Smarna Gora

Šmarna Gora rises to 669 metres on the northern edge of Ljubljana, close enough that people climb it before work, and it is generally reckoned the most frequently walked hill in Slovenia; some regulars keep counts running into the thousands. Paths of different lengths run up from several villages, taking between forty minutes and an hour and a half. At the top are a pilgrimage church of the Virgin, a bell that walkers ring, and a hut selling the traditional reward of sausage and buckwheat porridge.

What you actually see

• The summit church - a pilgrimage church of the Virgin on the top.
• The bell - rung by walkers as the customary end to the climb.
• The Grmada peak - the slightly lower twin summit alongside.
• The summit hut - the traditional stop for sausage, tea and buckwheat porridge.

When to go

Year round; it is climbed in all weather and floodlit paths make evening ascents possible. Sunday mornings are extremely busy. Winter ice makes the steeper routes tricky and spikes help.

Honest expectations

On fine weekends the paths are genuinely crowded and the hut queue is long. The summit view is over the Ljubljana basin, which is often filled with winter smog. Parking at the trailheads fills early.

Nearby

Ljubljana is south, and Kamnik is northeast.