The Maribor Tourism Board begins the new year with a prestigious title: Maribor has been named Europe’s Best Green Capital for 2025. This recognition, awarded by the global platform European Best Destinations (EBD), is part of an international promotional campaign targeting eco-conscious tourists and high-value guests.
The prestigious title of Europe’s Best Green Capital places Maribor alongside other top European destinations as a model for combining natural beauty, green spaces, wellness, and vibrant cultural life. Second and third place on the list were awarded to Copenhagen (Denmark) and Riga (Latvia), respectively. In previous years, Maribor received recognition as Europe’s third-best tourist destination (2023), the best culinary destination (2023), and the best autumn destination (2024). The city also earned second place on the list of the most sustainable Christmas markets in Europe (2024).
Jure Struc, Director of the Maribor Tourism Board, stated: “By consistently appearing on international tourism rankings (e.g. on forbes.com), we are promoting Maribor and Slovenia among Europe’s top destinations. Over the past two years, EBD titles have allowed us to share Maribor’s unique stories with a wider European and global audience while enhancing the city’s reputation as a premium destination for new generations of visitors. For them, the title of Europe’s Best Green Capital is particularly appealing, as it reflects a desire for diverse experiences, authenticity, and urban charm. The city’s proximity to the Pohorje Mountains and wine regions, high-quality local gastronomy, clean tap water, the hospitality of locals, increasing pedestrian zones in the revitalized city center, an efficient bike-sharing system, the absence of mass tourism, and a high level of safety are just a few of Maribor’s green and sustainable attributes. While these features are part of everyday life for us, they represent significant motivation for our visitors when planning their trips or vacations.”
