Ptuj

Day 1: Medieval Ptuj, riverfront and castle

Ease into Ptuj’s compact old town, where Roman Poetovio, medieval merchants and wine cellars sit within a few streets of each other. You’ll cover key landmarks at a relaxed pace and get your bearings for festival days or further explorations.

• Morning: Wander Slovenski trg to see the Roman Orpheus Monument, then step into St George’s Church and climb the city tower if open. Break for coffee and a pastry on Mestni trg; in February, look for stalls selling pustni krofi.
• Midday: Walk up to Ptuj Castle and the Ptuj–Ormož Regional Museum; don’t miss the kurentija displays for context on Kurentovanje. Allow time for the musical instruments and armoury rooms before strolling the defensive terraces for city-and-Drava views.
• Afternoon: Cross the footbridge to the river’s left bank for an easy promenade along Ptujsko jezero, then loop back through the Dominican and Minorite monastery precincts. If the weather turns wintry, warm up with a wine tasting in the historic Ptujska klet (pre-book; cellars can be cool, so bring a layer).
• Evening: Dine in the old town and sample Štajerska wines. If you’re here during Kurentovanje, check the programme for the opening ceremony or an ethnographic evening; otherwise, opt for a relaxed glass in a wine bar and an early night.

Day 2: Kurentovanje immersion (or ethnographic deep-dive off-season)

Today focuses on Kurentovanje’s living heritage: door-to-door rounds, clangour of bells and the great parade. Off-season, you’ll still experience the tradition through collections, short excursions and tastes of carnival favourites.

• Morning: If your visit starts on Candlemas (2 February), you may have watched the midnight Kurent’s Jump at Budina; sleep in, then browse Ptuj’s market for fresh krofi. Off-season, book a behind-the-scenes museum tour or a short walk among Roman sites before coffee.
• Midday: Head to nearby villages such as Markovci or Dornava to respectfully watch the Kurenti’s door-to-door rounds; bring decorative handkerchiefs to offer, and never touch the costumes or bells. If no rounds are scheduled, visit Ptuj Castle’s ethnographic rooms and the town’s smaller galleries instead.
• Afternoon: On Shrove Sunday, claim a spot for the International Carnival Parade (buy a wristband for the central zone; arrive 60–90 minutes early, dress warmly, waterproof shoes recommended). Other days feature children’s parades or a pure ethnographic showcase—prioritise traditional groups over generic floats for the most authentic feel.
• Evening: Celebrate at the Carnival Hall with music, grilled fare and schnapps, or seek a quieter tavern for hearty stews and local wine. If the Night Spectacle is on, stay out for the fiery procession; off-season, try a twilight soak at Terme Ptuj to unwind.

Day 3: Thermal spa, Haloze hills and farewell to Pust

Balance yesterday’s crowds with calm: warm waters, gentle walks and vineyard views. If you’re here on Shrove Tuesday, the mock funeral closes the season with theatre and humour.

• Morning: Recover at Terme Ptuj—outdoor thermal pools steam even in frost, and saunas are ideal after long parade days (bring flip-flops and a water bottle). Families can split time between slides and quiet zones.
• Midday: Drive or taxi into the Haloze hills for cellar-door tastings of fresh, aromatic whites; roads are narrow, so consider a driver. In poor weather, swap for a cosy lunch back in Ptuj and a final museum stop.
• Afternoon: Return for a last linger through lanes you missed—courtyards near the Dominican Monastery, the river embankment, and a café stop for gibanica or one more krof. Birdwatchers can detour to Ptujsko jezero for wintering waterfowl.
• Evening: If it’s Shrove Tuesday, join the burial of Pust to close the festivities and welcome Lent. Otherwise, catch sunset from Panorama hill and toast your stay with a glass of local sauvignon or laški rizling before a relaxed dinner.

By Air

• Ljubljana (LJU) – approx. 140 km; 1 h 45 min by car. Public transport via shuttle to Ljubljana centre, then train or bus to Ptuj (typically 3–3.5 h total via Maribor/Pragersko).
• Graz (GRZ, Austria) – approx. 90 km; 1 h 20 min by car. By rail: S-Bahn to Graz Hbf, train to Maribor, then regional train to Ptuj (2.5–3 h).
• Zagreb (ZAG, Croatia) – approx. 115 km; 1.5–2 h by car. Public transport via Zagreb–Maribor then to Ptuj (around 3–4 h).
• Vienna (VIE, Austria) – approx. 260 km; 2.5–3 h by car. Rail via Wien Hbf–Graz–Maribor–Ptuj (4–5 h).
• Maribor (MBX) – approx. 25 km; ~25 min by car. Very limited scheduled flights.

By Train

• Ptuj railway station sits on the Slovenske železnice (SŽ) regional line between Maribor and Ormož/Pragersko.
• Maribor–Ptuj: frequent regional services, typically 35–45 min (about hourly).
• Ljubljana–Ptuj: usually 2.5–3 h with 1–2 changes (commonly Zidani Most and/or Pragersko/Maribor).
• International: from Graz or Vienna via Maribor; from Zagreb services are limited and often slower than bus.
• Buy tickets via the SŽ website/app or at stations; reservations generally not required on regional trains.

By Bus

• Ptuj bus station is next to the railway station. Regular buses connect Ptuj with Maribor (about 45–60 min) and Ljubljana (about 2–2.5 h), plus regional towns.
• Main operators include Nomago and Arriva; extra services often run around Kurentovanje. Long-distance operators (e.g., to Maribor) can be combined with a local train/bus to Ptuj.

By Car

• From Ljubljana: A1 towards Maribor, then A4 towards Ptuj (Hajdina/Draženci exit); 1.5–2 h (~140 km).
• From Maribor: A4 to Ptuj; ~30–35 min (~30 km).
• From Graz: A9 to the Slovenian border (Šentilj), A1 to Slivnica, then A4 to Ptuj; ~1.5 h.
• From Zagreb: motorway towards Maribor then A4 to Ptuj; 1.5–2 h (Croatia and Slovenia are in Schengen).
• Motorway vignettes/tolls: Slovenia requires a digital vignette; Austria requires a vignette; Croatia uses tolls.
• During main parade days, Ptuj centre is closed to traffic—use signed peripheral car parks/park-and-ride and allow extra time.