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LJUBLJANA MUSEUMS

MUSEUMS IN LJUBLJANA

Visiting Ljubljana museums is perfect activity for a rainy day and for those who would like to learn about Slovenia’s history and culture. Pick your favourite Ljubljana museum on the list below.

National Gallery

Address:  Presernova 24, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 24 15 418
E-mail: info@ng-slo.si
Homepage: www.ng-slo.si/en

Photo: jaime.silva

The National Gallery of Slovenia hosts the best and the largest collection of art from Slovenian lands. It ranges from the early Middle Ages to the first half of the 20th century.

Its Permanent Collection stretches over a complex of three buildings and 25 exhibition halls. Besides significant presentations of Gothic and Baroque art, important paintings by Realists like Ivana Kobilca, a national icon and a trailblazer for other female artists are presented.

Impressionist halls include pictures like The Sower by Ivan Grohar, which features on the Slovenian euro coin. Also worth a visit is the permanent exhibition of the Modernist Zoran Mušič.  He made his name worldwide known.

This Ljubljana museum also keeps works of names like Almanach, Gregorio Lazzarini, Valentin Metzinger, Karl Remb, Giulio Quaglio, Franc Kavcic, Jozef Tominc, Jurij Subic, Rihard Jakopic, Franc Berneker, Stojan Batic, and others.

There are guided tours and audio guides offered in multiple languages. Attend happenings for children, creative workshops, musical performances and other events. There is a super nice gift shop, a lovely café with great sweets and the original Robba Fountain in the lobby!

 

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm, Thursday to 8 pm. 24 and 31 December: 10 am – 3 pm.
Closed: Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 25 December.

National Museum of Slovenia

Address:  Muzejska 1, Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 2414400,
E-mail: info@nms.si
Homepage: www.nms.si


Photo: Blaz Gutman

The National Museum of Slovenia is the oldest Ljubljana museum and  the oldest museum in Slovenia celebrating 200th anniversary in 2021!  It is one of the Ljubljana museums of national importance and is located in the city centre, in the direction of Tivoli Park.

It stores rich collections of valuable objects. There are archaeological, numismatic, and graphic collection. Important columns of museum activity are also rich museum library and unit for preservation and restoring.

Perhaps the most breathtaking exponent is the ancient Egyptian mummy dating back to the 5th or 6th century BC. Among the most astonishing items is also the oldest musical instrument in the world: 60 thousand year old flute! 

Another remarkable object is a charming Vače situla. Of course, there is a vast collection of other interesting archaeological objects that tell a story of the life before our time, e.g. findings from the Ljubljana Marsh and the Ljubljanica River, a gilded bronze statue of Emona citizen, an imperial stone inscription from Emona, Germanic ornamentation from the Migration Period and Early Middle Ages wooden traps, and many others.

There are guided tours to join, workshops for children, lectures and numerous other educational events.

Opening hours
October – May: Every day from 10 am to 6 pm, on Thursdays to 8 pm.  
June – September: Every day from 10 am to 6 pm, on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 10 pm. 
Closed: 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 25 December

National Museum of Slovenia – Metelkova

Address:  Maistrova ulica 1, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 230 70 30
E-mail: info@nms.si
Homepage: www.nms.si

 

Photo: Tinka H. Selic

There are more Ljubljana museums located within the museum quarter of Metelkova. A department of the National Museum of Slovenia is standing in the neighbourhood of the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art – Metelkova.

The new venue of the National Museum of Slovenia is housed in the ex-barracks complex on Metelkova street. Upper two floors host the permanent exhibition History and Arts Collections, while the ground floor is engaged with temporary exhibitions. 

In the glass-clad extension the Museum building has a string of restoration workshops as well as a lecture room. 

Opening hours
From Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm 

Closed
Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 25 December

 

 

Slovene Ethnographic Museum 

Address:  Metelkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 300 87 00
E-mail: etnomuz@etno-muzej.si
Homepage: www.etno-muzej.si


Photo: Michael R. Perry

The Slovene Ethnographic Museum is a museum about people for people, a museum of cultural identities. It presents culture in Slovenia between tradition and modernity, and some world cultures through collections of the Slovene missionaries and travellers.

It features three permanent and diverse temporary exhibitions – Slovene, European, world culture – ethnographic, photographic, art, …based on or inspired by the ethnological themes as well as by great variety of events: scientific, educational, learning and also entertaining activities for all ages and diverse public. 

Its facilities encompass a museum shop, café, pottery makers and weavers’ ateliers.  There are also visitor’s services and tours on offer, a library, an archive and a photo library, museum park, children’s space – Ethno-alphabet, access for disabled, and others.

Opening hours
Tuesday – Sunday 10.00 – 18.00. Closed on: Monday and some national holidays. 
Free entrance every first Sunday in a month.

 

 

City Museum

Address:  Gosposka ulica 15, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 241 25 00
E-mail: info@mgml.si
Homepage: www.mgml.si

Photo: Andrej Peunik

The City Museum is one of the Ljubljana museums that you should put on your bucket list if you would like to know more about the history of Ljubljana.

This museum shows 4000 years of Ljubljana’s history in all its important stages. From the Roman settlement of Emona, through the compact medieval town, to today’s modern capital. Did you know that Ljubljana was situated on an important amber road during the Roman Empire?

The ground floor of the museum building is an open display of archaeological findings. Namely, it is situated where the Roman settlement of Emona existed about 2000 years ago.


Opening hours

Tuesday–Sunday: 10.00–18.00, Thursday: 10.00–21.00. Mondays, 1 January, 1 November and 25 December: Closed.

International Center of Graphic Arts

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00–18.00. Except on 25 December and 1 January.

Address:  Grad Tivoli, Pod turnom 3, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 241 38 00
E-mail: info@mglc-lj.si
Homepage: www.mglc-lj.si

Slovenian Museum of Natural History

Opening hours
Monday to Sunday 10 am – 6 pm. Thursdays from 10 am till 8 pm. January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, and December 25th  closed.

Address:  Presernova 20, 1001 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 241 09 40
E-mail: uprava@pms-lj.si
Homepage: www.pms-lj.si

Plecnik House

Opening hours
Tuesday–Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm.
24 and 31 December: 10.00–14.00. Mondays, 1 January, 1 November, 25 December closed.

Address:  Karunova 4, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 280 16 04
E-mail: prijava@mgml.si
Homepage: www.mgml.si

Photo: Andrej Peunik

Museum of Architecture and Design

Address:  Pot na Fuzine 2, Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0) 1 548 42 70
E-mail: mao@mao.si
Homepage: www.mao.si

Of all the Ljubljana museums and Slovenia museums the Architectural Museum of Ljubljana is the main museum for architecture. Temporary exhibitions from the field of architecture, design and photography are displayed.

As it is situated at the beautiful Fuzine Castle, you can admire both and kill two birds with one stone. Since this is located in the suburbs, it is recommended to get there by bike or by city bus No. 20 or 22.


Opening hours

From Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Thursdays from 10 am to 8 pm. Closed: On Mondays, 1 January, 1 November, 25 December.

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Museum of Contemporary History

Address:  Celovska cesta 23, Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 300 96 10
E-mail: uprava@muzej-nz.si
Homepage: www.muzej-nz.si

The museum is housed in an 18th century’s mansion (Cekinov grad) located in Tivoli Park. It brings information on Slovenia’s turbulent journey to becoming a sovereign European country.

The twentieth century was one of the most bitter and turbulent periods of Slovenian history. During this time, Slovenes had been part of several countries and state regimes. We survived two world wars, joined the technological revolution, and in the last, independence war, we achieved an independent state.

The museum provides a range of programs for both children and adults.

 

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm (excluding public holidays, except for February 8, the Slovenian Cultural Holiday).

Museum of Modern Art

Address:  Tomsiceva 14, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 241 68 00
E-mail: info@mg-lj.si
Homepage: www.mg-lj.si

The Museum of Modern Art, MG+ (Moderna galerija) is one of the must-see Ljubljana museums. Especially if you favour contemporary artistic expressions.

In the same time it is a place to create, learn, be inspired, socialize, and explore diverse historical narratives. The museum premises feature works from the museum’s national collection and a chronological presentation of the history of 20th century Slovenian art.

In addition to this permanent exhibition, Moderna galerija stages retrospective exhibitions of key figures and themed exhibitions of, 20th century Slovenian visual art.

 

Opening hours
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. –  8 p.m. [summer opening hours]

MSUM – Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova

Address:  Maistrova 3, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0)1 241 68 00
E-mail: info@mg-lj.si
Homepage: www.mg-lj.si

The Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM) operates in the neighbourhood of many other Ljubljana museums. The museum is a place for open discussion, connection, co-operation and reflection. It is located next to the alternative center AKC Metelkova City.

This Ljubljana museum is intended for everyone interested in contemporary Slovenian art production. In addition, it features works by crucial international avant-garde artists since the 1960s that include long overlooked artists from Central and Eastern Europe.

Opening hours
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday 10 a.m. –  8 p.m. [summer opening hours]

Svicarija Creative Centre

Address:  Pod turnom 4, 1000 Ljubljana
Phone: 
+386 (0) 51 35 07 50
E-mail: 
info@svicarija.si
Homepage: 
https://svicarija.si

The very recently renovated and reopened creative center Svicarija operates within the International Graphic Arts Center. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the center of Ljubljana, in the Park Tivoli, overlooking the Ljubljana Castle.

Svicarija was initially a wooden guest house opened in 1835. It soon became a popular excursion point of the inhabitants and visitors of Ljubljana. In 1909, Hotel Tivoli, which was known as a gathering place for artists, bohemians and workers, was operating in the same place.

After the Second World War, numerous home artists with workshops and ateliers found their place in the building.

Today, this tradition continues, as the Svicarija Creative Center offers working and residential studios to domestic and  international artists.

There is a bar and a restaurant with traditional Slovenian food and wines on the ground floor. 

Technical Museum of Slovenia

Address:  Bistra 6, 1353 Bistra pri Vrhniki
Phone: +386 (0)1 750 66 70
E-mail: info@tms.si
Homepage: www.tms.si

Entering this museum means entering the past. Not only due to the technical heritage exhibited but also because the museum is placed in a former Carthusian monastery. It stores over 16,000 items from various fields of science and technology.

Some of the most remarkable items on display are undoubtedly prestigious cars of Yugoslav president Tito. There are also an impressive collection of bicycles, a blacksmith’s workshop, the veneer sawmill and a world champion bear. What is more, permanent and occasional collections from fields of agriculture, fishing, wildlife and hunting to electricity, forestry, textiles and printing are presented, too.

On Sundays, workshops for children, guided theme tours, Nikola Tesla experiments, demonstrations of old crafts and a series of other activities allow young and adult visitors alike to truly feel the engineering spirit of the past.

If you are not the greatest fan of technology, the museum is worth visiting for the beautiful nature and the monastery itself. It is located 20 km South of Ljubljana and 4,5 km east of Vrhnika.

Opening hours
March-May And September-December: Tue–Fri: 8 am–5 pm, Sat, Sun and Holidays 9 am–7 pm
June–August: Tuesday–Sunday and Holidays: 9 am–7 pm
January and February and every Monday: open only for groups by prior arrangement
Holidays: 8. 2., 24. 12. in 31. 12.: 9 am–5 pm
Closed: 1.1., 1. 11., 25. 12.: 

Last entrance into the museum is one hour before the closing time of the museum.