It is more sparsely populated, with a slightly older population than much of the rest of Slovenia, which gives it an even calmer, almost rural pace of life. It is still considered one of the country’s less developed regions, so living costs, especially real estate and services, are generally lower than in some other parts of Slovenia.

Why Mura

• Flatland rhythm:
  Mura is ideal for a weekend escape. Distances are short and places are easy to reach. Bike ride or walk in the morning, a good meal at noon, and then a lake or a stop by the Mura River in the afternoon.
• Goričko for views and slow curves:
  the rolling hills, vineyards, and roads feel made for a road trip. Once you reach a viewpoint, the region starts explaining itself.
• A creative tempo:
  if you ever need a region for writing, photography, or simply collecting experiences on the road, Mura region delivers. Inspiration comes easily here. And if you want to go deeper into that way of seeing, I share that kind of experience in my notes, shaped over the years on similar trips.
• Prlekija:
  a little more cinematic, because the light here seems to frame its own scenes. A little more wine-soaked, because conversations rarely stop at one story. Sometimes a little more playful too, because people from Prlekija do not overcomplicate things — they would rather say it plainly.
• Grossmann Festival:
  a cult summer festival of fantastic film and wine in Ljutomer (running since 2005).

Do not miss

• Island of Love (Ižakovci) – Mura River:
  a lovely, almost analog glimpse into river life. Add a short walk along the bank and you have a day that feels fully used in the best way.
• Bukovnica Lake:
  an approximately 8-hectare reservoir in the forests of Prekmurje, surrounded by beech, chestnut, and hornbeam woods. You can enjoy a circular educational trail of about 1.7 km, fishing, a picnic, or camping. By the lake there is also a fairy-tale forest corner for kids and an adventure park with climbing routes and a zip line for all generations.
• Ocean Orchids (Dobrovnik):
  while smaller than Arboretum Volčji Potok, it offers a similar floral abundance.
  approx.: €7
  (children under 15 accompanied by parents enter free)
  
• Goričko and Grad Castle:
  the castle is a great starting point for exploring Goričko Landscape Park, the largest landscape park in Slovenia.
  approx.: €5
  (check opening hours)
  
• Vinarium (Lendava Hills):
  one of those places where you really feel the openness of Prekmurje. The tower is not about adrenaline, but about perspective: a 360° view across vineyards, plains, and the borders of four countries puts things into place fast.
  approx.: €7
• Soboško Lake (Murska Sobota):
  a well-kept walking and recreation route. A nice contrast if you are staying in the region for a few days.
• Filovci Pottery Village:
  an open-air museum and a close-up look at local craftsmanship. The traditional Pannonian houses known as “cimprače” and the story of Filovci pottery are especially interesting.
• Expano (Murska Sobota):
  if you arrive in Prekmurje without a clear plan, this is the best first stop. Expano is not a classic museum, but an interactive introduction to the region.
  approx.: €14

Note on prices: listed prices are for general reference only (2026).

For foodies

The landscape may be flat, but the flavors are anything but. Here are a few tastes that absolutely belong in a You have to try this category.

• Prekmurska gibanica:
  a protected traditional dessert with layers of poppy seeds, curd cheese, walnuts, and apples. I first tried it in my hometown and it won me over immediately.
• Bograč:
  a rich stew often described as a Prekmurje-Lendava classic, with its own competition in Lendava.
• Pumpkin seed oil:
  a darker, aromatic “liquid gold” from the Styria-Prekmurje area. Most at home on salad, but surprisingly good with ice cream too.
• Dödöli:
  a simple local potato dish served with onions and cracklings.
• Prlekija wines (Šipon/Furmint):
  if you add Prlekija to the trip, add a glass of šipon as well — a dry white wine with character that fits the rhythm of the landscape beautifully.
• Homemade cured meats:
  tünka, ham, and lard spreads are not for everyone, but they are undeniably part of the region’s identity.

Pomurje works best when you let things unfold naturally. You can start your own path with writing tips.

AGRA Fair

Every summer, Gornja Radgona becomes one of the main meeting points for agriculture, food, and rural culture in this part of Europe. The international AGRA agricultural and food fair is the largest event of its kind in Slovenia, with more than 1,700 exhibitors from over 30 countries and around 100,000 visitors.

At the fair, technology, local food, animals, machines, and — what I always find most interesting — people from different countries and cultures all come together. The photo of girls in traditional dress shows how this border region, near Hungary and Austria, has long been shaped by overlapping influences. I was here on business, and I can only confirm that Pomurje is truly a place of meeting and connection.

Drava region includes the urban center of Maribor, the forested areas of Pohorje, and the wine landscapes of Slovenske gorice and Haloze. Its character is therefore mixed. It works at the same time as a city region with a university pulse and as a woodland region of plateaus, marshes, scenic roads, vineyard cottages, and farm stays.

Best experiences in Drava

• Pohorje:
  it looks its best in winter, although the last time we were there, on 02/20/2002, we were met by green meadows full of spring flowers. Besides cyclists, you will find excellent loop trails, forest roads, high plateaus, and views over Maribor. A classic Pohorje image is Lovrenška Lakes — wooden walkways between marshy pools.
• Drava River:
  Maribor has a river that is not just scenery — it is part of daily life. Lent and the promenade make for the kind of walk you take without a fixed plan.
• Wine hills (Slovenske gorice and Haloze):
  the kind of views that feel like a reward for sticking with the climb. These are roads made for taking your time, where the route matters more than the destination. Just keep an eye on where exactly they lead and how narrow they get.

Do not overlook

• The Old Vine (Maribor – Lent):
  a city icon and a quiet reminder of local resilience. It is over four centuries old and listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest noble grapevine in the world still bearing fruit.
• Festival Lent (Maribor):
  in summer, Maribor gets noticeably louder. Stages appear practically everywhere, people spend more time outside than in, and evenings have that familiar feeling of “one more song and then I’ll go” — and then you stay.
• Ptuj:
  it holds a special place for me because it is my father’s hometown. For several years, the area around Ptuj was the destination of regular weekend trips. Today it makes an ideal day trip, where the main plan is little more than a good coffee and a walk through the old town.
• Kurentovanje (Ptuj):
  the sound of bells, the energy of the crowd, and a uniquely strange blend of tradition and carnival that is impossible to explain unless you experience it live at least once.
• Puh Museum (Sakušak near Juršinci):
  a small stop with a lot of story. Great for all technology enthusiasts and lovers of invention, vintage vehicles, and nostalgia from another era. It reminds you that even a seemingly ordinary village can leave a global mark.

What to do

Active

• Trail running or MTB on Pohorje.
• A hike to Lovrenška Lakes.
• Cycling along the Drava River.

If you are looking for a cycling idea:
the Drava cycling route is an international route along the Drava River, and in Slovenia it also passes by Maribor and Ptuj.

Slow travel

A dessert that belongs here:
pohorska omelette — a local classic from the Maribor–Pohorje area. It is a fairly serious dessert with blueberries, powdered sugar, and that feeling that you definitely took one bite too many.

• Tastings in Slovenske gorice and Haloze.
• A city day in Maribor or Ptuj.
• Wine-country views at sunset, just a short drive from Maribor.

Mini itineraries

• 1 day – Maribor and the Drava:
  morning in Lent and by the Old Vine → lunch in the city → afternoon walk or bike ride along the Drava → evening festival/concert.
• 1 day – Pohorje:
  morning forest hike (Lovrenška Lakes) → late lunch in the valley → vineyard views.
• 2 days – regional classics:
  day 1 Maribor and Pohorje → day 2 Ptuj (old town and castle) and the wine road through Slovenske gorice/Haloze.

Guided options

If you would rather let someone else handle the planning — or just want a few ready-made experiences — take a look at guided tours and activities in Maribor.

The region lies along the Austrian border and is known for forests, plateaus, and industrial heritage. Because it is more sparsely populated, it is one of Slovenia’s quieter regions, which makes it ideal for hiking, cycling, and escaping city crowds.

Carinthia at a glance

• Lots of forest trails, very little crowding.
• Countless ridgelines and plateaus.
• Excellent for trail running and day tours.

Do not miss

• Peca and the underground world beneath it.
• Uršlja gora.
• The Drava Valley with its cycling routes.

The underground world of Peca / Mežica

If Koroška above ground feels like a region of forests and ridges, below ground it reveals an entirely different layer. The Underground of Peca (Mežica) is a former lead and zinc mine transformed into an experience.

You can experience it by miners’ train, by kayak, or by bicycle. All three options have an almost cinematic feel and the sense that you are cut off from the world for a few hours.

• Kayak tour:
  the mine stays at a steady 10 °C year-round, so an extra layer is almost essential. Advance booking is mandatory.
• Train tour:
  the “classic” mining experience, where the train takes you into the tunnel system and a guide then leads you on foot through the story of how work underground once looked.
• Underground cycling:
  only possible with a mountain bike (e-bikes are not allowed), and mandatory safety equipment is required.
• If you want a more overtly “tourist” frame:
  paddling along an underground river to mysterious lakes resting 700 meters below the earth’s surface has a special kind of magic. Unlike Škocjan or Postojna-style cave visits, this feels less like sightseeing and more like joining an expedition.

Why this region stands out

• Alpine panorama:
  Logar Valley and the Solčava area are photogenic enough that you do not need to chase the perfect frame — just drive through the gorge and enjoy the scenery and nature. The vehicle entrance fee (for example, around €10 for a car and €7 for a motorcycle) includes parking and access to marked stops throughout the valley.
• Cycling routes:
  around Laško you will find a varied network of cycling routes and tours for road, trekking, and mountain bikes, from pleasant flat stretches along the Savinja River to panoramic local climbs and marked loops around nearby towns and villages.
• A city with a story:
  Celje was once a princely town — home to the Counts of Celje, one of the most powerful noble families in the territory of present-day Slovenia. Once you step onto Celje Old Castle (the largest medieval castle in Slovenia) and look out over the Savinja Valley, it becomes obvious why the city mattered strategically. You can continue the walk to the Celje Regional Museum, home to the Celje Ceiling, one of the finest examples of Renaissance painting in Slovenia, or stroll through town past the remains of Roman Celeia.

Gorenjska is postcard Slovenia.
It is the version we show to visitors — and the one we keep returning to ourselves. You do not have to climb Triglav. There is plenty more here.