HRVATSKA VERZIJA

New motorway section was opened between Ptuj (Draženci) and Maribor (Slivnica) on July 16, 2009. This opening has significantly changed alternative routes towards Maribor. Motorway and vignette signs are located north of the road junction to Ptuj, so alternative routes through Ptuj and Lenart are unchanged!

Figure 1: The situation on July 20, 2009: The motorway and vignette signs are located north of the road junction to Ptuj, while the alternative state road is closed until September 30, 2009. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 2: The alternative road Maribor - Zagreb. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Avoiding Slovenian vignette

HRVATSKA VERZIJA

Content

• Introduction
• General directions for the route Zagreb - Graz
• Map directions of the variant through Maribor and Pesnica
• Text directions of the variant through Maribor and Pesnica
• Map directions of the variant through Ptuj, Lenart and Mureck
• Text directions of the variant through Ptuj, Lenart and Mureck

Introduction

On July 1, 2008 Slovenia replaced classical road tolls for vignettes. Since then just passing Slovenia on practically all important routes is extremely expensive. However, vignettes can be avoided using state and local roads instead of motorways and expressways. On certain routes, e.g. Graz - Maribor - Zagreb, there is only about a dozen kilometres of motorway, so the use of alternative roads is a worthwhile option.

Vignettes were introduced with a clear intention to keel over as large as possible share of the financial burden for financing and maintenance of motorways onto foreign citizens. In order to disrupt alternative driving routes, Slovenian Ministry of transport included not only toll-free expressways but even certain road state roundabouts into the vignette system. More about that issue can be read in the second part of the blog (Croatian only).

The best alternative for the motorway route Villach - Ljubljana - Zagreb is the state road Villach - Dravograd - Maribor - Zagreb. On this alternative route the state road is broad and in good condition, while the driving time is elongated for about 30 minutes.

For the motorway - state road route Zagreb - Maribor - Graz there are two alternative roads, Graz - Pesnica - Maribor - Zagreb and Graz - Mureck - Lenart - Ptuj - Zagreb. The road through Pesnica is broad and smooth, however directions in Maribor are somewhat complicated and during rush hour on working days one can expect traffic jams. Using this alternative, driving time is elongated for 15 to 30 minutes. The road through Lenart is narrow and spiry, but directions are simpler and jam danger is smaller. On this alternative route driving time is elongated for about 30 minutes.

General directions for the Zagreb - Graz route

Directions for the alternative route through Maribor and Pesnica

Figure 1: Avoiding the motorway between the Austrian border and the roundabout junction near Pesnica is simple. Parallel to the motorway exists a state road with two railway crossings (trains are fairly rare). Leave the Austrian motorway A9 at ramp Spielfeld and enter Slovenia at the old border crossing, then keep straight through Šentilj and Pesnica. In Šentilj the state road passes below a motorway bridge. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 2: Avoiding the expressway through Maribor is somewhat more complicated. Detailed descriptions can be found in the following sections. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Directions for the alternative route through Ptuj, Lenart and Mureck

Figure 3: Through Ptuj it is important to use the new road connection with Puh bridge over Drava river (red), which is not charted in most of the maps. Using this connection the driving time shortens considerably! (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Map description of the variant through Maribor and Pesnica

Remark: Figures are sorted from the North to the South.

Figure 4A: The most difficult task is to avoid two motorways (the first towards Austria, the second towards Hungary) and the expressway towards Maribor, which interconnect at the large roundabout junction. Despite the fact that the roundabout is not a part of a motorway or an expressway, it is labelled with vignette sign, and vignettes are occasionally controlled there. Therefore, we present here a variant that bypasses roundabout through Spodnja Kungota and Dolnja Počehova. The only problematic point on the bypass is a narrow one-way bridge in Spodnja Kungota. After bypassing the roundabout follows a more-or-less straightforward route to the centre of Maribor. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 4B: This variant is simpler and has larger traffic capacity, but uses controversial roundabout junction with two motorways and the expressway. Warning! It is not clear whether using this roundabout requires vignette, therefore use this variant with upmost care and be prepared to turn back in case of a vignette control. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 5A: The next task is to drive through the centre of Maribor from the major post office by main railway station to Tito bridge over Drava river near Europark shopping centre. The easiest route requires making two turns, however it could be jammed during rush hour on working days. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 5B: A slightly more complicated route includes using one-way two-lane roads in the centre of the town. During rush hour on working days this route can be a big time saver. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 6: From Tito bridge over Drava river by Europark shopping centre to the state road for Croatia no traffic jams are anticipated, and the route is fairly simple. The only turn is near Baumax. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

The The Czech alternative road description includes pictures of traffic signs! Warning: the proposed route uses part of the expressway, so we do not recommend it!

Text description of the variant through Maribor and Pesnica

GRAZ - ZAGREB in seven steps: Spielfeld exit ramp - Pesnica-exit - Maribor-entry - major post office by main railway station - the bridge over Drava river near Europark shopping centre - traffic lights near Baumax - Maribor-exit.

1. Exit Austrian motorway A9 at the last ramp Spielfeld. Turn left onto the state road toward Maribor. Old border crossing between Austria and Slovenia is 2 km ahead. Keep straight through Šentilj and Pesnica.
2. After you exit Pesnica you have two options:
   • Figure 4A - the route that avoids the large roundabout junction near Pesnica: At a small roundabout just outside Pesnica turn right toward Spodnje Dobrenje and keep straight. After a while cross the bridge over motorway, enter Spodnja Kungota and finally cross the narrow bridge over the brook (beware, yield right of way). Turn left toward Maribor, leave Spodnja Kungota and keep straight through Dolnja Počehova. 2 km ahead at the end of the road turn right for Maribor and immediately after that turn right again at traffic lights toward Maribor-center. 300 m further enter Maribor.
   • Figure 4B - the route through large roundabout junction near Pesnica: straight from Pesnica is the large roundabout junction that interconnects two motorways and an expressway. Turn onto state road toward Pernica and Lenart. At the first crossroad 300 m further turn right toward Kungota, pass below the motorway bridge and the expressway bridge and at the first traffic lights 1 km further turn right toward Maribor-center.
3. Several km further you will drive past the major post office near main railway station on the left side. After that you have two options:
   • Figure 5A - the simpler route: at the third traffic lights after the post office turn right, and then at the second traffic light left. 500 m further cross the Tito bridge over Drava river. You will drive past Europark shopping centre on the left side.
   • Figure 5B - the faster route in the case of the traffic jam: turn right at the first traffic lights, then turn left at the first crossroad and immediately after that turn right at the next crossroad. At the following three traffic lights turn left, turn right, turn left. 500 m further cross the Tito bridge over Drava river. You will drive past Europark shopping centre on the left side.
4. Figure 6: Keep straight and after 2 km at the fourth traffic lights (first after Baumax) turn left toward Zagreb. Drive straight to the end of Maribor 3 km ahead.

For this alternative road we have prepared a detailed itinerary with km notes (PDF). Reset your km counter on leaving Pesnica.

Follow the traffic regulations since Slovenian police strictly controls alternative routes!

ZAGREB - GRAZ in seven steps: Maribor-entry - traffic lights near Baumax - the bridge over Drava river near Europark shopping centre - major post office by main railway station - Maribor-exit - Pesnica-entry - Spielfeld entry ramp.

1. Figure 6: After entering Maribor keep straight. 3.4 km ahead do not turn right onto the expressway but keep straight, pass below the railway bridge and at the first traffic lights 600 m further (near Baumax) turn right.
2. Three traffic lights and 2 km further you will drive past Europark shopping centre on the right side and cross Tito bridge over Drava river. After crossing the river you have two options:
   • Figure 5A - the simpler route: at the first traffic lights turn right, at the second traffic lights after that turn left. Two traffic lights further you will drive past major post office by main railway station on the right side.
   • Figure 5B - the faster route in case of a traffic jam: at the first traffic lights proceed straight. At the second traffic lights further turn right, and at the first traffic lights after that turn left. You will drive past major post office by main railway station on the right side.
3. From the post office keep straight to the end of Maribor. After leaving Maribor you have two options:
   • Figure 4A - the route that avoids large roundabout junction near Pesnica: At the first traffic lights 300 m further turn left toward Šentilj. Immediately after at the next crossroads turn left again towards Jurij and drive straigth through Dolnja Počehova. After driving 2 km enter Spodnja Kungota and at the first crossroad turn right, cross the narrow bridge over brook and keep straight (warning: main road turns left). After leaving Spodnja Kungota you will cross the bridge over the motorway. At the roundabout at the end of the road turn left for Pesnica. 300 m ahead starts Pesnica.
   • Figure 4B - the route through large roundabout junction near Pesnica: At the first traffic lights 300 m further turn left toward Šentilj. Pass below the expressway bridge and the motorway bridge and keep straight to the end of the road 900 m ahead. Turn left and 300 m ahead is the large roundabout junction that interconnects two motorways and an expressway. At the roundabout turn right toward Pesnica. 1 km ahead enter Pesnica.
4. Keep straight through Pesnica i Šentilj. 12 km ahead is the old border crossing between Slovenia and Austria. Keep straight and after 2 km turn right onto motorway entry ramp Spielfeld.

For this alternative road we have prepared a detailed itinerary with km notes (PDF). Reset your km counter on entering Maribor.

Follow the traffic regulations since Slovenian police strictly controls alternative routes!

Map description of the variant through Ptuj, Lenart and Mureck

Remark: Figures are sorted from the North to the South.

Figure 7: Trate and Mureck are connected with the bridge over Mura river, which represents border between Austria and Slovenia. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 8: Driving through Lenart requires making two turns, one at traffic lights. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Figure 9: The most effective route through Ptuj passes by Merkur and Mercator shopping centre. (for a bigger view click on the figure)

Text description of the variant through Ptuj, Lenart and Mureck

GRAZ - ZAGREB in five steps: exit ramp Gersdorf - the bridge over Mura river - Lenart - shopping centre in Ptuj - the bridge over Drava river in Ptuj.

1. Figure 7: Exit Austrian motorway A9 at exit ramp Gersdorf and turn left for Mureck. After driving through Mureck turn right and cross the bridge over Mura river that represents border between Austria and Slovenia. At the end of the bridge turn right and keep straight to Lenart.
2. Figure 8: At the end of the road turn right and immediately after that at traffic lights turn left. Keep straight to Ptuj.
3. Figure 9: At first traffic lights after entering Ptuj turn left. You will cross the bridge over the railway. At the second roundabout near the shopping centre (Merkur, Mercator) turn right. On the second roundabout turn right (the only possible direction). Cross the Puh bridge over Drava river and at the end of the road on the motorway junction keep straight toward Zagreb. There are no vignette and motorway signs on the last 400 m of the motorway.

ZAGREB - GRAZ in five steps: the bridge over Drava river in Ptuj - shopping centre in Ptuj - Lenart - the bridge over Mura river - entry ramp Gersdorf.

1. Figure 9: 13 km after Slovenian border the motorway toward Maribor begins. Turn right after 400 m on the first exit toward Ptuj - vzhod. The vignette and motorway signs are located only after the exit. You will cross the Puh bridge over Drava river. At the first roundabout after the bridge turn left (the only possible direction). At the second roundabout further near shopping centre (Merkur, Mercator) turn left. You will cross the bridge over the railway. At the first traffic light turn right. Keep straight to Lenart.
2. Figure 8: At the first traffic lights after entering Lenart turn right and immediatelly after at the first crossroad turn left. Keep straight to Trate.
3. Figure 7: After driving through Trate and descending to Mura river turn left onto the bridge over Mura river, which represent border between Slovenia and Austria. At the first crossroad turn left and drive through Mureck. Keep straight to Gersdorf entry ramp and turn right for Graz.