When somebody mentions a holiday in Slovenia, there's a good chance Ljubljana or the beautiful scenery around Lake Bled will come to mind.
And it's easy to understand why.
But there's another part of Slovenia I'd encourage you to consider, particularly if you enjoy smaller historic towns, good food and taking things at a slightly slower pace.
Welcome to Ptuj.
Now, if you're wondering how to pronounce that, you're not alone. It's roughly p-too-ee, which might be worth practising before asking somebody for directions!
Sitting beside the River Drava in eastern Slovenia, Ptuj is known for its historic old town, a castle overlooking the rooftops and the wine-growing countryside nearby.
It's not somewhere I'd suggest for a week packed with big attractions.
And that's rather the point.
Sometimes a holiday is about enjoying where you are, rather than spending the entire time rushing off to somewhere else.
A castle overlooking the town
One of Ptuj's most recognisable sights is its hilltop castle.
And it's a lovely setting.
Ptuj Castle looks down over the old town and the River Drava, providing one of those views that immediately makes you want to explore a little further.
The castle is home to collections belonging to the Ptuj–Ormož Regional Museum, with exhibits including historic musical instruments, weapons, tapestries and objects connected to the region's carnival traditions.
So there's considerably more to discover than simply wandering around an old building.
I think this would be a wonderful starting point for a visit, particularly if you enjoy history and finding out how somewhere has developed over the centuries.
You could spend some time exploring the collections before enjoying the views across the town.
The castle is on a hill, as castles have an irritating habit of being, so the route up and access inside are worth considering if hills or steps present difficulties.
And as with any museum, we'd check the current opening times before planning a visit around it.
A town that deserves to be explored slowly
Below the castle, you'll find Ptuj's historic centre.
There are attractive streets, squares, old buildings and places to stop for a coffee or something to eat.
And I think this is the kind of town where I'd deliberately avoid planning every hour.
Perhaps start with a walk through the old streets, enjoy lunch somewhere that catches your eye and spend the afternoon wandering towards the river.
You might discover a little square you hadn't expected, an interesting building or simply a café where you fancy sitting for a while.
Not every moment of a holiday needs to be an organised experience.
Ptuj also has a fascinating history.
It's often described by Slovenia's tourism authorities as the country's oldest town, with important Roman connections.
One reminder of that past is the Orpheus Monument, a Roman stone monument standing in the old town.
So even when you're simply wandering around, there's a good chance you'll stumble across something that tells you a little more about the place.
A glass of Slovenian wine, perhaps?
Here's another reason Ptuj is worth investigating.
The surrounding region is known for its wine-growing traditions, and that opens up the possibility of exploring some of the countryside beyond the town.
You could look into visiting a local wine producer, enjoying a tasting or spending an afternoon discovering the vineyards.
And for anyone who enjoys learning about food and drink when travelling, that's a lovely way to experience somewhere beyond the usual sightseeing attractions.
Of course, a vineyard on a map doesn't automatically mean you can turn up for a tasting.
Some visits need arranging in advance, and you'd want transport organised if you were planning to enjoy the wine rather than simply admire the bottles!
But it could make a wonderful addition to a longer stay.
Or perhaps you'd rather spend the afternoon in a thermal pool?
If wine tasting isn't your thing, Ptuj has another attraction worth considering.
Terme Ptuj is a thermal spa and leisure complex offering bathing and wellness facilities, with accommodation options associated with the resort.
That gives you a completely different way to enjoy the area.
Imagine spending the morning exploring the old town, then having an afternoon relaxing in thermal water.
Or perhaps choosing accommodation around the pools and treating the historic centre as somewhere to visit when you fancy a change of scenery.
It's worth understanding that an old-town hotel and a thermal resort will offer quite different experiences.
And staying in Ptuj doesn't automatically mean the thermal facilities are included in your accommodation.
But having both possibilities in the same area gives the destination a little more variety than you might expect.
Ptuj has a rather unusual carnival tradition
Now here's something that really caught my attention while researching Ptuj.
The town is famous for its connection to Kurentovanje, a traditional carnival associated with the Kurenti.
These are extraordinary figures wearing elaborate costumes, often with sheepskin outfits, masks and large bells.
They're certainly memorable!
The tradition is associated with the end of winter and the arrival of spring, and it's an important part of the region's cultural identity.
UNESCO recognises the traditional door-to-door rounds of Kurenti as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage.
That recognition applies to the particular tradition, rather than the entire carnival or the town itself.
If you enjoy local festivals and cultural experiences, visiting during Kurentovanje could offer something genuinely different.
But there's an important distinction here.
If you travel to Ptuj during the festival, you might find a lively atmosphere, crowds and plenty happening.
If you visit at another time of year, the town could feel much more relaxed.
So someone looking for a peaceful break and someone hoping to experience the carnival might choose completely different dates.
And that, to me, is part of what makes researching a destination properly so important.
How do you get to Ptuj?
This is probably the biggest practical consideration for anyone travelling from the UK.
Ptuj isn't a conventional fly-and-flop holiday destination where you arrive at the airport and find your hotel ten minutes down the road.
It's in eastern Slovenia, and the journey needs some planning.
You might investigate flights to Ljubljana or other suitable airports in the wider region, followed by onward transport.
Ptuj also has a railway station, so travelling by train may be worth considering depending on your route.
But I'd want to look at the complete journey before recommending anything.
A cheap flight isn't much of a bargain if you then face several awkward connections and a lengthy transfer.
And if you're considering hiring a car from an airport outside Slovenia, we'd need to establish whether crossing the border is permitted under the rental arrangements.
The journey should fit the holiday, not become the main event.
For that reason, I'd be particularly interested in Ptuj as part of a longer Slovenian itinerary, perhaps combining the town with other places you'd like to visit.
It could also work as a short break in its own right, provided the travel arrangements are sensible.
How long would I stay?
Personally, I think two or three nights would be a lovely starting point for Ptuj.
That gives you time to explore the old town, visit the castle, enjoy a few meals and perhaps make room for another experience.
If I were staying for two nights, I'd keep the full day for Ptuj itself.
A third night could give you time for a vineyard visit, thermal pools or simply another leisurely day.
For a longer holiday, I'd look at combining Ptuj with other parts of Slovenia rather than assuming you need to find a week's worth of attractions in one small town.
And if you specifically wanted to experience the carnival, we'd build the dates around the festival programme.
There's nothing wrong with planning a holiday that involves doing a little less.
In fact, for some people, that's exactly what makes it a holiday.
Who would enjoy Ptuj?
I'd certainly consider Ptuj for couples who enjoy exploring historic towns, discovering local restaurants and spending time somewhere with a little character.
It could also appeal to solo travellers who enjoy travelling at their own pace, or friends interested in food, wine and culture.
For families, the thermal facilities might be an interesting part of the holiday, particularly if the children would rather spend an afternoon swimming than looking at historic tapestries.
Although, to be fair, I suspect that applies to quite a few adults too!
But I wouldn't recommend Ptuj to someone looking for a huge resort with endless entertainment, busy nightlife or major attractions every day.
And if you only have a couple of nights available, I'd want to be particularly careful about the journey from the UK.
Sometimes a destination is wonderful, but the logistics make it better suited to a longer trip.
A different side of Slovenia
I think one of the great pleasures of travelling is discovering places you might never have considered before.
Ptuj is a good example.
You've got a historic town, a hilltop castle, beautiful river views, fascinating traditions and the possibility of enjoying nearby wine country or thermal pools.
It's not a destination that needs to compete with Europe's biggest cities.
Its appeal is precisely that it offers a different pace.
So if you're considering Slovenia and would enjoy exploring somewhere beyond the most familiar destinations, I'd certainly give Ptuj a closer look.
And if you're already planning a longer trip through the country, it could make a lovely addition to your itinerary.
Tell me what kind of Slovenian holiday you'd enjoy, how long you'd like to travel for and where you'd prefer to fly from.
I'll help investigate the destinations, accommodation and travel arrangements to see whether Ptuj makes sense for your plans.
Let's plan your Slovenian adventure