Narodna galerija
Slovenia's foremost art museum with a collection spanning the Middle Ages to the 20th century
The National Gallery of Slovenia (Narodna galerija) is the country's central fine art museum, founded in 1918. The collection covers the High Middle Ages to the first half of the 20th century – nearly 600 works by Slovenian and European artists. The building is located at Prešernova cesta 24, beside the eastern entrance to Tivoli Park.
From Prešeren Square – a 10–15 minute walk. Nearest bus stops are "Tivoli" and "Konzorcij". From Ljubljana's main railway station – 20 minutes on foot.
Allow 1.5–2 hours for a visit. Combined ticket for all exhibitions – €14 (reduced €8). Free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
The gallery occupies a complex of three connected buildings: the 1896 neo-Renaissance National House (Narodni dom), a 1993 modernist wing by architect Edvard Ravnikar, and a 2001 glass atrium linking both sections. After a four-year renovation, all three wings opened as a single circuit for the first time in 2016. The National House features ornate ceilings and natural-light-filled halls.
The permanent collection is arranged chronologically: medieval sacred art, Baroque works (Gregorio Lazzarini, Giulio Quaglio), Biedermeier portraits by Jožef Tominc, neoclassical paintings by Franc Kavčič, Realists Janez and Jurij Šubic, Impressionists Ivan Grohar, Rihard Jakopič, Matija Jama, and works by Ivana Kobilca – the first Slovenian woman painter of European stature. The glass atrium houses the original Robba Fountain (Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers, 18th century) – its replica stands outside the Town Hall in the Old Town.
A separate room is dedicated to Zoran Mušič (1909–2005), one of Europe's leading modernists. Temporary exhibitions rotate every 3–4 months. The ground floor has a café with a terrace overlooking Tivoli Park, a gallery shop, and Gal's Room for children's workshops on Saturdays.
Collection – approximately 600 works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, Slovenia's largest fine art collection
Robba Fountain – the original 18th-century Baroque fountain by Francesco Robba displayed in the glass atrium
Slovenian Impressionism – works by Grohar, Jakopič, Kobilca, Jama – the core of the national painting school
Building – three wings from three eras: neo-Renaissance (1896), modernist (1993), and glass atrium (2001)
Zoran Mušič – a dedicated room for one of Europe's foremost 20th-century modernist painters
The gallery was founded in 1918, the year the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was established. The collection was initially housed in the Kresija Palace on the Ljubljanica riverbank near the Triple Bridge. In 1925, the museum moved to the National House building, designed by Czech architect František Škabrout in 1896, originally as a cultural centre. In 1948, 20th-century works were separated into the Modern Gallery (Moderna Galerija).
In 1993, a new wing designed by architect Edvard Ravnikar was added to the historic building. In 2001, a glass atrium was built to connect both sections, and in 2006 the original Robba Fountain was moved here from the Town Hall square. A major renovation from 2013 to 2016 updated all three parts of the complex. Today the gallery is the country's foremost art museum, hosting up to 10 temporary exhibitions per year.
Combined ticket (permanent + temporary exhibitions):
- Adults: €14
- Reduced (children, students, seniors): €8
- Family: €28
Permanent collection only:
- Adults: €8
- Reduced: €4
Temporary exhibition only:
- Adults: €5
- Reduced: €3
Free admission: children under 7, ICOM members, journalists, persons with disabilities and one companion, first Sunday of each month.
The gallery accepts the Ljubljana Card. Online tickets at ng-slo.si.
Backpacks, bags larger than A4, and coats must be left in the cloakroom (free). Photography without flash or tripod is allowed (check rules for temporary exhibitions). No food or drinks in exhibition halls.
On site:
- Café on the ground floor with terrace overlooking Tivoli Park
- Gallery shop with art books and souvenirs
- Gal's Room – children's workshop space (Saturdays)
- Free cloakroom
Parking: Metered street parking on Prešernova cesta. Nearest car park – Tivoli (5-minute walk).
Wi-Fi: Free in the café.
Accessibility: Fully wheelchair-accessible – lifts, ramps, wide passages between galleries.
From central Ljubljana (on foot):
– From Prešeren Square – 10–15 minutes west along Čopova ulica, then right onto Prešernova cesta
– From the main railway station (Železniška postaja) – 20 minutes on foot
By bus:
– Stop "Tivoli" (lines 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 25) or "Konzorcij" (lines 6, 9, 14) – 3-minute walk to the entrance
– Fare: €1.30 with Urbana card
By car:
– Address: Prešernova cesta 24, 1000 Ljubljana
– Metered street parking. Tivoli car park – 5-minute walk
Season: Open year-round. Temporary exhibitions rotate every 3–4 months – check the programme at ng-slo.si.
Time of day: Weekday mornings (10:00–12:00) – fewest visitors. Thursday extended hours until 20:00, convenient after a city walk.
Duration: 1.5–2 hours for a full visit. With café – 2.5 hours.
Avoid: Weekends after 14:00 – more visitors. Closed Mondays.
Practical answers about visiting, routes and time on site.
Combined ticket (permanent + temporary): €14 adult, €8 reduced. Permanent collection only: €8. Free on the first Sunday of each month.
1.5–2 hours for the full permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. With a café stop – about 2.5 hours.
Tuesday–Sunday: 10:00–18:00. Thursday: until 20:00. Closed Mondays, 1 May, 1 November, 25 December.
Yes, photography without flash or tripod is allowed in the permanent collection. Rules may vary for temporary exhibitions – check at the entrance.
Yes, all exhibits are labelled in Slovenian and English. Staff speak English. Audio guides are available in several languages.
Yes. Saturday workshops run in Gal's Room (€5 per child, one parent free). Family guided tours cost €35 per group.
The original Robba Fountain (18th century), Slovenian Impressionists (Grohar, Jakopič, Kobilca), and the Zoran Mušič room. The European painting collection includes works by Luca Giordano and Martin Johann Schmidt.
Yes, the Ljubljana Card (€23–35 depending on duration) includes single admission to the gallery, city bus travel, and access to other Ljubljana museums.
The gallery has its own café with a terrace. Across the road is Tivoli Park with several cafés. The restaurants of the Old Town are 10 minutes away on foot.
