

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

An Old Town Full of New Experiences
Already in the second half of the 19th century, the first initiatives for the development of tourism began to emerge. “The people of Ptuj invited travelers to explore the remains of the city’s glorious past, praised the mild climate and high-quality wines, and recommended bathing in the fast-flowing and clean Drava River.”
(Marija Hernja Masten, The Old Town on the Drava)
Ptuj is a city where millennia of history, heritage, and culture intertwine. It offers cultural experiences 365 days a year. Among them, the most visited is Kurentovanje, when the city transforms into the largest open-air ethnographic museum of intangible cultural heritage, listed by UNESCO.
Lonely Planet ranked Kurentovanje among the ten most fascinating carnivals in the world.
Beneath the Drava bridge flows a mighty river that offers plenty of opportunities for relaxation and experiences in nature – a romantic walk along the Drava, birdwatching at the colorful Ptuj Lake, or catching the sun’s rays on the Ptuj beach …
You can take a walk through Ptuj’s culinary scene with the help of the Taste Ptuj culinary map.
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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.


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).


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.


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.


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.


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.


Municipalities within the Ptuj destination
Markovci
Ptuj






How to Reach Ptuj
Ptuj lies along major transport routes, making it easily accessible from both Slovenia and the surrounding countries.
Ljubljana | 1h 30min | |
Maribor | 30min | |
Dunaj | 3h 30min | |
Zagreb | 1h 20min | |
Budimpešta | 3h 30min | |
Gradec | 1h 30min |