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City Sightseeing
The name and phone number of your guide will be on the Effetto voucher. Make sure to confirm the meeting time/place as well as the length of the tour (2-2 ½ hours). As groups generally fall in love with the city and want free time, it is not a bad idea to start early; 8.30 am will mean you finish about 11.30am
To Do / Know
- Pax should have a bottle of water with them and should wear comfy shoes as the entire tour is on foot.
- The order of the sightseeing can vary depending on crowds, meeting place, weather and whether you are going to the castle – discuss with guide.
- Check your tour expenses for funicular cost to visit the castle (sometimes this is included). If the funicular cost is not included, you might want to consider talking with the group and having pax pay the funicular up and walking down as it is a nice addition – it is €5pp return €2.30 one-way for groups 15+ – and worth every penny. If they do not wish to pay as a group, they can visit on their own during leisure time. In that case, however, the group discount will not apply although the price is the same for students.
- Public toilets are located under the Three Bridges (access from the bridge itself—there are indicators) and also at the entry to the castle funicular.
- There are ample ATMs in the Old Town
City Sightseeing General Tour
- Prešeren Square (Prešernov Trg): bronze city plan, Triple Bridge, Church of the Annunciation, Statue of France Prešeren
- Market Colonnade
- Cathedral of Saint Nicholas
- Bishop’s Palace
- Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most)
- Market Square
- Funicular to Castle (this might not be included—there is a steep walking path up and not so steep down but there are several diversions and it is recommended that you do that in advance on your own before deciding to lead the group) for views mainly
- Medieval area including old Square (Stari Trg), Upper Square (Gornji Trg) Town Square (Mestni Trg): Fountain of the 3 Rivers, Town Hall (great for group photos)
Visit to Postojna Caves
Check the time that you are visiting the caves on the voucher (entry is by train, and you will be booked in at a particular time). If the time is earlier than 3.00pm then you should try and change the time as this will not give the group enough time to enjoy Ljubljana.
Arrange to meet the group and depart 90 minutes before the scheduled entry time. It is a 55km (one hour) drive to/from Ljubljana.
Make sure that pax dress warmly as 50°F (10°C) temperatures for a 90-minute tour can feel cold very quickly. Rubber-soled shoes are a good idea although the ground surface is anti-skid.
The coach park is about a 5-minute walk from the cave complex (entrance, WC’s, food outlets). Follow the signs for “Jama” (cartoons of the human fish aka blind cave newt or olm also mark the way to the entrance).
At the top, turn left to reach the ticket office and cave entrance (group should assemble there at least 10 minutes before the appointment). Under the stairs/ramp leading to the cave entrance, there are WCs. From the bottom of the stairs, you can access them by walking to the left of the staircase.
There are also several places selling food as well as souvenirs. Note that they sell honey products–but according to the US Department of Agriculture, it is illegal for individuals to bring honey into the US.
The 90-minute tour includes a train ride deep into the caves and then walking through several galleries before taking the train to the exit. Pax cannot decide to leave early as the entire group moves as a unit. There will be others on the tour in addition to your group. It is not a claustrophobic space, but it can be dark in certain areas (especially when they turn the lights off!).
Photos are permitted inside the caves but warn your group that flashes are forbidden as they can damage the stalagmites and stalactites.
After the tour and any free time you wish to give them (it is a small area—they might just wish to get a snack or souvenir), make sure they visit the WC before boarding the coach.