EBD Ptuj naslovna

Destination

Ptuj

Slovenia’s oldest town

Create memories in an old town of new experiences! Ptuj is considered Slovenia’s oldest town, where cultural heritage, history, a tradition of winemaking, ethnographic legacy, archaeology, and natural heritage come together. The town played a leading role in key historical moments over the past two millennia. Among the notable figures connected with Ptuj are Markus Antonius Primus, the Lords of Ptuj, Parzival, Bishop Victorinus of Poetovio, painter France Mihelič, and photographer Stojan Kerbler.

Ptuj will captivate you with spa tourism, the discovery of its rich past, and authentic cuisine. Alongside cultural heritage and thermal water, outstanding wines remain one of the city’s defining symbols – as do the famous and mysterious kurents, part of UNESCO cultural heritage.

Take a walk through Ptuj, which over the centuries has preserved its medieval urban layout, Roman monuments, and the beautiful façades of historic buildings. Its streets lead to the magnificent castle, offering views over a mosaic of red-tiled rooftops belonging to monasteries, houses, and churches.

And in the embrace of history, just nearby, the green Mestni Vrh awaits – a diverse hilly landscape dotted with vineyards, orchards, and welcoming homesteads, offering the perfect escape into nature among vines and uplifting vistas.

Ptuj invites you to experience what was once ancient – today, in a boutique way.

Destination Ptuj

Play video

Ptuj – where ancient history, vibrant tradition, and rich culture meet

Ptuj Castle is home to one of the most visited museums in Slovenia, where you can explore museum collections of national significance, while the Poetovio Archaeological Park allows you to discover the archaeological remains of the Roman city of Petovio, the largest Roman settlement on Slovenian soil.

Castle Ptuj
Ptuj

Kurentovanje

One of the top 10 carnivals in the world, when the city transforms into the largest open-air ethnographic museum of intangible cultural heritage. The Kurent, the most widespread and internationally recognized Slovenian ethnographic figure, can be explored year-round at the Kurent House, using the latest modern technologies.

In the chronicles of the old parish books of the Church of St. Mark in Markovci, the figure of the Kurent is already mentioned in writing as early as 1829. An important part of the so-called "Fašenk in Markovci" are other traditional ethnological carnival characters, such as the ploughmen, fairies, the rusá (wild man), the bear, chickens, whippers, and the wedding-themed kopjaši (lance bearers).

Kultura Ptuj
Ptuj

Taste of Ptuj

A fusion of culinary tradition and contemporary creativity

Taste local specialties through a modern culinary and wine experience in the oldest Slovenian town

In the setting of the oldest Slovenian town, surrounded by wine-growing hills, taste the richness of local culinary specialties, lovingly prepared according to old local recipes and with a touch of modern hospitality. Refine the flavours with unique wines from the Haloze and Slovenske gorice regions.

TASTE OF PTUJ
TASTE OF PTUJ

Active ways to spend your free time

Ptuj, with its surrounding hills and the Drava River plain, offers wonderful opportunities for leisure time.

The wine-growing Mestni Vrh, with its vineyards, orchards, and panoramic views of the oldest Slovenian town, surprises both hikers and cyclists.

Active nomads – motorhome travelers – can stop in the nearby Municipality of Markovci, at the newly built motorhome stopover (PZA) in the village of Zabovci near Lake Ptuj, where, in addition to camper facilities, there is also an outdoor fitness area and a so-called pump track – an attractive, multifunctional sports facility.

Ptuj
Ptuj Lake

Ptuj Lake – a paradise for birdwatchers

Največje slovensko stalno jezero je hkrati tudi eno izmed najprivlačnejših. Na zavarovanem območju obrečne pokrajine gnezdi več kot 230 vrst ptic, med njimi tudi redke in zaščitene vrste, ki jih prihajajo opazovati ljubitelji ptic iz vse Evrope.

Ptuj
Birdwatching

Terme Ptuj – Spa and Thermal Park

Relax at the Thermal Park of Terme Ptuj, a large water park with outdoor and indoor pools and numerous water attractions for all generations.

The water from Ptuj’s thermal springs is especially recommended after physical exertion and for musculoskeletal injuries, and it also has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. That is why the water park at Terme Ptuj is often visited by athletes as well.

Terme Ptuj
Terme Ptuj

Municipalities within the Ptuj destination

A fusion of millennia-old history, living tradition, and rich culture.

Markovci

Ptuj

Ptuj
Gastronomy Ptuj
Wine Ptuj
Mitrej
Ptuj
Active holidays Ptuj

How to Reach Ptuj

Ptuj lies along major transport routes, making it easily accessible from both Slovenia and the surrounding countries.

Ljubljana1h 30min
Maribor30min
Dunaj3h 30min
Zagreb1h 20min
Budimpešta3h 30min
Gradec1h 30min