Plan your hike
To start your day with a bit of exercise and incredible panoramic views on this 669-meter hill, try planning your ascent to catch sunrise at the very top (exact time of sunrise in Ljubljana). If you’re normally fit, you’ll need approximately 30 – 40 minutes for the hike, while you can add an extra 30 minutes if you’re traveling by bus from the city center. That means leaving your room about 1.5 hours before the predicted sunrise would be the preferred plan. No need to bring you own food, though, as the Ledinek’s Inn at the top opens early and offers tasty traditional dishes and pastry.
Getting there
Although there are as many as fifteen trails going up to Šmarna Gora, the most easily accessible trail starts in Tacen, the northern part of the capital Ljubljana. Therefore, if you’re staying in the city center, you’ll be taking the no. 8 bus and get off at the “Tacenski Most” stop. Number 8 bus service starts operating as early as 5.19 AM (from Bavarski Dvor in the center) and leaves every 20 minutes or so. More information on city buses.
Finding the trailhead
That’s the easy part. Once at the “Tacenski Most” bus stop, just cross the road to the parking lot and then follow the red-white circular markings that should lead you all the way to the top. But no worries, there are always people going up kind enough to show you the way.
