Check out the small Slovenia town of Ptuj
St. George’s Church and Ptuj Castle, Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/80 s)
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**This post is the 2nd of a 7-post series discussing what to see on your Slovenian road trip (You can check out the other parts in the list below, separated by each city/region (just click the name to see the blog post. Everything is also summarized in another post here.**
Ljubljana (Blog Post: Why Ljubljana, Slovenia is such a wonderful country capital)
Ptuj (Blog Post: Check out the small Slovenia town of Ptuj)
Maribor (Blog Post: Take a trip to the wine region of Maribor, Slovenia)
Bled (Blog Post: Why Bled is the best city in Slovenia to visit)
Triglav National Park (Blog Post: The best places to see in Triglav National Park in Slovenia)
Piran (Blog Post: Why Piran is a hidden gem in Slovenia)
Slovenian Road Trip Summary (Blog Post: The Epic Slovenia Road Trip)
Ptuj is located in the Northeast of Slovenia, near the larger town of Maribor. It is the OLDEST recorded city in Slovenia with origins back to the Stone age. It’s importance was underscored due to its location on an important prehistoric trade route between the Adriatic and Baltic seas.
My journey here from Ljubljana took only two hours (with small stops to see Celje and Zovnek castles). Only about half a day is required to see the main city sights. A Google Map of the places I will discuss can be seen at the end of this post.
Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 400, 105 mm, f/8, 1/500 s)
The history of Ptuj is storied:
The first mention of the city of Ptuj dates alllll the way back to 69 AD, since it was the site of a Roman fort which fell to the Huns in 450.
Occupied by Slavic tribes during the Middle Ages and part of the Frankish empire.
Known as ‘Pettau’ during the Ottoman Wars, of which it experienced heavy damage from multiple fires.
Incorporated into Yugoslavia post World War I.
Occupied by Nazi Germany until 1945. Populated by Slovenes thereafter.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Slovenia, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Check out my drone video of Ptuj, Slovenia below!
How to Get to Ptuj, Slovenia
Planning a trip to Ptuj, Slovenia’s oldest town? Whether you're coming from Ljubljana, Maribor, Graz, or further afield, getting to Ptuj is straightforward by train, bus, or car. Here's how to reach this historic riverside town step-by-step:
Fly — The closest airports for traveling to Ptuj are:
Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport (MBX) – 20 km from Ptuj (limited commercial flights)
Graz Airport (GRZ), Austria – ~100 km north
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) – ~140 km west
From any of these airports, you can continue your journey to Ptuj via public transportation or car rental.
Train — Taking the train to Ptuj is one of the most convenient ways to travel, especially if you're already in Slovenia or southern Austria. Trains are operated by Slovenske železnice (Slovenian Railways).
From Maribor to Ptuj
Duration: ~40–50 minutes
Cost: ~€3–5
Frequency: 8–10 direct regional trains daily
Route: Maribor → Ptuj (no transfers)
Station: Železniška postaja Ptuj (Ptuj Train Station)
From Ljubljana to Ptuj
Duration: ~3.5–4 hours
Cost: ~€10–12
Route: Ljubljana → Zidani Most → Ptuj
Transfer: Required at Zidani Most
Train Type: Regional and InterCity trains
From Graz, Austria to Ptuj (via Maribor)
Duration: ~2.5–3 hours
Route: Graz Hbf → Spielfeld-Straß → Maribor → Ptuj
Cost: ~€12–16
Operators: ÖBB (Austria) + Slovenske železnice
Bus — Ptuj is served by a central bus station (Avtobusna postaja Ptuj) located near the city center. This is a good option for regional travel or budget-friendly routes.
From Maribor to Ptuj
Duration: ~1 hour
Cost: ~€5–6
Frequency: Every 60–90 minutes
Operator: Nomago
Route: Maribor → Ptuj (buses vary; check real-time schedules)
From Ljubljana to Ptuj
Duration: ~2.5–3 hours
Cost: ~€10–13
Frequency: 2–3 direct buses per day
Route: Ljubljana → Celje → Ptuj
Operator: Nomago or FlixBus (seasonal)
From Graz to Ptuj
No direct bus — take a FlixBus or ÖBB bus to Maribor and transfer to a local train or bus
Car Rental — Driving to Ptuj gives you the flexibility to explore Slovenia's wine country and nearby spa towns.
From Maribor – ~30 km via A4
Driving Time: ~30 minutes
Notes: Easy, flat route; toll vignette required
From Ljubljana – ~140 km via A1 and A4
Driving Time: ~1 hour 45 minutes
From Graz – ~100 km via A9 (Austria) + A4 (Slovenia)
Driving Time: ~1.5 hours
Vignettes: Required for both Austria and Slovenia
Taxi or Private Shuttle —
From Maribor:
Taxi fare: ~€40–50
Travel time: ~30 minutes
From Ljubljana or Graz:
Pre-booked shuttle: ~€100–150
Ideal for groups or off-hour arrivals
Ptuj Castle sits on the highest point in the city, overlooking the Drava river. It was built to protect the area from the Hungarians in the 12th century. Over the years it has been rebuilt, especially during the Baroque period and was deemed to be irrelevant after the end of various invasions by the Turks.
Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Currently, the castle functions as a museum (Regional Museum Ptuj Ormož) with a large collection of instruments, arms, and tapestries. The views from here are breathtaking as you can manage to see all the orange colored rooftops that make up the city as well as the St. George’s Church spire, not too far away.
Ptuj Castle, Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
St. George’s Church in the city center can be best identified by its plum-colored spire. Although it was built in the 12th century, the same time as Ptuj Castle, it underwent a redesign in the 15th century, changing to a Gothic style of architecture. Despite this, there are elements of Baroque and Renaissance styles on the church exterior as well.
St. George’s Church, Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
The church namesake has his own statue of him fighting a dragon on the grounds as well. The church is open sparingly, so best to check ahead to coordinate your trip with its opening times.
St. George’s Church, Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 400, 28 mm, f/8, 1/640 s)
The main street in Ptuj is Prešernova ulica, which is most recognizable by the line of restaurants and cafes that go on for hundreds of meters. No trip to Ptuj is complete without a nice stroll here. I found that this part of the old town (or just ‘town’ itself since Ptuj is one big old town), was more relaxing when compared to other cities. It’s probably because Ptuj isn’t a well known tourist destination.
Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 400, 58 mm, f/8, 1/640 s)
Mestni Park is nestled along the Drava River to the southwest of Ptuj Castle. It is super common to find runners, walkers, and cyclists frequenting this area at all hours of the time. My time here was in early fall so I was also welcomed by the colorful fall foliage from the trees in this park.
Ptuj, Slovenia (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/80 s)
Dominikanski samostan Ptuj is a monastery in Ptuj (Dominican Monastery) established in 1230, founded by Methildis, the widow of Friedrich III of Ptuj. It operated until 1786 where it was then turned into a silk mill before the municipality took it over in 1928 and subsequently turned it into a apartments and a museum with archaeological collections.
If you are an oenophile (wine lover), you’ll be happy to know that Ptuj is home to Slovenia’s oldest wine cellar, established in 1239 by Minorite friars. Now dubbed the Ptuj Wine Cellar, you can see highlights and the history of the Slovenian wine making process, exemplified through such relics like the Zlata trta (‘Golden Vine’), the oldest Slovenian vintage from 1917, and the largest wooden barrel (22,115 Liters!!).
Of course you can take a guided tour of the premises and learn about the history that way. You can also arrange for a wine tasting. But why stop there, you can even have a wine and Slovenian chocolate tasting too, even better!
