Maribor in 48 hours

Adapt the plan to the weather, opening times and your own pace. If one day is forecast to have better weather, spend it on Pohorje.

After breakfast, walk from Grajski trg to Slomškov trg, then along Poštna ulica to Glavni trg. Stop at the castle, cathedral and Plague Column along the way. Take a coffee break between sights and get to know the city through its everyday scenes, too.

Continue via Židovski trg to Lent, where the Oldest Vine awaits beside the Drava. Combine your visit with a walk along the riverbank. Leave some room for the unplanned during this part of the day: a photo, a moment to sit or a turn down a side street.

After lunch, choose one longer visit. For the history of the city and region, head to the Maribor Regional Museum; for art, check the exhibitions at the Maribor Art Gallery; and for wine heritage, look up tour times at Vinag Wine Cellar. All three options also feature in Visit Maribor’s original two-day itinerary.

Vinag Wine Cellar offers a striking change of perspective: leave the bustle of the city behind and descend among barrels and underground tunnels, the oldest part of which dates back to 1847. Beneath the streets, discover a place where wine has shaped its story over decades.

Spend the rest of the afternoon in the City Park. If you have enough energy and daylight, continue up Piramida. Allow around half an hour for the climb from the park, plus time to enjoy the view and return.

Take your time over dinner. Ask about local dishes and Styrian wines, and choose a restaurant to suit your taste.

For an evening of culture, check the programme at the Slovene National Theatre Maribor (SNG Maribor) and other city venues before you arrive. Book a performance or concert in advance. For a more relaxed end to the day, take an evening stroll along the Drava.

After breakfast, head to the lower station of the Pohorje cable car. You can also get there by city bus on a service towards Vzpenjača. Check the bus timetable and gondola operating times before setting off.

From the upper station, start with a short walk towards the Church of St Bolfenk. The building has a surprising history as a mountain retreat: in 1878, it was fitted out with a forester’s flat and six rooms for hikers. Bolfenk was already welcoming visitors seeking a break on Pohorje in the 19th century.

Stop beside the building and look around. After a day of city façades, the forest, trees and paths now tell the story of the place.

Continue along Rozka’s Forest Nature Trail, a circular route of around three kilometres starting at the upper cable car station. Information boards encourage you to observe Pohorje’s forest and learn about the work of foresters. Allow plenty of time for the walk and stops along the way.

The trail is named after forestry engineer Rozka Debevec-Lesjak, whose vision guided its creation in 1981. It is a good reason to look more closely at the forest: how trees grow, what happens at ground level and how the woodland changes.

After your walk, enjoy lunch at a place of your choice and return to the city. Before setting off, check the weather, trail conditions and the time of your return journey. In winter, adapt your route to the snow conditions and your equipment.

Instead of Pohorje, you can spend day two in the wine-growing countryside around Maribor. Choose a bike ride or a visit to a wine producer and arrange your visit in advance. Visit Maribor’s original article also suggests exploring the wine roads as an option for the second day.

For a relaxed visit, choose one area and a few carefully planned stops. If you plan to taste wine, arrange transport so that you will not need to drive afterwards.