The paper focuses on urban transformations that began in the late 1980s and were accelerated after the change of political system in 1991 (proclamation of Slovenian independency) and introduction of free-market economy. Contrary to the majority of Western European countries, which experienced intense urban growth after the Second World War, Slovenian urban system was marked by a distinctive form of polycentric development, supported by specific political decisions. The diminishment of agricultural activities was not followed by intense migration to urban areas and could be better described as moderate urban growth. Due to the phase of restrained, unfinished urbanization in the socialist period, the Slovenian urban system now faces an intense suburbanization process, which poses a challenge (i.e. threat) to the future development of a sustainable urban structure. The case study of Slovenian capital Ljubljana shows how the process of suburbanization is connected to the expansion and improvement of infrastructure systems (e.g. transport and telecommunication systems). Enhanced accessibility of the extended Ljubljana periphery represents an attractive compromise between the benefits of urban (i.e. employment and urban services) and the benefits of rural areas (i.e. good natural conditions). The increasing number of people, who would like to live the urban way of life and have better access to natural areas could be a positive trend when carefully combined with strategic spatial planning based on development of the whole urban region. Otherwise, enhanced accessibility could act as a support to negative suburbanization trend and help to increase the dispersion of small settlements across the country.