Maribor Pohorje Ski Resort

The resort occupies the Pohorje ridge – a forested massif southwest of Maribor. Slopes cut through dense spruce forests. The Pohorska Vzpenjača gondola, with its distinctive red cabins, lifts passengers from 328 m to 1,042 m in 10 minutes. The cable car has operated since 1957; the current version was installed in 2009, with an intermediate station added in 2023.

Of the 35 km of runs, 23.5 km are blue (beginner), 13 km are red (intermediate), and 5 km are black (advanced). Turistična Proga is a scenic blue run from the gondola's top station down into the valley. Advanced skiers can tackle the FIS slalom course and the black Jonatan trail alongside the gondola. Funpark Žigart at Areh features 4 boxes, 1 rail, and 3 jumps.

Night skiing runs several times a week on 7 km of floodlit slopes from summit to valley. The Čopova run is particularly popular among recreational skiers. When snow conditions allow, the Mariborsko Pohorje and Areh areas connect via ski slopes, with a ski bus running between them. Areh offers 6 km of cross-country trails, a sled run, and tubing.

Scale – 35 km of slopes, 13 lifts, elevation range from 328 to 1,327 m

Gondola – Pohorska Vzpenjača, 2,505 m long, 10-minute ride, 64 cabins

Night skiing – 7 km of floodlit runs, one of the longest night skiing zones in Europe

Beginner-friendly – 23.5 km of blue runs, children's conveyor belts, ski school with 200 instructors

City proximity – lower station 5 km from Maribor center, bus line G6 to the gondola

Summer – bike park, hiking, mountain tricycles, zorbing, trails through conifer forests

Pohorje has been used for winter sports since the early 20th century, with organized ski infrastructure developing in the postwar period. In 1957, the Pohorska Vzpenjača gondola was launched – one of the first cable cars in Yugoslavia. The resort hosted international competitions, including FIS World Cup stages (the women's slalom 'Golden Fox').

After Slovenian independence, the resort underwent several modernization phases. The current gondola with its iconic red cabins was installed in 2009. An intermediate station opened in 2023. The resort is operated by municipal company Marprom from the JHMB Group. Today, Mariborsko Pohorje is Slovenia's largest ski resort, combining urban accessibility with mountain terrain.

From Maribor center (5 km, 10–15 minutes):

– City bus line G6 to Vzpenjača stop – €2, schedule at marprom.si

– Taxi – €5–8 ($5–9)

– By car – parking at the gondola lower station

From Ljubljana (130 km, 1.5–2 hours):

– By car via A1/E57 motorway – vignette required (from €15/week)

– Train to Maribor (2–2.5 hours, ~€13/$14), then bus G6

From Graz, Austria (60 km, 50 minutes):

– By car via A9, then across the border to A1

– Transfer ~€60 ($65)

On-site:

From the gondola lower station to slopes – 10 minutes by cable car. With sufficient snow, you can ski down to the valley (Čopova run). Ski bus connects Pohorje and Areh zones.

Season: December–March. Best snow in December–January (average summit depth ~75 cm / 30 in). Season lasts roughly 100–110 days.

Time of day: weekdays have shorter queues and lower prices. Night skiing – evenings per schedule.

Duration: full day of skiing. For a quick visit with 2–3 runs – 3–4 hours.

Avoid: weekends and school holidays (late December – early January, February winter break) – maximum lift queues.