Old Vine of Maribor

Historic Site in Maribor

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Mlakopet

Stara trta, the Old Vine of Maribor, is one of the best places to visit in Maribor if you love wine, history, or just a good story rooted in a real, living plant. Twisting up the façade of the Old Vine House in the Lent district, this remarkable grapevine has been producing fruit for more than 400 years, surviving wars, floods, and urban change. It is a small sight in physical size, but huge in symbolism-a living emblem of the city's winemaking tradition and the wider Styrian wine region.

Inside the Old Vine House, you can dive deeper into that story. Exhibitions trace the history of Stara trta and Maribor's long relationship with vineyards, while guided tastings introduce you to local varieties from the surrounding hills. The house sits right on the Drava riverfront, making it often visited on walking tours of Maribor that link the Lent embankment, riverside towers, and Old Town squares. A stop here combines heritage, culture, and a glass of something very local in one compact, characterful spot.

History and Significance of the Stara trta
Things to See and Do in the Stara trta
How to Get to the Stara trta
Practical Tips on Visiting the Stara trta
Where to Stay close to the Stara trta
Is the Stara trta
FAQs for Visiting the Stara trta
Nearby Attractions to the Stara trta

History and Significance of the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Stara trta has been growing on the façade of what is now the Old Vine House for more than four centuries, making it widely recognised as the world's oldest grapevine still producing fruit. When it first took root, Maribor was a busy trading town on the Drava with vineyards climbing the surrounding slopes and wine playing a central role in local life. The vine clung to a simple riverside building in the Lent district, quietly surviving year after year while the city's politics, architecture, and economy shifted around it.

Over time, the vine's age and resilience were noticed, documented, and eventually celebrated. Surviving fires, floods, and conflict, Stara trta became a symbol of continuity for Maribor, embodying the idea that local traditions-especially wine-could endure through upheaval. Its annual harvest is treated almost like a civic ritual, with grapes carefully picked and turned into a limited number of special bottles that are often given as diplomatic gifts.

Today, the Old Vine and its house serve as an official focal point for Styrian wine heritage. The building's role as a museum and tasting venue reinforces the vine's status as more than just a botanical curiosity: it stands for centuries of work by growers on the slopes around the city, the evolution of local grape varieties, and Maribor's identity as a river city surrounded by vineyards. In that sense, Stara trta is one of the must-see places in Maribor if you want to understand what has kept the city thriving for so long.

Things to See and Do in the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Start outside, where you can see Stara trta climbing the façade of the Old Vine House. Depending on the season, you might find bare, gnarled wood, fresh green leaves, or clusters of grapes hanging over the windows. Information panels nearby usually explain the vine's age and significance, and the riverside setting gives you a lovely backdrop of the Drava and Lent embankment for photos.

Inside the Old Vine House, exhibitions explore the story behind the plant. Displays and panels cover the history of Stara trta, Maribor's winemaking tradition, and the Styrian wine region, from grape varieties and vineyard landscapes to tools and techniques. You can learn how the vine is cared for, how cuttings are propagated, and how the annual harvest is handled. The museum manages to be educational without feeling too heavy-perfect for curious travellers who like context with their glass of wine.

Wine tastings are a highlight. Staff introduce you to local Styrian wines, explaining what makes the region's whites and reds distinctive and how the surrounding hills shape the flavours in your glass. While the bottles you taste are not usually made directly from Stara trta's limited fruit, they connect you to the same landscape and tradition. With the river just outside and the vine on the wall, it's easy to see why the Old Vine House is one of the things to do in Maribor that people remember long after they leave.

How to Get to the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Most visitors reach Maribor via major regional hubs such as Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport in Slovenia or Graz and Vienna in neighbouring Austria, then continue to Maribor by road or rail. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Maribor on Booking.com.

Maribor is well connected by train to Ljubljana, Graz, and Vienna. From Maribor's main railway station, it's a pleasant walk or short bus ride into the Old Town, then a further stroll down to the Lent district along the Drava river where the Old Vine House and Stara trta stand on the embankment. You can easily check schedules and book tickets through the Slovenian Railways. However, for a smoother experience, we recommend using Omio, which simplifies the booking process and lets you compare prices and schedules all in one place.

If you are driving, main roads and motorways link Maribor with Ljubljana, Graz, and other regional cities. Once in Maribor, follow signs for the city centre and Lent district, park in a nearby car park, and walk a few minutes through the historic streets to the riverfront, where you'll find the Old Vine House clearly signed.

Because of its central riverside location, the Old Vine is easy to fold into a wider walk that also includes the Maribor Water Tower, Old Vine House neighbours, and the Old Town's main square.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Suggested tips: Combine a visit to Stara trta with a slow stroll along the Lent embankment and perhaps a meal at a nearby riverside restaurant to really soak up the atmosphere.
Best time to visit: Late spring to early autumn offers the most greenery and riverside life; early autumn is especially rewarding if you want to see the vine heavy with grapes and feel the harvest mood.
Entrance fee: Adults: €10.90 (Wine Tasting)
Opening hours: Generally open daily from 10:00–18:00, though hours may vary seasonally and for special events; check before you go.
Official website: https://www.visitmaribor.si/en/what-to-do/wine-and-culinary/worlds-oldest-grapevine/
How long to spend: Plan on 45-90 minutes to see the vine, explore the exhibition, and enjoy a tasting at a relaxed pace.
Accessibility: The riverside location and museum entrance are generally easy to reach on foot, though some interior areas may have steps or uneven floors; check current details if mobility is a concern.
Facilities: On-site, you’ll find the exhibition, tasting area, and shop selling local wines and souvenirs; additional cafés, bars, and toilets are scattered along the Lent embankment nearby.
Photography tip: Photograph the vine from across the street to capture it with the whole façade and Drava river backdrop; in harvest season, zoom in on the grapes and the twisted, centuries-old wood.
Guided tours: Look out for guided tastings or themed city tours that include the Old Vine House, which add rich stories about Styrian wine culture and the annual harvest rituals.
Nearby food options: Lent is full of bars and restaurants along the water; it's easy to step straight from the Old Vine House into a riverside spot for lunch, dinner, or a glass of wine with a view.

Where to Stay close to the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Staying near the Drava riverfront or Old Town puts you just a short walk from Stara trta and the Lent district. A modern, comfortable option close to the river is Hotel City Maribor, which offers easy access to both the embankment and the historic centre. For a more traditional atmosphere within the Old Town, Hotel Orel places you near Glavni Trg and within a few minutes' walk of the Old Vine House. Travellers who want hotel-style comfort with good parking and straightforward access to the centre could choose Mercure Maribor City Center, then stroll down to Lent for evenings by the river and visits to Stara trta.

Is the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor) Worth Visiting?

Stara trta is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you enjoy experiences that are both low-key and deeply rooted in local culture. The vine itself is not enormous or dramatic, but the fact that it has been producing grapes for over 400 years makes it genuinely special-one of the oldest living cultivated plants you're likely to stand beside. Paired with the exhibition and tastings in the Old Vine House, it turns into a compact masterclass in Styrian wine and Maribor's identity.

Because it sits right on the Lent embankment, a visit fits easily into any Maribor itinerary. You can drop by for a quick look and a photo, or linger inside with a guided tasting and a deeper dive into the stories behind the vine. For many travellers, that mix of living history, local flavour, and riverside atmosphere makes Stara trta one of the things to do in Maribor that feels quietly iconic and genuinely memorable.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.3 (143)

Old Vine House at Vojkovičnikova ulica 8 in Maribor centers on the famously ancient vine and pairs that historic sight with a welcoming wine-tasting experience: staff are praised for being knowledgeable and friendly, guiding visitors through tiered tastings of young, medium and aged wines (or mixed selections) and helping pick wines in a display room so you avoid samples you won't enjoy; visitors note excellent, reasonably priced wines including orange wine with floral notes, a peaceful setting by the roughly 400‑year‑old vine, and that cobblestones can make access trickier for wheelchair users.

Mark Pontoni

4 months ago

"Really wonderful place made better by the staff. Clement walked us through 8 wines we tasted and was as knowledgeable and pleasay as you can imagine.People come to take a picture of the oldest vine in the world. They should stay for the wine...."

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Oliver Labas

7 months ago

"We almost always go here for a wine tasting whenever we are in town. Go take a stroll through the display room, before you decide what kind of winetasting you want to have. They use a tiered approach, so you can have young wines, medium or aged wines or a mixed selection. After you've been to to display room, you can point out which ones you want to try and avoid having to go through any that won't be to your liking. Service personel is well trained and can help you out if you are not as experienced in the regional wines, so don't be shy and just ask for help when you need it...."

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Trawheel.packer

6 months ago

"Tried orange wine for the first time in Maribor, Slovenia — a peaceful spot by the world’s oldest grapevine (over 400 years old). The wine was softwith a lovely floral aroma. I really enjoyed it! The area is accessible, but the cobblestone paths make it a bit tricky for wheelchair users...."

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FAQs for Visiting the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Stara trta grows on the façade of the Old Vine House on the Lent embankment along the Drava river, a short walk from the Old Town’s main square.

You can view the vine from outside for free; entry fees apply if you’d like to visit the museum inside the Old Vine House and join tastings.

The annual harvest from Stara trta is very small and usually reserved for ceremonial and diplomatic purposes, but you can taste wines from the same region and grape varieties.

Yes, children can enjoy the story of the ancient vine and look at the exhibits; wine tastings are, of course, for adults only.

Walk-in tastings are often available, but during busy periods or for specific tasting packages and group visits, it’s wise to reserve ahead.

Nearby Attractions to the Stara trta (Old Vine of Maribor)

Maribor Water Tower - A 16th-century riverside defensive tower now home to a wine cellar, linking fortifications and Styrian wine culture.
Maribor Synagogue - One of Europe's oldest preserved synagogues, now a cultural centre focusing on Jewish heritage and history.
Židovski Stolp (Jewish Tower) - A medieval defensive tower associated with the city's Jewish community and former fortifications.
Glavni Trg (Main Square) - Maribor's historic main square with the Town Hall, Plague Column, and colourful façades.
Maribor Castle - A former noble residence close to the Old Town, housing regional museum exhibitions on history and culture.

The Old Vine of Maribor appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Maribor!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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