Home › All routes › Maribor - Ptuj - Rače
Maribor - Ptuj - Rače
Cycling route · Styria · Gravel, Trekking
- Length
- 66 km
- Elevation gain
- 190 m
- Duration
- ~3,5 h
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Region
- Styria
- Route type
- Gravel, Trekking
- Surface
- asphalt 46 km · gravel 20 km
- Suitable for
- E-bike, MTB, Gravel, Trekking
This flat circular route connects Maribor and Ptuj, following the Drava for much of the way. It runs along quiet paved roads and gravel tracks across the open landscape of the Drava Plain, with wetlands along the river providing a habitat for swans and numerous other waterbirds. The route reaches the historic centre of Ptuj, set beneath its castle hill and home to the castle, Dominican Monastery and other historic landmarks.
Points along the route
Maribor
0 km
Main Square
The route starts at Main Square in the centre of Maribor, where the plague monument stands. From here, the route heads towards Pobrežje.
Pobrežje
3 km
Dogoše
In Dogoše, the asphalt ends and the route continues along a wide gravel road across the Drava Plain. Along this section, you can follow the waymarks of the Drava Cycling Route.
Drava Landscape Park
The route passes through Drava Landscape Park, a floodplain area along the river between Maribor and Ptuj. Riparian forests, gravel bars and river channels provide important habitat for numerous bird species, which is why the area is part of the Natura 2000 network.
Starše
The route reaches Starše, a settlement along the Drava, and continues from here towards Ptuj.
Go-kart Track and Terme Ptuj
Before entering Ptuj, the route passes a go-kart track and shortly afterwards continues past Terme Ptuj. From here, the route continues towards the bridge over the Drava.
Ptuj
30 km
Ptuj
At the bridge, with views of Ptuj Castle, we cross the Drava and enter the historic centre of Ptuj. The city developed on the site of Roman Poetovio, an important transport and administrative centre on the Drava.
Ptuj Castle
Ptuj Castle stands on the castle hill above the historic centre. The castle complex is an important part of the city’s historic character and offers views over the Drava and the surrounding plain.
Return
The route crosses the Drava again and continues along the other side of the Drava Plain.
Rače
Rače is home to a Renaissance castle and the Rački ribniki ponds, a protected area recognised for its natural value and importance for waterbirds.
Slivnica and Radizel
The route continues through Slivnica and Radizel, passing through Spodnje Hoče and Razvanje on the way back towards Maribor.
The route finishes in the centre of Maribor, where a wide choice of restaurants awaits after a pleasant day of riding.