An honest opinion on Maribor by a local

What is it like to live in Maribor? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Maribor is most certainly a city for people who are relaxed and want to get away from otherwise hectic central or western Europe. It has wonderful landscape, the mostly-flat city is made for cycling, while the surrounding hills offer some great hiking. The centre is small and condensed, but offers numerous restaurants, cafes and bars for anyone's taste, especially on the beautiful riverfront (Lent) and vibrant Poštna ulica (street). However, the public transport has very low frequency and is never on time, so being within walking distance from important facilities and institutions or having a car is much recommended.

(Lent)

What is the student lifestyle like in Maribor?

First things first, Slovenia offers so called student coupons, which give you discount on food in most restaurants in Maribor. There are even some fast food joints that offer free food for students (those who have valid coupons, of course). Chill night out with a couple of pints or glasses of wine is something Maribor is great for, however don't expect anything to be open all night, especially during the week, when most places close as early as midnight. There are exceptions to the rule, but you need to find them first. Clubbing is not what you'd expect if you are used to a big city - most clubs are comparatively very small and many play mostly Balkan pop, which is, mildly put, an acquired taste.

How much does it cost to live in Maribor?

It is actually possible to live rather comfortably with just about 500€ per month. For a student room in a private flat you should not expect to pay more than 200-250€ per month, all expenses included. A beer will cost you between 2€ and 3€, depending on the bar's location. A full meal without student coupons will cost you anywhere between 5 and 15€, and with student coupons you can get a decent warm meal for under 3€. A pack of smokes is between 3, 50€ and 4, 20€, and a taxi ride will cost you about 1-1, 20€ per km with a 1€ or 2€ starting fee, depending on the company you choose (unfortunatly we do not have uber or cabify).

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Maribor? Is there any advice you can give?

Generally finding accommodation in Maribor isn't very hard. Most students can apply for a student dorm, which is actually free if you prove your income is under a certain amount. Rooms in private flats should never cost more than 300€ a month with all expenses, even in the very centre. However, looking for rooms outside of centre is recommended, since they can be decent and ridiculously cheap within a 30 min walk from the centre.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

For lovers of exotic foods I have some bad news, there are only several chinese, japanese and such restaurants in the city. However, if you are more into European cuisine, Maribor is great. It has a number of amazing italian restaurants, a good offer of Balkan cuisine, and some local as well. Everyone's favourite drunk-night-out food, burek, is something you definitely need to try. It's a minced meat or cottage cheese pie eaten throughout ex Yugoslavia and a hearty chunk can be as cheap as 1, 5€. Local food can be found throughout the city as well. Slovenians are particularly fond of fried food (chicken thighs, schnitzel,... ) and sausages, accompanied by various types of potatoes and other veggies, most common among which are turnips, sauerkraut etc..

(Burek)

What places would you recommend visiting in Maribor?

Pohorje

Hiking to the local top at Bellevue is something everyone in Maribor does every once in a while. For people who are not fond of hiking there is a funicular. The top offers some really nice views and is a perfect skiing/snowboarding location in the winter.

Piramida and Kalvarija

Piramida is a hill in the very centre behind the city park, with a nice summer bar on top. Kalvarija is a bit to the west from piramida, and one of the ways up are nearly 500 stairs leading to the top.

(Piramida)

Maribor castle

Located in the very centre of the city it hosts a nice museum for everyone interested in local history.

(Maribor Castle)

Lent

The lovely riverfront perfect for an afternoon coffee also hosts a festival every year at the end of June.

Hiša stare trte

At Lent you can find the oldest vine in the world at nearly 500 yeas old, which still gives grapes every season to be turned into wine. Under the vine there is a quaint little shop, where you can try and buy some local wines. Maribor is in a wine-rich region with some really amazing local wines such as Traminec and local Ice creams selection.

(Hiša stare trte)

Is it good to eat out in Maribor? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

It is! Here we go, sorted into budget categories:

Fancy:

Mak and Rožmarin are the fancy places to go. Mak boasts amazing experimental and molecular cuisine, as well as some steep prices (40€+), which are definitely worth it on special occasions, while Rožmarin offers the best Pizza and Steak in the city (ranging 15-40€).

Middle range:

Ancora is the perfect place to try some seafood, but also has some nice pizza. Without the student coupon it's around 7-10€ per plate, and with one it costs 3, 5€.

Tacos is a mexican restaurant with some europeanisation, offering a really nice student menu at just over 3€, per meal, and student discount on non-alcoholic drinks.

Miyabi is a japanese restaurant with great ambience, no student coupons but some dishes like "Yakisoba and Teriyaki" chicken go as low as 6€ per dish.

Sonce is a nice centrally located chinese restaurant which also offers home delivery at 3, 3€ per box with a student coupon.

Piano is a restaurant in the basement of Faculty of Arts and Humanities has a really nice outdoor terrace and great all-you-can-eat buffet at 2, 8€ with a student coupon.

Budget:

Mango snacks, Canapé and Me Gusta all offer free fast food (such as tortilla wraps, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, as well as pasta and pizza) for students with valid coupons.

Bakeries Europa, Drava and Hameli - best places in town (open all the time) to grab a pizza or a burek during or after a tough night out.

Is the nightlife good in Maribor? Where is good to go?

At bars:

Poštna ulica a vibrant street with 5 or so bars and a bosnian restaurant. Prices there are a bit higher than in most of the town, but still within range of a student.

(Postna ulica)

Lent the riverfront, hosting a whole bunch of bars.

Maček for the hipsters, Piranja for the clubbers and Rokaj for the rockers/alternative fans.

MC Pekarna and Gustaf located near the Faculty of Medicine they are the hub of Maribor's rock/metal scene, where you can also find some seriously good concerts and seriously cheap drinks.

Štuk and Kaos located right next to the main campus, Štuk is a place for everyone, while Kaos is more rocker-oriented.

Satchmo is a cozy jazz bar, however with some seriously steep prices for everything but beer. It's also the only place which is routinely open longer than midnight on weekdays.

At clubs:

I'm not much of a club-goer, but I'll give them a quick overrun:

Fuego and Tacos: the Latino places

KMŠ: the student place

Podroom: the Balkan pop place.

What advice would you give future students heading to Maribor?

Relax and enjoy.