10 things to do in Maribor that prove this city is worth your time
Maribor is Slovenia’s second-largest city, located in the Eastern part of the country. Even though all the locals know about it, it is still one of those places rarely included in most tourist’s travel plans.
We have lived and traveled through Slovenia for more than 5 years now, and it is our mission to help you make the most of your trip through our country!
We love showing you around less visited places in Slovenia, which is why we created this guide. We want to show you why Maribor is worth visiting and the best things to do in town.
Why is Maribor worth visiting?
Even though Maribor is Slovenia’s second-largest city, I’d be remiss if I didn’t really put things in proportion. You shouldn’t come expecting a megalopolis.
Maribor is significantly smaller than Ljubljana, with just a bit over 110.000 inhabitants. It is a cozy town, with an adorable city center and a very strong wine culture.
Here are some of the main reasons why we think it’s worth adding Maribor to your itinerary:
- The stunning architecture in the city center – The architecture of Maribor’s buildings is a mix between the Austro-Hungarian and ex-Yugoslavian cultures.
- The city center is incredibly well-preserved! You can see it in buildings like the City Hall, the main Post Office, the University, and many others.
- You can visit the oldest grapevine in the world! It even holds the Guinness Record for it, continue reading and I’ll show you more below.
- You will be in the heart of one of Slovenia’s main wine regions. This area of the country is known mostly for white wine. You can try some in the bars and cellars around the city, but the most authentic experience will be if you drive through the wine producers just outside of town.
- Maribor holds a lot of history, which makes it a very interesting spot for history lovers. I recommend booking a tour to get to know all the details and stories.
- Prices are typically lower than in Ljubljana and other more touristic regions of the country.
Adding Maribor to your itinerary
We help many people plan their trip to Slovenia, including day-by-day itineraries, so we know that organizing a schedule is something super personal!
If this will be your first time visiting Slovenia, we recommend adding a visit to Maribor if you will be spending 7-10 days in the country. This way, you can visit Ljubljana and the Triglav National Park in the first few days, then head East to explore the Maribor area.
Read also:
Best things to see and do in Maribor, Slovenia
Since we live here in Slovenia, we’ve been to Maribor multiple times but it was not easy putting together this list. I did my best to select a mix of places that would be interesting for a first-time visitor while also including some very local things.
So, here we go:
Get amazed at the beautiful Maribor main square (Glavni trg)
Let’s start the day with a visit to the main square. Here, you will be impressed with the unique architecture of the pastel-colored buildings.
Glavni trg is a wide open square that hosts some of the most important buildings in town and a few bars and restaurants. It is also the stage for a lot of local festivals and celebrations.
The most important buildings in Glavni trg are:
- The City Hall – you can go in to check out the inner courtyard, it’s beautiful!
- The Plague Monument
Visit Lent, one of the coolest areas by the river
I may be biased but Lent is my favorite area of Maribor.
This small neighborhood is located right by the Drava River. There are a lot of cool cafes and restaurants spread by the riverbank and through the small alleys.
Lent is a great area to go for a walk and take in the beauty of the city. However, it is only at the end of the day that the area really comes alive, with the crowded bars bustling with energy.
It is also one of the best areas to enjoy a drink at sunset!
Pro tip: Every year on the last week of June, the entire city is taken by one of their main festivals called Lent. It is a super fun cultural and musical event. They have shows, activities, dances, and plays happening all over town – some are free and others paid. It’s worth checking it out if you will be there in June!
Check out the Old Vine House – the oldest grapevine in the world!
Right in this area, you will see the Old Vine House. This is one of the most special places in Maribor so make sure you don’t miss it.
Right outside of the Old Vine House, you will see the oldest grapevine in the world (they actually have the Guinness record for it)!
The tree is protected by bars but you can see it rising up towards the building. It is more than 450 years old!
Believe it or not, this grapevine still gives grapes! Since this specific vine is such a special one, practically every grape is counted and they make only a few small bottles per year. This wine cannot be purchased, they are only given to special guests.
Every year at the end of September, there is a festival in town that celebrates the vine and ends with the symbolic first grape harvest of the year. This year, the festival will happen between 26-29 of September.
Inside the Old Vine House, they have a small museum and a store.
Read also: Visiting Slovenia in September – all you need to know
Walk by the Drava River
The area by the Drava River was renovated and it is the nicest place in town to hang out or go for a walk. And it’s not only a tourist spot, it is where the locals take their dogs for a walk or go for a drink too.
Here are a few spots you can see on the walk by the river (besides the Old Vine and Lent):
- Sodni stolp – The Court Tower that used to serve as a defense on the walls of Maribor, protecting the southwestern corner.
- Vodni stolp – The old water tower. Around this tower, you can see reminiscent parts of the old city wall.
- Glavni Most (in the picture above) – The main city bridge. You can cross the bridge on foot or by car, but there is also a pedestrian-only bridge parallel to Glavni Most if you will be in the Lent area.
Pro tip: The best landscape views of Maribor are from the other side of Glavni Most, looking towards Lent. You can see the beautiful Old Town with all the orange rooftops and the church towers rising in the distance.
Visit the Maribor Castle
Next on the list of incredible squares that you NEED to visit in Maribor is Grajski trg, which translates into Castle Square.
This is one of the main squares in Maribor and it is a really nice place to go for an afternoon coffee or drinks. There are a lot of cafes in the square, often surrounded by street artists playing live music.
Maribor Castle stands right on the square. It is not one of the largest castles in Slovenia, but it is very well preserved. If you are interested, you can go inside for a tour (full disclosure: we never did).
Pro tip: There is a very cute garden and café in the courtyard of the castle. It’s free to visit, so make sure you check it out!
In the center of the square, you will see the statue of St Florian. Back in the day, the city of Maribor was plagued with multiple fires that were destroying the city. This is why they put up the statue of St Florian, the protector against fires.
Right next to the castle, you will also see the most different statue in Maribor – Spomenik NOB. It stands out because of its very unique shape and style, which doesn’t seem to fit the surroundings, as you can see below.
This statue is meant to symbolize when Maribor was freed from German Occupation in WWII.
If you look closely, you can actually see the faces of the soldiers fallen during that time that are pictured on the statue. The statue was nicknamed “Kodžak” by locals, which means “bald” since it resembles a bald head.
Check out the two main churches in Maribor
First, we have Maribor’s Cathedral called Stolna Zupnija which is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It is located in Slomskov trg, a beautiful small square where you can see some of the most incredible buildings with Habsburg architecture.
My favorite one is the Post Office building (pictured above), which is claimed to be the first post office in Slovenia!
The other main church you should check out is the Basilica of Our Mother of Mercy, a stunning Franciscan church. It stands out with its red bricks.
Visit the city park (especially if you’re traveling with kids)
The main park in the city is called Mestni Park. It’s a large green area, perfect for a summer day.
There are a lot of small events and activities happening in the park throughout the year. The last time we were there was during Lent 2024 and they had a lot of activity stations for kids.
Check out the graffiti at Pekarna
Pekarna is the name of a small area of Maribor known as a little alternative and artistry zone.
It got this nickname because it is located where an old military bakery used to be (Pekarna in Slovenian means bakery).
If you’ve visited Metelkova in Ljubljana, you can expect a similar version of it here in Pekarna. It has a similar vibe, just smaller.
Views over Maribor
The Styria Region where Maribor is located is known to be a very flat area of the country, without many mountains.
But, right behind the old town, you will see a couple of hills filled with wine vines. These hills make for a great afternoon walk and from the top, you have some of the best views over Maribor Old Town.
Visit Vongole and its wine fountain
Maribor and the whole region are known for their strong wine culture here in Slovenia.
There are a lot of vineyards in the city’s surroundings. One of the nicest areas to go visit on a day trip is Vongole. You can either visit some of the vineyards directly or go check out the wine fountain.
The wine fountain works similarly to the one in Marezige, on the seaside. It’s not a public fountain. For a price, you can get a glass and try some of the local wines, serving yourself from the tap.
This is a great day trip idea and you can rent e-bikes in the center of Maribor so no one needs to worry about driving.
What to visit close to Maribor?
Since you will be exploring the Eastern side of Slovenia, here are a few things you can do that are close to Maribor:
- Visit the heart-shaped road in Špičnik
- Visit Ptuj, the oldest city in Slovenia
- Go to Rogla in their canopy walk
Where to stay in Maribor?
The Old Town of Maribor is small, so if you get a place in the center, you can walk everywhere. The best way to explore the city is on foot because figuring out parking in the center can get quite annoying.
We stayed at Hotel Orel which is located right on Grajski Trg. It has quite a good price-comfort ratio for the location and they had a really incredible breakfast.
Here are other options for places to stay:
- Fani&Rozi B&B – This place has an incredible location, right by the river. You will also have a covered parking garage just around the corner, which is super helpful.
- UNI Hostel – Budget-friendly option if you are looking for shared accommodation. It is from the same owners of Hotel Orel and they have pretty much the same location (which is excellent).
FAQ – Popular questions about visiting Maribor
How many days do I need in Maribor?
If you only want to visit the city, one day in Maribor is enough. As I said, the Old Town is quite small so you can comfortably visit it all within a day.
If you also want to check out more of the region, go on wine-tasting trips and drive around, then add a few more days based on what you want to see.
What is the best time to visit Maribor?
I personally like summer and autumn the most, because it is when there are more events and things happening in the city.
In fact, if it matches your schedule, there are two festivals that really bring the city alive:
- Lent, which happens in the last week of June.
- Martinovanje, the celebrations of St Martin’s Day which happens in November. Since this is a wine festivity, the Maribor region takes it to the highest notch with some of the best Martinovanje celebrations in the country.
Read also: Best time to visit Slovenia
Can you visit Maribor as a day trip from Ljubljana?
Yes, it is technically possible to visit Maribor as a day trip from Ljubljana but make sure you consider the transport time.
It takes at least 1h 30m by car each way (potentially more if you get caught in the rush hour, so prefer driving at alternative times!).
It will be a long day, but it is entirely possible to do a day trip and be back to Ljubljana at the end of the day. Another great option if you won’t be traveling with your own car is to book a day trip like this one.
Do you need to rent a car for your trip?
We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!
How to get to and around Maribor?
You don’t need any transport method to go around Maribor if you will be staying in the city center. If you will be staying far away, you may want to consider using the city bus or the bike.
If you will be renting a car for your trip, there are public parking spots all over the center. The ones closest to the Old Town cost €1/hour.
Now, when it comes to the best ways of getting to Maribor from other places in Slovenia, the best option is to drive your own car.
You can technically come to Maribor by train or bus from Ljubljana or other main cities in Slovenia, but it is a lengthy journey. If you pick this option, I do recommend sleeping in Maribor and not making it a day trip.
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Slovenia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Check out our page with curated Slovenia experiences
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Slovenia Map: Check out our custom-made Map with 290+ must-see spots!
- Slovenia itineraries: Check out our pre-made Slovenian itineraries!
- Recommended hiking gear: Check our recommendations on Amazon if you will be hiking in Slovenia!
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