Conference Venue

Discover Ljubljana, the hidden gem of Europe. City with a green soul, stunning architecture, lively culture and delicious cuisine will make your stay unforgettable.

Ljubljana: The Hidden Gem of Europe

Ljubljana is the capital and the main political, economic, and cultural center of Slovenia. Located in central Europe at the easternmost tip of the Alps and an hour’s drive from the Adriatic Sea, the city has been inhabited since prehistoric times and many remains of Roman Emona can be seen while strolling in the streets. Modern Ljubljana bears a strong stamp of the architecture of Jože Plečnik. With the largest university nationwide and many institutes, Ljubljana is also an important research center.

Exclusive Venue in the Center of the City

The 32nd ECIS Conference will be held at Grand Hotel Union’s conference center, Miklošičeva 1, Ljubljana. Venue of ECIS 2018 is located in the heart of the city of Ljubljana, overlooking the Prešeren Square, the Triple Bridge and the Ljubljana Castle. This elegant hotel in Art Nouveau style held its grand opening in 1905 as the first modern hotel and at the time the highest building in Ljubljana. The hotel is located where the Baroque part of the city ends and the more modern Art Nouveau part begins. Due to its 100 meters long facade and a complex iron roof, it is considered a great architectural achievement.

The venue is accessible from all major highways, the railway station, the main bus station and the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport. It is located only 700 meters from the main bus and train stations and is on the walking distance from most of the recommended hotels. For using Ljubljana Public Transport, Urbana Card is needed.

Accessibility

Coming by plane

The main international airport is Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, which is set 25 km from Ljubljana. It is currently served by around 250 direct scheduled flights per week from all major hubs in Europe, with a high share among them that are operated by Adria Airways, a member of Star Alliance, and also by low-fare airlines (Wizz Air and EasyJet). Other airports in the area include Trieste Airport, Italy (125 km to Ljubljana), Klagenfurt Airport, Austria (120 km to Ljubljana) and Zagreb Airport, Croatia (147 km to Ljubljana)

For transfer to/from Ljubljana and nearby airports or cities (Ljubljana Airport, Maribor, Trieste, Venice, Treviso, Bologna, Verona, Milano, Klagenfurt, Graz, Salzburg, Wien, München, Zagreb) we recommend shuttle service by GoOpti that enables you to book adaptable low-cost transfers to airports and cities, which are instantly confirmed, 100% reliable and carried out by skilled drivers and clean modern vehicles. All transfers are guaranteed, confirmed, available 24/7, door-to-door (from airport directly to hotel). We recommend that you book tickets as soon as possible because of GoOpti dynamic pricing models.

Book a transfer

Coming by train

Ljubljana can be easily reached from all major European cities. For more information visit the DB TravelService.

Coming by car

You can enter Slovenia via one of the border crossings with Italy, Austria, Hungary or Croatia, or you can rent a car in one of our car rental agencies. Slovenia's highways are good and clearly signposted.

Travel documents

To enter Slovenia you need a relevant travel document. EU/EEA citizens do not necessarily need a passport, a valid identity card is sufficient. Participants from non EU/EEA countries wishing to enter the Republic of Slovenia need a valid passport, or a valid passport and a visa or residence permit, unless otherwise stipulated by law or international agreement. For more information on whether you need a visa to enter Slovenia, choose your country at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Participants who need a visa to enter Slovenia have to request a Letter of Guarantee which will be prepared by the Organizing Committee. The visa cannot be obtained without a Letter of Guarantee which is intended to facilitate participant’s visa arrangements only and does not imply the provision of any financial or other support. In case you will apply for a visa at any Slovenian embassy please fill out this form in order to arrange a Letter of Guarantee and send it attached in an email to ecis2018@fkkt.uni-lj.si at least one month before the arrival. The organizer is authorized to demand payment of registration fee before the visa procedure starts. Please note that all costs are to be covered by the participant (verification tax and DHL post costs if needed).

Useful information for visitors

Slovenia is located in the Central European time zone (CET/CEST), which covers most of Western/Central Continental Europe, except for the British Isles and Portugal.

Mains power supply is 230 V, 50 Hz, Schuko plugs. Visitors from the British Isles, North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East will need adaptors.

European Economic Area nationals and Swiss nationals should obtain, and bring with them, their European Health Insurance Card. All other nationals are advised to arrange an appropriate health insurance cover for the duration of their stay in Slovenia.

Tap water is safe to drink. Even more, the quality of tap water in Ljubljana is really high.

The national emergency number is 112.

Enjoy the Gala dinner

Gala Dinner of the ECIS 2018 Conference will be organized on Thursday evening in the Grand Union hall of Grand hotel Union (conference venue). The event aims to answer the question why Slovenian culinary scene is gaining significant attention around the world.

Gala Dinner dishes will be designed by famous chef Jorg Zupan, a member of the vibrant new wave of Slovenian Chefs that gained experience abroad and returned to homeland with knowledge and desire to change their country's culinary scene to the better. Among others Chef Zupan worked in famous Michelin starred restaurants The Fat Duck (***) and Maaemo (***).

... and the rest of the Social Programme

Reception desk will open on Sunday afternoon, 2nd September, in the Grand Hotel Union and will be followed by Welcome Cocktail - be sure not to miss it.

A free guided tour of Ljubljana, sponsored by Municipality of Ljubljana, will be enabled for all participants on Wednesday afternoon. Join us and discover the beautiful town with its architecture, people and nature.

If you would like to experience the landscape of Slovenia, you can join the trip to Bled (Wednesday afternoon) or post-conference tour to Postojna cave (Friday afternoon).

Accommodation

Ljubljana has a wide variety of quality accommodations, many of them offering special prices for ECIS 2018 Conference attendees. The majority of listed accommodations is located at walking distance from the congress venue. Hotel booking is possible during the registration process.

Ljubljana has more than 30 hostels and reasonably priced student dormitories that students can choose to arrange accommodation in. Links to some of the most attractive ones are listed below.

Other accommodation options are also available at Ljubljana tourist office and elsewhere.

Please keep in mind, that Ljubljana is highly demanded in recent years, so you are advised to book your accommodation at your earliest convenience.

from 165 € Card image cap

Grand Hotel Union

This breathtaking hotel in Art Nouveau style offers an exclusive location in the heart of the city center, overlooking Prešeren Square, the Triple Bridge and the Ljubljana Castle. The Grand Hotel Union is easily accessible from all major highways, the railway station, the main bus station and the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport. The hotel offers a secured parking garage with 120 parking spaces.

from 145 € Card image cap

Hotel Lev

The Hotel Lev is the right choice for everyone looking for classical elegance and modern comfort. Top quality hotel services in a pleasant decor await our business or leisure guests, who long to discover Ljubljana. 13-floor high glass exterior of the hotel offers a magnificent view of the city. The hotel Lev is located 30 minutes drive from Jože Pučnik and just a few minutes walk from the main sightseeing attractions.

from 120 € Card image cap

Hotel Central

The Central Hotel is a smaller four-star business hotel, which offers excellent location and full comfort. The hotel is only a step away from the main bus and railway stations. The sights of Ljubljana and the old city centre are accessible on foot.

from 135 € Card image cap

Hotel Mons

Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana, a celebration of stylish comfort that’s inspired by its lush woodland surroundings and picturesque hillside setting. Hotel is just minutes from the evocative attractions of Ljubljana. It is located approx. 4 km from the city center.

from 109 € Card image cap

Austria Trend Hotel

Stay in one of the largest and most comfortable rooms in Ljubljana and enjoy an international atmosphere, exclusive comfort, impressive design and the kind of service that caters to your every whim. At the Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana they provide something for all the senses, beginning with stunning views of the city and surrounding landscape, moving on to the exquisite flavours served up in the hotel’s restaurant, and proceeding to our spa and wellness highlights.

from 90 € Card image cap

Hotel Mrak

Located in Ljubljana, this hotel is just 300 m from the centre of the city and the Old Town. It has a 24-Hour front desk, a lush garden and an airport shuttle. The rooms at the Hotel Pri Mraku have cable TV, a spacious work desk and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Free Wi-Fi is also available in the rooms. This is our guests' favourite part of Ljubljana, according to independent reviews.

from 139 € Card image cap

Hotel Slon

The Best Western Premier Hotel Slon - Elephant is situated in the very heart of Ljubljana city centre. It is only a few steps away from the old city core, Ljubljana castle and all the main city sights. This modern 4-star superior hotel has 170 comfortable and well-appointed rooms with all modern facilities and amenities.

from 225 € Card image cap

Hotel Intercontinental

A soaring glass façade sets the scene for a memorable stay at InterContinental Ljubljana hotel. Our lavish rooms and suites have stunning views and marble bathrooms, Ljubljana train station and the Old Town are close by and the concierge can arrange custom city tours.

from 80 € Card image cap

Hotel Park

Located in the heart of Ljubljana, this eco-friendly hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Metelkova, Dragon Bridge, and Triple Bridge. St. Nicholas Cathedral and Ljubljana Castle are also within 15 minutes.

from 100 € Card image cap

Hotel City

The hotel is easy to access from all of the city’s major roads and has the advantage of being just on the edge of the pedestrian only zone, so there are no problems in accessing the hotel by car. The main railway and bus station are only 400 meters away and the Jože Pučnik International Airport of Ljubljana is only 25 km from the hotel.

from 92 € Card image cap

Hotel Emonec

Hotel Emonec is hotel for bussiness guests who can use internet access in the rooms free of charge, for families, leisure travellers and groups of young travellers. Hotel offers excellent value for money for accommodation in single, double and multiple bedrooms. For more demanding guests we offer superior rooms. Hotel is also ideal for short 2 or 3 days City break.

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Hostels

Hostel Celica (Enter code ECIS2018 for discount)
Rainbow Rooms
Kva Hostel
Hostel Tresor
H2O Hostel
AdHock Hostel
Hostel DIC
Hostel Volvo

Map of Hotels

For more accommodation options, check out the map of Ljubljana's hotels.

Discover Slovenia, join the tour

Join us on a half-day tour to two of the most beautiful and intriguing destinations of Slovenia. Experienced tour guides will reveal all the hidden secrets of these hidden gems of nature.

The Jewel of Julian Alps

Bled

The town of Bled has been known for over 1000 years. It is a breath-taking place that lies in the middle of the Julian Alps. The drive from Ljubljana will take about an hour, and then we will board the pletna boat and explore the island. It is worth to visit the church with its magical bell of wishes, bell tower with pendulum clock enjoying the splendid view of the alpine landscape and restaurant Potičnica where typical Slovene cake “potica” is served. The castle of Bled, our next stop, has numerous collections, from the old fashioned printing press, chapel to tiny wine cellar and fascinating museum. With the stunning views of the area we will finish with our tour and head back to Ljubljana.

Price: 60 € per person

Minimum attendance: 30 persons. Price includes: Transportation Ljubljana – Bled – Ljubljana, tour guide en route, boat transportation, island church and tower bell entrance fee, castle entrance fee HALF-DAY tour.

Fascinating Underground

POstojnska Jama

This half-day tour will take us into intriguing underground world of Postojna cave. Postojna cave is one of the biggest underground formations in the world and a number one sight in Slovenia. It was discovered in the early 19th century. We will explore the numerous stalagmites and stalactites, see the Giant and the Brilliant, get to know the human fish and ride a small train through the cave.

Price: 52 € per person

Minimum attendance: 30 persons. Price includes: Transportation from Ljubljana – Postojna – Ljubljana, tour guide en route, cave expert guide, cave entrance fee HALF-DAY tour.