Travel: 48 Hours in... Llubljana, Lithuania

Friday, 2pm: Check into the sexy new Vander Urbani Resort (Krojaska ulica 6-8, rooms from £120, www.vanderhotel.com), with its chic bedrooms and roof plunge pool.

3pm Wander along the old town cobbles to Krekov Trg, to take the funicular to Ljubljana Castle for views of the city skyline and the Slovenian capital’s stunning mountain setting.

8pm Dine within the castle ramparts at Gostilna na Gradu (Grajska planota 1, tel: [phone]) sampling traditional Slovenian fare.

10pm Get a taste of the youthful city nightlife at legendary Café Macek (Krojaska ulica 5, tel: [phone]), by the Ljubljanica River.

Saturday, 9am Explore the colourful Central Market. As well as fruit and veg grown within sight of the castle it has lots of souvenirs and gifts.

1pm Sit out on the old town cobbles at Valvas’or (Stari trg 7, tel: [phone]), a superb dining treat. The zlikrofi homemade pasta is divine, as is the roasted sea bass laced with black truffle.

3pm Whatever your artistic tastes Ljubljana has it covered with the National Gallery (Puharjeva Ulica 9, tel: [phone]) opposite the Modern Art Gallery, both metres from the city’s great green lung of Tivoli Park.

9pm Settle in for a multi-course feast with TV chef Janez Bratovž at his JB (Miklosiceva cesta 17, tel: [phone]). Culinary creation meets local ingredients and Slovenia’s underrated wines.

11pm Ljubljana is a party city so join the local cognoscenti at current fave Pri Zelenem Zajcu bar (Rozna 3) over an absinthe cocktail.

Sunday, 10am A fleamarket takes over the banks of the Ljubljanica. You can flit through the stands before a farewell bela kava (milky coffee) at one of the pavement cafes.

The Facts

Return flights to Ljubljana from Stansted with easyJet (www.easyjet.com) start from £150, with connections from Edinburgh and Glasgow from £50; www.visitljubljana.com