Introducing Maribor
Maribor is a beautiful city filled with lots of friendly people and wonderful sights and monuments. It is Slovenia’s second largest city and the economic, educational, cultural and sports centre of the north-eastern part of the country. At the same time Maribor is an ideal base for tourists from which to discover what eastern Slovenia has to offer.
Maribor lies at the heart of central Europe, at the historical and geographical crossroads of western, northern and south-eastern Europe, so it is not a surprise that it’s well connected to the rest of the continent in all directions, as well as to all corners of Slovenia through road, rail and air (Edvard Rusjan Airport: MBX). Major airports close to the city are Graz in Austria (58 km), Zagreb in Croatia (88 km) and Ljubljana (98 km). And since it is situated along the banks of the Drava river and lodged in the nature of Pohorje mountain range on the one side and the wine growing hills on the other side, Maribor has grown into one of the most important tourist destinations in Slovenia.
Maribor was first mentioned back in the 12th century and has experienced ups and downs in its nine hundred years of history. It gained town rights in the 13th century. The city owes its present character and appearance to a number of historical monuments, including a beautifully preserved old town centre with a 15th-century castle, a picturesque late 13th century church of St. John the Baptist, the remains of a town wall with four defence towers (in the Late Middle Ages the town had to ring itself with strong walls to ward off the Turkish army), a medieval market and several other monuments from different historical and architectural periods from the Renaissance to the present day.
Maribor is also known as the city of great wine and the city where the oldest vine in the world can be found. The over 400 year old Zametovka vine growing outside the Old Vine House in the historic city centre called Lent is registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest vine in the world. The house is now a museum dedicated to teaching visitors all there is to know about the wine culture of the region. There’s also an enormous collection of over 300 different brands of wine, which can be bought at discount prices. The city also boasts a huge wine cellar covering an area of 20,000 square metres.
Thanks to a calendar packed with events, there’s always something going on in this lively city. Every month of the year there are internationally known events taking place in the city. Entertainment, sports, cultural, ethnological and other events – something for everyone!
The Maribor Tourist Information Center is the best place to begin a visit. It’s well-stocked and you’ll receive a wealth of information there on all of the sights both in the city and the surrounding areas, and various souvenirs are also available for purchase in addition to free brochures.
A diverse tourist offer is available also in the surrounding areas of the city. Thera are several spa resorts and wellness centres in the near vicinity and the Pohorje mountain range is a very popular destination for hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter.
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 Overall Rating:  09/10 (Highly Recommended)Discover Maribor's famous 450-year-old vine and Slovenia's wine culture at the Old Vine House. Taste delicious local wines from their great selection, and check out the beautiful new mosaic floor that shows Maribor's history. |
 Overall Rating:  10/10 (Must-See)Established in 1847, the Vinag Wine Cellar is one of Europe's largest and oldest classical tunnel wine cellars right in Maribor's city center. It stretches over 2 km underground, covers more than 15,000 m², and boasts a storage capacity of up to 3 million liters, featuring endless rows of enormous wooden barrels, historic concrete tanks, and a treasured archive of rare vintages dating back to 1946. |
 Overall Rating: 10/10 (Must-See)Main Square in Maribor is a pedestrian-friendly square that's ideal for leisurely walks among colorful historic buildings, admiring the striking Plague Column at the center, relaxing at outdoor cafés, people-watching, or enjoying occasional farmers' markets and events—all with a charming, lively atmosphere free from cars. |
 Overall Rating:  07/10 (Recommended)Castle Square in Maribor is a pretty historic square next to Maribor Castle in the old town. It comes alive all year with fun events like open-air concerts, markets, cultural festivals, holiday celebrations, and small performances. |
 Overall Rating: 07/10 (Recommended)Freedom Square in Maribor is a popular, car-free spot where locals meet, have coffee, enjoy markets or events. It's close to the old town, easy to visit and full of history and everyday city life. |
 Overall Rating: 07/10 (Recommended)Rotovz is not a big museum-style attraction, but its charm, historical significance, and prime location make it a worthwhile, easy stop—highly recommended for anyone exploring Maribor! |
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 Overall Rating:  08/10 (Highly Recommended)Piramida Hill is a delightful little escape that delivers one of the best panoramic views of the city of Maribor without much effort—perfect for a quick, rewarding hike. |
 Overall Rating: 08/10 (Highly Recommended)City Park is a beautiful, peaceful green heart in the middle of Maribor—easy to reach, free, and full of old trees, flower beds and winding paths. It’s a perfect spot for relaxing walks, picnics, family fun, or simply enjoying nature right in the city. |
 Overall Rating: 08/10 (Highly Recommended)Three Ponds is a peaceful gem in Maribor’s City Park, offering calm waters, friendly ducks and swans, shaded paths, and quiet benches—perfect for anyone seeking a simple, refreshing nature moment in the city! |
 Overall Rating: 09/10 (Superb)Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort or Mariborsko Pohorje as it is called in Slovenian is the largest ski resort in the country, located at the Pohorje mountain range just south of the largest and most important city in the eastern part of the country, Maribor. It lies at an elevation between 325 and 1,327 metres and consists of three sections with a total of 41,5 kilometres of varied and well-kept ski runs. |
 Cuisine: Creative, modern Restaurant Mak in Maribor is a Michelin-recognized spot and an unforgettable fine-dining experience that's far more than just a meal—it's a playful, creative performance led by chef-owner David Vracko. OVERALL RATING: 10/10 (Exceptional) PRICES:  (Expensive) |
| The accommodation options in Maribor can be divided into five main categories: hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, self catering apartments and hostels. |
 There are more than 20 hotels providing almost 3,000 beds in Maribor and its surrounding area. Find out which are the ones that we recommend and why. |
 Less formal than a hotel, guest houses in Maribor, Slovenia are a popular choice for couples, single people and families alike. Most Maribor guest houses will be a privately owned residence and your hosts are likely to live there as well, so they are immediately available to answer your questions about the local area and address any concerns you have. |
 Maribor apartments usually come fully furnished and include a kitchen - all for the price of a budget hotel. One of the big benefits of staying in a self-catering apartment in Maribor is how it can feel like a home away from home. Regular interaction with local neighbors helps you appreciate what it's actually like to live in Maribor, Slovenia, if only for a short time. |
 Maribor bed and breakfasts are staffed by welcoming innkeepers that will make you feel like family as soon as you walk through the door. You’ll have no problem feeling at home when you visit Maribor, Slovenia. |
 The hostels in Maribor are modern places with great services and amenities and filled with lots of like minded travelers! As long as you don't mind sharing a dorm with a bunch of strangers, and sharing the bathroom and kitchen with even more, you'll make plenty of friends here. |
 Stay close to Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia, on a farm stay and you'll combine the best of both worlds. Staying at a farm is a unique alternative and there are some really wonderful tourist farms in the vicinity of Maribor. |
Maribor Pictures
Maribor is Slovenia’s second-largest city and the heart of the Stajerska (Styria) wine region. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
From above, Maribor reveals its full charm: the historic city center hugs the gentle curves of the emerald-green Drava River, with the red-tile rooftops of the old Lent district lining the waterfront, elegant bridges spanning the water, and green parks stretching inland toward the rolling hills and distant Pohorje mountains. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
The Main Square, known as Glavni trg, is the lively heart of the city and one of the most iconic spots in Maribor. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Freedom Square (Trg svobode) is one of Maribor’s key public squares, a lively pedestrian zone right next to the historic old town. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Castle Square (Grajski trg) is a lovely medieval square in the heart of Maribor’s historic old town, named after the impressive Maribor Castle (Mariborski grad) that dominates its northeastern side. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
Maribor, nestled along the Drava River in northeastern Slovenia, offers some of the most stunning panoramic views where the historic city seamlessly blends with lush vineyards climbing the surrounding hills. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)
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 Enjoy this beautiful photo gallery with 20 high resolution Maribor photos, all taken by professional photographers. |
 Maribor is a beautiful city filled with lots of friendly people and wonderful sights and monuments. It is Slovenia’s second largest city and the economic, educational, cultural and sports centre of the north-eastern part of the country. |
 Uros Leva is a versatile freelance artist – photographer, graphic designer and screenwriter. He has been living in Slovenia’s second largest city Maribor for his whole life and never fails to be overawed by the beauty of the city. His connection to Maribor began the moment he was born and the more Uros experiences this city, the further he falls in love. When Uros is behind the camera, his goal is to bring out the beauty of Maribor and its surrounding area for all to see. |
Location of Maribor on the map
Address: Glavni trg 1, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.557246, 15.645795
GPS coordinates: 46° 33′ 26.0856” N 15° 38′ 44.8620” E
Region: Styria
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 Maribor has been named Europe's Best Wine Capital 2026 by European Best Destinations. It beat famous places like Bordeaux (France) and Porto (Portugal) thanks to its long wine tradition, the world's oldest grapevine (over 450 years old), great wines, tasty food, and lively culture. |
After all these years, we still haven’t made a visit to Maribor, hopefully we can do so on our next visit. 😊😊
Me and hubby love Maribor! Greatest atmosphere and amazing people. We loved the restaurants and clubs by the river, and beautiful centre… smell of roasted chestnuts in the streets on a cool October evening… perfect.
Such an amazing place! One of our favourite stops.
A beautiful city and the winery with the oldest vine is stunning 💕love Slovenia
Even though it’s a large city, it has a really quaint feel to it. Love the river walk too.
What about the oldest grape vine?
I love my place i know it sometimes a little drowsy it works
Stunning and the winery is amazing.
Didn’t have time to stop in Maribor on my last two trips, will be on the list for the next trip!
Maribor is a lovely town with several significant museums that reflect its rich history. It’s really a shame it is so often overlooked by visitors to Slovenia.
Maribor is a beautiful city in a very pleasant setting, it seems like a great easy-going place, and is a fantastic base for exploring eastern parts of Slovenia that fewer tourists tend to vist. Nearby Ptuj is a charming small, old town.
Maribor is a very welcoming and charming little city.