Ljubljana Castle: Entrance Ticket

I will venture to say that if you are in Ljubljana then you will go to this castle. Either you will walk up or take the funicular. We took the funicular up and down. The castle is more of a set of building enclosing a large courtyard dating back to to the 11th or 12th century. However, the history of the castle and people who lived in the same area go back to 1200 BC. Once in the castle you have access to ramparts on one side, one tower (one of two items) that require a separate ticket, a 4D experience, restaurants, wine bars, and a museum. There are about 12 different sites within the castle you can visit. The more interesting views are from the tower and getting the extra ticket is recommended as the tower view of Ljubljana and its surroundings is quite exceptional . The 4D experience is quite a surprise and worth the 20 minutes you spend learning about the castle wearing 3D glasses. The castle was buzzing and it has a good crowd early in the morning. The staff at the various sites is friendly and all speak several languages. The museum was worth the time and the artifacts on display with their stories and history are very interesting. We also went back to the castle for a wine tasting tour and I review that separately. It is worth the visit.

It is a very nice castle worth to see It. We went there with the cable car.

I guess something unfortunate has been allowed to happen to this beautiful piece of history in the heart of Ljublana. It seems to have been sold out to some business conglomerate. What looks like a stunning castle from the ground has essentially been turned into some kind of soulless event centre. The result being thousands of tourists being herded up this mountain to walk around and take photos of, essentially empty corporate function rooms. Its a tourism shambles. Don't bother going. Unless your interested in seeing mass concret and a criminal vandalism of what could be the beating heart of Ljublana culture. Very disappointing. I feel sympathy for the Slovenes because this castle is rightly an important peice of Slovenian history. Whoever sold out this castle to some business conglomerate should have their Slovenian passport revoked. A real shame.

An underwhelming castle with little heritage on display. It’s not a usual castle where you need a ticket to enter the castle which is fine. You can enter the castle freely. Some parts will require the ticket to get in, which is where I think the value is rather poor. It includes a “museum” which is essentially watching a cartoon projected onto 4 walls, which has little to do with the castle. The other two paid parts include the lookout at the top of the clock tower and a 4d film about the castle’s history. The film was enjoyable but extensive exhibits would have been more authentic. The last paid section is the history museum which is a tiny exhibit which has a very modern feel. And you have to press multiple buttons to read the text at each display window. I’d purchased the ticket online but in hindsight, I wouldn’t have decided to purchase it had I arrived without a ticket and wandered around for a bit. It definitely wasn’t worth the €15. Go check it out first and decide for yourself whether you want to pay the €15.

I enjoyed it. Did not realise 80 per cent of it was free and there was 0 communication upon when you have a ticket were to go. But the staff were freindly and there's great views from the top.

Walked up and down to the castle- no need for funicular. A 10 minute brisk walk up Enjoyable visit with enough to see- as well as great views

A must-do in Ljublana, very much enjoyed the funicular up and the different rooms - not all of us walked to the highest viewing tower but we got a magnificent view from half way up. The virtual castle video was entertaining and very well done - a bit of fun but still educational. We also very much enjoyed the museum with the history of Slovenia including the last century! and the chapel. Returned the following day for a wine tasting in the Castle cellar which was excellent

Castle lovely from outside , great views . What a lot of people were talking about though wasn’t the castle but the charge for toilets . Understandably when you’ve paid entrance , you’ve paid tourist tax and then this . Wasn’t even working with phones , people getting charged and not getting in . Total shambles to me honest . Saw a family of 5 having to pay 5 euros . Disgraceful .

A bit chaotic and so modernised inside it lost all its character. There was a random cartoon projection show in an old hall which was very odd. We had the audio tour which was dull and we gave up half way round. The most exciting thing was a huge thunderstorm when we were up the tower. Otherwise not really worth going inside.

This is the key attraction atop a hill in old town Ljubljana. You can take the funicular to get here and then take the audio guide which gives you enough history about the place. This is a well maintained castle and gives you a good perspective about the history and key personalities who built and inhabited the castle over the years.

The view from the tower is great. The museum is a mixed bag- sine parts so interesting and other parts over long.

The single worst museum/“castle” experience we’ve ever been to. Nothing of substance or interest. Nothing even related to a castle… do not waste your money

The castle is nice, looks like it was built last year. The funicular was great, well organised. The map was abysmal, could not navigate any part of it. The audio guide was okay, not worth €4. You do not need to pay entrance to the castle, a lot of the areas you can visit for free. You have to pay €1 for entry to the toilet which I think is disgraceful having paid €23 for entrance (your ticket really should allow you to access the toilet). There is a free toilet in the puppet show museum. The 4D virtual castle film was excellent and informed you about the history of the castle which you would NOT know having walked around it. Most of the location is taken up by the coffee shop and restaurant.

Pretty underwhelming for a paid entrance. The walk up & down was more interesting.

Take the funicular or walk, access everything you can in the free areas. It’s enough. The museum is very hodge-podge, doesn’t tell a good story. The ticketed areas are underwhelming. The amount of reconstruction takes away from the experience. There’s a reason it isn’t well rated.

Staff was extremely rude. Most of the castle is FREE, so buying the entrance ticket doesnt get much, definitely NOT worth paying to see. No one to ask for help or directions. So bad I actually asked for our money back.

This is a really wonderful experience! I recommend this is highly for the history and of views. Enjoy yourself.

The best views in Ljubljana,; from the top of the viewing tower, any direction has breath taking views. The climb up to the top of the viewing tower is tiring in the summer he at, and the castle is on quite a tall hill, thankfully there is a cable car so everyone can visit. There is a very nice puppet history of puppetry exhibit, I do not find puppets creepy, but I can understand why some people do after seeing some of the earlier puppets, very uncanny valley like. The directions around the castle are unclear, and there are lots of crowds, best to go early. Didn't get to see all of it, as I went too late in the day, will come back and see the rest of what the castle has to offer.

This is a good use of downtime in Ljubljana between meals. We took the funicular up and enjoyed walking around the free entry parts of the castle. There are restaurants and gift shops up at the top but we just wandered. We were impressed by the funicular ticket booth process. The line was a little long but it moved quickly because they had a couple employees chatting with people in line before getting to the payment window. They asked what we planned to buy and answered our questions and wrote it on a slip of paper that we gave to the ticket sellers. Made it a smoother process for sure. A note to others traveling with babies: we had our one-year-old in a stroller and took it on the funicular without collapsing it or anything. They told us he would be issued a “ticket” for counting purposes but it was free of charge. There is an elevator to get you up the stairs leading to the castle courtyard.

A waste of money and time - don’t bother

We got funicular railway to the castle and walked back down. After doing this I'd probably just get the funicular both ways. 😇 You can view parts of the castle for free so decide if you think it is worth it to do the things that require a ticket. Great views over Ljubljana and the surrounding area from the castle!! Well worth a visit !!

This is definitely worth visiting if you are in Jlublana. It’s a very easy walk from the city centre.

The exhibits were ok. A bit expensive for what it was. The castle grounds are lovely and the views are nice but I won't come back of the price remains the same.

We opted to follow the walking trail up from town rather than the funicular. The entrance ticket was a bit expensive imo but you had access to many stops to explore. We did opt for one audioguide to hear more information about the features. We went right at opening so we could easily see everything w out crowds. We enjoyed climbing the tower, the movie, prison, and surprisingly the puppet museum. The views below were lovely. We took the steeper trail down from the castle but either trail isn't very difficult. We visited about 2.5 hours.

Good value especially for seniors. An interesting range of attractions with the 4D history feature a highlight. Complex layout to keep you occupied . Elegant if somewhat expensive cafe. Views to delight irban geographers.

The castle itself is located on a hilltop right in the centre of the city. You can take the funicular but if you choose to walk it is a fairly strenuous uphill walk. However, the views at the top on a clear day are absolutely worth it, especially from the bell tower. The cafe at the side of the castle is also a nice spot to sit and enjoy a drink after walking around the castle. The audio guide is an additional purchase on top of the ticket. The audio guide has a system of numbers corresponding to each exhibition, but I found the whole system confusing and as a result didn’t get the most out of the audio guide. I’m not sure it was worth the purchase. The castle is definitely worth a visit if you’ve got a few hours to kill in Ljubljana, if nothing else for the views. I’m not sure I’d pay for the audio guide though.

It was a bit underwhelming the castle. The line for the funicular up today being a public holiday was huge. Enjoy the walk up through the forest. The view from the top of the city and the mountains is lovely. Get the funicular down. Enjoyed our wine tasting in the sun at the wine bar.

Fantastic experience went right at 9am when they opened. I had the site all to myself for about 20 minutes :) Beautiful views and loved the spiral staircase. Friendly college student staff and well maintained.

Ljubljana Castle is an amazing large castle with an amazing view from the highest tower of the whole city. If you like, you can go on foot there. Inside the castle there is also a caffe .

Had a brilliant time at the Castle with my 4 year old. The funicular was an exciting start to our visit. Once in the castle, she loved doing Fridirick the Rat's challenges, which took us around all the key areas and meant we both learnt about some of the castle's history. (It took a little while to orientate ourselves, there's lots of maps but not a lot of signage, but we got there in the end :-) ) At some point during our visit my daughter lost a special toy and the response from the staff was amazing. They really went above and beyond helping us look for it, and at closing time - long after we had left - we got a phone call and were reunited with the toy which really was the cherry on top of a great day.

We were provided funicular tickets by our guide, who explained what was available for free. The view from the wall is good. I was interested in the view from the top of the tower, but decided that 15 additional Euros wasn't worth the price. Comparing the Ljubljana Castle to the Bled Castle, I think the Bled Castle is a nicer surrounding, has better views, including the Alps... but it is a quite steep walk up. When we were there (March, 2026) the museum and gallery area was under big renovation but still managed some interesting historical artifacts and explanations. In short, if in town, visit them both, but Bled will be more adventuresome

Personally, if you are able-bodied, with decent mobility and the weather encourages it, I would get to the castle by foot: the nicest route I found was via Ulica na Grad, Osojna pot, Grajska planota. The view from the funicular is nothing special and it is a very short ride with a 9 minute wait if you have just missed it which is about how long it takes you to walk down slowly without the need to be squeezed in a box. The castle itself, as the mayor Ivan Hribar had intended it in 1905, although it took much longer to implement, has been rebuilt very much for touristic purpose with many bits completely new and commercial. The highlights for us were the 12 minute 4D video on the history of the castle and the view from the clock tower (beware as the top gets closed if weather is bad so plan you visit on a clear day if at all possible). There were a few nice stories to illustrate the recent history of Slovenia in the museum and a Muppet exhibition for people who are into that. Otherwise, if not interested in the museum, you can walk into the castle grounds without a ticket and access the restaurant and cafe if you simply fancy a coffee break at the end of your walk up to the castle rather than going round the exhibits. You can also see the chapel and the old prison cells without the need for a ticket. As many pointed out, the 1€ toilet fee as you come out of the funicular is quite greedy but if you walk further out you can find other ones for free, hidden near the theatre area for events.

The funicular ride is enjoyable and the view on the way up is great. The castle is well preserved but fairly limited in terms of the exhibits. To be hibest, if I returned, I'd do the funicular but skip the castle.

The entrance fee is way too high for the castle that almost doesn't display anything. The highlights are the funicular and the view from the top! The walk to and from the castle is nice. That's all. Not worth the money. The entrance fee for this should be 5 EUR, not 17 or 19.

scathing, and very clear: ⸻ Our visit to Ljubljana Castle cost $19 per ticket, and while it started promisingly with friendly staff escorting us onto the funicular, that goodwill evaporated almost immediately on arrival. At the top, visitors are greeted by a map, a confusing network of staircases, and almost no information. There were no staff in sight and no obvious signage directing you to a visitor information centre — if one even exists. What is impossible to miss, however, is the sheer volume of cafés, restaurants, and a wine shop. This sets the tone perfectly: Ljubljana Castle is less a place of historical or cultural significance and far more a commercial enterprise designed to extract money from tourists at every opportunity. The exhibitions themselves are deeply underwhelming. There are very few actual artefacts, and those that do exist are displayed in dimly lit cabinets to preserve them. Unfortunately, the written descriptions are housed in the same poorly lit cases, making them almost impossible to read. Instead of meaningful interpretation, you’re subjected to endless walls of graphic reproductions of documents, repeated again and again, offering little insight and even less engagement. The Chapel is a particular low point. What should be a beautiful, atmospheric space has been stripped of any soul or character and repurposed into yet another revenue-generating venue. It is stark, hollow, and utterly devoid of reverence or history. The former cell area follows the same pattern: a missed opportunity. It could have been interactive, informative, and genuinely compelling. Instead, it’s more recycled graphics, minimal context, and zero emotional impact. Perhaps the clearest indicator of just how commercialised, dull, and soulless this castle has become is the €1 fee to use the toilet. After paying a premium entrance fee, being charged to use basic facilities feels insulting — and entirely on brand. It is genuinely staggering that the curators of Ljubljana Castle have managed to strip away almost all atmosphere, history, and cultural depth from such a potentially fascinating site. What remains is a bland, money-driven attraction that offers little beyond cafés and views. A huge disappointment. Save your money — and your time — and give this one a miss.

This is a nice castle with good views over the city center. I would recommend 2 hours for your visit. There are many things going on in the castle so make sure you review what is happening at the time of your visit and plan them in. If you only visit the "castle" you will miss out.

We visited Ljubljana castle on 1st January 2026. We buy a family ticket for 46€. It is included the funicular and all halls. In the castle there are a lot of halls. Some of them are The Museum of puppetry, Vurtual 4d film about the history of the castle, Viewing tower, Slovenian history exhibition and more. It was fascinating experience. The Ljubljana castle is must seen.

We visited via the funicular, we enjoyed the visit and ascended the castle top view point. Great views over the city. We had coffee and snack

Nice museum and easy to access castle. It was a bit modernized but that was ok. Enjoyed the trip downhill as well.

It is good to see Ljubljana castle, the courtyard, the puppetry museum, walls and ceilings painted with former masters of the castle.

The castle is situated on a hill above Ljubljana and gives great views of the city and beyond. It can be accessed by taking the funicular or by walking up quite a steep footpath. You can buy a ticket for about 18 euros which includes the funicular ride, together with access to all of the castle's contents: the Virtual Castle, the Slovenian History Exhibition, the Museum of Puppetry and the Viewing Tower. Alternatively you can take the funicular for 6 euro and just wander around the castle courtyard taking in the views. Personally, I would take this option, as I don't think the paid attractions are impressive enough to warrant the extra cost. Nice enough, but not amazing...

We paid for the audio guide 14 euros each, this castle is one of the best I’ve been to and I have been to allot at home in Scotland and other European countries. Definitely worth coming

We arrived at the funicular first thing and rode up with an enthusiastic school group. This is not a typical castle/manor visit but a variety of exhibits. We picked up audio guides at the info center - struggled a bit finding all the stops but it added to the experience. We were the only visitors in the odd, atmospheric puppet museum. Our favorites were the tower views, the 4D show and the Slovenian history exhibit which we spent a lot of time on. Walked back down the hill to lunch - with Ljubljana card a bargain.

A great day out, the kids loved it. The cost worked out reasonable with a family ticket. There is not lots of history but it is photogenic and a fun experience. Its a very modern renovation of a castle with lots of opportunities to spend cash.

This castle is small and has limited attractions inside. Aside from the restaurants and museum of puppetry, there are good views of the city at the top of the castle. Limited displays are available in certain areas of the castle. This place is for you - check and enjoy!

Great views from the funicular up to the castle. Climb the tower if you can for great views of the city. Castle grounds and facilities are very nice but not a huge amount of the original castle to explore, perhaps too much modern restoration.

Great walking tour and tour of castle to include the free parts of the castle. Our guide welcomed questions and shared history as well as great insights into current culture and everyday life in Slovenia.

Booking our entrance tickets with the audio guide and funicular was the way to go! We walked up the hill, then climbed all of the stairways at the castle, listened to all of the audio as we toured, then took the funicular back down. For anyone who can't climb the hill, the funicular in both directions makes this tour possible for them too.

Beautiful building, fascinating history. Food reasonably priced, steep walk up but beautiful. We brought ticket on line to avoid lining up, but then still has to visit ticket booth to get printed ticket with QR code so seemed a bit pointless.