Maribor, Ptuj, and Celje are three beautiful cities in Eastern Slovenia that offer fascinating castles, stunning landscapes, and a wealth of fun activities for visitors. Whether you’re looking to explore the rich history, enjoy some delicious local cuisine, or simply relax and have fun, these cities have something for everyone. From charming old town squares to vibrant nightlife scenes, there’s no shortage of things to do in Maribor.
We spent two wonderful days exploring this fascinating region of Eastern Slovenia, and in this article, we’ve rounded up 15 of the best things to do in Maribor including some amazing day trips to its surrounding cities of Ptuj and Celje. So, get ready to learn everything you need to know before you go to Eastern Slovenia!
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Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia, and there are several ways to get there. The closest airport is Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport, which offers limited flights to and from other European cities. Alternatively, you can fly into the capital at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport and take a shuttle bus or train to Maribor, which takes about two and a half hours.
We opted to rent a car in order to see Maribor, Ptuj, Celje quickly and easily during our short 2-night stay in Eastern Slovenia. If you would like to rent a car yourself, you can find affordable car rentals here! t
Where to Stay in Eastern Slovenia
Maribor is a great base for your time in Eastern Slovenia because it’s one of the largest cities in the region and it offers lots of amenities like restaurants, public transportation, and nightlife.
It’s best to stay in Maribor’s city center, close to the main square, as all of the main tourist sights are within walking distance of the main square. You can search for affordable Maribor accommodations here!
The Best Things to Do in Maribor
Here’s our list of the top 15 things to do in Eastern Slovenia! We completed this itinerary over two days, seeing Maribor on our first day and Ptuj and Celje on our second day in the region.
1. Maribor Old Bridge
Start your visit at Maribor Old Bridge. Here you can take in the picturesque city views while admiring the powerful Drava river. This bridge is quite lovely in its own right with charming lamp posts and three steel arches. The bridge is a great location for admiring both the architecture of the bridge and of the city at the same time.
2. Maribor Main Square
Next, make your way to the Maribor Main Square where you will see the lovely City Hall which was originally built in 1515. You will also see a commemorative Plague Column signifying the loss of life during the era of the Black Death in 1680. During the plague, Maribor lost a third of its population, a truly devastating statistic.
Luckily, on the lighter side, there is also a fountain where it’s fun to watch the local kids run through the hard-to-predict water sprouts. The game is to try to not get wet, but of course, the fun part is when you fail, making this fountain a fun and lively place for the whole family.
3. Slomskov Square
Next, wandering through Old Town we stopped at Slomskov Square. This is the square of Anton Martin Slomsek, Maribor’s first Bishop. Here you will see another lovely fountain, a cathedral, and a statue of Archbishop Slomsek. The garden area is quite lovely as well making this a charming, but peaceful stop on your self-guided tour of Maribor.
4. Maribor Castle
Next up is Maribor Castle which is a Baroque-styled mansion that was built by Emperor Frederik III in 1478 – 1481. This castle and museum is lovely to behold and is filled with many stunning artifacts that will help you appreciate the history of this region even more.
In addition, this castle sits on a lively square filled with restaurants and shops. The bustling atmosphere outside of the castle makes it a must-see!
5. The Basilica of Our Mother Mercy
Right across the street from the castle, you will find the Basilica of Our Mother Mercy, which is one of the seven Franciscan Basilicas in Slovenia. The original monastery was built in the 12th century but the red brick cathedral was built in its place between 1892 and 1900.
The church towers and dome roof are gorgeous and make for a pretty sight to see while you are in Maribor.
6. Maribor City Park
Next, take a stroll through Maribor City Park. Maribor City Park is a popular meeting spot for all the local residents and visitors to the city. It is at the north end of the city center. It has 3 ponds to enjoy and you will see many locals come here to walk, run, and simply enjoy the lush green area of the promenade.
7. Vodni Stolp Water Tower
The Maribor Water Tower, Vodni Stolp, is a medieval fortified tower that was built to defend against Turkish raids. This tower was built in 1555 and still stands near the Drava River today.
This is a peaceful spot to enjoy the river view and see the swans swimming.
8. City Top Hill Viewpoint
One of the best views in Maribor is at the City Top Hill Viewpoint. Be sure to park or get a ride to the top of the hill and then hike through a scenic vineyard to see a lovely view of Maribor. I must admit that this viewpoint is a bit confusing to get to at first, but the view is definitely worth the little confusion it caused.
Things to Do in Ptuj Slovenia
Just a quick 30-minute drive away from Maribor is Ptuj, a gorgeous medieval town in Eastern Slovenia that offers an interesting castle, charming winding roads, and some of the best views in the region. It was one of our favorite stops in Eastern Slovenia and we can highly recommend spending at least 4 hours in this incredible small town.
9. Ptuj Castle
Your first stop in Ptuj should be to the Ptuj Castle which was built in the 12th century. It was once part of the archdioceses of Salzburg and was built to defend against the Hungarians.
At this castle, we learned a lot about the local culture and their festivals. We admired the old costumes that are used during their annual festivals. We also saw exhibits with ancient furnishings and stunning murals. The castle also have an interactive music exhibit and armory. If you are fortunate you might even see a parade of medieval actors in full costume at the castle. We really enjoyed our visit to Ptuj Castle and definitely think it’s worth doing when you come to Eastern Slovenia.
Click here for the updated Ptuj Castle hours and admission prices.
10. Ptuj City Tower
One of the most interesting monuments in the city is the Ptuj City Tower. This tower was built in the 16th century as a clock tower for the city locals. Make sure to walk around all 4 sides of the clock tower and notice that a clock face is only located on 3 of the 4 sides. This is because the castle lords refused to pay their share of the clock tower, therefore, the townspeople refused to put a clock face on the castle side of the tower. So, this monument is not only beautiful, it has an interesting story behind it as well.
11. St. George's Church
St. George’s Church is directly behind Ptuj City Tower and is worth a quick stop while you are in Ptuj. It was originally built in the 12th century but was changed and expanded over the years including both Baroque and Gothic styles. Take a quick peak inside and also feel free to walk about this church to admire its impressive architecture.
12. The Dominican Monastery
The Dominican Monastery is easy to recognize with its beautifully designed pink and white facade. This monastery was established in 1230, but eventually was dissolved and turned into an army barracks. Now, it’s a museum and a nice way to experience the history of the Dominican monks in Ptuj.
13. Ptuj Pedestrian Bridge
One of the best views in the city is from the Ptuj Pedestrian Bridge. Walk across the bridge and stand on the riverfront to admire great views of the Ptuj castle and city tower. This spot is bound to leave a lasting impression on you.
14. Gostilna Amadeus
For lunch, we recommend Gostilna Amadeus where we had a lovely pork dish and fish plate. The restaurant has a wide variety of dishes to choose from and the food was absolutely delicious! Plus, the prices were also quite reasonable.
Things to Do in Celje
Just 50 minutes from Ptuj is Celje, the fouth largest city in Slovenia. This town is famous for its castle which has some of the most incredible landscapes in the region.
15. Celje Castle
We were really impressed with our visit to Celje Castle because they offer interactive exhibits with actors dressed in period clothing. We got to try shooting arrows and taste a delicious 12th-century wine recipe. The wine had honey and spices and tasted quite similar to Sangria.
The museum exhibit as had a chilling dungeon exhibit, you can see some gruesome torture chamber tools. Naturally, our favorite part of the Celje Castle was the great views. It’s an absolutely stunning location!
Is Maribor Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! We thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring the lovely city of Maribor and if you combine Maribor with its surrounding towns of Ptuj and Celje, it really enhances your visit! Although tourists don’t explore Eastern Slovenia as often as other parts of the country, we found that these cities offered picturesque views that are definitely worth seeing.
Want to know even more about Slovenia? Check out these articles below!
- The Best Things to Do in Slovenia
- The Top 15 Things to Do in Ljubljana Slovenia
- Discover the Beautiful Seaside Town of Piran
- Lake Bled – The Top 10 Things to Do
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The castles and rooftops are so pretty.
I’ve never been to Slovenia but would love to go one day. Actually there are several countries in that general area that I would love to visit. Thanks for your great post giving me information about Slovenia.
The Dominican Monastery looks SO beautiful! We’re hoping to do Slovenia in 2025 or 2026! Pinning this for later.