Why Visit Maribor, Slovenia?
Forget where you’ve been, what you’ve seen, and what you’ve experienced. Open your mind and heart to new adventures that will stay with you for years to come, in one of Europe’s Best Destinations.
Štajerska
Urbanatural pleasure
Imagine a destination where you don’t have to choose between urban and natural worlds, as you can indulge in both in a blend. From untouched nature to an urban center in just a few minutes.
Pohorje
Free your mind
Dive into the depths of untamed nature. This is a land of peaceful nature, rich heritage, and authentic flavors, offering countless opportunities for diverse and sustainable experiences – all within easy reach.
Dive into the depths of untamed nature
This is a land of peaceful nature, rich heritage, and authentic flavors, offering countless opportunities for diverse and sustainable experiences – all within easy reach.
Well, now that we know each other a little better, it's time to introduce you to Maribor’s oldest resident – the World's Oldest Grapevine.
This over 450-year-old grapevine still grows proudly in the heart of the old town, bearing grapes each autumn and standing as a symbol of resilience, heritage, and wine tradition.
Maribor, Best Green Capital in Europe
After meeting the World’s oldest grapevine, discover how sustainability and tradition grow side by side in our city. Maribor combines vibrant urban life with nature at every turn. It’s no surprise that the Tree City of the World is also Europe’s Best Green Capital 2025.
City park
Step into the peaceful embrace of Maribor’s City Park, an urban green gem in the city center. Among centuries-old trees and vibrant flower beds, this protected landscape monument offers a beloved retreat for locals and visitors.
River Drava
Along Maribor’s Drava, nature sings, history whispers, and adventure flows. Wander the historic Lent district, where riverside charm meets wildlife. Spot lively birdlife, cycle the trails, or hop on a traditional raft and become a true flosar—a Drava river raftsman at heart.
Wine-Growing Hills
Maribor’s wine-growing hills create a picturesque backdrop, where vineyards stretch almost into the city. Climb Piramida or Kalvarija for serene panoramas and a connection to centuries-old wine culture.
Treetop Walk Pohorje
High above the forest floor, at 1,517 meters above sea level, the Treetop Walk Pohorje invites you to experience nature from a whole new perspective. Feel the forest come alive beneath your feet and enjoy nature just as the birds see it—calm, vast, and endlessly inspiring.
Lovrenc Lakes
Tucked into the rolling highlands of Pohorje, the Lovrenc Lakes are a magical mosaic of 20 peat moor pools surrounded by soft moss and rare alpine flora. Reachable by a scenic hike, this natural gem offers breathtaking views—beautiful in every season, even on skis!
Traditional Rafting
Embark on a traditional rafting adventure along the Drava River. Prepare a raftsman's meal, row with a heavy oar, and enjoy wine and stories as you float toward historic Lent—Maribor’s former timber port and riverside heart.
Celebrating Our Heritage
The Whole City is a Stage
From green living to cultural expression, Maribor offers captivating open-air performances and iconic events like Festival Lent, where the streets burst into life with music, dance, and artistic energy.
Festival Lent
Festival Lent transforms Maribor into a vibrant hub of culture and creativity. With legendary acts like B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Manu Chao gracing its stages, the festival showcases the city’s open spirit and its rise as a top cultural and tourist destination.
Festival of the World’s Oldest Grapevine
A festival that celebrates wine, food, and heritage. Enjoy wine and culinary evenings, lively local markets, open-air concerts, and traditional rafting on the Drava River. The highlight is the ceremonial harvest of the 450-year-old grapevine—a proud symbol of the rich heritage of Maribor.
Opera in the Park
Experience a magical evening under the stars at Opera in the Park, one of Maribor’s most beloved summer events. Held in the scenic City Park, this open-air spectacle brings opera’s greatest arias to life, performed by the Slovenian National Theatre Maribor.
Ballet Under the Stars
Ballet Under the Stars is a gift from the Slovenian National Theatre Maribor to the people of the city—a free outdoor performance that brings the magic of ballet to everyone.
Festival Maribor
A festival featuring a top-tier lineup of internationally acclaimed musical artists and a discerning selection of emerging young talents. With a proud half-century tradition and a bold, forward-looking vision, this festival offers the perfect introduction to classical music—and a refined experience for true connoisseurs.
Festival Arsana
Held in Slovenia’s oldest town, Ptuj, Arsana Festival is a celebration of music and culture. Featuring over 50 events across historic venues, it brings together 400 international and local artists in genres from classical to jazz and world music, offering concerts, workshops, performances, and family-friendly activities.
Come hungry
We have it all – from world-class fine dining at Hiša Denk to charming local gems like Pri Baronu, where fresh, local ingredients take center stage.
Hiša Denk
Hiša Denk is a world-class culinary destination. Led by chef Gregor Vračko, this architecturally bold restaurant blends global techniques with local ingredients, offering an avant-garde dining experience that surprises and delights.
Culinary destination
Ptuj Donut
During carnival season, Ptuj bakes over one million golden doughnuts filled with jam and dusted with sugar. These irresistible treats are a beloved symbol of Kurentovanje. One bite leads to another, because when it comes to krofi … one is never enough!
Sweet custom
Pohorje Omelet
The original Pohorje omelet is a true indulgence—22 cm wide and packing over 2,000 calories! Served warm and freshly prepared, this dessert is a delicious taste of tradition from the heart of Pohorje, perfect for sharing.
Traditional dessert
Farm Stays
Tourist farm stays offer a peaceful escape into the countryside, where guests enjoy homemade food, local wine, and authentic Slovenian hospitality. Surrounded by vineyards, forests, or mountains, these farms provide hands-on experiences—from feeding animals to cooking with the hosts.
Authentic experience
Velvet Dinner
A starlit evening, a beautifully set long table for more than 150 guests, and the sound of music in the air. Velvet Dinner brings together hospitality students and renowned chefs to create a multi-course culinary journey.
Outdoor fine dining
Chocolate Village by the River
Visit Chocolate Village by the River, a luxury glamping resort set in a beautiful natural park by the Drava River. Everything here revolves around chocolate, from gourmet treats to cocoa-inspired spa experiences.
Glamping
Maribor 365
Every season brings a new reason to visit Maribor.
In winter, hit the slopes of Maribor Pohorje or unwind with relaxing wellness treatments. In summer, hike, bike, or paddle—through forests, vineyards, or along the Drava River.
Maribor promises unforgettable moments all year round!
Experience the Outdoors
15-minute city
Being small is our advantage. Forget about the bus schedule and looking at the clock while enjoying good food. Maribor is a small city you can easily get across with a bicycle or even on foot.
Standard of Living
Maribor is considered a safe and green city, much like the rest of Slovenia, which consistently ranks among the world’s safest and most eco-friendly destinations.
Its unique location near Pohorje and the surrounding wine roads, accessible local gastronomy, clean tap water, limited traffic in the city center, absence of mass tourism, and high level of safety, all contribute to making Maribor a truly green city.
Drinking Water
In Maribor, you can drink from any water pipe—the quality is so high that buying bottled water is unnecessary. Mariborski vodovod has been ensuring clean drinking water for over a century. With a 1,600-kilometer supply network, it provides water to 170,000 residents across 16 municipalities, covering nearly 8.5% of Slovenia's population. Maribor’s water is among the purest in the country—fresh, natural, and always available.
Infrastructure
Cycling Routes
Because of the location, we attract cyclists and mountain bikers alike to the region. Sunny vineyards around the city, the green forests of the mountains, streams and rivers such as the famous Drava, as well as other natural highlights and vantage points offer beautiful routes on two wheels. Are you a mountain biker? Choose among 3,464 cycle routes to explore. Cycling through the city? Sure. Follow the red path.
Mobility
Our Own Power Source
We dreamed of energy independence 100 years ago—ever since Hidroelektrarna Fala, once the largest power station in Europe, began supplying electricity to the grid. Today, Dravske elektrarne Maribor operates eight major hydropower plants, five small hydropower plants, and four solar power plants, producing nearly a quarter of Slovenia’s electricity and 80% of its renewable energy.
Energy
Eco Friendly Urban Garden
The first community of urban eco garden came to life in Maribor during the European Capital of Culture. It all started in Borova vas near Pohorje. Over the years, the garden became a place for socializing, growing food and an opportunity to broaden one's horizons about self-sufficiency and ecologically grown food.
Welcome to the green thinking Maribor.
Food self-sufficiency
Free Education
From primary school to university - education is free.
The education system as a whole is split into three levels - primary school, secondary school (vocational, technical and general programs) and vocational college or university (tertiary education). The basic public elementary schooling in Slovenia is fully obtainable by all children.
Education
Green Jungle in the City
Maribor is a unique city that offers a life in the embrace of nature. The surrounding hills root deep beneath the city streets and create a great foundation for the growth of greenery around every corner. No matter which street you walk through, your eyes will always find something green to rest on.
Lifestyle
“My Maribor is an urban oasis in the middle of beautiful nature and here is my playground. Dear friends from all over the world, come for a visit that will stay in your heart forever. ”
Through music to space…
They say music can take you to the heights. If you have ever experienced a live performance by 2Cellos, you know that’s true. In Maribor, this statement has even taken a tangible form, as it is the place where the first Slovenian nanosatellite was born and sent into space.
“In Maribor, we developed and launched the first Slovenian satellite into orbit, which is also special on a global scale.”
Iztok Kramberger
Founder of SkyLabs and professor
INTER-MUNICIPAL BUSINESS & LOGISTICS ZONE
From a small town to the whole wide world
INTER-MUNICIPAL BUSINESS & LOGISTICS ZONE
Many successful global business stories that have their roots in Maribor are proof that the city has everything entrepreneurs need to succeed: infrastructure, international connections, organized business zones, access to capital, knowledge and technologies, and support services.
We also have a strong startup community and a supportive environment for the development of innovative entrepreneurship. Every year in May Maribor is the location of one of Europe’s best startup & tech events – Podim. It brings together renowned international investors, established corporations, and startups & scaleups from the Alps-Adriatic and Western Balkans regions.
Why to invest in Maribor? www.investinmaribor.com
Get to know some successful Maribor stories.
Already impressed?
Let’s connect and create even greater stories together!
Download our brochure to discover more about our vibrant city and explore the many ways we can collaborate.
Want to talk? We welcome your ideas and are open to new opportunities. Send us an email—we’d love to hear from you!
Photo credits: Muzej narodne osvoboditve Maribor, Narodni dom Maribor, SNG Maribor, Marko Pigac, Zavod za turizem Maribor, Štajerska, Pohorje Slovenia, Luka Šulić personal archive, Iztok Kramberger personal archive
