Maribor Travel Forum

My daughter has been accepted as a volunteer in a senior citizens' home in Maribor. She can take three weeks off from her job here, mid-October to mid-November, that's when she will be in Maribor.

Since she is very busy right now, I offered to find out some of the basics for her trip, and I hope VTers will help me there.

What's the best way to get there, train or car? If we book in advance, the train will be cheaper, but how easy is it to get around on public transport in Maribor? Naturally she wants to see some of the area around Maribor as well.

If she comes by car, how is the parking situation in Maribor? Expensive? She drives an old Diesel, how much is Diesel now? I saw some old quote in another forum question, it was slightly cheaper than here in Germany.

What about parking in Ljubljana on a weekend? It looks like there are several trains between Maribor and Ljubljana, so going by train may be easier and more comfortable. Are both train stations pretty much in the centre of the cities?

And the next main question: Where to stay? My daughter has to find her own accomodation. Has anyone stayed in Hostel Eva or Hostel Uni? Is one better than the other?

Thank you for any information. We're going to see her for a weekend. Some years ago we had everything booked for a nice stay in Slovenia and then had to cancel, so this time we are determined to go, even if it's just for a few days.

I'll answer the bits I can, Christine:

Ljubljana railway station is about 10 minutes walk from the very centre of the city, so no problems there. Train to Maribor would be easy enough, although many people make the journey by bus.

I recall Ursa9 talking (complaining) about parking when she lived in Ljubljana. It is no easier than any other city. Here's the info:

http://www.visitljubljana.si/en/ljubljana-and-more/traffic-transport/parking/

Parking in Maribor seemed a tiny bit easier when I visited, as long as you know where you are aiming for. Maribor is pretty small.

Your daughter can find bus info in English (for exploring Slov) here:

http://www.ap-ljubljana.si/eng/

and train info here:

http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/

There's a good fast motorway between Ljub and Maribor (most of the journey anyway), with tolls. Takes about 2 hours if traffic is ok (lots of lorries as it's a through route).

Bus info from Maribor also on the Veolia site:

http://www.veolia-transport.si

which I'm pleased to see now has its English version up and running.

Thank you, Jane. We didn't think of buses, probably because there aren't (not yet) any long-distance buses in Germany. With a good bus/train service and difficult parking, my daughter will probably decide to leave her car here.

I haven't heard from Ursa for a long time. I hope she's doing fine.

She is. :-)

Hi Christine,
Maribor has few daily connections with Vienna (via Graz) by train and many more with Ljubljana and Ljubljana has a few daily train connections with Munchen.

There are also buses from various (major) German cities to Maribor, usually once a week, i guess in that case she'd be faster using bus but it also depends where her journey starts.

If she comes by car it's the fastest of course. In Maribor there are 'blue zones' for where parking is payable per hour (usually between mornings till 5 pm or so, depends where, we recently paid 0,80 eur per 10 min walk to the main square, these areas are within centre of MB and near hospital). You also have short parking zones. Residental areas outside the centre have free parking - for now (mayor promised to charge everyone). Parking (covered) houses are most expensive but there aren't many.
There's low crime rate in town and car theft doesn't happen that often, but it does from time to time, also burglary. It's not at alarm level and if she parks her car anywhere (where allowed of course) without showing what's wealthy inside then the car won't be too attractive. But I also guess it has to do with brand fetish - some car brands (like BMW etc, big Audi or Opel) are more attractive to burglars, but still... not too often.
Diesel comes now at 1,238 eur per liter at any petrol station since the price is fixed for all - no matter by highway, by that or orther company.

You can see latest prices from this one and use it as refference: http://www.petrol.si/

Public transport is fine, there is broad network in town.

She can see here for the bus lines and prices:

http://www.marprom.si/mreza-linij/

When I used to live there I walked for the most of time within wider centre, which is quite compact and on human friendly scale.
She can also travel by trin to many places and to some by bus will be more efficient. For Ljubljana to Maribor i'd suggest her to go by train as there will be many connections and it's nice ride, not necessary lot slowlier than car and she won't have to look for the parking there, plus train brings you directly to Ljubljana centre. Maribor's station is for 10, 15 min slow walk to the main streets, so is the bus station which is near train station.

I don't know unfortunatelly about those hostels you'd mentioned.

Oh, and when driving a car in Slovenia she shoul buy herself 'vignette' ticket for highways because there are really oftenly checking for them and the fines are high.

She can see this link for more detials:
http://www.dars.si/Dokumenti/Vinjeta_228.aspx

Let me know if you need any help :)

V.

Vesna, thanks so much for this detailed reply. I'll pass everything on to my daughter.
We're going to see her in early November, even if it's just for a weekend. I'm really excited, this time I really want to see at least a tiny part of Slovenia.

You're welcome. Early November is great time to visit Maribor, if you can stay there for 11th when is St. Martin's day. It's big festival. Wine pours in streams at that day :)

Just a short update: Last night I got an enthusiastic text message from my daughter, saying how much she enjoyed the Martin's festival. Thanks a lot for this tip, Vesna. I had told her about your tip and she decided to extend her stay to go there.

We all had a great time in Slovenia, much too short of course, but there will be a next time.

Thanks, it's great to hear your news. They say this year we have the best quality of wine in century :)