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.
Overall Rating: 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. |
| 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
View our image gallery with 42 high-resolution photos that proves you absolutely have to visit Maribor!
Three photos below by Erich Reisinger
Maribor is set on the Drava river.
A street view in the old part of the city which is full of colorful historical buildings and lovely alfresco cafes and restaurants.
A beautiful panorama of Maribor from the Stolni Vrh hill.
Next 13 photos below by Jure Kralj
As the capital of the Styria region, Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia. It lies on both sides of the Drava river.
Maribor oozes charm thanks to its lovely Old Town along the Drava River, also known as Lent.
The Old Bridge connects the historic city centre on the left side of the river with the new city core that lies on the right side.
The Main Square is the largest of Maribor’s squares and is lined with buildings with interesting facades and architectural ornamentations.
The Liberty Square is Maribor’s favourite hang-out spot.
Maribor is the home of the Old Vine, the oldest grapevine on Earth, as certified by Guinness World Records. It grows on the Old Vine House in Lent, the oldest part of Maribor.
Among the most colorful ceremonies in Maribor is the harvesting of the Old Vine. It produces between 35 and 55 kg of grapes per vintage.
The historic building of the University of Maribor, which is the second biggest and the second oldest university in the country.
The Ljudski Vrt stadium in Maribor is considered as one of the most beautiful smaller stadiums in Europe.
Every December, during the festive season, the streets are beautifully decorated with Christmas lights and decorations.
Maribor’s City Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful city parks in Europe.
A beautiful view of the city from the Stolni Vrh hill.
A beautiful view of the city from the Kalvarija hill.
Next 11 photos below by Klara Kulovec
Set on the Drava river, Lent is the oldest part of the city.
A little bit different view of Lent from under the Old Bridge.
The history of Maribor has close ties with the Drava river and the various bridges over it.
River Drava River winds through Maribor and separates the commercial and industrial part of the city from the historic old centre.
Maribor looks so beautiful draped in winter white.
Main Square, the central part of Maribor’s old town, is an open and spacious place surrounded by beautiful historic buildings. It’s full of great restaurants and cafes.
The Main Square is beautiful in winter with the scenery of snow.
The Franciscan church of St. Mary.
On the facade of the Old Vine House the Old Vine – the oldest grape vine in the world – has been growing its roots for over 400 years.
Night view of Maribor’s Ljudski Vrt stadium from the Kalvarija hill.
And this is how wonderful and romantic the city looks at night.
Next 5 photos below by Bostjan Kersbaumer
Beautiful panorama of Maribor from the Kalvarija hill.
Maribor’s old town district of Lent.
The streets are lined with colorful historical buildings as well as alfresco restaurants and cafes.
The General Maister Square is dominated by the beautiful neo-Renaissance building of the First Grammar School.
This beautiful panoramic night view of Maribor was captured from the Piramida hill.
Next 6 photos below by Uros Leva
View of the Lent waterfront area along the Drava River.
The Studenci footbridge, a slim and transparent, geometrically very interesting footbridge over the Drava River built in 2007.
Maribor looks beautiful in winter with the scenery of snow. Just ridiculously beautiful!
Lovely walking paths and benches along the Drava river are great to kick back and relax in the middle of the city at any time of the year.
Maribor lies at the meeting point of the Pohorje Massif, the Drava Valley, the Drava Plain, and the Kozjak and the Slovene Hills.
Maribor is widely known for its vineyards and wine production.
Next 3 photos below by Peter Zajfrid
The Old Bridge over the Drava river.
A beautiful sunset over the city.
Maribor’s City Park is a place of natural serenity where residents can come throughout the year and enjoy the outdoors.
Photo by Piotr Skrzypiec
A beautiful view of the city from the the Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort.
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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