Lonely Planet: Ljubljana takes second place on the Best of Europe 2014 list

Ljubljana

Ljubljana made it to the list as ‘one of Europe’s greenest and most livable cities, with a vibrant cultural, café and nightlife scene that gives it the feel of a perpetual street party’. In explaining their choice, Lonely Planet specifically pointed out the celebrations of the 2000th anniversary of the Roman city of Emona on the site of the modern-day Ljubljana, which include ‘quirky Roman-themed events’ and exhibitions held throughout the year and the showpiece event Ave, Emona! (22–24 August), which will transport the city’s central Kongresnitrg square back in time. Ljubljana, with its ‘plentiful, inexpensive buses radiating out of the city’, is also praised as an ideal base for exploring Slovenia, which is, according to Lonely Planet, ‘as picture-perfect as Switzerland, but much easier on the wallet’.

This is the second year that Lonely Planet has compiled its Best of Europe list. The list includes both up-and-coming destinations, which have only recently aroused interest in the United States and elsewhere in the world, and those that are perennial favorites with travelers, but have a new or timely angle that makes them prime for visitors in 2014. Ljubljana is placed second after Greece. Next on the list are South West England, Italy and Denmark with its Viking heritage.