Travelling to Maribor
Maribor is situated in the northeast of Slovenia. It is approximately a 1½ hour drive (130 kms) from Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana. This, at the same time, is roughly the distance to the country's main international airport.
Airplane
Ljubljana
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is the only airport in Slovenia with regular international service. The airport is located some 25 minutes drive north of Ljubljana. It serves most major European cities and airports. Regular hourly bus transfers (45 min.) as well as taxi transfers to the Ljubljana train and coach station are available. A taxi transfer costs approximately 35€. The cheapest way to get from Ljubljana to Maribor is by train. Another possible option is car rental.
Graz
Graz Airport in neighbouring Austria is a 45-minute drive north of Maribor. It serves fewer international destinations than Ljubljana Airport. However, it offers regular and frequent flights to several big connection airports (Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna). It also serves London Stansted a few times a week.
The easiest and cheapest way to reach Maribor from Graz Airport is by train. The train station (Flughafen Graz-Feldkirchen) is within walking distance of the terminal. Even though the railway line south leads straight to Maribor, it is usually necessary to change at the last station (Spielfeld-Strass) before the border. Exceptions are international trains from Vienna to Ljubljana or Zagreb. A one-way ticket from the airport to Maribor costs around 8€.
It is also possible to take a taxi to Maribor. The transfer from Graz Airport will cost you approximately 70€ (Slovene taxi).
Vienna
Vienna Schwechat International Airport is 2½ hours drive from Maribor. It is the main international airport in the region and offers connections to virtually all parts of the world. The easiest way to get from Vienna to Maribor is by train. The journey takes between 3½–4 hours and costs approximately 40€ (one way).
Zagreb
Zagreb Airport is a 1½ hour drive from Maribor. It serves most main European cities and airports. The easiest way to get from Zagreb to Maribor is by train. The journey takes between 2½–3 hours and costs approximately 13€. (Transfer by bus from Zagreb Airport to the main coach station in Zagreb requires an additional 30 minutes and costs approximately 3€.)
Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt Airport is 2 hours drive from Maribor. Besides domestic Austrian flights, it mostly serves airports in Germany (Frankfurt, Hannover etc.). The best way to get to Maribor is by train. Even though the distance is not great, the journey takes approximately 4 hours because of changes. A one-way train ticket to Maribor costs approximately 40€.
Train
The only way to get to Maribor by train is from the north (Graz, Vienna) or from the south (Ljubljana, Zagreb). All relevant information (timetables, fares) can be found on the webpage of Slovenia's national train operator, Slovenske železnice. If coming from the north, try the Austrian Railway website.
Those who will be taking the train to Maribor from the direction of either Ljubljana or Zagreb should check with the conductors whether they have to change at the junction called 'Zidani most'. With some trains, that will not be necessary; however, it is better to check so as to avoid going in the wrong direction and losing time.
