Things to Do in Celje, Slovenia: What to See & Travel Tips

Celje is a pleasant city to visit in Slovenia, with plenty of things to see and do. It is near some stunning countryside and is an excellent destination for people who enjoy hiking. This includes marked routes to hilltop churches, a treehouse, and the iconic Celje Castle, which overlooks the city.

Celje is the fourth-largest city in Slovenia and a lovely place to visit. It has many things to see, including some unique architecture. Celje also has a medieval castle overlooking the city, a stunning and dog-friendly tourist attraction.

As an observation, eating out and beer were cheaper in Celje than in Slovenia’s principal tourist centres.

Things to Do in Celje, Slovenia

Celje has a good mix of historic sights, old-town streets, castle views, museums, and walking routes. The main highlights are easy to combine, especially if you enjoy exploring on foot.

Celje Castle: A Top Place To Visit

Celje Castle is a must-visit tourist attraction and is quiet during the autumn months. The walk through the forest to reach it is very nice, and the views from the towers of the medieval fortress are spectacular as the leaves change.

The castle overlooks the city, and reaching the fortress via the forest is a fantastic, albeit steep, dog walk.

Architecture of Old Town

The old town of Celje has a whole host of architectural eras, including churches, towers and colourful buildings. They have lots of cafes with outdoor seating so you can soak up the vibe while exploring.

The buildings on Krekov trg near the railway station are nice and are enhanced by a water fountain and statues.

One of my favourite streets was Glavni trg, where you can see colourful buildings and the cathedral’s spire. They also have some nice cafe-bars in the square, and it has a cool vibe.

See The Towers of Celje

Also on the edge of the Old Town of Celje are two distinctive towers to see. These reminded me of the similar towers on the riverbank in Maribor.

Celje Water Tower is tucked behind the cathedral towards the river and is circular. The Celje Water Tower is a well-preserved part of the town walls. They also call this the Almshouse Tower. The other preserved tower is Gledališki stolp, which is now an integral part of the local theatre. They built it as a corner tower after 1451 and then redesigned it in the 16th century. It used to be a torture chamber and subsequently a theatre.

Do the Treehouse Forest Walk

Enjoying the countryside and going for a walk in Celje is fun; there are lots of trails, many of which are well-marked for ease of navigation. I spotted the treehouse on Google Maps, and I decided it was worth a run-out.

The hike to the treehouse meant crossing the river and then going into some gorgeous autumnal woodland. It took 30 mins to reach the treehouse via some pretty woodland. The treehouse wasn’t open; however, the area outside offered seating for a drink. They also have an adventure playground, which was great fun, especially for children.

Walk to Razgledni stolp & Sv. Miklavž

The Sv. The Miklavž church stared at me from a hilltop, calling me to go for a hike. The walk to Razgledni stolp & Sv. Miklavž is relaxing, especially on a blue sky day.

These places can be combined with a hike to the treehouse, as they are in the same area. The hike up is steep via some pretty forest trails. The church, unfortunately, wasn’t open, but the churchyard was nice to sit in, catch my breath, and enjoy the view.

From here, there are more forest trails towards Razgledni stolp. Razgledni stolp is a viewpoint resembling a bunker, with steps leading to its roof. They also have a few deckchairs on the roof, which are nice to sit in and enjoy the scenery.

The hike down is easier; however, it can be slippery. It is also a mushroom-rich countryside and a great place to find some.

Walk along the Savinja Riverbank

For those who like a more relaxing flat walk, the footpaths along the Savinja are lovely. There are many magnificent views, including the castle and nearby hills.

Seeing the old town and a cathedral from the riverbank is also fantastic. If you are up for taking photographs, the bridges are ideal.

The river is also great for walking; many people fish from its banks, which is always fascinating to watch. The river is also used for watersports, and you could even arrange a kayak lesson.

Climb Kapuciske Stopnice to The Church of St Cecilia & the Capuchin Monastery

While wandering along the river in Celje, I spotted Kapuciske Stopnice, a stairway that climbs to the Church of St Cecilia and the Capuchin Monastery. I went to explore the stairway, and the church was nice to have a look around in. The covered stairway has 90 steps, and it was built in 1826.

Celje Cathedral

One of the most dominant sights on the city’s skyline is the tower of Celje Cathedral. You can see the spire from as far as the castle and the nearby hills.

You can also visit the interior of the cathedral when passing through, too. It’s nice; however, it’s quite dark inside. The altar, stained-glass windows, and the organ caught my eye when I visited. There has been a church on the site since the early 12th century.

Hiking in The Nearby Countryside

There are many hiking trails from the edge of the centre into the countryside. There are forests, hills and mountains to explore in this part of Slovenia. The river also has some great routes off it, too.

You can find lots of hiking options on the Komoot website, or plan your own using their app. I enjoyed a few random walks from the centre. These were close by and easy to reach from the trails.

Visit The Museum of Recent History

The Museum of Recent History, AKA Muzej novejše zgodovine, has various exhibits in the museum, including living in the city in bygone eras. They also have a prison exhibit, which is a memorial space for the victims of Nazi violence in the area. For younger visitors, they have a children’s museum and a space to express creativity.

Starokrščanska krstilnica

Another interesting place to visit is Starokrščanska krstilnica. Starokrščanska krstilnica is the ruins of a 5th-century early Christian baptistry. Starokrščanska krstilnica contains a baptism font and was free to visit. There are some information boards about the ruins and a reconstruction to show what it was like. The entrance is downstairs, next to a bar, in a small shopping centre.

Temple of Hercules

Another historic sight to see is the Temple of Hercules. These are some Roman ruins in a park dating to the 2nd century. I visited as part of a longer walk in the park, and it was worth a look when passing.

Regional Museum of Celje at Knežji dvorec

Another nice place to visit is Knežji dvorec, a complex of buildings and a tower that is home to the Regional Museum of Celje. The building dates from the 16th century and is worth seeing. They have a few exhibitions inside the museum to see, including a cultural and history exhibition.

Where to Stay

Finding dog-friendly accommodation was straightforward using the Booking.com ‘pets allowed’ search filter. We ended up staying at Hotel Faraon, a casino hotel just outside of the centre. They have a bar, a restaurant, and a breakfast room for guests. We found the city to be dog-friendly, and anywhere that wasn’t had signs indicating it wasn’t.

Bars & Restaurants in Celje

There is an eclectic choice of bars to visit, from relaxing jazz cafes to some more vibrant rock bars.

Hotel Faraon Restaurant

While we stayed at the hotel, we utilised their restaurant for evening meals and daily breakfasts. The breakfasts were a continental-style buffet. Their evening menu had some fantastic dinner options. I enjoyed their grilled squid stuffed with potatoes and grilled vegetables. This was delicious and left me wondering why I don’t order stuffed squid more often.

Kavarna Oaza

In the square near the cathedral is a delightful place for a drink, Kavarna Oaza. Kavarna Oaza is pretty dog-friendly and had other canine guests when we visited. Their outside seating area has splendid views, and they provide at-the-table service. They have a variety of beers or coffee on their drinks menu, including Union, my drink of choice in Slovenia.

Bar Park

One of the cheapest bars I visited was Bar Park on the banks of the river near Kapuciske, Stopnice. They had options for local beers and coffee, including Lasko, a Slovenian beer. Bar Park had both indoor and outdoor seating and, on my visit, featured some seasonal Halloween decor.

Kaktus American Bar

Another cool bar is Kaktus American Bar, which has a lovely terrace with comfy seating. Kaktus American Bar provides at-the-table service and serves a variety of coffees and Slovenian beers. I enjoyed a Union beer or two while at the launderette.

Moto Rock bar XXX

One of my favourite bars was Moto Rock Bar XXX. They are a nice place with a rock theme, featuring memorabilia and themed music. It was a great place for a drink, and they provided at-the-table service. In addition to its fascinating interior, Moto Rock Bar XXX also has outdoor seating.

Travel To Celje in Slovenia

As we travel with a dog, the most viable way to reach Celje in Slovenia is by train. We arrived from Lake Bled, travelling via the capital, Ljubljana. Leaving, we took a train to Keszthely in Hungary.

Other ways to travel locally include the local buses that crisscross Slovenia. You can find many options on the Omio website, including flights from overseas.

Is Celje in Slovenia Worth Visiting?

Celje certainly is well worth visiting, especially if you enjoy castles and walks in the countryside. The town centre is beautiful, with plenty to do. The city also has a vibrant bar scene and is a great place to hang out. It is easy to reach by train from many places in Slovenia, making it an ideal choice for an Interrail adventure. I’ve visited twice now, once in autumn and once in summer, and it was pleasant both times.