Ljubljana Central Market

The central market of Ljubljana, the beating heart of the city

The Ljubljana audio-guided tour takes you to the beating heart of the city: its central market, where the capital comes alive every morning. It stretches between Vodnikov and Pogačarjev squares and runs along the river under long arcades, in an atmosphere that is both lively and convivial.

A work by Jože Plečnik

The market arcades were designed in the 1930s by the architect Jože Plečnik, who wanted a market both practical and elegant: a colonnade on the street side and large semicircular windows on the river side, which flood the halls with light. It is one of the masterpieces of his human-scale Ljubljana, today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Previously, the square housed a monastery and a religious college, destroyed after the earthquake of 1895.

What there is to see

People come to the market to buy vegetables, fruit and flowers in the open air, to seek out cheeses, charcuterie and Slovenian specialities under the arcades, or simply to stroll. On the other side of the square stands the statue of Valentin Vodnik, a poet and journalist of the late eighteenth century, known for having helped to gain recognition for the Slovenian language. On Fridays, from March to October, the Open Kitchen turns the square into a great open-air culinary banquet, bringing together Slovenian and international chefs.

Practical information

The central market is between Vodnikov and Pogačarjev squares, at the foot of the castle, in the heart of Ljubljana. The open-air market is generally open on working days from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with reduced hours in winter; it is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Access is free and on the level.

Who designed the central market of Ljubljana?

The architect Jože Plečnik, in the 1930s; its arcades are part of his human-scale Ljubljana listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What is the Open Kitchen?

A great open-air culinary festival held on the square on Fridays, from March to October, bringing together Slovenian and international chefs.