7 Best Things To Do In Celje, Slovenia

things to do in celje slovenia
Irina
Irina 
Updated
| 3 min read

If you’re traveling around Slovenia, Celje is a place you definitely have to stop by. You will feel as though you’ve landed in a different time, walking around the wonderful old city center and admiring the architecture. The river adds to the calmness of the city, offering a lot of great relaxation spots. Celje is also appropriate for outdoor activities, especially if you’re traveling during summer. If you’re not sure what you can do while in this wonderful city of Slovenia, read on to find out the best things to do in Celje, Slovenia:

1. Old Castle Celje (Celje Upper Castle)

Celje castle
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Boris Maric used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Although the word “castle” is part of its name, this is actually a fortress and not just any fortress, but the largest one in Slovenia. The Old Castle Celje is located on top of a hill, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away from the city center. Walking up is a good easy workout that should take about half an hour. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see some medieval music concerts on the premises, as these are organized during summer. Although it’s not furnished inside, getting up to the castle is definitely worth it even if just for the amazing view over the city.

Old Castle Celje

Address: Cesta na Grad 78, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Website: Old Castle Celje

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2. Celje Cathedral of Saint Daniel

Celje Cathedral
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Janezdrilc used under CC0

As the tower of this Roman Catholic cathedral is the tallest building in town, it makes it very easy to find. Celje Cathedral of Saint Daniel is the built in Gothic style. The most important piece of architecture inside is the Pieta sculpture which is situated in the chapel of Saint Mary. If you’ve seen a lot of Gothic style churches, you might not find Celje cathedral very impressive. However, if you’re around, it’s worth the visit.

Celje Cathedral of Saint Daniel

Address: Sv. Danijel, Celje, Slovenia

Website: Celje Cathedral of Saint Daniel (in Slovenian)

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3. Celje Regional Museum

Old County in Celje
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ljuba brank used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Celje Regional Museum is located in the old city center of Celje. It is the second oldest museum in Slovenia. There are many displays regarding Slovenia’s history, but also archaeological facts related to Celje. The archaeological site exhibition is particularly impressive, taking you back all the way to the Roman Empire times. While in Celje, the archaeological exhibition site Celeia is definitely a must. You can see ancient Roman walls that emphasize the old history of the town. If you want to see the remains of old Celeia, this is the largest exhibition.

Celje Regional Museum

Address: Trg celjskih knezov, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Website: Pokrajinski muzej Celje

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4. Smartinsko Jezero Lake

Smartinsko jezero 001
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user XJamRastafire used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Just outside Celje, this large artificial lake provides the perfect environment for a day out in nature. There are paths to walk around the lake and some cafes where you can relax while still enjoying the beautiful scenery. If you like fishing, this place will be perfect for you. There are also options for hiring boats or kayaks. Overall, it’s a very peaceful atmosphere.

Smartinsko Jezero Lake

Address: Runtole, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Website: Smartinsko Jezero Lake (in Slovenian)

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5. Museum of Recent History Celje

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you’re traveling with children and you’re in search of an educational place to take them, choose the Museum of Recent History of Celje. The exhibitions are designed for both adults and children, providing interesting information about the recent development of Celje. You will see restoration plans of restaurants and other buildings, and learn about the modern lifestyle of the citizens. You can plan around 1 or 2 hours for the visit. Once you leave the museum, you’ll feel much closer to Celje.

Museum of Recent History Celje

Address: Preshernova ulica 17, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Contact: +386 3 428 64 10

Website: Museum of Recent History Celje

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6. The Gallery of Contemporary Art Celje

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

One of the perks that come with traveling to small places is the opportunity to get closer to the local culture and what better way is there than observing local contemporary artists? The Gallery of Contemporary Art is the perfect place to come in contact with visual art not only by regional artists but also from foreign ones. The exhibitions vary, some of them are short term (even for just a week), so even if you’re traveling often to Celje, this is a place where you can come back without being bored seeing the same pieces over and over again.

The Gallery of Contemporary Art Celje

Address: Trg Celjskih Knezov 8, Celje, Slovenia

Website: The Gallery of Contemporary Art Celje

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7. Go cycling

Smartinsko jezero
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user XJamRastafire used under CC BY-SA 3.0

No matter your fitness level, you’ll be able to find a good cycling route for you in Celje. If you like to cycle around cities, renting a bike will be a good way to discover the city and admire the architecture. There are, of course, also many paths passing the villages around. You can venture all the way to Smartinsko Jezero lake, or you can discover the villages in Kozjansko area. One of the places you can rent bikes from is MCC Hostel. They usually also provide small maps, highlighting good cycling routes depending on how far you want to cycle.

Bike rental

Address: Celjski mladinski center, MCC Hostel, Mariborska 2, 3000 Celje

Website: Rent a bike in Celje

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Enjoy both outdoor and indoor activities in Celje, Slovenia

Celje is a good destination in all types of weather. If it’s cold or rainy, there are many interesting museums where you can not only take shelter from bad weather, but you can actually learn a lot of history, art, and culture. But if you’d rather be outside and enjoy the nature, there are also many outdoor opportunities in Celje.

So make sure to explore this magical city of Slovenia, bike, go fishing, take a boat or a kayak, see art from contemporary local artists, learn about archaeology and go back in time all the way to the Roman Empire. The options are countless. Make the most of them.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Irina is a Romanian with a strong aspiration to become a digital nomad and a penchant for change. Initially studying econometrics and securing a noteworthy job in risk management in Berlin upon...Read more

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