Tivoli City Park, Šiška Hrib, Koseze Pond

Route Description

Experience GREEN Ljubljana. We visited the Tivoli City Park, the Šiška Hrib (Šišenski hrib) and the Koseze Pond (Koseški bajer). Accompanied by Andrej Verlič from the Tivoli City Park, the Šiška Hill and the Koseze Pond Service (which is a part of the VOKA SNAGA public company), we got to know Ljubljana from a completely different perspective.

We took advantage of a fine summer morning to visit our capital city of Ljubljana and experienced a beautiful family trip, which took place entirely to the taste of our youngest members. This meant a lot of running around and playing in the woods and meadows and mandatory snack stops. We stopped and carefully “examined” as many as three playgrounds, caved in to our sweet tooth and rested at three cafes and ended the trip by the Koseze Pond, where we observed a family of swans.

We started our trip in the Tivoli City Park at the entrance to the greenhouse, which is located right next to the Tivoli Pond. There, the Ljubljana Botanic Garden staff presented all the interesting plants. We walked a part of the Jesenko Forest Education Trail (Jesenkova pot), headed past the Šiška Hill (Šišenski hrib) and continued towards the Mostec Sports and Recreation Center (Rekreacijsko društvo Mostec), all the way to the Koseze Pond.

Right at the beginning of the hike, there is a beehive located next to the greenhouse. A few steps ahead you encounter the Birds’ Home (Tičistan), which is also very interesting for children. Numerous bird nests are installed here, and in winter bird feeders. The squirrels in the park have also become very trusting of people, and of us too! You can find more about animal contact in the park under our Interesting Facts column.

The described trip is more suitable for warmer summer days, as the trail runs through the forest. I am not one to brag, but we behaved in a very eco manner! We decided to take the train from Kranj to Ljubljana and back home, which takes you right to the Ljubljana-Tivoli station, the starting point of this trip.

The forest walking trail is 7 km (4.6 miles) long and is suitable for baby strollers and children aged 4 and older. The part from the Tivoli City Park to the Mostec Sports and Recreation Center is well-aranged; however, we had to lift our stroller over obstacles a few times.

Our GPX map shows the walking trail through the Tivoli City Park with the first stop at the children’s playground by the Tivoli Pond. You can have some coffee and ice cream in the Biennale Café, located in the Tivoli Castle. Continue your stroll along the foot of the Šiška Hill slope, where you walk a part of the Jesenko Forest Education Trail (which is 3 km/1.15 miles long in its entirety) and learn about many tree species in the park. Go on through the cold shade of trees past the tower of the old Bloudek ski Jump to the Ilirija Ski Jumping Center, where you can watch ski jumpers train if you are lucky. Take a rest at the Mostec Sports and Recreation Center, try out excellent tarragon potica and pretzels and let your kids burn up their energy at another playground. Continue to the Koseze Pond, where you can observe swans, both big and little. The Tivoli City Park supervisor revealed many interesting facts about the plant and animal species living here and proper visitor attitude. Our dog Juna was on a leash all the time and we also made sure not to disturb the birds, squirrels and other people there. I think we can all agree such a beautifully landscaped park and its flora and fauna should be treated with respect.

Due to its proximity to the city center, the Tivoli City Park is an excellent opportunity for spending your free time, even as a parent with children. They can run carefree on the green meadows and trails. There are even two large children's playgrounds - the first one by the Tivoli Pond and the second one by the Tivoli Pool. Both have interesting devices, intended primarily for preschool children, and enough treetops to protect you from the sun. Other smaller playgrounds can also be found at the Tivoli Pool, at the Minigolf Course and at the Tivoli Castle.

The Koseze Pond Educational Trail (Učna pot ob Koseškem bajerju) is something children will find very interesting. It presents fascinating facts on wetlands, such as the animals living around and in the Koseze Pond (birds, fish and amphibians) as well as the role that the floodplain forest has in the ecosystem. Even before we circled around the pond, we made a short stop at a third playground. The pause was then followed by an interesting conversation with Andrej Verlič, in the pleasant shade of the Lokus Café, about the animal and plant species living in the park. To avoid walking on the main road (which does not have a sidewalk) to the bus stop, we used the forest trail (also a bicycle road), took the city bus to the main station, and waited for the train to take us home.

We were left full of good impressions and new knowledge. Above all, we were surprised and delighted by the fact that a trip to the capital city can be this playful, fun and interesting.

Did you know?

The area of the Rožnik Hill, the Šiška Hill and the Koseze Pond has many distinct landscape features and rich biodiversity. More than 700 plant species adorn the entire Tivoli City Park.

Experience GREEN Ljubljana and visit the Tivoli City Park, the Šiška Hrib (Šišenski hrib) and the Koseze Pond (Koseški bajer).

Parents, read a few useful tips below:

•  More info on the Tivoli City Park, the Rožnik Hill, the Šiška Hill.
• In order to ride the city bus, you need an Urbana card. . Buy it at the main bus station.
• Slovenian Railways timetable-kids love train rides!
• Ljubljana Public Transport (LPP) timetable.
• Take the Urban electric train and see the Ljubljana city center from another perspective.