Maribor is Slovenia’s second largest city, but somehow often overlooked as a tourist destination. Granted, Ljubljana seems to steal all of the attention, but there a many great things to do in Maribor!
While there is no disputing that seeing Ljubljana is a must, be sure to visit Maribor for a distinctly different vibe. The city offers a ‘real-life’ feel, yet the area abounds in nature retreats and an incredible wine culture.
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6 Marvelous Reasons to Visit Maribor
If you’re wondering if you should plan a visit to Maribor, here are six marvelous reasons to convince you!
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#1 Maribor Castle Ruins and Pyramid Hill Views
On the northern edge of the Maribor city center is Pyramid Hill (Piramida), a vine-covered, 1,250-foot high hill with a small chapel overlooking the region. In the 12th century, the old Maribor Castle was built on the hill and stood here until 1790. Remains of a well and part of the Maribor Castle floorplan are visible today. The Pyramid Hill chapel, that is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was erected in 1821.
The easily walkable path leads visitors on a half hour stroll to the top through hillside vineyards. The vines, which at one time were left to wither, are maintained and harvested by a collaboration of wineries in Maribor. In addition to the lovely Maribor views, it’s a great spot to enjoy a picnic. No doubt, standing atop Pyramid Hill is one of the top things to do in Maribor!
#2 The Old Vine House and Vinag Cellar Wine, Maribor
There is a long history of winemaking in the Maribor region. In fact, Maribor is home to The Old Vine: a 400-year-old vine, which is the oldest known producing vine in the world. The Old Vine grows on the front of The Old Vine House – a building that was once part of the city wall along the Drava River.
Today, the house is used as a wine museum and tasting room. The vine was planted during the Middle Ages, but still produces between 75-120 pounds of grapes each year – making the wine highly valuable and only offered as prestigious gifts rather than for sale or tastings. For more information about The Old Vine, visit the official website.
The Vinag Wine Cellar isn’t quite as old as the vine – only dating back to 1844. However, it still ranks as one of the largest classic wine cellars in Europe, stretching 1.5 miles below Maribor’s city center. The Vinag Wine Cellar was the biggest producer of wine for Yugoslavia, but is now a museum, storage facility and tasting room.
Featuring 100-year-old oak barrels, a 16,920-liter barrel built in 1862 and a concrete tank that was used from 1888 to 1915, the highlight (besides the tasting, of course) is the cellar where cobweb-covered bottles of wine from around the world are stored.
#3 Lent District on the Drava River
Lent, the oldest district in Maribor, is laid out along the banks of the Drava River and was once a busy trading port full of rafts carrying products to shops and inns. In the 16th century, protective walls and towers were built to fortify the city of Maribor, which successfully secured the residents from Turkish invasion. When the railway reached Maribor in 1844, however, the river and Lent fell out of favor, only recently revived in the 1980s.
Home to the Old Vine, Lent is marked by defensive towers, historic churches and the old Jewish Quarter. The Lent District is also home to many cafes, top Maribor restaurants and bars; making it a hot spot for Maribor nightlife! Promenading through Lent’s preserved sights provides a history lesson on the region, however, the best views of the district are from across the Drava River.
#4 Best Maribor Food and Drink Places
At the center of Maribor are a number of pedestrian-only streets and wide squares lined with impressive architecture. And on those streets and squares are a copious number of outdoor cafes and Maribor restaurants.
Top Maribor Eats
Start with a cup of coffee or glass of wine on the main square, Glavni Trg (or head across the street for a better view of the square). The square features Maribor’s Town Hall, built in 1515, and a white marble Plague Column, dating to 1743.
From the northwest corner of the main square, Postna Ulica heads north to the Maribor Cathedral. The narrow street is packed with outdoor tables to enjoy craft beer and regional fare. Some of the best Maribor restaurants and bars along this street are: Fudo, Isabella and Bascarsija.
In the Maribor Lent District, trendy restaurants, bars and clubs line some of the oldest streets. Take a stroll down Dravska Ulica and find Rooster Lent and Mesarski Prehod for more Maribor nightlife. Along the riverside, there is a wine bar in the Maribor Water Tower, craft beer at a rocker bar (Rokaj) just east of the Glavni Most Bridge and ridiculously good burgers at Jack & Joe.
Enjoying a meal or drink outdoors isn’t limited to dining establishments. City Park Maribor, located on the north side, has ample benches and grassy knolls perfect for a picnic.
#5 Maribor Cathedral Bell Tower & History
The bell tower at the Maribor Cathedral, St. John the Baptist, has been multi-functional since its inception. Built in 1325 next to the town’s parish church, it served as both a defensive structure and the church steeple.
In 1792, after earthquakes and fires, the Maribor Bell Tower was redesigned to include a balcony and apartment, which was the home of the city guard. The duties of the guard were to look out for and alert the brigade of fires in the area, a service that was performed until 1933.
Steps to the balcony and preserved apartment can be climbed for free (donations accepted). The stairs wind around the interior of the tower, passing the enormous hanging bells that ring out the time. The apartment is full of interesting historic details and views from the balcony stretch across the rooftops of the Maribor city center to the surrounding hills.
#6 Pohorje Mountain Maribor
Pohorje Mountain is a mile-high range to the southwest of Maribor, easily accessed by Maribor’s #6 bus. The wintertime Maribor ski resort transforms in the summer to a green space for hiking, biking and outdoor activities. Check out the Pohorje Webcam here to see what conditions are like currently!
A cable car transports guests to one of the peaks where trails scatter in all directions. For a real workout, however, there are hiking paths that lead to the top of Pohorje from the lower cable car station.
Maribor, Slovenia Map
Use this link to Google to find your way to all the Best Things To Do in Maribor, Slovenia!
Our Top Tips For Your Trip to Maribor
- The best time to visit Maribor is…anytime. The city always has something going on!
- EuroPark is the biggest Maribor Shopping Mall.
- Need more reasons to visit Maribor? Check out the official tourist office website for more things to do!
Where To Stay in Maribor, Slovenia
During our visit to Maribor, we stayed in a great Airbnb Apartment. We have found that staying in apartments is often less expensive than hotel rooms – with the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space.
However, for those who prefer staying in traditional accommodations, there are many Maribor Hotels to choose from in – or close to – the city center. Check out these top-rated hotels in Maribor (based on guest reviews) for your upcoming trip: Hotel City Maribor or Garni Hotel Terano – or start your Maribor hotel search on Booking.com. Budget travelers can search for Maribor Hostels – like hostel Maribor 4Rooms or Hostel Pekarna.
Getting To Maribor, Slovenia
Visitors typically travel to Maribor by train, bus or car. The Maribor Bus Station and Maribor Train Station are co-located on the east side of the city center, but within walking distance to most central Maribor accommodations. We arrived by bus from Ljubljana and opted for a train on the return journey onward to Zagreb.
However, our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying (we are JetSettingFools, after all!). When we need to purchase plane tickets, we start our search for the best deals on airline tickets on Skyscanner.
See All The Best Of Slovenia!
Before You Visit Maribor, Slovenia
- Maribor is a walkable city…but only if you pack the right travel shoes! Don’t forget a pair of lightweight and comfortable walking shoes for your trip. I (Sarah) have always packed these shoes by Columbia, Skechers and Reef. Kris prefers wearing these shoes by Merrell and Sanuk.
- We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip to Europe. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for high quality photos. We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos) and a Canon PowerShot ELPH (which takes beautiful pictures and is a slim and lightweight budget camera).
- It’s easy to get turned around in any foreign city! Make sure to have a good city map and/or guidebook before arriving.
- If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.
- Whether you travel with a backpack or a suitcase, you’ll also want to have a great Day Bag to carry all your everyday travel essentials in!
Start planning your trip to Slovenia! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
Looking for more things to do in Slovenia? Read our complete guides to Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Piran, Lake Bohinj, and Kranj along with the Best Slovenian Castles & Slovenia Caves!
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