Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort Overview
Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort or Mariborsko Pohorje as it is called in Slovenian is the largest ski resort in Slovenia, located at the Pohorje mountain range just south of the largest and most important city in the eastern part of the country, Maribor.
The resort lies at an elevation between 325 and 1,327 metres and consists of three sections, the lower section is called Snow Stadium, the mid section is called Bolfenk and the upper section is called Areh. The resort has a total of 41,5 kilometres of varied and well-kept ski runs: 23,5 kilometres of easy blue difficulty, 13 kilometres of intermediate red difficulty and 5 kilometres of difficult black runs. Ten kilometres of pistes are lit up for night skiing. The resort also has 27 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, a ski and snowboarding school and rentals, plus plenty of hotels and eateries.
Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort Review
This relatively modern ski resort is the largest in Slovenia, and arguably the best in terms of infrastructure and organisation in eastern part of the country. Perfect for families, beginner and intermediate skiers, there are 41.5 km of varied and well-kept ski runs.
One of the resort’s biggest draws is its fantastic location right beside Slovenia’s second largest city, Maribor. It offers a very rare urban and ski experience in one. It attracts not only locals from Maribor, but skiers and snowboarders from all over the country and Croatia and Austria too. The ski season usually lasts from mid-December to late March.
In addition to the cable car which takes you directly from the outskirts of the city all the way to the top of the mountain, the ski resort is served by 5 chairlifts and 8 T-bar and J-bar lifts. Some of the lifts are a bit slow but it is pretty easy to get around all areas. If crowded, things get a bit disorganised. Try to avoid the school holidays.
The resort’s main drawback has always been snow. Because of its low altitude and mild winters, slopes have often been slushy or bare. But this problem has been tackled by a massive investment in snow-making and snow-grooming equipment and most of the slopes are now covered by snowmaking. The runs through the Pohorje forests are wonderful. The upper section called Areh has more snow usually. The snow is good though it tends to get icy, not much powder. The long and wide Pisker piste is particularly fun for those who want to practise and improve their carving technique. And the views of the city are amazing.
Night skiing is possible on 10 kilometres of runs. The lighting is very good and the contrast at night makes it very easy to see the terrain.
The nursery area is great for beginners and there’s also a nice sledding area for the kids. Ski equipment rentals are available from the upper cable-car station, and there’s a great ski and snowboarding school as well. The instructors are amazing with the children. A variety of lodging and dining options are scattered around the slopes.
Maribor Pohorje is a little less than one and a half hours east from Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana on the A1 motorway and a little more than an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Croatia’s capital Zagreb.
Overall, this is a fun ski resort for those who want economical good skiing with easy access to facilities and services. It caters for all levels of skiers but is particularly suited to families, beginners and intermediates as there are are plenty of varied blue and red runs when there’s enough snow and all slopes are open. The atmosphere is laid back and everyone is very friendly and helpful.
Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort Facts & Figures
| Total length of ski slopes: | 41,5 kilometres (23,5 km of easy blue, 13 km of intermediate red and 5 km of difficult black runs) |
| Elevation info: | 325 to 1,327 metres (difference 1,002 m) |
| Total surface area: | 250 hectares |
| Number of ski lifts: | 22 (1 cable car, 5 chairlifts, 8 T-bar lifts, 8 J-bar lifts) |
| Ski Equipment hire: | Available |
| Ski school: | Available |
| Night skiing: | Available |
| Freeride / off-piste sectors: | Available |
| Sledding area : | Available |
| Ski pass prices: | Day ticket costs €32 for adults, €27 for youth and students and €18 for children |
| Operating times: | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| General season: | From mid-December to late March |
| Phone: | +386 8 38 89 999 |
| Website: | visitpohorje.si |
| E-mail: | info@visitpohorje.si |
| Address: | Pohorska ulica 60, 2000 Maribor |
| Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: | 46.533090,15.599380 |
| GPS coordinates: | 46° 31' 59.124'' N 15° 35' 57.768'' E |
Maribor Pohorje Piste Map
Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort Photo Gallery
Maribor Pohorje offers a great variety of runs to cater all tastes and levels.
It is a great place for family skiing.
When the conditions are right there is no better skiing in eastern Slovenia.
It is great for kids and adults for skiing and snowboarding.
This is the perfect place to ski with families and skiers of all abilities!
The ski school is great and caterers for all levels and ages.
Runs are great when there is enough snow and the weather is good.
Maybe some chairlifts are old, but slopes are well prepared.
The slopes are particularly great after fresh snow.
A gondola takes you up to the top.
The ski slopes offer something for everyone, if you’re not too demanding.
The slopes offer quite a variety of difficulty, which makes the resort perfect for families with children.
The skiing is really nice at Maribor Pohorje.
Usually, the resort is not very crowded.
The atmosphere is laid back and everyone is very friendly and helpful.
The slopes are in good condition and well maintained during the season.
The slopes are varied and well cared for.
The chairlifts are decent, few quite slow, but there are usually no lines during that week.
If it’s a nice sunny day, it’s definitely worth a visit.
The snow making is petty comprehensive on all the main runs.
The chairlifts are well maintained and easy to ski to, everything is connected!
With a few centimetres of fresh snow the skiing is excellent.
There are some nice restaurants and bars dotted around the slopes.
The snow making equipment is great.
All the ski runs are well looked after.
Night skiing is also available and is quite an experience.
The slopes lit up for night skiing!
The lighted runs for night skiing.
Possibilities for night skiing and sledging are fantastic.
The cable-car is operating at night as well and as much as 10 km of slopes are lighted.
Maribor Pohorje is a great place for night skiing and snow boarding.
Every year, Maribor Pohorje hosts the Golden Fox Alpine World Cup ski competition.
If there is enough snow and all slopes are operating, you will have a great time skiing here.
The mountain caters to all levels of skiing.
Maribor Pohorje is accessed by way of 5 chairlifts, 16 ski-lifts and a gondola, the latter even being reachable by Maribor city bus.
All photos above © Visit Pohorje.
There are a lot of small restaurants scattered all over the resort.
Maribor Pohorje is great for snowboarding, too.
Great for snowboarding with runs to suit beginners and more advanced boarders alike.
Also the people that help you to get on and off the chairlifts are very helpful.
With almost 42 kilometres of varied and well-kept piste, it’s non-stop fun for friends and families alike.
Maribor Pohorje is an attractive holiday destination also in summer, due to the easy access to hiking paths.
Maribor Pohorje is a very popular sports centre in the summer as well, when visitors can engage in various activities and relax in nature.
Every year, Maribor Pohorje hosts the world’s best female alpine skiers who compete in the Golden Fox competition.
Maribor Pohorje enjoys a fantastic location right beside Slovenia’s second largest city, Maribor.
Images by Iztok Medja, Nina Kurnik, Jost Gantar, Slovenia.info!
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. |
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. |
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