Things to see in Ljubljana

Perched high above the city, Ljubljana Castle is a landmark medieval fortress that branches out along the hillside. It has served as a royal residence, a military warehouse and a prison. Not content with merely showing off its wealth of history, the current incarnation is a cultural centre with regular concerts, exhibitions and fashion shows. The venue includes a restaurant, coffee house, gallery, gift shop, children’s theatre and a hi-tech audio-visual show that delves into the city’s past. To visit, take a tourist train from Prešernov Trg or catch the funicular railway from Krekov Trg. Walking to the site from Central Ljubljana Market in Vodnik Square takes about 15 minutes but affords some sumptuous views. You can also hop aboard the ‘urban train’ which links all the major sites in the city (+386 1582 2460; www.lpp.si/en/).

The delightful Prešeren Square is the very core of Ljubljana, marking the point between the Old Town and the city centre. The cobbled plaza comes alive with concerts and festivities in the summer and is home to the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. Most interesting, though, is the statue of influential Slovenian poet France Prešeren, who is depicted beneath a muse holding a laurel sprig. The statue faces a relief sculpture of his unrequited love interest, Julija Primic, who looks out from an adjacent building on Wolfova street.

The impressive City Museum of Ljubljana is housed in the elegant Auersperg Palace, with countless displays, children's workshops and adult classes, as well as a congress hall and relaxed café. The permanent collections follow the evolution of the city, the Auersperg family and Ljubljana's citizens. Make sure to look for remnants of Roman Ljubljana on the lower floor.

With over 1,300 paintings and 500 sculptures, the Museum of Modern Art is one of Slovenia’s finest galleries. Mainly exhibiting 20th-century modernist art from Eastern Europe, the museum displays several artworks from Yugoslavian greats like Jovan Bijelić and Oton Gliha. The museum also hosts retrospectives and temporary solo shows.

In need of romance? The terrace atop of the Nebotičnik (Skyscraper) building offers breath-taking views of the city and the castle. The 70m (230ft) building was modelled on American style skyscrapers and afforded all the modern amenities of the time. Spend an evening sipping sumptuous cocktails while gazing out onto a cityscape sunset. Skyscraper also offers a full restaurant and nightclub.