Ghent
Belgium
Ljubljana
Slovenia
Ghent
Ljubljana
π° Budget
π‘οΈ Safety
Ghent
Ghent is a very safe city with a strong community feel. The large student population means the city is lively but not rough. Violent crime is extremely rare, and petty theft is less common than in Brussels or Antwerp. The city feels safe to walk at all hours.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is one of Europe's safest capital cities. Violent crime is rare, and the compact, walkable old town is genuinely comfortable at any hour. Pickpockets exist in tourist areas and on public buses but are far less prevalent than in larger European capitals. Solo travelers, including women, consistently report feeling very safe. Metelkova Mesto has a deliberately edgy aesthetic but is not genuinely dangerous β the community self-polices effectively.
β Ratings
π€οΈ Weather
Ghent
Ghent shares Bruges' maritime climate β mild year-round but frequently wet. Summers are pleasantly warm without extreme heat, winters are damp and cool. Rain is possible in every season, making layers and waterproofs essential. The city is beautiful in every weather.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana sits in a basin between the Alps and the Karst plateau, giving it a continental climate with Mediterranean touches. Summers are warm and occasionally hot; winters are cold with fog that settles in the valley for days at a stretch β a local phenomenon known as "meglica." Spring and autumn are mild but can be wet. The surrounding mountains mean weather can shift quickly.
π Getting Around
Ghent
Ghent's historic center is very walkable, and the city has an excellent tram and bus network operated by De Lijn. Cycling is deeply embedded in Ghent's culture β it's the most common way locals get around. The car-free zone in the city center makes walking and cycling even more pleasant.
Walkability: Ghent's center has one of Belgium's largest car-free zones, making it exceptionally walkable. Sint-Baafsplein to Gravensteen is a 10-minute stroll. The entire medieval core is compact and easily covered on foot. Cobblestones are charming but tough on thin-soled shoes.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana's old town is almost entirely car-free and supremely walkable β the core can be crossed in 15 minutes on foot. For trips further afield within the city, the LPP city bus network is efficient and cheap. The Urbana contactless card covers buses and provides small discounts. The funicular to Ljubljana Castle is a quick and fun way to reach the hilltop. Electric tourist carts (kavalir) ferry visitors through the old town free of charge.
Walkability: Ljubljana is extremely walkable. The historic old town, riverside market, Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, PreΕ‘eren Square, and the castle funicular are all within a five-minute walk of each other. Tivoli Park is a ten-minute walk west of the center. Streets are flat in the core (the castle hill aside), well-maintained, and entirely pedestrianized in the old town. Good shoes suffice β heels would manage on main streets but cobblestones in quieter lanes can be uneven.
The Verdict
Choose Ghent if...
you want medieval canals and castles with a student-city vibe, plus all of Belgium's beer and chocolate without Bruges crowds
Choose Ljubljana if...
you want Europe's greenest capital β traffic-free cobblestones, PleΔnik architecture, and Lake Bled plus the Julian Alps an hour away
Ljubljana