban atmosphere.
IG https://www.instagram.com/dabuda_ljubljana/
Gaudi&Naan
Gaudi&Naan offers a vibrant take on Indian cuisine, with bold spices and a colorful interior to match.
IG https://www.instagram.com/restavracija_gaudi_and_naan/
Our favorite spots for a great meal or a relaxed hangout.
Kolibri Cocktail Bar
A small, intimate cocktail bar tucked in a picturesque street in the Old town.
IG https://www.instagram.com/kolibricocktailbar/
📍Židovska steza 2
Daktari
A café-bar with a soul, frequented by writers, musicians, and lovers of good coffee and low lighting.
IG https://www.instagram.com/klubdaktari/
LP Bar
Right next to the river and always full of life.
IG https://www.instagram.com/lp.bar/
📍Novi trg 2
Veganika
Plant-based with purpose. A relaxed bistro offering clean, tasty, and nourishing food with zero fuss. The best vegan restaurant in town by far!
IG https://www.instagram.com/veganika/
Maru
Favorite Japanese restaurant among local foodies.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/marurestavracija/
Čompa Restaurant
A carnivore’s haven. Smoky, hearty and packed with locals. Reservation required.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/compa.restaurant/
📍Trubarjeva 40
Šuklje Wine Bar
Excellent Slovenian wines, knowledgeable staff, and an outside garden with the best view of the Ljubljana Castle.
IG https://www.instagram.com/winebarsuklje/
📍Breg 10
A must visit – Metelkova Mesto!
Metelkova is a self-managed space for alternative culture, located in former military barracks just ten minutes from the city centre.
w: http://www.metelkovamesto.org/
📍 Metelkova 10
Squatted in 1993 by artists and activists, it has since become one of the most active venues for non-commercial music, visual art and social engagement in the region.
Today, it hosts a number of independent clubs and galleries, including Channel Zero, Gala Hala, Jalla Jalla, Klub Gromka, Menza pri Koritu and Alkatraz Gallery. Programming ranges from live concerts and experimental performances to DJ nights, exhibitions, and community events.
7. OUT AND ABOUT
If you have a free day and feel like exploring, here are a few easy escapes – all reachable within 1–1.5 hours. Some are just a short walk or a bus ride away.
Ljubljana Castle
Approx. 15–30 min on foot or 1 min by funicular
The city’s most iconic viewpoint, with exhibitions, a café, and plenty of stone walls to lean on. You can hike up through the forest paths or take the funicular from the Old Town.
Tivoli Park
Approx. 10 min walk from city centre
Ljubljana’s central park and green lungs. Stroll beneath chestnut trees, visit the International Centre of Graphic Arts or just lie on the grass and do nothing.
Rožnik Hill
Approx. 20–30 min walk from city centre
A short walk from the city centre through Tivoli Park leads you to this forested hill with views, a small church, and a café at the top. A local favourite for a quick reset.
Šmarna Gora
Approx. 15 min by car / Bus to Tacen + walk
The most popular local hike – and a bit of a ritual for Ljubljana residents. Several routes to the top, where you’ll find a church, tea, and wide views of the Alps.
Iški Vintgar
Approx. 20–30 min by car
A narrow gorge just south of Ljubljana, with cold pools, forest shade and rocky riverbeds – perfect for a quick escape from the heat. Bring water, shoes and a towel.
Lake Bled
Approx. 45 min by car / 1 hr 15 min by bus
A classic for a reason. Swim in nicely cooled water, row to the island, hike to the castle, or just walk around the lake with a kremšnita in hand.
Lake Bohinj
Approx. 1 hr 15 min by car / 2 hrs by bus
Wilder and quieter than Bled. Surrounded by the Julian Alps, with swimming spots, forest trails and fewer tourists.
Radovna Valley
Approx. 1 hr 15 min by car (no direct public transport)
A quiet glacial valley between Bled and Triglav National Park. Meadows, forests, clear streams and traditional Alpine farms, with the option to visit the Pocar Homestead.
Škocjan Caves
Approx. 1 hr by car / Train to Divača + short shuttle or walk
A UNESCO World Heritage site. Massive underground chambers and an awe-inspiring river canyon.
Piran
Approx. 1.5 hrs by car / 2.5 hrs by bus
Slovenia’s most charming coastal town. Narrow Venetian-style streets, good seafood and Adriatic sunsets.
Kamnik & Velika Planina
Approx. 1 hr to Kamniška Bistrica + cable car
Alpine meadows, shepherd huts and mountain views. Take the cable car and hike above the clouds.
We wish you a wonderful stay and an unforgettable experience in our beautiful city of Ljubljana. Enjoy everything the city and the festival have to offer, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any additional questions you may have.