Updated in September 2026, this National Gallery of Slovenia guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The National Gallery of Slovenia is the country’s main art museum, holding its largest collection of visual art from the late medieval period to the early 20th century.
National Gallery of Slovenia quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, Thursday until 8 pm. Closed Mondays and on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December. |
| Ticket prices | Permanent Collection: €10 regular, €6 reduced. Free on the first Sunday of each month. |
| Address | Puharjeva 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Visitor entrance at Prešernova cesta 24. |
| Nearest transport or parking | Opposite the Opera House, next to Tivoli Park. Paid parking is nearby, and almost all city buses serve neighbouring Slovenska cesta. |
| Typical time needed | 1 to 2 hours |
National Gallery of Slovenia opening hours
The Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, staying open until 8 pm on Thursdays. It is closed on Mondays, and on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December.
On 24 and 31 December, the Gallery closes early, at 3 pm. Last entry to the exhibition rooms is half an hour before closing time. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026.
National Gallery of Slovenia ticket prices
Ticket prices for the Permanent Collection are €10.00 for a regular ticket and €6.00 reduced. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month.
| Ticket | Permanent Collection | Temporary Exhibitions | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | €10.00 | €6.00 | €14.00 |
| Reduced | €6.00 | €4.00 | €8.00 |
| Family | €20.00 | €12.00 | €28.00 |
| Group (10–25 adults) | €6.00 | €4.00 | €8.00 |
- The reduced fee applies to children, pupils, students, pensioners and sponsors, on presentation of ID.
- Admission is free for people with disabilities and their carers, pre-school children, the unemployed, journalists, and several other groups listed on the gallery’s website.
- Visitors must leave coats, rucksacks, bags larger than A4 size, and other luggage in the self-service cloakroom.
- Guided tours in a foreign language cost €4 per person for groups of 10 or more, or €50 per group of 3 to 9 people, on top of admission.
The National Gallery of Slovenia is not part of a city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS, so no pass inclusions apply.
How to get to the National Gallery of Slovenia
The Gallery is in central Ljubljana, opposite the Opera House and the Orthodox Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius, next to Tivoli Park. It is bordered by Cankarjeva, Prešernova, Puharjeva and Prežihova streets, with the main visitor entrance at Prešernova cesta 24.
The Gallery is close to Slovenska cesta, served by almost all city buses. Its central location also makes it an easy walk from Prešeren Square and the old town.
Parking at the National Gallery of Slovenia
Paid parking spaces are available around the Gallery. The nearest large public car park is in Tivoli Park, a few minutes’ walk away, reached via an underpass that exits just in front of the Gallery.
How long to spend at the National Gallery of Slovenia
Allow 1 to 2 hours to see the permanent collection, longer if a temporary exhibition is also showing or if you plan to use the audio guides in depth.
Accessibility at the National Gallery of Slovenia
The National Gallery describes itself as accessible to everyone, and admission is free for people with disabilities and their carers. Guide dogs are welcome.
The exhibition building has ramps and lifts, and wheelchair users can move independently around all floors from the main entrance at Prešernova cesta 24, where a doorbell opens the door. Reaching the ground-floor Zoran Mušič exhibition and the basement Narodni dom Gallery space needs the help of museum attendants. Toilet facilities suit visitors with reduced mobility.
The Gallery offers induction loops, audio guides, audio descriptions by QR code, and selected works presented in Slovenian Sign Language. A tactile adaptation of the painting Luiza Pesjak by Mihael Stroj comes with a magnifying glass, a Braille description and an audio description. Personalised guided tours with tactile aids can be arranged in advance by contacting dejavnosti@ng-slo.si.
What to see at the National Gallery of Slovenia
Outside the Gallery stands the Robba Fountain, an 18th-century Italian-inspired sculpture and one of Ljubljana’s best-known landmarks, worth viewing both up close and from higher ground.
Inside, the recently renovated Narodni dom Palace houses the Grand Staircase, the Golden Hall and the Grand Hall, restored to mark the completion of four decades of the Gallery’s expansion.
The permanent collection runs chronologically from 1200 to the present. The medieval and Gothic section (1200–1600) includes carved altarpieces and Madonnas by named and anonymous masters, among them the Ptujska Gora Workshop, regarded as the high point of Gothic sculpture in Slovenia, alongside works by Johannes Aquila and Catarino Veneziano.
Later rooms trace the Baroque, the 19th century, and the early 20th century, including the Slovenian Impressionists, whose paintings and stories are, as the Gallery puts it, etched into the country’s collective memory.
The Gallery holds the largest collection in the world of work by Zoran Mušič (1909–2005), a painter also highly regarded in France and Italy, shown in a dedicated permanent display.
Current temporary exhibitions include a retrospective of Tone Kralj (1900–1975), running until 4 October 2026, and Gallery at Your Fingertips, a touch-based exhibition running over the same period.
A Gallery Café overlooks the Robba Fountain, and the Gallery Shop sells cards, books, jewellery and locally designed items.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a Thursday evening, when the Gallery stays open until 8 pm, for a quieter experience. |
| Crowds | The first Sunday of the month is free, so expect it to be busier than other days. |
| Layout | The permanent collection is arranged chronologically, so following the room order traces Slovenian art history in sequence. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the visitor entrance on Prešernova cesta 24, and leave large bags in the self-service cloakroom. |
| On-site logistics | Connect to the Gallery’s free Wi-Fi, with a password from the Gallery Shop, to use the digital guides on your own device. |
Frequently asked questions about the National Gallery of Slovenia
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the National Gallery of Slovenia suitable for children? | Yes. Family tickets are available, and children can also borrow a stool and art materials in the Gallery to draw in front of the artworks. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the National Gallery of Slovenia? | The website does not state that advance booking is required for general admission. Guided tours and activities should be booked ahead. |
| Is the National Gallery of Slovenia open on Sundays? | Yes, from 10 am to 6 pm, and admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. |
| Is the National Gallery of Slovenia wheelchair accessible? | Yes. It has ramps and lifts, and wheelchair users can move independently around all floors from the main entrance. |
| Can you take photos at the National Gallery of Slovenia? | The Gallery’s own materials describe it as an Instagram-friendly space, asking only that visitors avoid using flash. |
Things to do near the National Gallery of Slovenia
- Tivoli Park: Ljubljana’s largest park, directly beside the Gallery.
- Museum of Modern Art Ljubljana: A modern and contemporary art museum a short walk away.
- National Museum of Slovenia: A museum of archaeology and natural history, close to the Gallery.
- Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre: The opera house directly opposite the Gallery.
- Prešeren Square: Ljubljana’s main square and old town, a short walk along Slovenska cesta.
Alternative attractions
All five are in Slovenia and within a 2.5-hour drive of Ljubljana.
- Plečnik House: The former home and studio of architect Jože Plečnik, in central Ljubljana.
- City Museum of Ljubljana: A museum on the city’s history, in the old town.
- Ljubljana Castle: A hilltop castle with exhibitions and views, reached by funicular.
- Ptuj Regional Museum: A museum of art and history in Slovenia’s oldest town.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM): A contemporary art museum in Ljubljana’s Metelkova district.
