The Drava Bike Cycle Route from Maribor to Ormož is a scenic 59.38 km cycling journey through northeastern Slovenia. Starting in Maribor, the route follows the Drava River eastward through a mix of peaceful countryside, small villages, cycle paths and quiet local roads.
Along the way, the route passes through the historic city of Ptuj, one of Slovenia’s oldest towns, before continuing across the flat landscapes of the Drava and Ptuj fields towards Ormož. With only 145 m of elevation gain, the ride is mostly flat and suitable for cyclists looking for a longer but relatively relaxed day on the bike.
This section is part of the Drava Bike international cycling route, which follows the Drava River through Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. The Maribor to Ormož section offers an excellent way to discover eastern Slovenia by bike while following one of the region’s major long-distance cycling routes.
Download the GPX track below and explore the complete route.
Drava Bike Cycle Route: Maribor to Ormož
The Drava Bike Cycle Route from Maribor to Ormož offers a 59.38 km journey through northeastern Slovenia, connecting two important towns while following the wider Drava cycling corridor. With just 145 metres of elevation gain, this section is predominantly flat and combines cycle paths, quiet local roads and unpaved stretches through an open rural landscape.
The route is suitable for cyclists looking for a substantial day ride without demanding climbs. Its length and mixed surfaces add some challenge, but the gentle elevation profile makes it considerably more accessible than hillier routes of a similar distance.
The complete journey can be ridden in one day or divided into shorter sections using Ptuj and Muretinci as natural intermediate points.
Leaving Maribor Along the Drava Bike
The ride starts in Maribor, Slovenia’s second-largest city and an important stop on the international Drava Bike network. From the urban surroundings, the route gradually moves east into a quieter landscape of fields, villages and local roads.
One of the strengths of this section is the transition from city cycling to open countryside. Instead of major climbs or dramatic changes in elevation, the experience is defined by steady riding and changing surroundings.
The relatively flat terrain allows cyclists to maintain a comfortable rhythm, while the mixture of surfaces adds variety. Touring, trekking and gravel bikes are particularly well suited to this type of route.
Maribor to Ptuj
Ptuj is the first major destination and a natural stopping point on the journey. As one of Slovenia’s oldest towns, it also provides a distinct change of scenery from the agricultural landscapes encountered along much of the ride.
Cyclists completing the full distance can use Ptuj as a convenient place for a break before continuing east. It is also an excellent endpoint for a shorter trip, making Maribor to Ptuj a useful standalone cycling option.
This flexibility is one of the advantages of documenting the Drava Bike in individual sections. Riders can choose a distance that suits their available time and fitness level without losing the continuity of the larger route.
From Ptuj Through the Countryside
Beyond Ptuj, the surroundings become increasingly rural as the ride continues east towards Muretinci and eventually Ormož.
Agricultural landscapes dominate this part of northeastern Slovenia. Long open sections, fields and smaller settlements create a different atmosphere from the urban beginning of the journey.
The route is not exclusively paved. Cyclists encounter a mixture of surfaces, including unpaved stretches, which should be considered when choosing a bicycle and tyres. The terrain itself remains relatively gentle, so the principal challenge comes from distance and surface rather than climbing.
Muretinci provides another practical point for dividing the journey. This allows the Ptuj–Ormož portion to be explored as two shorter sections if required.
Approaching Ormož
The final part continues through the eastern Slovenian countryside towards Ormož, completing this section of the Drava Bike.
By this stage, the character of the route is clearly different from the starting point in Maribor. The transition through Ptuj and across the surrounding agricultural landscape gives the ride a sense of progression despite the relatively modest elevation changes.
For cyclists who prefer longer distances, completing the entire route provides a satisfying point-to-point journey. Those looking for shorter rides can instead combine the individual sections according to their plans.
Route Distance, Elevation and Difficulty
The complete ride measures 59.38 km with approximately 145 m of elevation gain.
Cycling Horizon classifies it as Moderate. Although there are few significant climbs, almost 60 kilometres still represents a substantial ride, particularly when the changing surfaces are taken into account.
Route details
Route: Maribor → Ptuj → Muretinci → Ormož
Distance: 59.38 km
Elevation gain: 145 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Surface: Mixed
Country: Slovenia 🇸🇮
The combination of low elevation gain and moderate distance makes this an attractive option for touring cyclists and riders who prefer steady, scenic cycling over demanding climbing.
Part of the International Drava Bike
This ride forms part of the much longer Drava Bike Cycle Route, which follows the Drava through several European countries.
That international context makes the route useful beyond a single day trip. It can be ridden independently or incorporated into a longer multi-day journey following the river across different regions and countries.
Cycling Horizon is documenting the Drava Bike progressively, with individual sections that can stand alone or be combined into longer rides. The aim is to provide cyclists with a practical visual reference for planning their own journey while gradually building a connected collection covering more of the international route.
GPX Track, Interactive Map and Full 4K Ride
A downloadable GPX track is available on this page for cyclists who want to follow the route using a compatible GPS device or navigation application.
The interactive map provides a quick overview of the complete track and helps with understanding the route before setting out.
The accompanying full 4K cycling video shows the actual journey from the cyclist’s perspective. Rather than focusing only on selected highlights, it provides a realistic view of the roads, cycle paths, gravel sections and surrounding landscape encountered along the way.
Together, the video, map and GPX download make this page a practical resource for planning a ride between Maribor and Ormož or incorporating this section into a longer journey along the Drava.
🚴 Explore the Complete Drava Bike Series
Discover all seven cycling routes between Maribor and Ormož. Watch full 4K rides, explore interactive maps and download free GPX tracks.
