National Gallery of Slovenia

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.

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.