What has our capital city of Ljubljana to offer when it comes to sports?

For Ljubljana, some would say it offers great unique activities that do not come first to your mind when you think about European capitals. It sure offers romantic experiences, combined with admiring famous works of art and gorgeous architecture while wandering the streets of the Old town and savouring the specialties of local cuisines. But there is more. This green capital is also a place to enjoy sports and treat oneself to an active city-break. 

In recent years more and more travellers have been longing for active holidays, and luckily Ljubljana together with its region, has a wide range of active time spending opportunities to offer them. 

Ljubljana is one of the rare capital cities where you can paddle through the heart of the city on a stand-up paddleboard or in a canoe and see the sights, while also discovering the varied flora and fauna that inhabit the riverbanks. It is also one of the friendliest cities in the world for cyclists, offering many different cycle paths and a bike sharing system. The Slovenian capital is also one of the greenest cities in the world, where you can find nature right in the city centre, while the surrounding area offers a wide choice of days out in the countryside, since hiking trails criss-cross the entire region. 

Ljubljana is also a host of high-profile or recreational sporting events. The management of the city believes this events importantly contribute to the atmosphere in the destination. This year Ljubljana is a proud host of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Therefore, many activities took place in the city, with which the city wanted to consolidate our image of a sustainable city in the world and encourage young people to engage in sports, exercise and active leisure. 

When it comes to spectacular sports events, August is a very interesting month. Every year, the Kongresni trg square holds a beach volley tournament within the Ljubljana Beach Volley Challenge event. In 2019 Ljubljana hosted a spectacular volleyball tournament that was held on water for the first time ever. Ljubljana centre also features “Ljubljana Challenger” - the 3x3 basketball national championship, that has been part of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia since 2004. During this period, the championship has evolved into one of the biggest sports events in Slovenian streets and city centres. There is also Triglav The Rock Ljubljana, international bouldering competition which features some of the best sport climbers from around the world. In 2020 they were climbing above the Ljubljanica river. Speaking of, this year on August 21, a very unique adrenaline event is coming to Ljubljana above the surface of the Ljubljanica River, there will be placed the largest trampoline in the world and the first trampoline bridge that will connect both banks. The visitors will be able to enjoy incredible acrobatics and unforgettable show. 

The most well-established sports event is the Ljubljana Marathon, taking place every year at the end of October and featuring an increasing number of international participants. At the start of May, all visitors can participate in the traditional March along the Barbed Wire (Pohod ob žici) along an almost 35-kilometre-long trail around Ljubljana. This is where a wire fence was erected during the Second World War by Italian and later German occupiers, and which is therefore called the Trail along the Wire. The march was held for the first time in 1957. The event tried to encourage movement and healthy lifestyle with its first march and this still remains its main goal today. 

With its green spirit and sustainable vision of development, Ljubljana is also a bicycle friendly capital city. Tour of Slovenia and Marathon Franja are two of the main cycling events in Slovenia and with starting point in Ljubljana. 

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