Nestled in the Slovenian alps, just a short trip from the capital Ljubljana, is Slovenia’s fourth largest city: Kranj. This “city”, which is more of a small town, is known for its well-preserved medieval old town. The charming municipality is often overlooked by visitors, but it makes for a fantastic day trip from Ljubljana. Keep reading to find out how to take the perfect day trip to Kranj.

How to Get There

Kranj is accessible from Ljubljana by both bus and train. Fortunately, both options are convenient, quick, and affordable. When I visited I traveled by train, but I recommend taking the bus for reasons detailed below.

By Train

Trains departing from Ljubljana to Kranj typically cost about €5 per person round trip and take about 30 minutes. The trains in Slovenia are very clean and comfortable and make for a pleasant experience. You can book tickets ahead of time online.

The reason I think the bus is a better option when traveling to Kranj is because of the location of the train station in Kranj. On a typical day it’s a 15 minute walk from the train station to the town center, whereas the bus station is located just 5 minutes walking from the town center.

When I visited, the main bridge was closed for construction so we had to go out of the way to find another bridge. We ended up, quite literally, running through the rain to get back to the station to catch the train back to Ljubljana!

By Bus

Buses from Ljubljana to Kranj are cheap and plentiful via Arriva. There are more than 5 departures every hour. The ride is about 35-50 minutes long depending on which line you end up on and tickets are just €4 per person.

What to Do

Church of St Cantianus and Companions

About

History

This historic church was built in the early 15th century and is the most distinctive building in Kranj. It is built on a plot that has been used as a religious site since pre-Slavic times. The church also served as a model for other churches across the region.

What to See

The interior of the church isn’t as lavish as some, but is still beautiful in its own right. There are several panels around the sanctuary that detail the history of the church. There’s not a ton to see here but it is a nice place to pop in and explore for a few minutes.

How to Visit

The church is free to visit and open daily. It is conveniently located in the center of town.

Khislstein Castle

About

History

This castle dates back to the 13th century when it was built to guard the pier and bridge on the Sava River which runs through Kranj. Control of the castle transferred from dukes, to the Counts of Celje, to the Habsburg Kings. Finally, in the 17th century baron Janz Khiessl bought the castle and named it after himself.

What to See

Today, the castle is most notable for its museum. The building is also home to offices and hosts events in the courtyard. Inside the museum is an extensive collection of art exhibits and historical artifacts from around the region. There is enough content to spend a whole afternoon inside, but 90 minutes is sufficient for most visitors.

How to Visit

To visit the castle museum, visitors need to purchase tickets at the main entrance. Tickets must be purchased in cash and cost around €5 per person. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am – 6pm. The castle is located near the town center and is a short walk from the other main attractions.

Kokra Canyon

About

Running through the town is a river canyon called Kokra Canyon. This creates a wonderful forested oasis just a short walk from the city center. It also holds esteem as the second deepest urban gorge in Europe.

How to Visit

The canyon is just a short walk from the town center. To reach it set your navigation to “Kanjon reke Kokre”. I’ve read that there are stairs near the mouth of the bridge to take you down into the canyon. Since it was too rainy to do this on my visit, I can’t verify exactly how to reach the canyon. Even if you can’t find the stairs, the view from the bridge is worth visiting.

Kranj Tunnels

About

History

During World War II, the Germans built 1,300 meters of tunnels underneath old-town Kranj. After the war, the tunnels were abandoned and accumulated garbage and graffiti before being turned into mushroom farms. Then, in 1991 they were cleared out during the Slovenian War of Independence but were never used. In 2007 they were cleared again and opened as a historic attraction.

What to See

Today, tourists can visit the tunnels by taking a guided tour. The tour takes visitors through the tunnels and explains their history. At the end they take you to a bomb shelter built inside the tunnels and simulate a WWII era bombing raid. This is a unique and interesting experience that is one of the main highlights of a visit to Kranj.

How to Visit

To book a guided tour of the tunnels you can either reserve a spot through the website or email them directly at info@visitkranj.si. Tours run Tuesdays and Fridays at 5pm and weekends at 10am. It lasts about an hour and costs €7 per person. Tours meet up at the Tourist Information Center in the town center.

Pungert Kranj

About

This is a completely preserved medieval defense tower that was last renovated in the 16th century. Over its history it was also used as a dungeon and even for apartments. Today, it provides fantastic views of the Sava river and often hosts concerts and other events.

How to Visit

Pungert is located at the end of the main street running through the town. It is just a 5 minute walk from town center. You can’t go into the tower itself, but the park is free to visit and open 24 hours. The viewpoint itself is labeled as “Razgledna ploščad Pungert” on Google Maps.

Town Hall

About

History

The Town Hall is a Slovenian cultural monument and is composed of two historic buildings. The columned hall dates back to the 1500s while the newer section dates to the 1600s.

Accessible from the Town Hall is the Kranj Ossuary. The ossuary holds remains from hundreds of Kranj residents dating between the 7th and 18th centuries.

What to See

Inside the Town Hall is a small museum and a sculpture gallery. However, the main reason to come here is the Ossuray. Inside the ossuary there are up close views of the bones of hundreds of people. It is a fascinating experience and a can’t-miss activity in Kranj.

How to Visit

The Town Hall itself is free to visit and open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am – 6pm. To access the ossuary, ask someone working at the Town Hall. It is a €1 fee per person. They take you down the road to the ossuary and let you in. They wait outside while you explore the ossuary at your leisure. This is all located in the very center of the town.

Where to Eat

Bistro Sonet

This cozy restaurant has a daily changing menu with high quality food for a low price. There are typically three entree options which cost €9.50 as well as a daily soup and dessert each costing between €2-€3. Among the entrees there is typically one meat, one seafood, and one vegetarian option. When I visited I had roasted chicken wings with potatoes and a strawberry and vanilla cake for dessert. The food was excellent, the service was friendly, and the price was outstanding value for what we got.

One note for when you’re visiting is that I found this spot a bit difficult to find despite the fact that is it located on the main street in old town. Bistro-Sonet is inside the same building as the Actum Hotel. When you enter the building there is a seating area just inside to the left but when I visited there was nobody there. Instead, follow the hallway straight ahead and you will find another seating area on the left with both an indoor and covered outdoor section. This is where I was able to get seated and enjoy my meal.

Sample Itinerary

9am – Bus to Kranj

9:45am – Arrive in Kranj

10am – Town Hall

12pm – Church of St Cantianus and Companions

12:30pm – Lunch @ Bistro Sonet

2pm – Khislstein Castle

3:30pm – Viewpoint & Canyon

5pm – Tunnels Tour

Other Things to See

Plečnik Stairs

Designed by renowned architect Jože Plečnik, this staircase serves as a monumental entrance to the town. At the foot of the stairs is a large monument as well as a set of columns and arches.

Preşeren House

This historic home is now a museum dedicated to Slovenia’s most famous poet: France Preşeren. Inside the museum you can learn about his life and see some of original furniture from that time period. There is also a gallery with exhibitions of his work on the ground floor.

Kranj makes for a wonderful day trip from Ljubljana. It has a beautiful old town and some unique attractions that are fun and interesting to visit. I hope you enjoy your day trip to Kranj!