Styrian Wine Road by Campervan

Yes, the Styrian wine roads are ideal for a campervan trip, but good planning is essential. Choose one base for several day trips or combine Maribor, Slovenske Gorice and Jeruzalem, stay overnight only at registered campervan stopovers or campsites, and never get behind the wheel after a wine tasting. With these three simple rules in mind, the Styrian wine route is one of the most beautiful wine regions in Slovenia to explore by campervan.

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In brief:

• For multi-day wine trips, it is best to choose one base located no more than 20 minutes’ drive from at least three wineries.
• When staying at campsites or official campervan stopovers, check whether they provide water and electricity hookups and a designated chemical toilet disposal point.
• Before driving on the wine roads, make sure you have a motorway vignette and a DarsGo device if you are driving a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, and always follow speed limits and road-safety rules.
• On wine routes, it is advisable to limit tastings to a maximum of three to four samples per visit and book tasting appointments in advance, especially at weekends.
• When renting a campervan, choose a model with essential facilities such as a kitchen and toilet, and check that all systems are working properly before setting off to avoid problems on the road.

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Table of Contents

• Which Styria routes to choose by campervan
• Where to stay overnight by campervan on the wine roads
• Traffic rules and safe driving between wine tastings
• Rok’s advice for planning a wine trip by campervan
• What travellers underestimate on wine routes
• Campervan rental for your Styria wine trip
• Sources
• Frequently Asked Questions

Which Styria routes to choose by campervan

The Styrian Wine Road is not a single route, but a network of smaller wine routes that you can combine depending on how many days you have available. This is an advantage when travelling by campervan, as each route offers a convenient base with parking options and relatively short distances between stops. One-day trip: Maribor Wine Tourist Road The route starts at the Old Vine in Lent, the oldest vine in the world that still produces grapes, and continues through Kamnica, over Kalvarija and Mestni Vrh to Malečnik, Celestrina and onwards to Korena and Vurberk. The area is known for white grape varieties, particularly Welschriesling, Rhine Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Traminer, as highlighted by Visit Maribor. For a one-day visit, allow time for:

1. The morning for the Old Vine and exploring Maribor’s historic city centre.
2. The early afternoon for a tasting at Vinag Wine Cellar, where a guided tour with a tasting of two to four samples lasts approximately 1.5 hours, making advance booking a good idea.
3. The afternoon for a walk through Kamnica or Malečnik, where the views over the vineyards are particularly beautiful around sunset.

Two-day option: add the Upper Slovenske Gorice route If you have two days available, spend the second day exploring the Upper Slovenske Gorice Wine Tourist Road, which connects Sv. Jurij, Svečina, Plač, Kungota, Pesnica, Velka, Jarenina, Pernica and Jakobski Dol. A viewpoint known as the “heart among the vineyards” is worth a stop for the scenery alone, not just for the wine. This part of the route is more rural and slower-paced, which suits campervan travel well, as the roads are narrower but generally less busy. Three days: Jeruzalem and Ptuj For a longer getaway, continue towards Jeruzalem, where terraced vineyards with the Šipon grape variety are surrounded by landmarks such as Velika Nedelja and Ormož castles, as well as numerous tourist farms, according to Visit Ptuj. For this part of the trip, allow time for:

• A day exploring Ptuj and its historic old town.
• A day on the wine roads around Jeruzalem, including a visit to at least one tourist farm offering wine tasting.
• A relaxed drive back with a stop at a smaller winery that accepts visitors without advance reservations.

The same rule applies to all three itineraries: limit your tasting to three or four samples at each winery and book your appointment in advance, particularly at weekends.

Where to stay overnight by campervan on the wine roads

A parking area at a winery is not automatically an overnight camping spot. The Slovenian Tourist Board distinguishes between temporary parking areas, where stopping is permitted only during the day or for a short rest, and designated campervan stopovers or campsites where overnight stays are permitted, as explained by I feel Slovenia. Across Slovenia, there is now a wide network of designated campervan stopovers and campsites, ranging from simple overnight facilities to fully equipped sites. A good example in the middle of the wine-growing region is Camperstop Mulec in Jakobski Dol, where the Mulec vineyard family has established a campervan stopover with 12 pitches, water and electricity hookups and a designated chemical toilet disposal point. Part of the investment was co-financed through local action group funding, showing that the region is investing systematically in campervan infrastructure alongside its wine tourism offering. When choosing a campervan stopover, check the following:

• Whether water and electricity hookups are available or whether you need to be self-sufficient.
• Where chemical toilet and wastewater disposal facilities are located, as these are not always available at smaller rural stopovers.
• Whether toilets and showers are available, which can be important for longer stays.
• How far the nearest winery or village is, so that you can walk back to your campervan after a tasting.

If you are staying at a tourist farm that offers overnight parking in its yard in addition to wine tasting, it is always polite to contact the hosts in advance, even if the stopover does not have an official online booking system. You can also find a list of locations across Slovenia in our regularly updated guide to campervan stopovers. Professional tip: If you choose one base instead of moving every day, look for a stopover within 20 minutes’ drive of at least three wineries. This means less time spent driving and more time enjoying the wine route.

Traffic rules and safe driving between wine tastings

Slovenia requires a motorway vignette for driving on motorways, while vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must use a DarsGo device and be registered in the DarsGo system, according to I feel Slovenia. Before renting a campervan, always check its maximum permitted weight, as some larger motorhomes exceed this threshold even though they may look relatively compact compared with larger motorhomes. Before setting off, also check the following:

• All passengers must wear seat belts, regardless of whether they are seated in the front or in the living area.
• A category B driving licence is generally sufficient for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, but always confirm this when booking.
• Speed limits on village roads through wine-growing areas are often 40 or 50 km/h because many routes pass along narrow rural roads between vineyards.

The greatest risk on a wine road is not the driving itself, but driving after a tasting. Vinag Wine Cellar offers individual visitors tastings of two to four samples per visit, which can quickly add up to an amount that makes driving unsafe if you visit three or four wineries in one day. The rule is simple: have one completely sober driver for the entire day, or plan your base so that you can walk between wineries or use local transport.

Rok’s advice for planning a wine trip by campervan

At Campervan.si, we find that most complications arise not while driving, but during vehicle pickup. That is why checking the vehicle condition, fuel level, gas cylinder and documentation should be done calmly and step by step, following our guide to a safe campervan pickup and return. For planning your days between the wine-growing areas, Rok recommends:

• Choose one base for two or three days instead of moving every day. This reduces the logistics involved in finding overnight accommodation and lets you explore the surrounding wine region more easily.
• Make a note in advance of which campervan stopovers have wastewater disposal facilities so you do not run out of capacity in your toilet or wastewater system during the weekend.
• On hot summer days, park in the shade whenever possible, as the interior of a campervan can heat up much faster in direct sunlight than first-time renters expect.
• In winter, check whether the rental campervan has heating that can operate independently of the engine, which is particularly useful for wine trips outside the main season.

Your pickup checklist should include the mileage, fuel level, toilet fluid and refrigerator operation, as these four details are among the most common sources of confusion when returning a rental vehicle.

What travellers underestimate on wine routes

Most advice about wine roads focuses on which wine to taste and which winery has the best view. That is only part of the picture. The key decision that determines whether the trip feels relaxed or stressful is overnight logistics, not the choice of winery. The conventional advice is to move closer to the next destination every day. In practice, this means spending more time packing up and driving and less time actually enjoying the wine. One base, for example near Maribor or around Jakobski Dol, combined with day trips without having to move the campervan, is usually a more convenient option for a typical three-day trip. Another underestimated risk is having too many tastings in one day. Three wineries with four samples each means twelve glasses, which is clearly incompatible with safe driving. It is better to choose two wineries per day and take the time to enjoy them than rush through four and create a road-safety risk.

— Rok

Campervan rental for your Styria wine trip

For exploring the Styrian wine roads, you do not need a large motorhome, but rather a reliable campervan that is easy to park among the vineyards. At Campervan.si in Ljubljana, we offer two models that are well suited to this type of trip: the Mercedes V Marco Polo, from €125 per night for daily rental or from €110 per night for weekly rental, and the Ford Transit Nugget Plus at the same rates, from €125 per night for daily rental and from €110 per night for weekly rental, available on this page. Both models have a kitchen, fixed toilet and sleeping space for several people, allowing you to stay independently during your wine-road trip even when restaurants or hotels are not nearby. A final cleaning fee of €80 is added at the end of the rental. During pickup in Ljubljana, we show you all connection points, explain how the toilet works and cover the basic maintenance you need to know, so you can reach your first wine stop without surprises. Book through the Mercedes V Marco Polo page or check availability for the Ford Nugget Plus and choose the dates that best fit your Styria wine trip.

Sources

• Maribor Wine Tourist Road – Visit Maribor
• Travelling through Slovenia by campervan | I feel Slovenia
• Jeruzalem – Visit Ptuj
• Visit Vinag Wine Cellar for individual visitors – Visit Maribor

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Styria Wine Road suitable for a campervan?

Yes. The roads between the vineyards are generally well maintained and wide enough for compact campervans. The main challenge can be some of the narrower rural sections of the Upper Slovenske Gorice route, where it is best to drive slowly and carefully.

Where can I legally stay overnight by campervan between wineries?

Stay only at registered campervan stopovers or campsites, such as Camperstop Mulec in Jakobski Dol. Temporary parking areas are intended for daytime stops and short breaks, not overnight stays.

How many days do I need to visit Jeruzalem and Ptuj?

Allow two to three days for a worthwhile visit to the terraced vineyards, castles and tourist farms around Jeruzalem. Spend one day in Ptuj and the other one or two days exploring the wine roads and enjoying tastings.

Do I need a special permit to drive a campervan in Slovenia?

A motorway vignette is required for driving on Slovenian motorways, while vehicles over 3.5 tonnes also require a DarsGo device, according to I feel Slovenia. A category B driving licence is generally sufficient for lighter campervans and motorhomes, but this should always be confirmed when renting the vehicle.

How much does campervan rental for a wine trip cost at Campervan.si?

Daily rental of the Mercedes V Marco Polo or Ford Nugget Plus starts at €125 per night, while weekly rental starts at €110 per night. A final cleaning fee of €80 is added at the end of the rental.