Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova sits inside a repurposed barracks and holds the best Slovenian and Balkan post-war art collection you'll find anywhere. For shopping, Striparna Stripolis is the only specialist comic shop in central Ljubljana, with shelves of Slovenian and international titles and artists drawing in plain view. The record shop on Trubarjeva 55 is where locals dig through the crates.
3 things to do, 3 shops, all in Metelkova / Tabor.
Best things to do in Metelkova / Tabor.
Metelkova / Tabor stacks three serious museums within a few minutes' walk: the Slovene Ethnographic Museum in the restored 1886 barracks, the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova holding the Arteast 2000+ collection, and Edvard Ravnikar's 1948 modern art building at the Tivoli Park edge. Three buildings, a century of arguments about what art means here.
Do
Slovene Ethnographic Museum
$ · Museum
Founded in 1923 and now housed in restored 1886 barracks at the edge of Metelkova, with collections spanning beekeeping tools to the largest East Asian holdings in Slovenia, plus the only fully preserved Plečnik-designed shop interior. Four floors, open drawers to explore, and a courtyard cafe that's become a local institution on its own.
Slovenia's national modern art museum in Edvard Ravnikar's 1948 building beside the entrance to Tivoli Park, covering a century of local art from expressionism through Neue Slowenische Kunst and Irwin. The first European institution to systematically collect Eastern European postwar art, which gives its permanent show a perspective most Western museums still lack.
Opened in 2011 inside a renovated barracks on the institutional side of Metelkova, housing the Arteast 2000+ collection that rewrites the dialogue between Western and Eastern European avant-gardes. Free on the first Sunday of each month, with a 66,000-volume art library upstairs for anyone who wants to go deeper.
Shopping in Metelkova / Tabor splits cleanly between Trubarjeva and Miklošičeva: the record shop at Trubarjeva 55 moves 2,000 LPs on the floor with another 12,000 in the back, heavy on Yugoslav pressings and indie. Striparna Stripolis runs like someone's living room, with two sofas, shelves of comics, and Izar Lunaček and his collaborators drawing in plain view, and Moje Tvoje sells vintage by the kilo with handmade jewelry from local makers.
Shop
Striparna Stripolis
$$ · Corporate office
Two sofas, shelves of Slovenian and international comics, and desks where Izar Lunaček and his collaborators draw in plain view: the only specialist comic shop in central Ljubljana runs like someone's living room. Second Thursdays bring readings and live-translated French screenings, and once a year it spills onto car-free Poljanska.
Vinyl shop on Trubarjeva with over 2,000 records on the floor and 12,000 more in back stock, strong on rock, indie, and Yugoslav-era pressings. Locals crate-dig here regularly.
Second-hand and vintage clothing shop whose name means "what's mine is yours," selling by the kilo alongside handmade jewelry from young Slovenian designers. Monthly rotating art shows on the walls and prices from about five euros keep the turnover constant.
Yes. Tabor sits just east of the old town and the train station, and you can cross the whole district in 10-15 minutes on foot. Streets are flat, pavements are wide, and reaching the riverside or the castle hill takes under 20 minutes. Ljubljana's centre is largely car-free, so walking is faster than driving or taxis.
How do I get to Metelkova / Tabor from the airport?
Joze Pucnik Airport is about 25 km north. The public bus to the main bus station takes around 45 minutes and is the cheapest option at a few euros. Shared shuttle vans cost roughly 10-15 euros and drop you closer to your accommodation. Taxis run 35-45 euros if booked in advance, more if hailed at the terminal.
Does Uber work in Ljubljana?
Yes, you can open Uber here, though the city is small and supply is thinner than in bigger capitals. Yalla Taxi is the local booking app and a reliable backup. Taxis are cheap and easy if no app car shows. Agree on the meter or app price before setting off rather than accepting a quoted flat fare.
Do museums in Ljubljana have free days or hours?
Yes. Most national museums in Ljubljana offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month, and several have a free late-evening slot once a week. The cluster of state museums near Tabor participates in this scheme. Check individual websites the day before, as schedules shift around holidays and special exhibitions.
What are typical gallery and shop opening hours in Metelkova / Tabor?
Independent galleries and design shops typically open 10:00 or 11:00 and close by 18:00 or 19:00 on weekdays, with shorter Saturday hours ending around 14:00. Most are closed Sundays. Alternative spaces and artist-run venues often only open in the late afternoon or for specific events, so check social media before walking over.
Is it safe to walk around Metelkova / Tabor at night?
Generally yes. Ljubljana has very low violent crime, and Tabor stays active until late thanks to the autonomous cultural zone and surrounding bars. The area around the zone itself can feel rough visually, with graffiti and loud crowds, but trouble is rare. Stick to lit streets near the station after 2:00 and you'll be fine.
What's the best month for outdoor activities in Ljubljana?
May, June, and September. Daytime temperatures sit between 20-25°C, river terraces are open, and weekend festivals run almost continuously. July and August get hot and humid, often above 30°C, and many locals leave town. Winter is cold and damp with frequent fog, though December brings outdoor markets and the lit-up riverside.
Can I rent a bike in Metelkova / Tabor?
Yes. The city bike-share system has docking stations across Tabor and requires a weekly subscription of a few euros, with the first hour of each ride free. Several private shops near the station rent city and e-bikes by the day for 10-20 euros. Bike lanes are extensive and drivers respect them.
