Home to 96,000 people, Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia and a significant cultural hub and tourist destination of the country, located in the region of Lower Styria. The area of Slovenia is known for its tradition and national heritage, which Maribor encapsulates as the seat of its own Municipality containing buzzing city life and various tourist attractions. The city is only 30 minutes from the capital, Ljubljana, and offers a combination of urban excitement and countryside tranquillity, lying in the shadow of the Pohorje Mountains and providing an abundance of local culture and tradition.

The city of Maribor is steeped in attractions for history and art enthusiasts, with a grand collection of traditional architecture, including the ruins of the ancient city wall, old towers and medieval remains. The City Hall in the Main Square is a particularly impressive building, which visitors can explore, and historical discoveries can be found in the Regional Museum or National Liberation Museum. There is also the Maribor Art Gallery and a collection of religious sites including an iconic Franciscan Church, local Synagogue and city Cathedral, all of which is hidden between charming cobbled streets, hidden bars and quiet cafes. Hills and vineyards surround the city and create beautiful local wines, and connoisseurs can learn about the oldest vine in the world at the Old Vine House, which serves as a museum and centre of local wine events and festivals.

Due to its central European location, drivers can easily reach Maribor from throughout Slovenia, and nearby countries and the city has its own airport less than 10 kilometres from the centre. There are also direct train links to Vienna, Graz, Budapest, Zagreb and Prague and bus connections throughout Slovenia. Within Maribor, visitors can easily walk the small town centre, but there are also local bus networks to the outer districts.

The history of Maribor dates back to the construction of a castle in 1164 and its adjacent market, which grew under the Habsburg dynasty into a popular centre.It had a strong Austrian German population in the 20th Century under their ruling, and Maribor was heavily bombed during World War II due to its armament industry, which destroyed much of the city centre. Maribor became part of Slovenia in 1991, with the independent of the nation from Yugoslavia, and was titled a European Capital of Culture in 2012.