Ljubljanski grad

About the museum

According to archaeological research, people have been present on the castle hill continuously since around 1200 BC. The castle is first mentioned in writing in the first half of the 12th century, and in 1144 it is named as the seat of the Carinthian dukes of Spanheim. It took on its present form after renovations in the 15th century, when it received an enclosed wall with corner towers and a castle chapel; the remaining buildings around the castle courtyard were built in the 16th and 17th centuries.

When the castle lost its administrative and strategic importance, it began to decay. At the beginning of the 19th century a penal institution and a partial military fortification were set up in it. The Municipality of Ljubljana bought the castle in 1905, and residents settled in it, staying until the mid-1960s, when preparations for its restoration began. The restoration lasted more than five decades; the lookout tower was renovated in 1982 and again in 2009.

Since 1 April 2011 the castle has been run by the public institution Javni zavod Ljubljanski grad. Since the end of 2006 a funicular has connected it with the old town centre. Today visitors can find in the castle the lookout tower, the Virtual Castle, the Puppet Museum, the permanent exhibition Slovenska zgodovina, the castle chapel of St George, as well as catering and events.

Highlights

• Lookout tower with views over the city and the Alps
• Virtual Castle: twelve-minute 4D projection on the history of the castle
• Puppet Museum and Grajsko gledališče (Castle Theatre)
• Permanent exhibition Slovenska zgodovina
• Chapel of St George with heraldic paintings
• Funicular from Krekov trg

Permanent exhibitions

• Slovenska zgodovina – Permanent exhibition on the history of the Slovenes at the castle; the upper level is accessible.
• Lutkovni muzej – Permanent exhibition above the Stanovska dvorana (Estates Hall) presents milestones of Slovenian puppetry and various puppet techniques; visitors can also try their hand at puppetry. It opened in May 2015.
• Virtualni grad – A twelve-minute 4D experience on the development of the castle, its architecture and archaeological discoveries.

Operated by

Javni zavod Ljubljanski grad (ustanoviteljica Mestna občina Ljubljana)

Visitors per year

approx. 1,269,311 (2025)

Admission & discounts

The castle ticket costs €15 without a funicular ride and €19 with one. The online price is about 10% lower than the price at the point of sale. The castle ticket includes the lookout tower, the Virtual Castle, the spatial projection in the Casemates, the Puppet Museum, the permanent exhibition Slovenska zgodovina and the exhibition rooms.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair users have access to the funicular, the main entrance, the info centre, the castle courtyard, the Pentagonal Tower, the Castle Armoury, the Puppet Museum, the Casemates, the castle shop and the upper level of the exhibition Slovenska zgodovina; the Castle Café and part of the Skalna dvorana (Rock Hall) in building M are accessible. Groups of up to 8 people can request an adapted guided tour of the castle. One of the 40 parking spaces is reserved for disabled drivers.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

As the castle is a medieval fortress with uneven terrain, not all rooms can be reached with pushchairs. Pushchairs can be left at the entrance to the Puppet Museum. Changing tables are in the paid public toilets; on payment you receive a €1 voucher for the castle shop. For children there are the experience Friderik in grajska skrivnost, the Puppet Museum and birthday celebrations.

Getting there & parking

The castle can be reached by funicular, by four footpaths from the city centre and by the cycle road along Cesta slovenskih kmečkih uporov; cycling in the castle courtyard is not permitted.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Grajska kavarna Lolita (Castle Café Lolita), the gostilna Na gradu (Na gradu tavern), the restaurant Strelec, the castle wine shop and the castle shop. At the entrance to the Puppet Museum there are lockers with keys and a space for pushchairs, as well as a free charging station for phones.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The castle offers spaces for weddings, engagements and events.

Plan your visit