Ljubljana Cathedral (Church of St. Nicholas)
The Basics
As one of Ljubljana most noteworthy landmarks, a visit to the St. Nicholas’ Cathedral is included in most private and small-group walking tours of Ljubljana Old Town along with other popular attractions like the Ljubljana Castle, Dragon Bridge, and Preseren Square. Visitors are welcome to explore the church on their own or attend one of the several daily Mass services.
Things to Know Before You Go
- St. Nicholas’ Cathedral is a must-see for first time visitors to Ljubljana
- Art lovers won’t want to miss the ceiling frescoes and ornately carved doors.
- No admission fee is required to enter the church.
- This is a functioning church so visitors are asked to visit quietly and dress modestly if attending Mass.
How to Get There
Located in the heart of Ljubljana Old Town, the St. Nicholas’ Cathedral is just a short walk from the Dragon Bridge, Prešeren Square, and other popular city attractions. The cathedral is located in a pedestrian-only zone so plan to park outside of Old Town and explore by foot or public bus. Other options include taking a guided bike tour of the city or hopping from attraction to attraction on the city’s Urban electric train.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The St. Nicholas’ Cathedral is open daily, year-round. Mass takes place several times daily and choir recitals and chamber orchestra concerts are held in the cathedral throughout the year. The cathedral is typically open to the public from 10am to 12pm and from 3pm to 6pm daily, but you can check current opening hours and Mass times at the tourist information center located near the Old Town Square.
The St. Nicholas' Cathedral Doors
In 1996, two new bronze sculpted doors were commissioned in honor of a visit by Pope John Paul II. Both doors are works of art by the Slovene sculptor, Mirsad Begi?, and are not to be missed. The front door, also known as the Slovene Door, represents Slovene history in commemoration of the 1250th anniversary of Christianity in Slovenia. The south door, known as the Ljubljana Door, depicts the recent history of the Ljubljana dioceses and features portraits of the 20th-century bishops.
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- Butchers' Bridge (Mesarski Most)
- Ljubljana Castle Funicular
- Ljubljana Town Hall (Magistrat)
- Ljubljana Old Town
- Preseren Square (Presernov Trg)
- Triple Bridge (Tromostovje)
- Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad)
- Ljubljanica River
- Cobblers' Bridge (Cevljarski Most)
- Congress Square (Kongresni Trg)
- Museum of Illusions
- Dragon Bridge
- National and University Library of Slovenia (Arodna in Univerzitetna Knjiznica)
- Krizanke Summer Theatre (Poletno Gledalisce Krizanke)
- Cankar Centre (Cankarjev Dom)