Maribor Favorites

Favorite thing: I have HORSCHECK to thank for introducing me to the 'In Your Pocket' series of tour guides, which we first had the opportunity to 'road test' in Tallinn (when the hotel we stayed in provided a copy of Tallinn In Your Pocket in each room).

For my money, it's a much more useful travel guide than the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides that we tend to use when we travel. In many ways, it's an unfair comparison, as the 'In Your Pocket' series focus on a single city, and are updated every couple of months, so, as you would expect, it is more current - particularly on events - and can provide information on a wider range of attractions than a regional guide which is only updated every couple of years. Also, you do have to have identified the city (rather than just the country) that you want to visit before the In Your Pocket guides come into their own, so I would suggest using a conventional tour guide for your initial planning and then supplementing this with the more local insight these publications offer.

For me, the strength of this guide is that it is written by English-speaking writers who are resident in the city. This means that the descriptions are livelier than often awkwardly phrased tourist material which is clearly translated from another language. I also thought that the mix of attractions and events listed was varied and would appeal to a range of interests and ages.

At present, the In Your Pocket series tends to focus on cities in Central and Eastern Europe, although new titles are continually being added.

For the Maribor guide, follow this link: http://www.inyourpocket.com/slovenia/maribor

Favorite thing: The Lent is the most lively area of the city, if you are looking for nightlife, live music and nice caffee and pubs this the place for you.
In the past few years they have been restoring several old buildings and it look nice and kind of "Boheme"

Favorite thing: In Maribor there is the oldest plant of Grape Vine, it is a local attraction!
The vine is over 400 years old and have been classified in The Guinness Book ofRecords.
To me it is a symbol of the great Slovenian wine tradition, the East part of Slovenia is very well know for the wine they make.

Favorite thing: For those independent visitors who'd like to get information on Maribor and its running activities, there's spot to get all what they need: at Tourist information centre in a glassy low block, at Partizanska street (that's next to the large brick built, green roofed Franciscan church, or few steps across the road from Kojak monument).

The whole set of activites can be find on their web site but in general:
go there to book tours or get ideas what to do on your own, get free brochures and maps, buy better maps, souvenirs or just ask about anything what bothers your stay. It's right place to ask!

More here:
Tourist Information Centre

Fondest memory: Note: below TIC there's renewed public toilet judged as as the best one in the country. Well, now you know!

Favorite thing: ... the answer is: Narodni dom, KIBAR at Kneza Koclja street. This place is part of the 'Kibla project' - it is based on idea of public reading rooms from previous century in order to distribute knowledge and make peope more active in public life, to say in basic sentence. Great stuff if you need to use internet or learn something new! As with any real internet cafes you can have your cup of coffee or beer, or other kinds of drinks and snacks from the bar. Here you can also get up to date information/fliers with programs in variety of places around Maribor - and (free) copy of IYP guide - good if you don't have any guide yet so it's worth to check out this place first.

Narodni dom has long history and is known as one of the centers of culture in Maribor. More than decade ago a group of young people had been doing a lot to promote cyber world here - and Kibla was born; originally modest and altruist concept with slowly working computers and internet connection has become broader thing related to visual/cyber art and science and nowsadays they hold computer workshops and contemporary 'art' exhibitions and installations - video, pictures and that kind of stuff. Some things can be real 'different' and interesting, other formal and banal, hey, but who am I to judge the art or whatsoever... like you know the concept of contemporary art is very broad - and art can be everything. Admission to Kibla events is free - worth to visit and support.

Other things in Narodni dom are also worth to check out: theatre, concerts, and lovely little cinema in the basement with small and cozy underground bar with friendly atmospehere.

For more stuff on Kibla check out here: http://www.kibla.org/
Narodni dom program: http://www.nd-mb.si/

Address: Ulica Kneza Koclja 9

It's in city centre, easy to find and there are signs for Narodni dom. It's opposite 'horse' monument.

Favorite thing: Tourism Office

* Tourist Information Centre Maribor (pic)
Partizanska c. 6ª
2000 Maribor
- Tel.: (+386) (0)2 234 66 11
- Fax: (+386) (0)2 234 66 13
- E. Mail: tic@maribor.si

Working hours: Monday - Friday: 9.00 - 19.00
Saturday: 9.00 - 18.00
Sunday and holidays: 9.00 - 18.00

* Old Vine House
Vojašniška 8
- Tel.: (+386) (0)2 251 51 00
- Fax: (+386) (0)2 234 66 13
- E. Mail: stara-trta@maribor.si

*Internet: www.maribor-pohorje.si

Favorite thing: Parking did not seem to be much of a problem in Maribor. There is parking provided on both sides of the center. The signs are well marked and we never seemed to have trouble finding a place.
I have written this tip because where I live in Italy, parking is a major problem. It seems like we are always scheming to find a small place for a small car.

Fondest memory: Featured here below is a metal statue made from old Yugos that were once double parked.

Favorite thing: According to my copy of Lonely Planet Slovenia, the Tourist Information Office was meant to be located opposite the train station but has now moved to be in front of the Franciscan Church near the City Castle.

Open: Monday - Friday 9.00-19.00, Saturday 9.00-17.00, Sunday 9.00-12.00.
Partizanska 6a
http://www.maribor-tourism.si