Maribor

Maribor: a town on the Drava with the oldest vine and Pohorje above it

Maribor is the second-largest Slovenian city, yet it behaves like a smaller one. You can walk across the old core, reach Pohorje by gondola in ten minutes, and by the Drava the city spreads out into the riverside, which in summer becomes the central venue.

The town is rewarding because it brings together three things that are separate elsewhere: the old town core, a wine tradition and a mountain with a ski slope right above the houses. Two days are enough for a visit, but with Pohorje and the surroundings it can quickly stretch to three.

Lent and the oldest vine in the world

Lent is the oldest part of the town by the Drava, where rafts once used to land. Today it is a row of eateries and terraces beneath the restored towers, and in summer the venue of the Lent festival, which turns the town into a stage for two weeks.

On Lent grows the oldest vine in the world, the Žametovka, more than four hundred years old, which still bears fruit. Beside it stands the Old Vine House, where they explain its history and offer a tasting, and wine from its harvest is the town's protocol gift.

The old town centre and Piramida

The old core stretches between the Main Square with the plague column and Castle Square, where Maribor Castle stands with the Regional Museum. Between them lie Slomšek Square with the cathedral and the university, and Jewish Square with the synagogue, one of the oldest preserved in this part of Europe.

Above the town rises the Pyramid with the remains of a medieval castle and a chapel on top, which you reach in half an hour. Beside it is Kalvarija, also with a view, and both are surrounded by vineyards, which is unusual for a town of this size.

Maribor Pohorje

From the southern edge of the town, to Maribor Pohorje you get by gondola, which bridges the height difference for you. In winter here is ski resort with night skiing and a World Cup slope, and in summer a bike park, trails and viewpoints.

If you are looking for peace, from Pohorje you can head deeper across the plateau, where the forest closes in and people quickly thin out. You will find the activities gathered among cycle routes and in winter programme.

The Drava, the City Park and the Three Ponds

The river is the most relaxed part of the town. Along it runs The Drava cycle route, which links the town with the surrounding places, while in summer the riverside is full of terraces and events, where you can spend the evening with no plan.

North of the core begins The city park, which continues into the Three Ponds, a walking area with water and an inn. From there it is only a short climb to the Pyramid and Calvary, so you can easily extend the walk into an excursion.

What to do in Maribor?

For a first visit a combination of Lent, the core and the gondola to Pohorje works well. If you are interested in culture, add the castle with the Regional Museum and the synagogue, and for an active day, cycling along the Drava.

In winter the town takes on a skiing rhythm, because the slope is right above the houses. Check experiences in Maribor and choose the one that suits the season of your visit.

Family Maribor with children

With children, the gondola ride, the City Park with the Three Ponds and the summer programme on Pohorje with the summer toboggan run and the adventure park work best. All three are only a short drive from the old core, so you can switch the programme as you go.

In summer you can also head to the bathing area on Maribor Island in the middle of the Drava, a rarity among Slovenian bathing spots. In the rain, the museums in the old core and the aquarium in the City Park remain.

Maribor for two

As a couple a slower rhythm works well: a tasting at the Old Vine, dinner on Lent and a walk along the Drava when the lights come on. For the view climb the Pyramid, from where the town, the river and Pohorje are seen at once.

For a full day, choose the wine road in the hills north of the town, where the distances are short and the roads empty.

What and where to eat in Maribor?

The Styrian cuisine is hearty: dishes with pumpkin oil, Styrian sour soup, gibanica and grilled meat dishes. In inns and restaurants on Lent and in the core the offer is most concentrated.

The town is at the same time the wine centre of Styria, so try the local varieties, among them Welschriesling and Šipon. Beneath the old core stretches an extensive wine cellar, one of the largest in the country, where they hold guided tastings.

Where to stay in Maribor?

If the focus of your visit is the city, choose accommodation in the old core or by the Drava, as you will do most of the sightseeing on foot. You will find the offer among hotels and others accommodation in the town.

If you are coming for skiing or cycling, more practical are accommodation by the ski slope on Pohorje, from where you need no transport to the slopes.

Where to go on a trip from Maribor?

The nearest destination is Pohorje with its plateau and lakes, which begins right above the town. For a day in another town there is Ptuj, the oldest Slovenian town, just under half an hour away.

To the north open the hills with wine roads, and to the south the wider destination Maribor and Pohorje with Rogla and Zreče. All this is within an hour's drive, so you can link the trips without moving your accommodation.