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What to do in Ljubljana this autumn

Experience autumn in Ljubljana, where the streets carry the aroma of roasted chestnuts, colorful leaves adorn the trees, and top culinary events bring the city to life. Discover activities that will enrich your autumn visit to our green capital.
by Ljubljana Tourism
October 28, 2024 · 4 min read
View of Ljubljana Castle in autumn

Autumn in Ljubljana has a special charm—not just because of the colorful leaves on the trees, the sunlight dancing along the Ljubljanica riverbanks, and the scent of roasted chestnuts in the air. In November, the city is filled with enticing aromas as the November Gourmet Ljubljana festival takes place throughout the month. Satisfy your culinary curiosity with a variety of experiences, test your cooking skills in workshops, or enjoy special menus in select restaurants featuring locally sourced dishes, particularly for St. Martin’s Day, paired with fine Slovenian wines and autumn-inspired desserts. Check out the list of autumn events and experiences you won’t want to miss.

 

Ljubljana old town with crowds in autumn

Stroll along the Ljubljana Wine Route and enjoy the diverse wine selection from Slovenian winemakers.

 

On November 9, the streets of Ljubljana’s old town will come alive with joy, fine Slovenian wines, and local delicacies. You can freely explore the Ljubljana Wine Route, and choose from over 350 wine samples for tasting. Samples can be purchased with vouchers available at the ticket booths, where a souvenir glass will also be offered. Don’t miss out on an authentic wine and cultural experience with a rich accompanying program.

 

Yummy market walk

Go on a culinary journey through Ljubljana’s central market, a favorite shopping and gathering spot for locals. You’ll stop at seven culinary stations, sampling the best of Slovenian culinary tradition. Begin with a glass of sparkling wine from one of Slovenia’s top winemakers or a natural juice, then visit some of the market’s most popular vendors to try iconic Slovenian treats—from dried apple slices, cheese, and fresh milk from the milk vending machine to various types of honey and typical dishes from the Prekmurje region. Along the way, your guide will share fascinating stories about the market’s history, which is an essential part of Ljubljana’s identity and pride.

 

Prosciutto and olive oil at the Ljubljana Market

Set off on a culinary experience through Ljubljana’s market, meet popular vendors, and savor some of Slovenia’s most treasured local delicacies.

 

Create your own… at the Creative Center Rog

Experience the pride and creative heart of Ljubljana at the Center Rog. This former factory, once home to leather goods, typewriters, and the timeless Rog bicycles, has been transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity and community. It’s a mini-city where old and new come together in nine production workshops that welcome designers, traditional artisans, tech enthusiasts, book lovers, chefs, metalworkers, architects, carpenters, engineers, and curious minds from morning until night. You’ll also find a library, café, bistro, gallery, a spacious terrace overlooking the city, a park with edible trees, and a garden with raised beds. Inside the glass extension, there are many cozy nooks to sit, work, or socialize. Explore Rog through guided experiences, where a mentor takes you behind the scenes of all creative labs and invites you to try your hand at crafting yourself.

In the cooking lab, you can learn the technique for quickly making puff pastry, fill it with a curd and tarragon mixture (Ljubljana’s traditional “dragon herb”), and prepare a seasonal salad with apples, walnuts, honey, and other typical Slovenian ingredients. Naturally, you’ll get to enjoy your delicious meal, while also learning the secrets of Slovenian cuisine. You’ll even get to take home two innovative cooking recipes.

 

A group of people at the cooking workshop at Center Rog in Ljubljana

Discover the “dragon herb” and use it to create a puff pastry fold, prepare a seasonal salad, and enjoy a delicious meal while learning the secrets of Slovenian cuisine.

 

You can also express your creativity in the textile lab, where the sewing machines have nostalgic Slovenian names. Choose your favorite colors and patterns from a variety of threads and fabrics, and design your own T-shirt using screen-printing techniques. You can pick from various Ljubljana-inspired motifs, such as the legendary Rog bicycles, distant Alpine peaks, and the Ljubljanica River, or decorate your shirt with entirely abstract patterns and shapes. This way, you create a functional yet memorable souvenir from the workshop and from Ljubljana.

 

A group of people at the textile workshop in Center Rog, Ljubljana.

Create your T-shirt in the textile lab at Center Rog and take home a unique souvenir from Ljubljana.

 

Creative handicraft workshops

Creativity isn’t found only in Ljubljana’s modern creative center; it’s also kept alive by local artisans, united by their passion for tradition and craftsmanship. Their enthusiasm for old trades will quickly capture you when you visit their workshops and studios. Here, you’ll get to become an artisan yourself and create a lasting memory of Ljubljana through hands-on experience. At the city’s only umbrella maker, you can repair your favorite umbrella; in the weaving workshop, you can create a handy tote bag; with a master printer, you can print a poster the old-fashioned way; in the pottery studio, you can shape a clay bowl on the wheel; or, with Slovenia’s only goldsmith and silversmith, you can explore the world of precious metals and jewelry making. All artisans ensure you’ll have a memorable time learning and embracing traditional crafts, whether solo, as a pair, or in a group.

 

Women at a clay workshop at Center Rog, Ljubljana

Discover the authentic and sustainable stories of Ljubljana through artisan workshops, where masters with a love for tradition preserve heritage and resist mass consumption.

 

Autumn in Ljubljana offers a variety of culinary events, tastings, and experiences that will delight your taste buds and spark your creativity. Join interactive workshops, expert-led courses, and engaging discussions with culinary professionals to discover the rich gastronomic identity of our capital. Don’t miss the November Gourmet Ljubljana festival—reserve your spot for culinary tours and creative workshops to experience all that Ljubljana has to offer this autumn.

 

 

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