Finding things to do when you’re visiting a town with children can be a challenge, so we’ve gathered some ideas for you. Discover child-friendly sightseeing options, spend quality time in nature, enjoy thematic activities for children, and finish your visit in one of the local restaurants.
Enjoy a Family Day Out on Pohorje
Pohorje is a great destination to visit with children. You can take a cable car to the top and enjoy the view of the whole Maribor below. The top offers several walking trails, none of which is very steep or otherwise difficult. A 30-minute walk will take you to an observation tower. If you want to stay at the bottom of Pohorje, Pohorje Jet summer sled is an exciting ride to try. In autumn, gathering mushrooms or chestnuts is also an option for your family to spend some quality time together in nature.
Find more things to do on Pohorje here.
Pohorje is a popular family-friendly destination.
Explore the Old Centre of Maribor
The old centre of Maribor is a typical medieval centre: charming and relatively small. Exploring it on foot won’t be too exhausting for a child. If you still judge the walking to be too much, you can choose to discover Maribor from the tourist train Jurček. Should you want to see the city from a different perspective, a ride down the River Drava is a great choice, whether you go by boat or by a traditional raft. Booking ahead is required for both.
To get more information, stop at TIC Maribor.
Slovenska street has not one but two cafes with excellent ice cream. Discover your favourite!
Take a Nature Break in the City Park
No matter the weather, City Park Maribor is a child-friendly destination. During sunny days, your children can have fun at the playground on the northern side of the park, or you can take a walk up to the Three Ponds and spend some time observing ducks and swans. In the summer, ArtCamp Maribor fill the park with life—various workshops present the opportunity for your child to explore different means of artistic expression or engage in sports activities. On rainy days, Aquarium-Terrarium Maribor is the place to go. With over 170 different species and a 60-year history, this aquarium has even made it on the list of the most important zoos and aquariums in Europe.
Playground in the northern part of the City Park.
Relax in Thermal Water
Choose one of the spas in Maribor and get a relaxing soak in thermal water after a full day of activities. If you’re looking for more active fun, visit the open pools at Maribor Island—which come complete with a designated children's area and a water slide—or one of the bigger pool complexes around Maribor.
Pools at Maribor Island are great for the hot summer days.
Go Back to the Beginnings of Maribor
If you enjoy outdoors activities, a hike up Piramida is another great option. You’ll need about 30 minutes from the centre of Maribor to the chapel at the top. The chapel marks the space where a castle was built in the 12th century, leading to the formation of a town beneath it. Although a little steep in some places, the hike is not too demanding and will reward you with a stunning view of the city.
Rise up to the Challenge in Adventure Park Betnava
Hidden among the trees of the Betnava Forest are seven tracks that vary in difficulty. The easiest track is suitable for children aged three and above. Other tracks have a height requirement of 110, 140, or 150 cm, depending on the track. Adventure Park Betnava is the perfect option for any adventurous spirit.
The tracks of Advenutre Park Betnava are hidden in Betnava forest.
Discover the Largest Covered Playground in Slovenia
Bumbar Park Maribor offers more than three square kilometres of playground, indoors and outdoors. Trampolines, basketball and footballs fields, and an enormous pirate ship are only some of the available attractions. A ball pit, toboggans, and specifics playgrounds are suitable even for the youngest visitors. Bumbar Park organises different activities for children as well, ranging from quizzes to karaoke to organised birthday parties. Open afternoons on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Feed Your Imagination in the Maribor Puppet Theatre
The Pupper Theatre is open all year round and prepares shows suitable for different ages, some even for children as young as a year and a half. In summer, the Puppet Theatre houses the annual Summer Pupper Pier festival where both Slovenian and foreign productions take the stage to entertain the children.
More information and tickets here.
Visit Galleries, Museums, and Other Institutions
Many institutions in Maribor offer programs for children, some all year round, some only during school holidays. Worth mentioning is the National Liberation Museum Maribor, which offers a Night-in-the-Museum workshop where children can discover what happens in a museum when the lights go out and look for a hidden treasure. The city library also organises regular events for children, from fairy-tale hours to meetings with authors and illustrators to holiday evets. Other institutions to look up include ZPM with their holiday workshops, botanic garden Pivola, UGM gallery, and Maribor’s museums.
The National Liberation Museum offers many fun and educational workshops for children.
Finish Your Day in a Family-Friendly Restaurant
Many restaurants and cafes in Maribor have their own playground or a corner with various toys for children. Some places we can recommend are Črni Baron restaurant, La Cantina Pohorje pizza place, Sirček Park in Rožmarin restaurant, and Pohorska Kavarna Café. For all the shopping enthusiasts, shopping centre Europark comes with a playground for children too, so you can enjoy a carefree visit to the stores and relax in one of the restaurants near the playground afterwards.